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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees) quickly cemented itself as the front-runner in the premium credit card space since it was introduced in 2016. But at the end of 2021, Capital One shook things up when it launched the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. This was another entry into the premium card market to compete with its long-standing heavyweight, The Platinum Card® from American Express.
What do the Capital One Venture X and Sapphire Reserve offer? How do they compare, and which one is the ultimate winner? Let's compare notes on everything there is to know about these two cards.
Page Contents
- Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Welcome Bonus
- Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual Fee
- When to Use the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Capital One Venture X Travel Credit vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit
- Other Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits vs. Capital One Venture X Benefits
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Points vs. Capital One Miles
- Chase Travel℠ Portal vs. Capital One Travel Portal
- Bottom Line
Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Welcome Bonus
The welcome offers for the Capital One Venture X and the Sapphire Reserve vary over time. And it's especially important to make sure you're getting the best possible bonus. That's because it will be a while before you can earn a welcome bonus again on either of these cards.
Chase requires you to wait 48 months before earning another welcome bonus on Sapphire credit cards. Meanwhile, Capital One says this, “Existing or previous Accountholders may not be eligible for this one-time bonus.” It's important to consider these restrictions and time your application to get the best possible bonus.
Here are the current welcome offers:
- Capital One Venture X: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Sapphire Reserve: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
As you can see, the Capital One Venture X offers more miles with a lower spending requirement for new applicants.
Winner: Capital One Venture X
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual Fee
Both are premium cards and, as such, charge high annual fees. Currently, the annual fee on the Sapphire Reserve is $550, and the annual fee on the Capital One Venture X is $395.
While both annual fees are a lot to stomach, the Sapphire Reserve‘s fee is more than $150 higher than that of the Capital One Venture X.
Not only does it have a higher annual fee, but the Sapphire Reserve also charges $75 for each additional authorized user. Amazingly, the Capital One Venture X allows up to four authorized users completely free of charge.
Winner: Capital One Venture X
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Related: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card Worth the $550 Annual Fee?
When to Use the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
Both cards offer great returns when you book travel through their respective travel portals: Chase Travel℠ and Capital One Travel. Each card offers 10x earnings on hotels and car rentals and 5x on flights when booked within the portal. The biggest difference comes when looking at other types of spending.
The Capital One Venture X has no further spending bonus categories outside the travel portal. Instead, you receive an easy 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
However, the Sapphire Reserve has other bonus categories. You'll earn the following:
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on all other travel
- 3X points on dining at restaurants
- 1X points on all other purchases
Note that the 3x on travel applies after exhausting the $300 annual travel credit.
Winner: It's a tie. The Sapphire Reserve wins for the additional bonus categories it offers. The Capital One Venture X wins on everyday spending.
Capital One Venture X Travel Credit vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit
Both cards offer a $300 travel credit and allow you to use increments of that credit until you reach the $300 annual maximum. For the Capital One Venture X, you have to book travel through Capital One Travel to use the credit. You can choose whether or not to apply the travel credit to eligible purchases during the checkout process. The credit resets each account anniversary.
For the Sapphire Reserve, you'll automatically earn the credit on the first $300 of eligible travel purchases each cardmember year, whether or not they are made through Chase Travel℠. Purchases that Chase considers eligible travel include airlines, hotels, car rentals, cruises, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds, trains, buses, taxis, tolls, parking, and more.
The downside to both credits is that you will not earn points on travel purchases until you've used all of the $300 credit. This has long been true for the Sapphire Reserve, but Capital One only recently changed how the Capital One Venture X $300 travel credit earns miles.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve for flexibility.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on all other travel
- 3X points on dining at restaurants
- 1X points on all other purchases
Other Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits vs. Capital One Venture X Benefits
These cards come with many other benefits, so let's compare them.
Lounge access
Both cards offer lounge access through Priority Pass, a network of 1,700+ airport lounges worldwide that you can access after enrolling in a complimentary membership. Both cards also give you access to Plaza Premium Lounges.
In addition, both cards provide access to the issuers' own brand of lounges. Sapphire Reserve cardholders get access to Chase Sapphire Lounges, while those with the Capital One Venture X get access to Capital One Lounges. Both lounge networks currently have a small footprint, but additional locations are coming in the near future.
Two benefits will sway your opinion on which card has better lounge access: getting guests in the door or accessing non-lounge aspects of Priority Pass.
Those with the Capital One Venture X cannot access non-lounge parts of Priority Pass, so no restaurants, spas, or sleep pods. However, they can bring unlimited guests into Priority Pass lounges (subject to space limitations) and can add up to four free authorized users to their account. These authorized users get the same lounge access privileges as the primary account holder.
The Sapphire Reserve previously provided access to all the spas, Minute Suites, restaurants, and more participating in Priority Pass. Unfortunately, this access changed in July 2024. Cardholders are now limited to Be Relax airport spas, Gameway lounges, and Minute Suites. Cardholders get just two complimentary guests at Priority Pass lounges and will pay $75 per authorized user added to their account. However, those users can enroll for their own Priority Pass membership and access Sapphire Lounges.
Winner: It's a tie. Which issuer's lounges do you prefer, and are complimentary authorized user benefits important to you? That will define your answer.
Related: Benefits for Authorized Users on Rewards Credit Cards
Luxury hotel programs
With the Capital One Venture X, you'll have access to the Premier Collection. Bookings at these properties include a $100 experience credit, daily breakfast for two, early check-in and late check-out (when available), and room upgrades (when available).
