Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card vs. The Platinum Card^® from American Express [2024]: The Venture X Reigns Supreme

We prefer the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card over The Platinum Card^® from American Express because it has a lower $395 annual fee (compared to a $695 annual fee) and much simpler rewards and benefits.

You might choose the American Express Platinum over the Capital One Venture X if you prefer certain benefits depending on the situation, but we still think the Venture X is the better option overall.

Explore our Venture X vs. Amex Platinum card review to see which one makes the most sense for you.

Key takeaways

• We recommend the Venture X over the Amex Platinum for most people because it has a lower $395 annual fee and simple rewards rate while still providing excellent travel benefits.
• The Amex Platinum could make sense depending on the travel benefits you want. Overall, the Amex Platinum provides more airport lounge access than the Venture X.

Venture X vs. Amex Platinum comparison

	Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	The Platinum Card® from American Express
Card type	Travel	Travel
Credit card issuer	Capital One	American Express
Annual fee	$395	$695
Welcome offer	Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months
Earning rate	2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25	5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Redemption methods	Capital One Travel portal Transfer partners Cover past travel purchases Capital One Entertainment Online purchases Gift cards Statement credits Mailed checks	American Express Travel portal Transfer partners Pay with points at checkout Gift cards Cover card charges Shop with points
Annual credits	$300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel 10,000 bonus anniversary miles	Up to $240 digital entertainment credit Up to $200 Uber Cash Up to $200 hotel credits for prepaid Amex Travel bookings through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection (requires a minimum two-night stay) Up to $200 airline fee credit per calendar year Up to $199 CLEAR Plus credit Up to $155 and applicable local sales tax per year Walmart+ credit Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit Up to $300 Equinox credit (Select benefits require enrollment.)
Travel perks	Access to Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One Lounges Up to $120 statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee Hertz President’s Circle elite status1	Access to The Centurion Lounge, Priority Pass, International American Express Lounges, and other airport lounge networks Up to $120 every four years for Global Entry or up to $85 every four and a half years for TSA PreCheck application fee (five-year plan only) Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status Hilton Honors Gold status Car rental privileges with Avis, Hertz, and National (Select benefits require enrollment.)
Travel insurance	Auto rental collision damage waiver2 Trip delay reimbursement Trip cancellation and interruption insurance Lost luggage reimbursement	Car rental loss and damage insurance3 Trip delay insurance4 Trip cancellation and interruption insurance5 Baggage insurance6 Global Assist Hotline7
Other benefits	Return protection Extended warranty protection Cell phone protection Capital One Entertainment access	Return protection8 Purchase protection9 Extended warranty10 Cell phone protection11 American Express Experiences through By Invitation Only and Preferred Access
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Credit needed	Excellent	Excellent, Good
	Read full review	Read full review

Our verdict

• We recommend the Capital One Venture X because it has a much lower $395 annual fee and easy ways to almost immediately offset the annual cost, including the $300 travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel and 10,000 bonus miles each account anniversary. We also like how simple the rewards rate is on the Venture X.

Venture X benefits and drawbacks

The Capital One Venture X is an excellent credit card for travelers because of its many travel benefits, such as airport lounge access to Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One Lounges. And you can even invite up to two guests to applicable lounges depending on availability.

The Venture X has a $395 annual fee, but travelers shouldn’t have any problem using two specific benefits to help offset the cost. The first benefit is a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel. That helps cover a flight, hotel stay, or car rental. The second benefit is receiving 10,000 anniversary miles each year, which could be used for another $100 toward Capital One Travel bookings.

If you’re able to use both of those benefits, you’ve essentially offset the $395 annual fee, and all other card perks and rewards simply provide additional value.

Read our Venture X review.

Amex Platinum benefits and drawbacks

The Platinum Card from American Express is an excellent travel credit card if you like having loads of different perks and benefits. The main drawback is its $695 annual fee, but you could more than offset the cost if you can take advantage of the Amex Platinum’s many annual credits and other benefits.

For example, with just three benefits, you’ve almost offset the $695 annual fee:

• Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit
• Up to $200 annual Uber Cash (starting 11/8/2024, you must use an Amex card as the payment method to redeem your Amex Uber Cash benefit)
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
• (Select benefits require enrollment.)

