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Two of the most well-respected mid-range travel rewards credit card options are the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. The cards are similar in terms of annual fees but the cards' other features differ.
Both cards are valid for some consumers. However, they have their strengths and weaknesses. It is worth learning which card is best for you. This post will compare the cards, particularly in light of the Sapphire Preferreds higher welcome bonus and the recent revamp of the Chase Sapphire portfolio.
Welcome bonuses: Chase Sapphire Prreferred vs. Capital One Venture
Chase Sapphire Preferred: This card gives you 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points as a welcome bonus after you spend $4,000 in the first three months. This bonus is one of the most impressive we have ever seen, and it's also the best publically available credit card welcome bonus.
Ultimate Rewards points can be used to purchase travel for as little as 1.25 cents per. But, it is possible to redeem them for upto $1,250. They are worth far more to me than that.
Capital One Venture: This card comes with a Welcome Bonus of 60,000 Venture Miles after you spend $3,000 in the first three months.
One cent can be used to purchase a travel ticket, or the Venture miles can be exchanged for airline partners at a rate of up to 1:1. According to my calculations, the value of 60,000 Venture miles is $780.
Winner: While both cards offer great bonuses, the Sapphire Preferred is the clear winner due to its much larger bonus.
You can receive great travel rewards with both cards' welcome bonuses
Approval odds Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture
Chase Sapphire Preferred: This is for those who are very active in points and miles. It can be difficult to get approved for the Sapphire Preferred. You will not be approved if five or more cards have been opened in the last 24 months.
The welcome bonus is not available to Sapphire Card holders (including the Sapphire Reserve) or Sapphire Card cardmembers who have received a bonus on a Sapphire Card within the last 48 months.
Capital One Venture: These terms state that current or former account holders may not be eligible to receive this one-time bonus and anecdotally Capital One might only approve someone for a card every six months.
Winner: It all depends on your situation. However, I believe that more people will be locked-out by the Sapphire Preferred rules rather than the Venture Card rules. For a complete comparison of credit card application requirements, click here.
Annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture
Chase Sapphire Preferred: This card charges $95 annually.
Capital One Venture: This card charges $95 annually.
Winner: The tie is achieved because both cards have the same annual fees.
Value of points: Chase Sapphire Prepaid vs. Capital One Venture
Chase Sapphire Preferred: You can redeem points earned with this card in one of two ways:
You can redeem them for 1.25c each towards travel purchases through Ultimate Rewards. For a limited time, you can also use your points to make everyday grocery and restaurant purchases with Chases Pay Yourself back.
You can transfer them to Ultimate Rewards hotel and airline partners at a 1:1 ratio. This can help you get a lot of value.
These Ultimate Rewards partners are also available with transfer times and ratios:
Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partner Transfer Ratio Transfer Times Aer Lingus Aer Club 1000: 1000 instant Air Canada Aeroplan 1000: 1000 instant Air France KLM FlyingBlue1000 ; 1000 instant British Airways Executive Club 1000: 1000 instant Iberia Plus 1000: 1000 instantly JetBlue TrueBlue 1000: 1000 instant Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer 1000: 1000 instant Virgin Atlantic Flying Club 1000: 1000instant IHG Rewards Club 1000: 1000instant Marriott Bonvoy 1000: 10001 to 2 Days World of Hyatt 1000: 1000instant Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer ratios and times
Capital One Venture: You can redeem your Miles on this card in one of two ways:
You can redeem them for 1 cent each towards the purchase of travel; for a short time, you can also redeem points towards everyday purchases at restaurants or on streaming services
These can be transferred to Venture mile airline partners in a ratio of 1:5, 1.5:1, or 2:1. Capital One miles are worth 1.3 cents each
Capital One partners include:
Transfer Time Accor One Transfer Partner Transfer Ratio Transfer time Accor Live Limitless 1000: 500 TBD Aeromexico Club Prime 1000: 1000 Instant Air Canada Aeroplan 1000: 750 instant Avianca LifeMiles 1000: 1000 instant British Airways Executive Club 1000: 750 instant Avianca LifeMiles 1000: 1000 instant British Airways Executive Club 1000: 1000 instant JetBlue TrueBlue 1000: 1000 instant JetBlue 1000: 750 instant Qantas Frequent Flyer 1000: 750, 750 TBD Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles andSmiles&Smiles&Smiles&Smiles&Smiles :
Winner: Capital One Venture miles are worth more per point than Chase Ultimate Rewards points on a per-point basis. You can redeem each point for cash or more points with a transfer partner. However, that's only half the equation as it doesn't take into account the rate at which you earn them.
