Capital One Venture X vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
A side-by-side breakdown of fees, welcome offers, earning rates and travel perks — so you can see which card is worth it for how you actually spend.
| Annual fee | $395 | $795 |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | 75,000 Venture miles after spending $4,000 in 3 months | 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months — the highest ever offered |
| Rewards rate | 10X on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 2X on all other purchases | 8X on travel booked through Chase Travel, 4X on flights and hotels booked directly, 3X on dining worldwide |
| Best for |
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| Key benefits |
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| Card network | Visa Infinite | Visa Infinite |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Recommended credit | Excellent (750–850) | Excellent (740–850) |
Capital One Venture X
- $300 travel credit + 10,000 anniversary miles virtually eliminate the effective $395 annual fee
- Highest flat-rate earning among premium cards — 2x on every purchase, no category tracking
- Lounge access via Priority Pass Select + Capital One Lounges + Capital One Landings
- Hertz President's Circle status adds genuine rental car upgrade value at no extra cost
- No authorized user card fee — ideal for couples and families (lounge access now costs $125/user)
- February 2026: guests at Capital One/Priority Pass lounges now pay $45 per visit — a significant downgrade for guest travelers
- Authorized users must pay $125/year for lounge access (previously free)
- 10x and 5x bonus categories require booking through Capital One Travel portal
- $300 travel credit restricted to Capital One Travel portal bookings only
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- $300 annual travel credit is the most flexible in the premium card space — flights, hotels, transit, car rentals
- Best-in-class lounge access: Priority Pass Select (2 guests free) + Chase Sapphire Lounges + Air Canada Maple Leaf
- 150,000-point welcome bonus — the highest ever offered, worth ~$3,000 at TPG valuations
- Comprehensive travel insurance including primary rental car coverage
- $500 The Edit hotel credit and $300 Exclusive Tables dining credit add significant new value
- $795 annual fee requires actively using 6+ separate credit categories to justify
- Points now worth 1.0 cpp through Chase Travel (reduced from 1.5 cpp)
- Authorized user fee jumped from $75 to $195 — a major cost increase for couples
- Several credits tied to niche categories (Exclusive Tables, StubHub, The Edit) not universally useful
Common questions
Is the Capital One Venture X or Chase Sapphire Reserve better?
Capital One Venture X suits premium travel, while Chase Sapphire Reserve is stronger for premium travel. The Capital One Venture X carries a $395 annual fee versus $795 for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, so the right pick depends on how much of each card's credits you'll actually use.
What is the annual fee on each card?
The Capital One Venture X has a $395 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $795 annual fee. Weigh that against each card's annual credits — a higher fee often nets out lower once you use the travel and dining credits.