
Venture X and American Express Gold are two popular credit cards that offer a range of benefits and rewards. The Venture X card offers 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, while the Amex Gold card offers a $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months.
The Venture X card has a $450 annual fee, which is higher than the $250 annual fee of the Amex Gold card. However, the Venture X card offers a $300 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, which can be a significant perk for frequent travelers.
One key difference between the two cards is their rewards structures. The Venture X card earns 10X miles on hotels and car rentals, while the Amex Gold card earns 4X points on dining and 4X points on U.S. supermarkets.
Capital One Venture X vs Amex Gold
The Capital One Venture X and Amex Gold are two popular rewards credit cards that offer unique benefits and rewards. The Capital One Venture X offers a $200 annual travel credit, which can be redeemed for travel purchases made with the card.
With the Amex Gold, you can earn 4X points at U.S. restaurants and 4X points at U.S. supermarkets, which can add up quickly for frequent diners and grocery shoppers.
The Capital One Venture X has a higher annual fee of $395 compared to the Amex Gold's $250 annual fee.
The Amex Gold offers a $120 annual dining credit, which can be used to offset the cost of dining at participating restaurants.
The Capital One Venture X has a higher sign-up bonus of 75,000 miles, compared to the Amex Gold's 60,000 points.
The Amex Gold has a higher points earning rate on travel purchases, offering 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.
Annual Fees and Perks
The annual fees for the Venture X and Amex Gold cards are $395 and $325 respectively. The Venture X offers a $300 credit annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel, which more than justifies its annual fee in my opinion.
One of the key benefits of the Venture X is its unlimited access to Capital One Lounges, a feature that's not available on the Amex Gold. The Amex Gold, on the other hand, offers a $120 annual dining statement credit, which can be used at participating dining partners like Grubhub and The Cheesecake Factory.
The Venture X also includes a $120 TSA Precheck or Global Entry enrollment credit, which can be a huge time-saver for frequent travelers. In contrast, the Amex Gold offers a $100 The Hotel Collection credit, which can be used for a property credit of up to $100 when booking a stay through The Hotel Collection on Amex Travel.
Here's a comparison of the benefits offered by each card:
- Venture X: $300 travel credit, unlimited lounge access, $120 TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit, lost luggage reimbursement, rental car collision damage waiver coverage, and more.
- Amex Gold: $120 dining credit, $120 Uber Cash credit, $100 The Hotel Collection credit, lost luggage reimbursement, rental car collision damage waiver coverage, and more.
Ultimately, the choice between the Venture X and Amex Gold will depend on your individual spending habits and travel preferences. If you value lounge access and a higher travel credit, the Venture X may be the better choice. But if you prioritize dining and Uber credits, the Amex Gold could be the way to go.
Rewards and Earning
The Capital One Venture X offers a straightforward 2 miles per dollar on most qualifying purchases, which is a return of 3.7% in Capital One miles. This is a great option for everyday spending.
The Venture X also earns 5 miles per dollar on flights and 10 miles per dollar on rental cars and hotels, but you must book through the Capital One Travel portal to earn these bonuses.
Here's a comparison of the earning potential of the Venture X and the American Express Gold:
The Amex Gold earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, which is an impressive 8% return in Amex points. This is a great option for grocery and restaurant purchases.
Capital One Miles Earning
The Capital One Venture X earns 2 miles per dollar on most qualifying purchases, making it a great card for everyday spending.
You can earn 5 miles per dollar on flights and 10 miles per dollar on rental cars and hotels, but you must book through the Capital One Travel portal to earn these bonuses.
Using the Venture X for everyday categories like pharmacy and home improvement stores can add up to a significant number of miles.
The Amex Gold earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, making it a great card for grocery and dining purchases.
By using the right card for the right purchase, you can maximize your rewards earnings and say goodbye to earning just 1 point per dollar.
The Venture X has a simple and straightforward earning structure, making it easy to use and understand.
The card offers a 100,000-mile sign-up bonus with a requirement to spend $10,000 in the first six months after opening the card.
Amex Gold Points Earning Potential
The Amex Gold Points Earning Potential is a game-changer for those who frequent U.S. supermarkets and restaurants. You'll earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on the first $25,000 annually, then 1 point per dollar after that.