Transfer both points currencies into JetBlue TrueBlue
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture: Ability to earn points
Chase Sapphire Preferred: This card gives you 5x points for travel booked through Chase Travel. You also get 3x points for dining, online grocery, and selected streaming services. 2x points are available on travel and 1x Ultimate Rewards point on all purchases. The card also offers 10% anniversary bonus points. These points are based on your base spending.
This means that the card earns a minimum of 3.75% in dining, online grocery shopping, and select streaming services. It also earns a return on other purchases of 2.5%.
However, you can get much more value than this. Because of the transfer ratio for travelers partners, Ultimate Rewards points are valued at 1.7 cents per point. This means that you get a return on dining, online grocery and selected streaming services of 5.1%, 3.4% and 1.7% respectively. But not everyone should value points in the same way that I do. Especially if they are to be used as cash towards a travel purchase.
Capital One Venture: This card gives you 2x Venture Miles on all purchases
This means that the card earns a minimum of 2% return on all purchases. You can also earn up to 2x airline mile per dollar spent. Based on my valuation of 1.3c per Capital One Mile, that's a 2.6% return on every day spending. This is fantastic.
Winner: This will depend on how much you spend online on food and on travel. It also depends on how you plan to redeem your points. The Venture Card can offer up to 2x airline mile per dollar, while the Sapphire Preferred allows you to earn 3x dining points (and more), 2x miles for travel, and 1x on all other purchases. The Venture Card is better for everyday spending, especially if the Venture Card can be used to transfer rewards to a hotel or airline partner.
Potentially, Capital One Venture miles can give you greater flexibility
Perks: Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture
Chase Sapphire Preferred: This card does not have foreign transaction fees, offers great travel and purchase coverage, primary rental car coverage, $50 per calendar year hotel credit, and many other benefits.
Capital One Venture: This card does not have foreign transaction fees and offers great protection for travel and purchases. It also provides secondary rental car coverage and Global Entry credit.
Winner: I believe the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the winner for car rental coverage and travel protection. However, if you have the Global Entry credit or TSA Precheck credit, the Capital One Venture card may be more valuable. Both cards are free from foreign transaction fees.
These cards are ideal for international purchases because they don't have foreign transaction fees.
The Chase Sapphire PreferredX-factor
Before I get to the conclusion, it is important to highlight one thing that makes Chase Sapphire Preferred special.
Capital One Venture's points structure is simple and doesn't include any bonus categories. There are no ways to add to the card to increase its value.
The Sapphire Preferred can be used with other cards in many ways to maximize the value of Ultimate Rewards points. Because you can combine points earned on the Chase Sapphire Preferred and other Chase cards, you get even more value.
These cards can be great additions to your Ultimate Rewards program. The Chase Sapphire Preferred can be paired with the Chase Freedom Unlimited, with no annual fees, to earn 3x points for dining, online grocery, streaming services, drugstores, and drugstores. 2x points for travel and 1.5x points for all other purchases. This is a great rewards structure that only costs $95 annually.
This assumes you are willing to acquire multiple cards. Some people are not.
To maximize your points, get multiple Chase credit cards
Which card is the best?
The Capital One Venture card is well-rounded for those who don't spend much in other categories, but aren't eligible for any bonuses. You get a generous welcome bonus, no foreign transaction fee, credit for Global Entry fees and much more. For those looking to earn cash back on travel, the card offers a great return. With the addition of more airlines partners and improved transfer ratios, Venture Card became even more valuable.
Chase Sapphire Preferred offers bonus points for dining and travel and, best of all, you can combine points with other cards that offer great bonus categories. The card also offers a $50 annual hotel credit and a great welcome bonus.
The Venture Card is the best option if you only need one card and don't spend a lot on travel and dining. This card has more flexibility than ever, making it even more attractive.
The Sapphire Preferred is my first choice if you spend a lot of money on travel and dining, and if you are willing to combine the card and other great cards. This is especially true when you consider the bonus that's currently available, which is almost unheard of.
If you're willing to take out two cards, I believe the combination of Chase Sapphire Preferred & Chase Freedom Unlimited is the best.
Which one do you prefer, the Capital One Venture Card oder Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
