Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture Rewards are two travel credit cards offering loads of value in exchange for a small annual fee. Both include a generous welcome bonus and hefty earning potential. Plus, the added perks are too good to overlook. However, card_name takes the top spot, as its points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through card_name.
How the cards stack up
Here’s an overview of what to expect from each card:
| Feature | card_name | card_name |
|---|---|---|
Welcome Bonus | bonus_miles_full | bonus_miles_full |
Rewards* | Earn 5x points on:
Earn 1x points on all other purchases | Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on rentals and lodging reserved through Capital One Travel Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase |
Annual Fee | annual_fees | annual_fees |
APR (or Regular APR) | reg_apr,reg_apr_type | reg_apr,reg_apr_type |
Foreign Transaction Fee | foreign_transaction_fee | foreign_transaction_fee |
Other Benefits (or Additional Perks) | $50 Annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit Annual bonus points 1:1 point transfer Travel Protection Benefits Food delivery service incentives | Travel miles transfers TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry credit Hertz Five Star status Mileage transfer capabilities Travel and purchase protections Travel lounge access Dining and entertainment perks Flight price drop protection |
Welcome bonus
You’ll bonus_miles_full with the card_name. The welcome bonus with card_name is higher: you'll bonus_miles_full.
When you convert those points to dollars by booking through each card’s program, the advantage of the card_name is more obvious: The welcome bonus is the equivalent of $1,000 at Chase but only $750 for card_name.
Welcome bonus winner: card_name
Rewards
Frequent travelers can rack up a hefty sum of rewards points with either card. card_name offers five points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding lodging purchases that count towards the annual $50 hotel statement credit). You’ll get five miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked using card_name.
Still, card_name comes out on top as you’ll earn:
- Three points per dollar spent on dining, online grocery purchases, and qualifying streaming service payments
- Two points per dollar spent on all other travel purchases booked outside of Chase Ultimate Rewards
- One point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Plus, points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. So, 50,000 points equals $625 in travel credit.
With card_name, you’ll only earn two miles per dollar spent outside of lodging and rental booked through the Capital One travel platform. And every point is worth 1 cent, making the 50,000 points mentioned above worth $500 in travel credit. However, you can transfer your miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs to make them go further, a feature not available from card_name.
Rewards winner: card_name
Annual fee
Both credit card issuers charge a $95 annual fee.
Annual fee winner: tie
APR
A slight edge here for card_name. While both cards offer the same minimum APR, the maximum rate of the card_name is lower than that of the card_name.
APR winner: card_name
Foreign transaction fee
Neither card imposes foreign transaction fees.
Foreign transaction fee winner: tie
Additional perks
card_name offers the following added benefits:
- A $50 annual hotel statement credit
- Up to 2,500 annual bonus points if you spend $25,000 on purchases
- 1:1 point transfers
- Extensive travel and purchase protections
- Ridesharing and food delivery service incentives
You’ll also enjoy a host of perks with card_name, including:
- Travel miles transfers
- Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Hertz Five Star status
- Travel lounge access
- Dining and entertainment perks
- Flight price drop protection
Additional perks winner: tie
Which card earns the most?
card_name’s bonus categories make it the top pick for points earned.
To illustrate, if you spent $500 in each category, here’s how much you’d earn:
If you booked a hotel and rental car through Chase Ultimate Rewards or Capital One Travel, you’d earn five points per dollar spent. But if you tacked airfare on to the purchase, your earning potential would be greater with card_name since card_name only offers two miles per dollar spent on travel purchases outside of rentals and lodging.
Our recommendations
Why we recommend card_name
card_name is our top pick because its points hold 25% more value when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You also get more points up front if you spend enough to claim the welcome bonus. Plus, you can transfer points to other popular frequent travel programs, like JetBlue True Blue, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus and Marriott Bonvoy.
The extensive travel and purchase protections are also worth noting. card_name does offer some of these, but they don’t quite stack up to what you’ll get with card_name.
Why you would still opt for card_name
card_name makes it easy to earn points without keeping tabs on spending categories. You’ll earn two miles for every dollar you spend, period.
Rewards points are also transferable to select travel partners. However, the list is mainly of international airline loyalty programs, which may only be beneficial if you travel abroad often.
TIME Stamp: Preferred wins for travel
If you’re a frequent traveler, card_name is the obvious choice. Your points will go further if used for travel, and you can transfer them to popular lodging and airfare loyalty programs. But if you prefer a more straightforward rewards program, card_name could be a better fit.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Are card_name or card_name points worth more?
card_name points are worth more if you use them for travel. However, travel must be booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards to increase the point value by 25%.
Is it worth paying for card_name?
Yes, the annual fee on card_name is well worth it, considering the generous welcome bonus, rewards program, and added perks.
Who might benefit more from the card_name card?
Someone who prefers the simplicity of two points for everything, appreciates the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit, and regularly rents from Hertz.
The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.