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Chase and
Both have similar annual fees under $100, solid sign-up bonuses, and nice benefits. However, key differences between category bonuses, travel portals, and travel protections could push you toward one card.
Which one is best for you? Let's review several aspects of each card — from bonuses to perks — to help you determine which is best for your situation.
At a Glance
At surface level, these two cards are very similar. Here's a quick summary of the two side by side:
$95
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
$95Rates & Fees
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on gas and EV charging
- 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Welcome Offers
One of the best things about signing up for a new credit card is the welcome offer. And both the Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture come with valuable bonuses.
Here's what's currently available for new applicants:
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel
loyalty programs - Member FDIC
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on gas and EV charging
- 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
For reference, AwardWallet users redeem Chase points for 2.07¢ each.
- Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus a limited-time $300 Capital One Travel stays credit
- 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on all other purchase
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔® (up to $120)
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
AwardWallet users redeem Capital One miles for 2.08¢ each.
As it stands right now, both cards are offering an identical amount of bonus points after you sign up and meet the minimum spending requirement. However, the Capital One Venture offers a Capital One Travel stays credit, requires a lower minimum spend than the Sapphire Preferred, and AwardWallet users typically get more value out of Capital One miles than
Winner: Capital One Venture
Related: This Month's Best Credit Card Offers
Annual Fees
Both the Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture come with reasonable $95 annual fees, so there’s no difference between them on this front.
Winner: Tie
Related: Low-Fee, High-Reward: 8 Best
Earning Rates
One of the major differences between the Sapphire Preferred and the Capital One Venture is their rewards earning structures. Let's compare what's on offer for both cards.
The Capital One Venture has the following bonus categories:
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
Meanwhile, the Sapphire Preferred earns points as follows:
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on gas and EV charging
- 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
The Sapphire Preferred offers extra rewards across several common spending categories like dining and streaming. Meanwhile, the Capital One Venture earns 2X miles on all purchases.
If you spend heavily in the Sapphire Preferred’s bonus categories, it can offer better value. If your spending is more spread out across many different spending categories, the Capital One Venture might be a better fit since you'd earn 2X miles on everything. Ultimately, the better fit here comes down to your day-to-day spending habits.
Winner: Depends on your spending
Related: Best Credit Cards for Everyday Purchases
Headline Benefits
Both the Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture offer a solid lineup of perks that help justify their $95 annual fees. Here’s how they compare:
Sapphire Preferred benefits:
- $100 annual hotel credit on bookings made through the Chase Travel℠ portal
- Up to $120 in statement credits for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS every four years
- Free year of DoorDash DashPass (must activate by Dec. 31, 2027), plus up to $10 in monthly promos on groceries, retail orders, and more
- Complimentary Apple TV for one year when activated by Dec. 31, 2026
- Extensive travel and purchase protections, including auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and more
- Pay Yourself Back lets you redeem points at up to 1.25 cents each for select categories
- No foreign transaction fees
Related: 7 Reasons the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Is the Best Beginner Travel Rewards Card
Capital One Venture benefits:
- $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years
- Capital One Entertainment access, including MLB tickets for just 5,000 miles
- Hertz Five Star status with perks like upgrades, skip-the-line access, and better car selection
- Travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, lost luggage reimbursement, and extended warranty protections
- No foreign transaction fees
Both cards offer strong benefits. The $100 annual hotel credit on the Sapphire Preferred can easily offset the annual fee, while the Capital One Venture doesn't offer the same headline perk.
Winner: Sapphire Preferred
Redeeming Rewards
When it comes time to redeem the rewards you’ve earned, both cards offer plenty of options and a strong lineup of valuable transfer partners.
Transfer partners
Both Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards offer a strong lineup of airline and hotel transfer partners. And there are even shared partners like Air Canada, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic.
| Chase Transfer Partners and Ratios | Capital One Transfer Partners and Ratios |
|---|---|
| Aer Lingus (1:1) | Aeromexico Rewards (1:1) |
| Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1) | Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1) |
| Air France–KLM Flying Blue (1:1) | Air France–KLM Flying Blue (1:1) |
| British Airways Executive Club (1:1) | Avianca LifeMiles (1:1) |
| Iberia Plus (1:1) | British Airways Club (1:1) |
| JetBlue TrueBlue (1:1) | Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1) |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1) | Emirates Skywards (4:3) |
| Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards (1:1) | Etihad Guest (1:1) |
| United Airlines MileagePlus (1:1) | EVA Air Infinity MileageLands (4:3) |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1) | Finnair Plus (1:1) |
| IHG One Rewards (1:1) | Japan Airlines Mileage Bank (4:3) |
| Marriott Bonvoy (1:1) | JetBlue TrueBlue (5:3) |
| World of Hyatt (1:1); (4:3) | Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1) |
| Wyndham Rewards (1:1) | Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1:1) |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1) | |
| TAP Portugal Miles & Go (1:1) | |
| Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles (1:1) | |
| Virgin Red / Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1) | |
| Accor Live Limitless (2:1) | |
| Choice Privileges (1:1) | |
| I Prefer Hotel Rewards (1:2) | |
| Wyndham Rewards (1:1) |
Each program and its points currency has its strengths and weaknesses.
Chase has traditionally held the edge for hotel transfers thanks largely to
When it comes to airline transfers, the better program depends on what kind of travel you're looking to do. Chase offers great domestic redemptions thanks to partners like
On the airline side, Capital One offers a broader lineup of international airline partners. That can be especially useful if you're looking to book premium-cabin awards or take advantage of award space that an airline releases primarily to members of its own
Winner: Depends on your travel goals
Related: All Current Transfer Bonuses Available Now
Travel portals
Another way to redeem points is through each issuer’s travel portal — and the value you get can vary based on the card and type of booking.
With the Chase Travel portal, you can use Ultimate Rewards points to book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and more. You can pay with points, cash, or a combination of both. The value of your points depends on the redemption courtesy of a new feature called “Points Boost.” With the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll get:
- Up to 1.5 cents per point on select top-booked hotels and flights with select airlines
- 1 cent per point on all other bookings
Capital One’s travel portal is more straightforward. You can redeem miles for flights, hotels, vacation rentals, rental cars, and activities, though it doesn’t currently support cruises. Miles are worth a flat 1 cent each when used through the portal, offering consistent value for travel purchases.
Winner: Sapphire Preferred
Related: Guide To Booking Budget Airlines With Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, or Citi Points
Final Thoughts
The Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture are both solid additions to your wallet. Each comes with a reasonable annual fee, strong welcome bonus, and valuable travel perks.
While both earn rewards at solid rates, they do so differently. Ultimately, the better of the two comes down to which card fits your spending habits and travel goals the best.
Either way, you'll end up with one of the best travel credit cards with under a $100 annual fee.
$95
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
$95Rates & Fees
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on gas and EV charging
- 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees)
