Find Your Best
American Express® Gold Card
vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Updated: March 19, 2024
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The American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card are two popular travel rewards credit cards that provide comparable benefits. Both of these cards have generous welcome bonuses for new cardholders, zero foreign transaction fees and offer rewards points redeemable for airline tickets and hotel stays. However, there are some differences to consider before choosing one credit card over the other.
Comparison Overview: American Express® Gold Card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- American Express® Gold CardCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
American Express® Gold Card At a Glance
The American Express® Gold Card has a $250 annual fee and is only available to those with good to excellent credit. It offers moderate 3x points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, redeemable for future travel.
It also includes a range of dining benefits, including 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and $10 in Uber Cash and dining credit each month, for a yearly total of up to $240.
- American Express® Gold Card
Best rewards card for frequent fliers and diners
- 1–4 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- See Pay Over Time APR*APR
- $250Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Top-tier rewards on dining and groceries
- Great annual bonus credits
- Transfer points to multiple airline partners
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited premium travel perks
- No rewards on hotel stays or car rentals
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year. After reaching the cap, earn 1X point per dollar spent.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with the airline or on amextravel.com.
- Receive $10 in Uber cash each month when you add your Amex Gold to your Uber account, totaling up to $120 per year. This can be used for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. To receive this benefit you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express Gold Card must be a method of payment on your Uber account. The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States.
- Get up to $10 in monthly statement credits when you use the Amex Gold at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations, totaling up to $120 per year. Enrollment required.
- Earn a $100 experience credit (with a two-night minimum stay) when booking The Hotel Collection using American Express Travel. The experience credit varies by property.
- Choose between a Gold or a Rose Gold card to match your style.
- No foreign transaction fees. See rates and fees.
- The annual fee is $250. See rates and fees.
- Terms apply.
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card At a Glance
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has a lower annual fee of $95 (savvy travelers who want to earn rewards without paying an annual fee can get 1.25x miles with the VentureOne card). It also features no foreign transaction fees and a generous early spend bonus of 60,000 miles (worth $600 in travel) after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months of opening your account.
Its rewards program is flexible — every transaction earns 2x miles per dollar spent, redeemable as statement credits toward travel purchases made through Capital One Travel. It also offers a $100 statement credit towards enrollment in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, two services that let you bypass long lines at security checkpoints when traveling domestically and returning from overseas, respectively.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Strong entry-level travel card with high rewards rates
- 2-5 milesRewards Rate
- 19.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $95Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Unlimited miles on select travel and everyday expenses
- Generous welcome offer
- Flexible redemption options
- No foreign transaction fees
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application credit
Cons
- Annual fee
- Significant spend requirement for welcome offer
- Minimal travel perks
- Limited-time offer! Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account; there's no limit to how many you can earn and no blackout dates.
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
- Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network.
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel.
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs.
Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Comparison Summary
MoneyGeek breaks down the difference between the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to help you choose which travel rewards card is ideal for you.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Welcome Bonus | American Express® Gold Card users earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 on qualifying purchases within the first six months of card membership. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Rewards credit card gives you 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months. Winner: Tie |
Rewards | The American Express® Gold Card is more ideal for those who spend regularly at supermarkets and dine out. This card offers 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in expenditures per year, 1x after that), 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com and 1x points on all other purchases. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Rewards Credit Card offers 2x miles on all purchases, making it an excellent choice for those seeking an uncomplicated reward system. When you book travel via Capital One Travel, you may earn 5x miles on hotel and rental car reservations. Winner: American Express® Gold Card |
Annual Fee | The annual fee for the American Express® Gold Card is $250, while the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Rewards credit card is $95 per year. Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Rewards |
Redemption | Both cards let you redeem points in various ways, including travel, statement credit and gift cards. Both cards also allow you to transfer rewards points or miles to a variety of eligible airline and hotel partners. Winner: Tie |
Which Card Should You Get?
Before deciding between the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, consider what's essential to you as a travel rewards credit card user, including rewards, perks and benefits.
Who Should Consider the American Express® Gold Card?
Air travelers who want to rack up a ton of bonus points on their purchases will love the American Express® Gold Card. This Amex card might also be a good option for those who often eat at restaurants, since dining points can be redeemed for flights.
You will earn 4x points per dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and 1x point per dollar spent on eligible purchases, which may be redeemed for future travel.
You may earn up to $10 in statement credits each month if you use the Gold Card to pay at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Boxed and select Shake Shack locations. This will save you up to $120 per year.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is great for individuals who like to use their rewards on travel rather than other purchases.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Rewards cardholders that make travel purchases with any vendor can be reimbursed from their rewards account at the rate of $0.01 per mile.
If you book your hotel or car rental with Capital One Travel, you'll earn 5x miles per dollar.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
EXPERT OPINION
Both of these cards offer great value. However, the two are targeted toward different audiences. If you simply want to save on travel without any frills, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card will likely be a solid fit. However, if you want spending credits towards dining out and future Uber rides, and the flexibility of a charge card with no predetermined credit line, the American Express® Gold Card can be a great choice.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
Finding the best travel rewards credit card for you can be difficult. MoneyGeek answers some of the most frequently asked questions about the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to help you better understand the differences.
Is the American Express® Gold Card better than the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
Answering which card is better requires you to analyze your unique situation and needs. If you're looking for a travel rewards credit card that also allows you to earn heaps of points on groceries and dining out, the American Express® Gold Card is for you. However, if you want to redeem your points on travel while paying a low annual fee, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a better option.
Can you get an American Express® Gold Card if you already have the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
Yes. If you believe that having both cards would benefit you, you can apply for both.
Can you transfer points from American Express® Gold Card to Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
You cannot transfer points from one issuer to the other. However, American Express and Capital One have similar airline and hotel transfer partners.
Can you switch from the American Express® Gold Card to Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
If you're thinking about switching, you should assess if the American Express® Gold Card is incompatible with your spending patterns and whether the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card would be more useful to you.
What’s harder to get, the American Express® Gold Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card?
The American Express® Gold Card is more difficult to get — a credit score of at least 700 is necessary for approval. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, on the other hand, requires a credit score in the mid-600s to be approved.
How much do you have to spend for the American Express® Gold Card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to get the welcome bonus?
To earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points with the American Express® Gold Card, you must spend $4,000 in the first six months. To get 60,000 bonus points with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you must spend $3,000 in the first three months.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
Anyone who enjoys traveling, earning rewards and using credit cards could benefit from the American Express® Gold Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. However, if you want to earn cash back on your purchases, cash-back rewards credit cards are a good alternative.
Learn more about credit cards in general
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- Capital One. "Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card." Accessed January 6, 2022.
- Capital One. "Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card." Accessed January 6, 2022.
- American Express. "American Express® Gold Card." Accessed January 6, 2022.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.