American Express Gold vs. Capital One Venture: Detailed Comparison 2024

The card_name and card_name have quite a bit in common, including that they both earn flexible rewards. That said, these cards vary quite a bit when it comes to their earning rates and perks, as well as their redemption values and options for rewards.

If you're looking for a travel credit card and are considering both the card_name and card_name, you'll want to think about how each card's earning rate aligns with your spending, how useful the points are for the way you travel, and how much you want to pay in fees each year. Read on to find out how the cards compare and how you can decide which travel credit card works best for your needs.

How the cards stack up

While the card_name was the clear winner in three different categories, you'll want to do a deep dive into the rewards programs from both card issuers. While Capital One Miles and American Express Membership Rewards points can both be used for a range of redemption options, they each have their own set of transfer partners that may work better (or worse) for your needs.

Welcome bonus winner: card_name

The card_name wins this category easily. With this card, you will bonus_miles_full, whereas the with the card_name, you will bonus_miles_full.

With that said, we do concede that both welcome offers are generous. It's also true that the bonus on the card_name Card is easier to earn, as you have six months to reach the $4,000 spending threshold.

Our advice? Pick the card_name for its welcome offer if you can easily spend $4,000 within three months, or at least $1,334 per month, on regular spending and bills for three consecutive months in a row. If you need more time, however, you can sign up for the card_name and reach the spending threshold with at least $667 in monthly card spending on regular purchases and bills for six consecutive months.

Rewards winner: card_name

The card_name also edges out the card_name in terms of its rewards structure, but that's not all. The card_name also offers better non-travel redemption options and more flexibility when it comes to how you can redeem your miles.

Let's start with its earning rate. The card_name gives you a flat 2x miles on all purchases you make and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. While the card_name does offer a juicy earning rate for restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and eligible airfare purchases, these bonus categories may not leave you with more rewards unless you're a foodie who spends a ton at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants or happens to spend considerable amounts on airfare every year.

Our internal figures showed that the average household might earn 55,578 miles with the card_name over the course of 12 months, compared with 54,656 points with the card_name. The advantage with the card_name is notably small, but it still comes out ahead.

Now let's talk about redemption options. Both cards come with their share of airline and hotel transfer partners, which we delineate below:

American Express transfer partners

Capital One Transfer Partners

While the two rewards programs have some transfer partners that overlap, we consider these options pretty even for most travelers. That said, you'll want to look at these transfer partners to see which ones you might actually use, as that's all that matters here.

The card_name comes out ahead for rewards flexibility, because you can redeem your miles for travel statement credits, travel through Capital One, gift cards, and more at a rate of one cent per point.

The card_name does not offer the same generous redemption rates. You'll only get 0.5 to 0.7 cents per point in value for most gift card redemptions with the Amex Gold, and you'll only get 0.7 cents in value per point when booking hotels or rental cars through Amex*. If you need to redeem your Amex points for statement credits, you'll only get 0.6 cents per point in value.

If you know for sure you want to transfer your points or miles to airline and hotel partners, these redemption values may not matter much to you at all. However, you may find yourself with some excess rewards you want to use, and the card_name makes that a lot easier and more fruitful. You also know that sometimes your travel plans may just fall through, and the card_name makes it easier to cash out and still get a good value for your miles.

Annual fee winner: card_name

The card_name wins in this category as well, as it has a annual_fees annual fee, while the card_name has a annual_fees annual fee (Rates & Fees). Either card's annual fee can technically be worth it if you earn enough in rewards or take advantage of all the cardholder benefits you receive, but paying a lower annual fee can help you justify keeping your travel credit card for the long haul.

APR winner: Tie

Both of these travel credit cards have identical annual percentage rate (APR) ranges, and they are both high. This means the two cards tie in this category, but you won't want to carry a balance on either one if you can help it.

The card_name does come with the ‘Pay It Plan It’ feature, which lets you pay off small purchases quickly or spread out payments on larger purchases of $100 or more with no interest and a fixed payment plan and plan fee. However, there are better cards to consider if you want to carry a balance from time to time, including rewards cards that offer a 0% introductory APR on purchases, balance transfers, or both.