With the Sapphire Reserve, you can access The Edit, a curated selection of world-class hotels that can be booked through Chase Travel℠. Cardmembers receive daily breakfast for two, a $100 property credit, room upgrades (when available), early check-in and late check-out (when available), and a welcome amenity.
As both cards are typically issued as Visa Infinite cards, they also provide access to the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection. Bookings here include room upgrades (based on availability), daily continental breakfast for two, VIP guest status, $25 food and beverage credit, and a 3 pm checkout (when available).
Winner: It's a tie. The perks are nearly identical.
Credits and partner benefits
The Sapphire Reserve comes with the following credits and partner benefits:
- A complimentary DashPass — used for DoorDash and Caviar — for at least one year when you activate by December 31, 2027. Furthermore, as a DashPass member, you'll also get access to up to $25 in monthly savings; a $5 monthly credit automatically credited to your DoorDash account, and up to $20 per month to use on non-restaurant DoorDash orders through two $10 promos.
- Two rental car program elite statuses: Avis Preferred Plus and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive. Remember that the biggest perk of having rental car elite status in any program may be your ability to use it for a status match in other programs.
The Capital One Venture X includes the following benefits and credits:
- Hertz President's Circle status — the highest status tier. This means you can skip the rental counter, get a guaranteed car upgrade, and have the widest selection of cars available.
- PRIOR subscription for cardholder-exclusive luxury trips.
- 50% off an Enthusiast membership to The Cultivist for access to numerous museums around the world for up to two years.
- A 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary. AwardWallet users tend to redeem Capital One miles at 2.01¢ apiece, meaning these miles are worth at least $230.
Winner: Capital One Venture X because the benefits are ongoing and more valuable.
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Other perks
Both cards offer the following:
- Statement credits to cover your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (once every four years)
- Primary rental car coverage if you pay with your card and decline the rental company's coverage
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Exclusive access to dining and entertainment
- No foreign transaction fees
However, Sapphire Reserve cardholders can take advantage of emergency medical and dental coverage, baggage delay insurance, and emergency evacuation services. Additionally, Sapphire Reserve cardholders can be reimbursed for their NEXUS application fees (in lieu of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry).
Winner: Sapphire Reserve for its additional coverage.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on all other travel
- 3X points on dining at restaurants
- 1X points on all other purchases
Chase Sapphire Reserve Points vs. Capital One Miles
You can use your points and miles multiple ways once you earn them. Each bank has its own set of transfer partners and its own travel portal where you can redeem your rewards. Let's compare.
Transfer partners
Both cards allow you to transfer your rewards to airline and hotel partners, providing opportunities for high-value redemptions. Capital One has 19 total transfer partners:
And here's a list of Chase's 14 transfer partners:
As you can see, Capital One has more transfer partners, but only Chase has U.S.-based airline partners. Additionally, Chase's transfer partners include World of Hyatt, which is a sweet spot for getting the most value for your points on hotel stays. Additionally, all of Chase's transfers occur at a 1:1 ratio; that's not true for Capital One. Transfers to Accor (2:1) and EVA (4:3) occur at sub-optimal rates.
Conversely, data points from AwardWallet users show they tend to redeem Capital One miles at 2.01¢ apiece and redeem Chase points at 1.95¢ each.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve for hotel and domestic partner sweet spots.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on all other travel
- 3X points on dining at restaurants
- 1X points on all other purchases
Combining rewards with others
Both cards allow you to share your rewards with others. However, Chase places more restrictions on how you do it.
It's possible to combine your cash-back rewards with Chase Ultimate Rewards points and use them in the travel portal or with transfer partners. Additionally, you can share your rewards with one other person in your household. Alternatively, you can transfer points into the hotel/airline loyalty account of someone who is an authorized user on your card.
Capital One makes this much simpler. You can combine cash-back earnings with miles if you have both types of cards, and you can share your miles with anyone.
Winner: Capital One Venture X
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Chase Travel℠ Portal vs. Capital One Travel Portal
Here's one area where you can see a bigger difference between these two cards. At first, their earning rates within their respective portals seem similar. However, it's how rewards are used that provides the most significant difference.
The Capital One Venture X earns 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on other eligible purchases
When it comes to redeeming, Capital One miles are worth 1¢ each through Capital One Travel. This means 10,000 miles are worth $100. You can use the miles to book hotels, airfare, and rental cars, along with Capital One's Premier Collection hotels. You can also use your Capital One miles to cover travel purchases from the last three months.
With the Sapphire Reserve, you'll earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
Chase Ultimate Rewards are worth 1.5¢ per point in the Chase Travel℠ portal, and this portal offers more than Capital One's. You can book theme park tickets and safaris, for example. You also can redeem points at varying rates, depending on the category, with Pay Yourself Back.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on all other travel
- 3X points on dining at restaurants
- 1X points on all other purchases
Bottom Line
While the Sapphire Reserve won one more category than the Capital One Venture X, it's hard to overlook the annual fee difference. So, which card should you choose? It depends on how much effort you're willing to put in.
The Sapphire Reserve is better for those who want potentially better benefits or want to use points to pay for travel in the portal at elevated rates. The Capital One Venture X is better for those who want great benefits, want better earnings on everyday purchases, or want to share their benefits with family members at no additional cost.
For further details, see our full review of the Capital One Venture X and full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees)
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