Travelers seeking to earn an array of rewards, including a generous welcome bonus and flexible redemption options, may consider applying for either the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture Rewards credit cards.
MoneyGeek analyzed the differences between the two to help you find the card that suits you best.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture Rewards cards have similar features, including a welcome bonus of 60,000 points, an annual fee of $95 and no foreign transaction fees.
To establish the best card for your needs, you can compare the cost, features and benefits of Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture Rewards. For instance, the Capital One Venture Rewards card offers better rewards and more flexible redemption methods. In contrast, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card provides you with more travel benefits, such as better insurance coverage.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is a good option for frequent travelers who wish to earn unlimited rewards on their purchases. Cardholders can redeem their points for travel, gift cards or in the form of cash. The card also has a generous welcome offer of 60,000 points for cardholders who spend at least $4,000 within three months of opening the account — that’s equivalent to $750 toward travel if redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. The annual fee for the card is $95.
A very good rewards card with no foreign transaction fees and comprehensive travel cover
The Capital One Venture Rewards card provides you with unlimited rewards redeemable in various ways, including transfers to loyalty programs. The card has an annual fee of $95 and no international transaction fees. Cardholders who spend at least $3,000 on purchases within three months receive an early spend bonus of 60,000 points. They can also add an authorized user to the card at no additional fee.
A great rewards card that lets you earn unlimited miles
MoneyGeek compared the differences between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture Rewards cards. You can use our breakdown to determine the better travel rewards card for your needs.
Rewards
Both cards offer generous rewards to cardholders.
With Chase Sapphire Preferred, you will earn 3X points for every dollar spent on dining, takeout, online grocery shopping and other eligible delivery purchases. You will also get one point for every dollar spent on other purchases, plus 25% more value for points redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards plan. On travel, cardholders earn 5X points on Ultimate Rewards purchases and 2X points on other travel purchases.
With the Capital One Venture Rewards card, you will receive 2X miles per dollar spent on all purchases and 5X miles on hotel and rental car purchases made through Capital One Travel. You also get a $100 statement credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fees once every four years. The card also grants access to various sports, dining and music events.
Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards
Welcome Bonus
Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture Rewards provide new cardholders with a welcome offer.
Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders earn 60,000 points if they spend $4,000 in the first three months.
However, Capital One Venture Rewards cardholders get 60,000 points if they spend $3,000 within the same duration.
Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection
If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you will receive travel protection such as rental car insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation insurance plus other travel and emergency assistance services. Additionally, you will get purchase protection and extended warranty protection to safeguard your purchases.
With the Capital One Venture Rewards card, you will also receive travel accident insurance, rental car insurance and extended warranty protection. You will also get $0 fraud liability protection against unauthorized purchases.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Transaction fees
Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture Rewards feature cash advance and balance transfer fees.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a cash advance rate of $10 or 5% of the transaction amount, plus a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater.
The Capital One Venture Rewards has a cash advance rate of $10 or 3% of the amount, whichever is greater. Additionally, cardholders pay 3% of each amount as the balance transfer fee.
Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards
Transfer Partners
Both cards allow you to transfer points to external partners. However, the Capital One Venture Rewards card has fewer partners, including AerClub, British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards, JetBlue TrueBlue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt.
On the other hand, Chase Sapphire Preferred has many more partners, including Accor Live Limitless, Aeromexico Club Premier, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan, Asia Miles, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Avios, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Infinity MileageLands, Finnair Plus, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred
When choosing between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture Rewards cards, it is advisable to consider your spending habits and needs.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a solid travel credit card for individuals who wish to earn generous rewards and redeem them in a wide variety of ways. The card has an annual fee of $95 and no international transaction fees, making it ideal for frequent travelers.
International travelers will benefit from the card’s generous rewards and flexible redemption options, including a $50 statement credit every account anniversary for hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
Those who wish to break up large card purchases into monthly payments without paying additional interest fees would benefit from the My Chase Plan.
The Capital One Venture Rewards card is best suited for those seeking to earn travel rewards on purchases. This card also has a $95 annual fee and no international transaction fees.
Individuals who want to earn unlimited rewards and spend these directly on travel can transfer their points to external partners.
Travelers who book hotels and use rental car services frequently will rack up 5X miles per dollar on these purchases when made through Capital One Travel.
These two cards are close competitors as they offer similar benefits and features. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers slightly better benefits as you can earn more than 2x miles per dollar on several popular categories. Additionally, the card offers a comprehensive travel insurance policy for all cardholders.
Because information is vital in selecting the best credit card for your needs, MoneyGeek responds to these commonly asked questions about the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture Rewards to help you make the best choice.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture Rewards are excellent cards for international travelers interested in valuable rewards. If you’re not satisfied with the features of the two cards, you may consider checking out other recommended travel and rewards cards.
