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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
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 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 19.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $95Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
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
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.
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
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.
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