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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card share a lot of similarities. For example, the Venture has an annual fee of $95, while the Sapphire Preferred has an annual fee of $95. However, the Capital One Venture has simpler rewards rates than the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Another difference is that the Venture helps you earn statement credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry but offers no hotel statement credit. The Sapphire Preferred helps you earn hotel statement credit but offers no credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
Let’s explore how the Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Preferred compare to help you determine which credit card is a better fit for you.
- Key takeaways
- Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred comparison
- Capital One Venture benefits and drawbacks
- Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits and drawbacks
- What both cards excel at
- 5 important differences between Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Which credit card should you choose?
- When you should choose Capital One Venture
- When you should choose Chase Sapphire Preferred
- FAQ
- Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: bottom line
Key takeaways
- Both the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are great credit cards for frequent travelers.
- The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a $95 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee.
- The Capital One Venture helps you earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. On the other hand, the Chase Sapphire Preferred helps you earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- The Capital One Venture helps you earn up to $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees every four years. The Chase Sapphire Preferred helps you earn up to $50 in statement credit each account anniversary for hotels booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
- Capital One has more airline transfer partners than Chase. The two credit card issuers have the same number of hotel transfer partners.
Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred comparison
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| Card type | Travel | Travel |
| Credit card issuer | Capital One | Chase |
| Credit card network | Visa | Visa |
| Annual fee | $95 | $95 |
| Welcome offer | Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
| Earning rate | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and eligible online grocery purchases; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases |
| Redemption methods |
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| Credits |
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| Travel perks |
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| Other benefits |
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| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Credit needed | Excellent, Good | Excellent, Good |
| Learn more | Learn more |
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Our verdict
- We recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred in most situations because it has more travel benefits, and we place a higher value for Chase Ultimate Rewards. But if you want a simple rewards rate, consider the Capital One Venture.
Capital One Venture benefits and drawbacks
- Simple rewards rate
- Up to $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
The Capital One Venture Rewards is easy to use because of its simple rewards rate. That means you don’t have to worry about having various spending categories.
You can earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
You can also take advantage of up to $100 statement credit every four years for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees and two complimentary passes per year to Capital One or Plaza Premium Lounges.
Learn more in our Capital One Venture Card review.
Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits and drawbacks
- Up to $50 hotel statement credit for stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 25% bonus to travel redemptions through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred helps you earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and eligible online grocery purchases; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
This card also has loads of travel benefits, including up to $50 statement credit each account anniversary for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. This benefit alone can help you easily offset some of the $95 annual fee.
You also receive a 25% bonus for travel redemptions made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. You can use the travel portal to redeem points on flights, hotel stays, and car rentals.
Learn more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
What both cards excel at
The Capital One Venture Rewards and Chase Sapphire Preferred share a few excellent qualities:
- Welcome bonuses: You can earn a welcome offer with either card as a new cardholder.
- No foreign transaction fees: You don’t have to pay foreign transaction fees with either card.
- Travel coverage: Both cards provide multiple types of travel insurance.
- Purchase protection: Both cards provide purchase and extended warranty protection.
- Redemption options: You have multiple redemption options with the rewards programs on both cards. That includes redeeming rewards for travel, transfer partners, gift cards, and statement credits.
- Low annual fees: The Capital One Venture has a $95 annual fee, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred also has a $95 annual fee. Compared to other premium travel cards with annual fees over $500, these annual costs are relatively low.
- Combine rewards: With both the Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can combine your rewards with a select number of other cards from the same card issuer.
5 important differences between Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Preferred
Consider these differences to help you decide which card might be the better choice for you.
1. Travel perks
For travel benefits, the Capital One Venture provides:
- Up to $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years
- Two free lounge visits per year to Capital One or Plaza Premium Lounges
The Chase Sapphire Preferred provides:
- Up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- A 25% bonus to travel redemptions made through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Anniversary bonus points equal to 10% of your previous year’s eligible purchases
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a larger number of benefits. We also think the Sapphire Preferred benefits, especially the hotel credit, are easier to use than the Capital One Venture benefits.
In particular, using the airport lounge access on the Capital One Venture Card depends on the airports you typically frequent, as Plaza Premium and Capital One Lounges aren’t available everywhere.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred because it has more benefits and they’re easy to use.