The issue here is that not everyone will receive the same value from each of the Amex Platinum benefits. For instance, the up to $300 annual Equinox credit (requires enrollment) is nearly useless if you don’t use or plan on using Equinox for a gym membership.

Fortunately, you don’t have to use every single one of the Amex Platinum’s benefits for the card to be worth it for you. Depending on the situation, you might only find value in a few benefits, such as if you frequently use the airport lounge access (requires enrollment) on your travels. But those benefits could be enough to make the card worthwhile.

Read our Amex Platinum review.

What both cards excel at

As premium travel cards, the Venture X and Amex Platinum share a few similarities:

• Welcome offers: Both cards provide welcome offers, giving new cardmembers the opportunity to earn valuable rewards if they meet the requirements.
• Flexible rewards: The Venture X and Amex Platinum earn rewards that have a variety of redemption options, including travel, gift cards, and covering certain purchases. You can also transfer rewards from either card to applicable airline and hotel travel partners.
• Travel insurance: You automatically receive certain travel insurance benefits when you use either card to make certain purchases. This could include trip delay reimbursement, baggage insurance, and more.
• Helpful protections: Both cards provide useful purchase-related protections for eligible purchases and items, including return protection, extended warranty coverage, and cell phone protection.

8 important differences between Venture X and Amex Platinum

While they’re both travel cards, the Venture X and Amex Platinum have many differences.

1. Annual fees

The Venture X has a $395 annual fee, and the Amex Platinum has a $695 annual fee. If you consider nothing else, the Venture X is the better card because of its lower cost.

Compared to most credit cards, the Amex Platinum’s $695 annual fee is much higher than average.

Winner: Capital One Venture X because it has a lower annual fee of $395.

2. Annual credits and benefits

The Venture X provides these annual credits and benefits:

• $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel
• 10,000 bonus anniversary miles

The Amex Platinum provides these annual credits and benefits:

• Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit
• Up to $200 annual Uber Cash
• Up to $200 annual hotel credit for prepaid Amex Travel bookings through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection (requires a minimum two-night stay)
• Up to $200 airline fee credit per calendar year
• Up to $199 annual CLEAR Plus credit
• Up to $155 and applicable local sales tax per year Walmart+ credit
• Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit
• Up to $300 annual Equinox credit
• (Select benefits require enrollment.)

If you’re able to use all of these credits and benefits on both cards, the Amex Platinum provides much more value.

Winner: The Platinum Card from American Express because it provides more annual credits and benefits where you could earn value.

3. Earning potential

The Venture X provides 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25.

The Amex Platinum provides 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

The better rewards rate depends on your spending habits, but we think the Venture X has a simpler earning rate that could appeal to more people.

Winner: Capital One Venture X because it has a simple rewards rate that makes it easier to earn rewards on different types of eligible purchases.

4. Transfer partners

The Venture X lets you transfer Capital One miles to these Capital One transfer partners:

The Amex Platinum lets you transfer Membership Rewards Points to these American Express transfer partners:

Overall, the better transfer partners for you depend on your specific travel plans and preferences.

Winner: It’s a tie because you can access a number of transfer partners through either card, but the better options for you depend on your circumstances.

5. Elite status

Venture X cardholders can receive Hertz President’s Circle elite status.

Amex Platinum cardmembers can receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, Hilton Honors Gold status, Avis Preferred Plus Elite status, Hertz President’s Circle Elite status, and National Emerald Club Executive Elite status (select benefits require enrollment).

Considering the Amex Platinum matches what you can receive for elite status on the Venture X and goes well beyond, it’s the clear winner.

Winner: The Platinum Card from American Express because it provides more opportunities to receive elite status with different loyalty programs.

6. Airport lounge access

With the Venture X, you can access these airport lounge networks:

• Capital One Lounge
• Priority Pass
• Plaza Premium Lounge

You also receive complimentary access for up to two guests, depending on availability.

