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The Capital One Venture Rewards card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards card are two of this issuer’s most popular and versatile cards. The Venture Rewards card is best suited for beginners looking to tap into the flexible rewards card market, with a reasonably low annual fee, a straightforward and lucrative earning structure, and easy-to-redeem miles.
On the other hand, the Venture X Rewards card offers additional perks, providing more value for cardholders who are willing to pay a higher annual fee in exchange for some useful extra benefits.
You really can’t go wrong with either of these Capital One credit cards, both of which earn valuable Capital One miles. But the best choice depends on your needs. We’ll compare and contrast them so you can pick the best card for you.
Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Venture X
Refer to the chart below for the primary differences between these two credit cards.
| Benefit | Capital One Venture Rewards | Capital One Venture X |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | $75,000 after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months | $75,000 after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months |
| Annual fee | $95 | $395 |
| Earning rates | 2X on all purchases5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One | 2X on all purchases5X on flights booked through Capital One Travel10x on hotels and car rentals in Capital One Travel |
| Lounge access | No | Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges, though this benefit will be more limited in 2026 |
| Other benefits | $120 Global Entry or PreCheck | $300 in Capital One Travel$120 Global Entry or PreCheck10,000 points on cardmember anniversary |
| Foreign transaction fees | No | No |
Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Venture X welcome offer
Both cards offer the exact same welcome offer: 75,000 Capital One miles if you spend $4,000 in the first three months. The welcome offer is generous, considering the low annual fee for the Capital One Venture One Rewards, which is an excellent deal. But if you’re open to paying a higher annual fee for additional perks, you could opt for the Capital One Venture X instead.
Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Venture X benefits
The benefits are where you’ll see the most difference between the two cards.
Capital One Venture Rewards
Compared to the Venture X, the Venture Rewards card doesn’t have many bells and whistles. Its perks are minimal, but so is the annual fee. That said, the card does come with a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, a $50 experience credit on every Lifestyle Collection booking on Capital One Travel, 50% off beverages at Capital One cafes, Hertz Five Star status, access to Capital One Dining, Capital One Experiences, Capital One Shopping, and Capital One offers, 0% fraud liability, and travel protections such as travel accident insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver.
The Capital One Venture X
Meanwhile, the Capital One Venture X includes benefits that can easily offset the $395 annual fee, like a $300 Capital One Travel credit, a $120 Global Entry credit (every four years), and a 10,000-mile bonus on your cardmember anniversary each year.
The card also includes perks like Hertz President’s Circle status, various travel insurances and purchase protections, a complimentary PRIOR subscription, 50% off the Enthusiast membership to The Cultivist, perks and credits for booking Premier Collection and Lifestyle Collection on Capital One Travel, and access to Capital One Shopping and Capital One Offers.
Cardmembers also have access to Capital One Lounges and get a Priority Pass membership, but the card has recently limited its lounge benefits. Venture X cardholders won’t be able to bring complimentary guests into Capital One or Priority Pass lounges starting February 1, 2026. However, if they spend $75,000 per year, they can bring up to two complimentary guests to Capital One Lounges and one complimentary guest to Capital One Landings per visit. If not, they’ll have to pay $45 per guest ($25 for kids 17 and under) per visit.
Additionally, starting on the same date, Venture X additional cardholders won’t automatically get complimentary airport lounge access. You’ll need to pay $125 per authorized user, which will grant them access to Capital One Lounge and Landing locations, as well as Priority Pass lounges.
Earning miles with the Capital One Venture Rewards vs. the Capital One Venture X
One perk of both cards? You’ll get 2X points on all spend, which can help you earn points quickly for spending in non-bonus categories. This is especially beneficial if you have any big purchases coming up that don’t traditionally fit into bonus categories, such as wedding rings, a motorcycle, or new landscaping supplies for your yard.
For increased earnings on the Capital One Venture Rewards Card, bonus categories include 5X miles for hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. If you tend to book a lot of hotels or rental cars, you might want to opt for the Venture X, as you’ll get 10X points on these bookings through Capital One Travel. You’ll also get 5X points on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
While each card has the ability to earn additional points for specific travel spending at Capital One Travel, some of the highest earning potential lies in both of the cards’ basic 2X points on everything. You can accumulate points quickly on spending that might not earn a bonus with any other card.
Transferring and redeeming miles with the Capital One Venture Rewards vs. the Capital One Venture X
Both the Capital One Venture Rewards and the Capital One Venture X cards earn Capital One miles, a versatile rewards currency that has no blackout dates and never expires (for as long as you hold the card.
Transferring them to a variety of hotel and airline partners is where you can get the most value out of Capital One miles, especially since the issuer just added a few new partners to its collection. If you do transfer miles, you’ll get the best value if you transfer to programs that have a 1:1 transfer ratio or higher:
Aeromexico Rewards
Etihad Guest
Finnair Plus
TAP Miles&Go
Additional transfer options include Accor Live Limitless, which transfers at a 2:1 ratio, I Prefer Hotel Rewards, which transfers at a 1:2 ratio, EVA Air and Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, which transfer at a 2:1.5 ratio, and JetBlue, which transfers at a 5:3 ratio.
Other redemption options include booking travel through Capital One Travel or erasing travel charges from your statement within 90 days. However, these options give you a value of 1 cent per miles. Since we value Capital One miles up to 2.5 cents per mile, transferring is typically where you can get the best value.
The flexibility of Capital One miles is what makes them simple to use. You can transfer some miles, use some to book through Capital One Travel, and wipe charges off your statement that you can’t use miles for elsewhere, like a ferry or bus trip. Sometimes, getting the most value from your miles is about using them when you need them the most.
How to upgrade or downgrade the Capital One Venture Rewards to the Capital One Venture X or vice versa
If you’ve held the Capital One Venture Rewards card for a year or more and you think you’re ready for the Capital One Venture X, there are a couple of ways you can go about upgrading. Downgrading the Venture X to the Venture Rewards (or to another card) would follow the same process.
The first option is to call Capital One and speak with a representative to determine if you’re eligible for a card upgrade, downgrade, retention offer, or change. They can guide you through the upgrade or downgrade process if you decide to proceed.
The other option is to log into your Capital One account online and select your Venture Rewards card. Then, select “Offers and Upgrades” from the options along the top. Click “Swap Your Card” to see what options you’re eligible for.
Switching cards is a personal choice, but if you’re ready for a more premium rewards card and don’t mind paying a higher annual fee in exchange for some additional perks, consider upgrading to the Venture X. If you aren’t utilizing the perks of the Venture X or need to pay a lower annual fee, downgrading to the Venture Rewards is a good plan.
Summary: Which card is right for you?
If you’re a frequent traveler who values airport lounge access and travel perks like statement credits, opt for the Venture X, especially if you know you’ll utilize the benefits to a point where you can offset the $395 annual fee. But, if a $95 annual fee is more your style, the Venture Rewards still has a generous welcome bonus and legitimate earnings potential that can bulk up your balance of Capital One Miles fast.
And if you’re not sure, start with one, then see how it goes. You can always upgrade or downgrade in a year if you’re ready for a change.