2. Travel insurance
The Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Preferred have these travel protection benefits:
| Capital One Venture | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
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The Chase Sapphire Preferred matches the Capital One Venture for available coverage, while also providing additional insurance benefits.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred because it has more travel coverage.
3. Transfer partners
As a redemption option on either card, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points or Venture miles to airline and hotel partners. These are the transfer partner options for the Capital One Venture:
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These are the transfer partners for the Chase Sapphire Preferred:
| Chase transfer partners | |
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Capital One has more transfer partners, but the actual value of transfer partners depends on which ones align with your travels.
For example, Chase transfer partners include World of Hyatt, while Capital One transfer partners include Wyndham Rewards. If you prefer to transfer points to one of those loyalty programs over the other, that’s a sign of which travel partners would be more valuable for you.
Winner: It’s a tie because the better transfer partners depend on your travel preferences.
4. Rewards rate
The Capital One Venture helps you earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred helps you earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and eligible online grocery purchases; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
The winner here ultimately comes down to your spending habits and preferences. But we prefer the Capital One Venture because it’s easier to use and earn bonus miles without worrying about spending categories.
Winner: Capital One Venture because it has a simple rewards rate that could appeal to more people.
5. Travel portal redemption value
You can redeem Capital One miles through Capital One Travel at a rate of 1 mile per 1 cent. That means 10,000 miles equals $100 in travel redemptions through Capital One Travel.
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you get a 25% boost to travel redemptions made through Chase Ultimate Rewards. That boosts your standard redemption rate from 1 point per 1 cent to 1 point per 1.25 cents. In other words, 10,000 points equals $125 in travel redemptions through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
If you like using travel portals for your travel redemptions, the Chase Sapphire Preferred provides a better redemption value.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred because of its boost to travel redemptions made through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Which credit card should you choose?
When you should choose Capital One Venture
- You already have a relationship with Capital One
- You prefer a simple rewards rate
- You prefer Capital One transfer partners
- You want to combine rewards between applicable Capital One credit cards
- You prefer Capital One Venture travel perks
When you should choose Chase Sapphire Preferred
- You already have a relationship with Chase
- You prefer a rewards rate with multiple bonus categories
- You prefer Chase transfer partners
- You want to combine rewards between applicable Chase credit cards
- You want more travel insurance options
- You prefer Chase Sapphire Preferred travel perks
FAQ
Which is better, the Capital One Venture or the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
The choice between the Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards depends on your preferences. If you’re loyal to specific transfer partners or prefer Venture miles or Chase Ultimate Rewards points, choose accordingly.
Capital One Venture earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. It also offers up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fees.
On the other hand, Chase Sapphire Preferred provides 25% more value on points redemptions for travel booked through the Chase portal, which is beneficial if you use other Chase cards. It also has a broad range of bonus categories.
Is the Capital One Venture worth it?
The Capital One Venture is worth it if you’ll get value from its rewards and benefits. This is one of the best travel credit cards because of its high earning potential, low $95 annual fee, and useful benefits. This includes up to a $100 fee reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, points transfer options to over 10 travel loyalty programs, and different types of travel insurance.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred give you airport lounge access?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred doesn’t include complimentary airport lounge access as one of its offered benefits. If you want access to airport lounges while traveling, consider cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or The Platinum Card® from American Express. The Sapphire Reserve offers free Priority Pass lounge access while the Amex Platinum offers both Priority Pass and Amex Centurion Lounge access. Select benefits require enrollment.
What credit score do you need for the Capital One Venture card?
You likely need a good or excellent credit score to qualify for the Capital One Venture Credit Card. Good credit scores typically start above 660 while excellent credit scores are often above 780. However, credit scores can vary based on the scoring model, and Capital One may also take into account other factors affecting your creditworthiness when considering your application.
What credit score do you need for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?
You typically need a good or excellent credit score to qualify for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Good credit scores generally start at 660, and excellent credit scores are typically 780 or above. However, credit scores can vary based on the scoring model. Keep in mind that Chase may also consider credit factors other than your credit score when reviewing your credit card application.
Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: bottom line
Overall, we recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred over the Capital One Venture because it has more travel perks, including a higher number of travel insurance benefits.
But we still think the Capital One Venture is an excellent choice, especially if you want a simple rewards rate for making everyday purchases.
For our top travel credit card offers, check out our list of the best travel rewards credit cards.
Great for Flexible Travel Rewards
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FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Current Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$95
Rewards Rate
5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and eligible online grocery purchases; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases
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