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Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Capital One Venture is a great starter rewards card, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium pick with a premium price tag. Here’s how they stack up.
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| FinanceBuzz star ratings |
4.7
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5.0
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| FinanceBuzz value calculation1 <p class="">These values are based on the <a href="https://financebuzz.com/financebuzz-credit-card-valuation">FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model</a>, which takes a look at rewards earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee. We used a valuation of 1 cent/point unless otherwise stated above. These are estimated values - your actual earnings will depend on how much you spend and in what categories.<br></p> | Year one earnings: $1,521
Year two earnings: $771 |
Year one earnings: $2,023
Year two earnings: $1,123 |
| Annual fee | $95 | $550 |
| Welcome bonus | Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening — valued at $750 when redeemed for travel | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening — valued at $900 when redeemed for travel booked through the Chase portal |
| Earning rate | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 | 5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases |
| Statement credits |
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| Travel perks |
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| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Credit needed | Excellent, Good | Excellent |
| Learn more | Learn more |
When to go with the Capital One Venture
The Capital One Venture might be the better option if:
- You want a lower annual fee
- You are looking for a starter credit card
- You prefer Capital One’s unique transfer partners
Low annual fee
The Capital One Venture has a $95 annual fee, whereas the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee. Clearly, if you want to save money on an annual fee, you won’t choose the Sapphire Reserve.
Although the Venture requires excellent credit, it’s still largely a starter travel card. You pay a low annual fee to get a decent set of benefits and there’s very little risk or strategizing involved. If you’re new to the points and miles world, getting the Venture could be a good way to get your feet wet before you graduate to a more rewarding card.
Everyday earnings
The other place where the Venture outshines the Sapphire Reserve is in non-bonus category earnings.
The Sapphire Reserve earns 5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases.
The Venture Rewards earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25.
While the difference on the non-bonus categories might not seem like a huge difference, there are plenty of purchases you make on a day-to-day basis that wouldn’t qualify for typical bonus earning categories. Being able to earn more miles on these purchases allows you to accumulate a solid chunk of miles for your next trip.
Unique transfer partners
Capital One heavily focuses on international airline partners. If you frequently travel internationally, these might be more valuable. On the other hand, Chase focuses on domestic airline and hotel brands. If you regularly travel within the U.S., this can be a great option. I prefer Capital One’s transfer partners over Chase’s, but this is entirely a personal preference and will depend on your travel goals. If you want access to both sets of partners, you can have cards issued from both issuers.
When to go with the Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the better choice if:
- You want airport lounge access
- You want comprehensive travel protections
- You want greater value for your points
- You can utilize the annual travel credit
Statement credits
The only statement credit offered by the Capital One Venture is up to $120 for the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee once every four years. The Sapphire Reserve offers a $100 statement credit plus a $300 annual travel credit, which helps offset the annual fee. Although some credit cards like the Venture X require you to redeem your travel credit through the travel portal, the Sapphire Reserve’s credit is flexible and easy to use.
Airport lounge access
The Capital One Venture previously gave cardholders two free visits per year to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges. Unfortunately, this benefit ends on December 31, 2024.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a Priority Pass Select membership, which includes unlimited free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges within the Priority Pass network. It also grants access to the new Sapphire Lounges by The Club. Although only a few locations are currently open, it’s a quickly growing network that will be more valuable in the coming years.
Point valuation
Capital One miles are worth 1 cent per mile if you redeem them for travel. Thus, 10,000 miles have a redemption value of $100. Chase Ultimate Rewards points have a base value of 1 cent per point, but their travel redemption values vary depending on your Chase credit card. Travel redemptions with the Chase Sapphire Reserve receive a 50% bonus—10,000 points are valued at $150 through the Chase travel portal.
