The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Vs. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card are two of this issuer’s most popular and versatile cards. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit 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 Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 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 Credit Card vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 

Refer to the chart below for the primary differences between these two credit cards.

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 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 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 Rewards Credit Card instead.

Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card benefits

The benefits are where you’ll see the most difference between the two cards. 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Compared to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit 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 up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, a $50 experience credit on every Lifestyle Collection booking on Capital One Travel, 50% off handcrafted 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 Rewards Credit Card

Meanwhile, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card includes benefits that can easily offset the $395 annual fee, like a $300 Capital One Travel credit, up to $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 Landing locations and get a Priority Pass™ membership, but the card has recently limited its lounge benefits. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card cardholders won’t be able to bring complimentary guests into Capital One Lounges and Landing locations 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, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 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 Credit Card vs. the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 

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 Credit 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 Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, 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 Credit Card vs. the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 

Both the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 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

• Air Canada Aeroplan

• Avianca LifeMiles

• British Airways Executive Club

• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

• Emirates Skywards

• Etihad Guest

• Finnair Plus

• Flying Blue

• Qantas Frequent Flyer

• Qatar Airways Privilege Club

• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

• TAP Miles&Go

• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

• Virgin Red

• Choice Privileges

• Wyndham Rewards

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 Credit Card to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or vice versa

If you’ve held the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for a year or more and you think you’re ready for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, there are a couple of ways you can go about upgrading. Downgrading the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (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 Capital One Venture Rewards Credit 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 Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. If you aren’t utilizing the perks of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or need to pay a lower annual fee, downgrading to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card 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 Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, 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 Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card 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.

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Compensation may affect how and where the cards appear on the site, and we do not include all card companies and all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses, and recommendations have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these affiliate entities. point.me has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. point.me and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened.