Capital One Venture vs Chase Sapphire Preferred: Which Card is Right for You

If you're in the market for a new credit card, you're likely considering the Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Preferred. Both cards offer rewards and benefits that can help you save money and earn points towards travel.

The Capital One Venture offers 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, with no rotating categories or spending limits. This means you can earn miles on anything you buy, from groceries to gas to travel.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred, on the other hand, offers 2X points on travel and dining purchases, as well as 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. This card also comes with a 60,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card are two popular options for travelers looking to earn rewards. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has an annual fee of $95 and earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred card also has an annual fee of $95 and earns 1 point per dollar on everyday spending.

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Here's a comparison of the two cards:

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a welcome offer of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a simple yet competitive rewards program, with a focus on travel perks. You can earn 5X miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, making it a great option for travelers.

The Venture Rewards card also offers 2X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases, making it a convenient choice for everyday spending. This means you can earn double miles on purchases like utility bills, college tuition fees, and online shopping.

One of the standout features of the Venture Rewards card is its welcome offer, which can range from 60,000 to 100,000 miles after spending $3,000 to $20,000 within the first three months. This is a significant reward, especially when redeemed for travel through the Capital One Travel portal.

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Here's a comparison of the Venture Rewards card's bonus categories:

The Venture Rewards card also offers a range of travel-related perks, including up to $100 statement credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, and complimentary Hertz Five Star status. These perks can add significant value to your travel experience.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture Rewards cards are two popular options for credit card holders. The annual fee for both cards is $95.

The sign-up bonus for the Chase Sapphire Preferred is 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, while the Capital One Venture Rewards offers 75,000 bonus miles for the same amount of spending.

In terms of everyday spend earning rate, the Capital One Venture Rewards earns 2 miles per dollar, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 1 point per dollar.

Here's a comparison of the bonus categories for both cards:

The TPG July 2024 valuation of points/miles is 2.05 cents per point for the Chase Sapphire Preferred and 1.85 cents per mile for the Capital One Venture Rewards.

If you're a frequent online grocery shopper, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a better option, earning you 17,109 Ultimate Rewards points on $5,703 in annual spending. This is because the Sapphire Preferred offers 3X points on online grocery purchases, excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs.

On the other hand, if you're a traditional grocery shopper, the Capital One Venture Rewards card is the way to go, earning you 11,406 miles on the same amount of spending.

The Venture Rewards card also has a higher earning rate on all other purchases, 2X miles per dollar, compared to the Sapphire Preferred's 1X point per dollar.

Here's a breakdown of the earning rates for both cards:

This comparison highlights the importance of considering your spending habits when choosing a credit card. By analyzing your daily expenses, you can determine which card will yield more rewards and benefits.

The annual fees on both the Capital One Venture Rewards and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards are relatively modest, at just $95. This is on the lower side compared to some other travel cards that can have fees of up to $550.

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You can easily justify these annual fees with the benefits and rewards you can take advantage of. For example, with the Sapphire Preferred, you can cover the annual fee by spending $4,750 each year on travel, earning at least 2X points per dollar spent.

To break even on the Venture Rewards annual fee, you'd need to spend a minimum of $1,900 in its 5X miles category, assuming each mile is redeemed at 1 cent apiece. However, if you take advantage of its 2X miles category, you'd need to spend $4,750.

On the other hand, the Sapphire Preferred's 5X points category requires less spending to break even, at just $1,520. Its wider range of bonus spending categories with higher rewards rates also makes it easier to offset its annual fee through spending.

Both cards are free of foreign transaction fees, which is a huge benefit for travelers. This means you can spend freely abroad without worrying about extra costs.

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The rewards and earning structures of the Capital One Venture and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards are quite different. The Capital One Venture Rewards card earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card, on the other hand, earns 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, and 3 points per dollar on select streaming services. It also earns 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases.

The Sapphire Preferred has a broader definition of travel, including everyday expenses like tolls, parking, and subway tickets. Dining also includes food delivery services, takeout, and most vending machines.

In terms of earning rewards, the Venture card comes out ahead on everyday spending, but falls behind in bonus categories. The Sapphire Preferred shines in bonus categories, making it a better option for those who spend a lot in those areas.

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A basic example illustrates this point: if you spend $2,000 a month, with $600 on dining and $500 on travel, you'd earn 3,700 Ultimate Reward Points on the Sapphire Preferred, but 4,000 Venture Miles on the Venture card. This suggests that the Venture card is the better option for those who don't spend a lot in bonus categories.

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture offer a range of benefits that can enhance your travel experience. The Chase Sapphire Preferred, for instance, offers a 25% bonus on Chase Travel℠ bookings, making your points worth more.

You can also transfer points to participating frequent traveler programs with both cards, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred has a wider array of transfer partners, including Southwest Rapid Rewards and United MileagePlus.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, while the Capital One Venture doesn't have a similar benefit. However, the Capital One Venture does offer up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years.

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Both cards provide travel and purchase insurance benefits, as well as 24-hour travel assistance services. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has more comprehensive travel insurance coverage, including trip cancellation or interruption insurance and baggage insurance for delays and loss.

Here's a comparison of the benefits offered by both cards:

Ultimately, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers more comprehensive benefits and perks, making it a better choice for travelers who want to maximize their rewards.

The welcome offers of both cards are quite enticing, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred offering 60,000 Ultimate Reward Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Card, on the other hand, offers 75,000 Capital One Miles after meeting the same spending requirement.

The value of the Chase Sapphire Preferred's welcome offer is guaranteed to be worth $750 in travel when redeemed through the Chase travel portal, but it can be worth up to $1,230 if you transfer your points to airline or hotel partners.

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In contrast, the Capital One Venture Rewards Card's 75,000 bonus miles are worth $750 in travel when redeemed directly through Capital One, or up to $1,388 if you transfer them to airline or hotel partners.

While the Capital One Venture Rewards Card's welcome offer has a higher fixed value, the Chase Sapphire Preferred's offer has a higher potential value due to the transfer partners.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred also offers a limited-time $300 travel credit, which adds to the overall value of the welcome offer.

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture Rewards cards cater to different spending habits and travel goals. If dining, online grocery shopping, and select streaming service purchases make up a lot of your spending, the Sapphire Preferred is a good choice.

The Sapphire Preferred also offers premium protection when traveling abroad, covering rental cars, lost baggage, and canceled trips. This can be a lifesaver if you travel frequently.

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If you want simple rewards and a card for every occasion, the Venture Rewards card is a better fit. It earns 2X miles on every dollar spent, regardless of the purchase.

The Sapphire Preferred has a higher annual fee of $550, but it also offers more valuable rewards and better travel protections. This might be worth the extra cost if you value these benefits.

You don't have to choose between these two cards - they complement each other well if you own both. This can give you even more flexibility and rewards.