Travel coverage
Both cards offer travel protections, but the Sapphire Reserve has the most comprehensive coverage.
| Capital One Venture (World Elite Mastercard) | Chase Sapphire Reserve (Visa Infinite) | |
| Trip delay reimbursement | No | Yes, up to $500 per ticket |
| Trip cancellation/ interruption insurance | Yes, up to $1,500 | Yes, up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip |
| Baggage delay insurance | Yes, up to $100 per day for three days | Yes, up to $100 per day for five days |
| Lost luggage reimbursement | Yes, up to $1,500 per incident up to two incidents every 12 months | Yes, up to $3,000 per passenger |
| Auto rental collision damage waiver | Yes, primary if you do not have existing insurance/ secondary if you do | Yes, primary |
| Emergency evacuation and transportation | No | Yes, up to $100,000 |
| Travel accident insurance — death and dismemberment | Yes, up to $1,000,000 | Yes, up to $1,000,000 |
| Emergency Medical and Dental | No | Yes, up to $2,500 |
| Roadside assistance | Roadside dispatch available, but any cost is paid by the cardholder | Yes, up to $50 per incident four times per year |
Partner benefits
As a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, you get benefits from several different partners. You’ll get two years of Lyft Pink All Access (activate by 12/31/2024) and 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides until March 31, 2025, a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership for a minimum of one year (activate by 12/31/2027), 10 points per dollar on Peloton purchases over $150 through March 31, 2025, and a suite of benefits on hotel bookings through The Edit.
In comparison, the Venture Rewards card only offers Hertz Five Star status and a $50 experience credit to use onsite when booking a Lifestyle Collection property.
Transfer partners
Both the Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Reserve allow you to transfer points and a 1:1 ratio to several leading programs. There’s some overlap between the transfer partners. For instance, both cards offer transfers to Air Canada, Emirates, Air France/KLM, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. However, each has unique transfer partners that might be more or less valuable, depending on where you like to fly or which hotels you want to visit.
Partners unique to Capital One:
- Aeromexico Club Premier
- Cathay Pacific ‒ Asia Miles
- Avianca LifeMiles
- Choice Privileges
- Etihad Guest
- Finnair Plus
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- TAP Miles&Go
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- Wyndham Rewards
Partners unique to Chase:
- AerClub, loyalty program of Aer Lingus
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
- United MileagePlus
- IHG Rewards Club
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
A closer look at the welcome bonuses
The Capital One Venture offers a welcome bonus. New cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. This gives a total value of $750.
The Sapphire Reserve allows new cardholders to earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This is worth $900.
FAQs
Is the Capital One Venture a good card to use abroad?
Yes, the Capital One Venture is a good card to use abroad because it has no foreign transaction fees.
Can I upgrade my Chase Sapphire Preferred to Reserve without a hard inquiry?
Yes, you can upgrade your Chase Sapphire Preferred to Reserve without a hard inquiry after a year as a cardholder. Note that you won’t receive a welcome bonus if you upgrade. If you apply separately, you can only receive a welcome bonus if you do not have a Sapphire card and haven’t received a welcome bonus in the past 48 months.
Is Capital One Venture better than the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card?
The Venture is different from the Quicksilver — one isn’t better. The Quicksilver is a no-annual-fee cash back card with an extended low intro APR offer, while the Venture is a miles-earning travel card with an annual fee. These cards are targeted to different consumers.
Can I get hotel credit from Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers an annual travel credit, which can be used on hotel stays.
Does Capital One Venture offer TSA PreCheck?
Yes, the Capital One Venture credit card offers a $120 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee statement credit once every four years.
Bottom line
There’s no question that the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the better credit card when compared to the Capital One Venture Rewards. However, you’re comparing apples to oranges — a $95 annual fee card will have different benefits than a $550 annual fee card.
When deciding on a credit card, analyze your spending habits and travel goals to ensure the card of your choosing aligns with your lifestyle. Although the Sapphire Reserve is a fantastic card, it might not be the most suitable option for someone who rarely travels in the same way the Venture might not be ideal for a full-time digital nomad.
You can always pair them to maximize your benefits if you can't decide between them. I have the opposite pairing — the Venture X with the Sapphire Preferred, but the benefits are comparable. Pairing cards tend to unlock their full potential.
Premium Travel Benefits
Current Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$550
Rewards Rate
5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
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