With the Amex Platinum, you can access the Global Lounge Collection, including these lounge networks:

• The Centurion Lounge
• International American Express Lounges
• Priority Pass
• Delta SkyClub
• Airspace
• Plaza Premium Lounge
• Lufthansa Lounges
• (Select benefits require enrollment)

You can generally bring up to two guests with you at no additional cost to Priority Pass, Airspace, Plaza Premium, and International American Express Lounges, depending on availability (select benefits require enrollment).

Overall, the Amex Platinum provides more airport lounge access than the Venture X.

Winner: The Platinum Card from American Express because it provides access to more airport lounges than the Venture X.

7. Credit requirements

You typically need an excellent credit score to qualify for the Venture X, while you typically need a good or excellent credit score to qualify for the Amex Platinum. If you’re still in the process of improving your credit history, it could be easier to qualify for the Amex Platinum.

Keep in mind that credit card companies consider multiple factors to determine your eligibility for a new card. Your credit score is often one of those factors, but it’s not the only consideration.

Winner: The Platinum Card from American Express because it generally has less strict credit requirements.

8. Authorized users

The Venture X allows you to add cardholders to your account at no additional cost. Even better, the additional cardholder accounts receive many of the same benefits, including airport lounge access, Hertz President’s Circle elite status, and travel insurance.

The Amex Platinum lets you add two types of additional cardholders:

• Platinum Card: Costs $195 for each additional card user.
• Companion Platinum Card: Costs $0 for additional cardholders.

Additional Platinum cardholders receive some of the same benefits as the primary Amex Platinum cardholders, including the same airport lounge access, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, and Hilton Honors Gold status (select benefits require enrollment).

Additional companion cardholders don’t receive airport lounge access or elite status benefits.

Winner: Capital One Venture X because you can add authorized users at no additional cost, and they receive many of the same benefits as the primary account holder.

Which credit card should you choose?

When you should choose Venture X

• You want a lower $395 annual fee
• You want a simple rewards rate that can work for both travel and everyday purchases
• You want to add complimentary additional cardholders who receive many of your primary benefits
• You prefer Capital One transfer partners
• You have an existing relationship with Capital One

When you should choose Amex Platinum

• You want a rewards rate that makes sense for frequent travelers
• You want increased airport lounge access
• You want more opportunities to have elite status with different loyalty programs
• You prefer American Express transfer partners
• You have an existing relationship with American Express

What factors to consider before choosing

It’s important to ask yourself a few questions if deciding between the Venture X vs. Amex Platinum, which could include:

• How do you want to earn rewards? The Venture X has a simple rewards rate that could help you earn travel rewards on everyday purchases.
• Do your local airports have lounges you can access with benefits from either card? Both cards provide airport lounge access, but whether that’s useful to you depends on the airports you frequent.
• Is your credit score high enough to potentially qualify for either card? The Amex Platinum generally has less strict credit requirements.
• Are you planning on adding any authorized users? The Venture X doesn’t charge for additional cardholders.
• How much of an annual fee are you willing to pay? The Venture X has a lower $395 annual fee.

We think either card could make sense depending on the situation. But the Venture X is an ideal fit for just about any type of traveler that wants a premium credit card. It’s easy to use and has simple, straightforward, and valuable travel benefits.

The Amex Platinum is more of a luxury travel card that has an almost overwhelming selection of perks and benefits. It suits more frequent travelers who take enough trips to use many of the available benefits.

FAQ

Venture X vs. Amex Platinum: bottom line

In general, we recommend the Capital One Venture X over the Amex Platinum because it has a lower $395 annual fee and simpler benefits. The Amex Platinum shines in many aspects, including its airport lounge access, but it has a lot of benefits to keep track of and a high $695 annual fee.

For more of our recommended credit card offers for travelers, check out our list of the best travel credit cards.

Easy-to-Earn Unlimited Rewards

Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card

Benefits

Card Details

• $0 annual fee
• Simple, flat-rate rewards
• Flexible redemption options
• Up to 75% preferred Rewards bonus potential
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• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
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Intro Offer

Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

Annual Fee

$0

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Why we like it

• The Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card is great for individuals who enjoy earning rewards and traveling.

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