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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been a front-runner in the premium credit card space since it was introduced in 2016, and travelers have come to rely on its many benefits. Capital One shook things up when it launched the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card at the end of 2021. This was another entry into the luxury credit card space 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 Sign-Up 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 – Value and Uses
- Chase Travel Portal vs. Capital One Travel Portal
- Bottom Line
Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Sign-Up Bonus
The sign-up bonuses for both the Capital One Venture X and the Sapphire Reserve vary over time. Due to this, it's important to make sure that you're comparing the most recent bonus. It's also important to note that it will be a while before you can earn a welcome bonus again on either of these cards. If at all possible, it's best to apply when the bonus is higher than average.
That's because Chase requires you to wait 48 months before earning another welcome bonus on Sapphire credit cards. Capital One, meanwhile, says this: “Existing or previous Accountholders may not be eligible for this one-time bonus.” Consider these restrictions to time your application and get the best possible bonus. These 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 $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
As you can see, the required spending is the same, yet the Capital One Venture X offers more miles for new applicants.
Winner: Capital One Venture X
Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions
Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual Fee
Both cards charge high annual fees. Let's just be honest about that. 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, 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
Related: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card Worth the $550 Annual Fee?
When to Use the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
When spending on these cards, both offer great returns when you book travel through their respective travel portals. Each card offers 10x earnings on hotels and car rentals and 5x on flights if you book within the portal; the biggest difference comes when you look at other types of spending.
Outside of the travel portal, the Capital One Venture X has no further spending bonus categories. 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 Lyft rides through March 2025
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase
- 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.
- 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
- 5 miles per dollar on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel
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 to apply the travel credit to eligible purchases during the checkout process, and it resets each cardholder anniversary.
For the Sapphire Reserve, you'll earn the credit on any travel purchases you make, whether or not they are made through the travel portal. Purchases that Chase considers travel include airlines, hotels, car rentals, cruises, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds, trains, buses, taxis, tolls, parking, and more. This credit applies automatically to the first $300 of eligible purchases each cardmember year.
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 $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $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 Ultimate Rewards® 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 Ultimate Rewards®. 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 $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
- Member FDIC
- 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase
- 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, which is a network of 1300+ airport lounges around the world that you can access after enrolling for a complimentary membership. The Capital One Venture X also gives you access to Plaza Premium Lounges, while Sapphire Reserve cardholders only get access to Plaza Premium locations that participate in Priority Pass.
Both cards provide access to the issuers' own brand of lounges. Sapphire Reserve cardholders get access to Chase Sapphire Lounges and the Sapphire Terrace in Austin, while those with the Capital One Venture X get access to Capital One Lounges. Both lounge networks have a small footprint at present, but additional openings 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.
On the flip side, the Sapphire Reserve provides access to all the spas, Minute Suites, restaurants, and more that participate in Priority Pass. This can help you take a nap or get a free meal at the airport before your flight. Unfortunately, though, you'll get just two complimentary guests at Priority Pass lounges and will pay $175 per authorized user added to your account. Those users can enroll for their own full Priority Pass membership and access Sapphire Lounges, though.
Winner: It's a tie. Which issuer's lounges do you prefer, and do you prefer the non-lounge perks or complimentary authorized user perks? That will define your answer.
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 Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection (LHRC). Reservations include daily breakfast for two, a unique benefit at each property, and the following perks, based on availability: room upgrades, early check-in, and late check-out.
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, $100 food and beverage credit, $100 spa credit, $100 golf credit, and $100 room rate credit.
Related: How to Receive Elite Hotel Benefits Without Elite Status
Winner: It's a tie. The perks are nearly identical.
Monthly and annual credits
The credits here couldn't be more different. With the Sapphire Reserve, you can enjoy the following:
- One-year complimentary membership with Instacart+ (enroll by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 per month in statement credits
- Up to $10 in monthly statement credits for GoPuff orders (through December 31, 2023)
While the Capital One Venture X doesn't offer any memberships like these, it does offer 10,000 bonus miles on each account anniversary. AwardWallet users tend to redeem Capital One miles at 2.66¢ apiece, for reference.
Winner: Capital One Venture X because the benefit is ongoing and more valuable
Partner benefits
Capital One has a partnership with Hertz through which Capital One Venture X cardholders can enroll for 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. This benefit runs through December 31, 2024.
The Sapphire Reserve doesn't offer top-tier status in any program, but it offers status in two programs instead of one. You can get Avis Preferred Plus and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status tiers.
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.
There are additional benefits on the Sapphire Reserve also:
- Two-year membership to Lyft Pink, plus 10x points on Lyft rides
- Complimentary DashPass with DoorDash and Caviar
For the Capital One Venture X, they are:
- PRIOR subscription for cardholder-exclusive luxury trips
- Complimentary six-month Enthusiast membership to The Cultivist for free access to numerous museums (valid through June 22, 2024)
- $300 toward an annual membership to Gravity Haus for adventure travel (valid through January 19, 2024)
Winner: Sapphire Reserve for perks more people will find useful
Other perks
Both cards offer the following:
- Up to $100 statement credit 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.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Reserve Points vs. Capital One Miles – Value and Uses
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 18 total transfer partners, while Chase has 14. Here's a list of their transfer partners:
| Chase Transfer Partners | Capital One Transfer Partners |
|---|---|
| Aer Lingus AerClub | Aeromexico Rewards |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Air Canada Aeroplan |
| Air France–KLM Flying Blue | Air France–KLM Flying Blue |
| British Airways Executive Club | Avianca LifeMiles |
| Emirates Skywards | British Airways Executive Club |
| Iberia Plus | Cathay Pacific Asia Miles |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | Emirates Skywards |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Etihad Guest |
| Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards | EVA Air Infinity MileageLands |
| United Airlines MileagePlus | Finnair Plus |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Qantas Frequent Flyer |
| IHG One Rewards | Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer |
| Marriott Bonvoy | TAP Portugal Miles & Go |
| World of Hyatt | Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles |
| Virgin Red / Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | |
| Accor Live Limitless | |
| Choice Privileges | |
| Wyndham Rewards |
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 when it comes to 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 2.66¢ apiece and redeem Chase points at 1.97¢ each.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve for hotel and domestic partner sweet spots
Combining rewards with others
Both cards allow you to share your rewards with others. Chase places more restrictions on how you do that, though.
It's possible to combine your cash-back rewards with Chase Ultimate Rewards points and then use these points in the travel portal or with transfer partners. Additionally, you can share your rewards with one other person in your same 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
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 with the portal seem quite similar, but it's the uses of your rewards that provide the difference.
The Capital One Venture X earns 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
When it comes to redeeming, Capital One miles are worth 1¢ each in the Capital One Travel portal. 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 also can use your Capital One Venture 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 Ultimate Rewards® 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
Bottom Line
Ultimately, the final decision is too close to call. The Sapphire Reserve won one more category than the Capital One Venture X, which tends to be a simpler card overall. 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.
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
I chose Capital One X. A lot of it is really going to depend on how you travel and what you use. For example, I don’t use Lyft or DoorDash. I also like staying in independent hotels or inns which the X will cover after the fact.
Adding the CSP (plus freedom) gives me, personally, the best of both worlds and still costs less than the CSR. I realize that the CSR has more benefits than the CSP does, but not enough of what I will use to make the difference good for me.