Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture: Which $95 Annual Fee Card Is Better? Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture: Which $95 Annual Fee Card Is Better?

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture: Which $95 Annual Fee Card Is Better?

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Chase and Capital One have several travel card offerings and multiple ways to earn valuable transferable points. And the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees) are two of their strongest cards.

Both have similar annual fees that won't set you back too much money, solid sign-up bonuses, and nice benefits. However, key differences between category bonuses, travel portals, and travel protections could push you towards 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.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee$95
Credit ScoreExcellent, Good
  • 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
  • 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Bonus Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee$95Rates & Fees
Credit ScoreExcellent, Good
  • 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 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 pretty valuable bonuses.

Here's what's currently available for new applicants:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Annual Fee$95
Welcome Bonus Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Our #1 recommended beginners rewards card featuring a 75,000-point signup bonus after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This card comes with great benefits and earns valuable Ultimate Rewards points.
  • 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, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
  • Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
  • 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
  • Member FDIC
  • Rates & 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 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 1.96¢ each.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee$95
Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Following the revamp of Capital One's rewards program and the addition of airline transfer partners, the Capital One Venture has catapulted into our list of top travel rewards cards. The ability to earn at least 2X miles on every purchase provides a decent return on spending. Plus the card offers some great perks.
  • Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
  • 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 (through 12/31/2025)
  • 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 2.02¢ 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 has a lower minimum spending requirement than the Sapphire Preferred — and AwardWallet users typically get more value out of Capital One miles than Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

A young man holds a credit card in his left hand while smiling and looking at a laptop screen.
Credit: dianagrystku/Adobe Stock

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.

Related: Low-Fee, High-Reward: 8 Best Credit Cards With Annual Fees Under $100

Earning Rates

One of the major differences between the Sapphire Preferred and the Capital One Venture are 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 (through 12/31/2025)
  • 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 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 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

While the Sapphire Preferred offers extra rewards in categories like dining and streaming, the Capital One Venture earns 2x miles on all purchases, making it a better choice for non-bonused spending. Ultimately, the better fit here comes down to your day-to-day spending habits.

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:

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 4.5 years
  • Capital One Entertainment access, including MLB tickets on offer 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, so the better of the two comes down to which perks align better with your travel and lifestyle preferences.

Aerial view of a blue-water resort.
Credit: Tholaal Mohamed/Unsplash

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 RatiosCapital 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)
Emirates Skywards (1:1)British Airways Club (1:1)
Iberia Plus (1:1)Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1)
JetBlue TrueBlue (1:1)Emirates Skywards (1:1)
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1)Etihad Guest (1:1)
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards (1:1)EVA Air Infinity MileageLands (2:1.5)
United Airlines MileagePlus (1:1)Finnair Plus (1:1)
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1)JetBlue TrueBlue (5:3)
IHG One Rewards (1:1)Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1)
Marriott Bonvoy (1:1)Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1)
World of Hyatt (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)
Wyndham Rewards (1:1)

For hotel transfers, Chase has the clear edge thanks to its partnership with World of Hyatt, which is widely regarded in the award travel community for offering consistently strong value for its points. You can also transfer Chase points to IHG and Marriott, though these are usually less valuable and best used in specific situations.

Capital One’s hotel partners aren’t quite as strong overall, but there’s still solid value to be found with Choice Hotels and Accor Live Limitless.

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 featured called “Points Boost.” With the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll get:

  • Up to 1.5¢ per point on top-booked hotels and economy flights (excluding Basic Economy) with select airlines
  • Up to 1.75¢ per point on premium cabin flights with select airlines
  • 1¢ per point on all other bookings

Capital One’s travel portal is more straightforward. You can redeem miles for flights, hotels, and rental cars, though it doesn’t currently support activities or cruises. Miles are worth a flat 1 cent each when used through the portal, offering consistent value for travel purchases.

Person in a resort pool overlooking a beach.
Credit: Chelsea Gates/Unsplash

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. In most cases, the Sapphire Preferred edges out with better redemption value through the Chase Travel portal and stronger travel and purchase protections.

Ultimately the better of the two comes down to which card fits your spending habits and travel goals the most. Which card is the best fit for your situation?

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Offer 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee$95
Credit ScoreExcellent, Good
  • 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
  • 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Bonus Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee$95Rates & Fees
Credit ScoreExcellent, Good
  • 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 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)

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