The Amex Gold also rewards dining at restaurants, offering 4X points on the first $50,000 spent per calendar year, then 1X after that. This is a great perk for foodies and those who regularly dine out.
Here's a breakdown of the Amex Gold's bonus earning categories:
I've found that using the Amex Gold for grocery and restaurant purchases can really add up the points, especially when you consider the high earning rates in these categories.
Redemption and Possibilities
American Express Gold offers a range of redemption possibilities, including travel redemptions through American Express Travel.
You can redeem Membership Rewards Points for travel at a rate ranging from 0.7 cent per point to 1 cent per point, similar to Venture Miles.
American Express has a more extensive list of transfer partners, with 20 options available, including Delta SkyMiles, Iberia Plus, and Hilton Honors.
Here are American Express' transfer partners:
Converting points to cash is also an option, but it's not the most rewarding way to use your points, with a redemption value of 0.6 cents per point.
Capital One Point Redemption Options
You can redeem your Venture miles at a rate of 1 cent per point in the Capital One travel portal.
The travel portal is powered by Hopper, which means you can get an idea of availability by perusing Hopper.com.
Capital One's travel portal offers a rate of 1 cent per point, making it a straightforward way to use your miles.
Transfer partners are also an option, with 17 partners to choose from, including Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Finnair Plus, and Wyndham Rewards.
Most of these miles transfer within a day to the receiving partner at a 1:1 ratio.
The cash erasure feature is another way to redeem your miles, by selecting a charge in your online banking and clicking "Redeem with points."
However, keep in mind that how the charge codes is the driving factor here, so some purchases may not be eligible.
You can also pay for cancellation insurance with Venture Miles or cash, allowing you to cancel your ticket for any reason, or no reason at all, up to 24 hours before departure or arrival.
American Express Gold Redemption Possibilities
You can redeem your American Express Gold points for travel through American Express Travel, which offers a redemption value ranging from 0.7 cent per point to 1 cent per point.
The redemption value varies depending on the type of booking: hotel bookings are at a rate of 0.7 cents per point, while airline bookings are slightly better at 1 cent per point.
Booking travel through American Express Travel also comes with some nice perks, like trip delay and luggage reimbursement insurance.
American Express Travel guarantees that if you find a lower price for the same stay at the same property, you'll get a refund for the difference.
Here are the American Express transfer partners:
Converting your points to cash through American Express is also an option, but it's not the best deal, with a redemption value of 0.6 cents per point.
Comparison and Conclusion
The Venture X and Amex Gold are two of the most popular rewards credit cards out there, and it's no wonder why - they offer fantastic benefits and earning potential.
Both cards have high annual fees, but the Venture X has a lower fee compared to the Amex Gold. The Venture X's fee is easily erased by its $300 travel credit, which can be used as a lump sum.
The Venture X also offers 2X points on everything, which may come close to averaging out with the Amex Gold's 4X on some categories and 1X on everything else. If your spending is less concentrated in categories like supermarkets and restaurants, the Venture X's earning potential may be more beneficial.
One of the key differences between the two cards is the Priority Pass Select membership, which comes with the Venture X. This membership provides access to airport lounges, a valuable perk for frequent travelers.
The Amex Gold, on the other hand, has an incredible transfer partner program, but its redemption rates for Membership Rewards points are lackluster. This makes the Venture X a better choice for those who value flexibility in redeeming their points.
Ultimately, the choice between the Venture X and Amex Gold depends on your individual spending habits and travel style. If you're a frequent traveler with a lot of cash flow, the Amex Gold may be the better choice due to its many statement credits. However, for most people, the Venture X's lower annual fee, better spending bonuses, and more generous policy on adding employee cards make it the better option.
Sources
- https://10xtravel.com/capital-one-venture-x-business-vs-amex-business-platinum/
- https://frequentmiler.com/amex-gold-card-versus-capital-one-savor-one-on-nicks-mind/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/how-does-the-capital-one-venture-x-stack-up-against-competitors
- https://thepointsguy.com/news/venture-x-amex-gold-best-combo/
- https://10xtravel.com/capital-one-venture-x-vs-american-express-gold/
Featured Images: pexels.com