Foreign transaction fee winner: Tie

Like most travel credit cards, neither card charges foreign transaction fees. This means both cards are equally suitable for international travel. See Rates & Fees for the card_name.

Additional perks: card_name

This category was a little tricky to compare, as the card_name appears to offer more perks at first glance. However, statement credit offers from American Express are notoriously difficult to use, and this played a factor in our decision.

First off, the card_name comes with a $120 dining credit* and $120 in Uber cash per year. However, these credits are doled out on a monthly basis ($10 per month), and they don't roll over if you don't use them. This means you have to spend at least $10 per month on eligible dining purchases and Uber rides or Uber Eats* purchases to maximize them. Diving deeper into the fine print, you'll also find out that the $120 dining credit on the Amex Gold is only for purchases at Grubhub, the Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations.

On top of these benefits, the card_name comes with a handful of mid-tier travel insurance perks including a Global Assist hotline, a baggage insurance plan, and secondary auto rental coverage.

• Global Assist Hotline

  • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
  • Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

• Baggage Claim Insurance

  • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
  • Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

• Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance

  • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
  • Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

The card_name comes with automatic Hertz Five Star status, a fee credit of up to $120 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership that can be used for anyone (not just the cardholder), and two free entries into Capital One airport lounges (retail value of $65 per visit) in Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. (IAD), and Denver International Airport (DEN).

As a side note, these two airport lounge passes can also get cardholders into 100+ Plaza Premium airport lounges around the world.

*Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Which card earns the most?

Which card earns the most in rewards depends on how you normally spend with a credit card. It's easy to argue in favor of either card: the card_name due to its flat rate of two miles per dollar on all spending or the card_name for its bonus categories.

To help you figure out which card might leave you ahead, we came up with some calculations for how the average household spends money throughout the year and assigned rewards totals based on these figures. The charts below show how much you might spend in different categories throughout the year with either card and how much in rewards you would get with the card_name or the card_name. (The first two figures come from Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer expenditures data on spending for food at home and food away from home.)

card_name Spending Example

card_name Credit Card Spending Example

As you can see, the card_name edges ahead of the card_name in terms of rewards potential due to its flat rate of two miles per dollar on everyday spending. That higher flat rate on regular purchases makes racking up rewards considerably faster, and it's enough to beat the bonus categories on the card_name.

Then again, you have to look at these two charts and see how our spending estimates line up with how you actually spend money throughout the year. If you spend a lot of money annually on dining out and groceries, the card_name could easily leave you with a bigger rewards haul at the end of 12 months.

Our Recommendations

Why we recommend the card_name

card_name has a lower annual fee, plenty of rewards flexibility, and some pretty nice perks. The first year welcome offer on the card is hard to beat as well, especially when you consider that meeting the minimum spending requirement would net you 83,000 points (with 2x miles per dollar spent) within the first three months, which is worth $830.

It’s not only that. You can redeem your miles for a better redemption value if you decide not to transfer to Capital One's airline and hotel partners. These factors combined led to the card_name beating the card_name in this card comparison.

Why you would still opt for the card_name

You may still want to consider the card_name and that's perfectly OK. This card's bonus categories can be especially lucrative for certain types of spenders.

In particular, if you're a foodie the card_name can leave you with considerably more points over the course of a year. As an example, let's say you spend $2,000 per month at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. In this case your $24,000 in annual spending in these two categories alone would net you 96,000 American Express Membership Rewards points over the course of 12 months.

That's a lot more than you would earn with the card_name, and it's more than enough to justify this card's higher annual fee of annual_fees.

Bottom line

Both of these rewards credit cards offer plenty of value, and either one could work for you based on your spending habits and how you want to redeem rewards. The Capital One Venture pushed out ahead in our card comparison, but that doesn't mean it is the best card for every type of spender.

If you still can't decide between the Capital One Venture and the Amex Gold, there are plenty of other rewards credit cards, air miles credit cards, and rewards programs to compare. Also, take the time to check out the best Capital One credit cards and best Amex credit cards to explore other options that can work.

For rates and fees of the card_name, please visit this URL.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much are Capital One miles worth?

Capital One miles are worth one cent each when redeemed for travel through Capital One, gift cards, and travel statement credits. Redemption values vary when you transfer your miles to Capital One partners, but it's possible to get two cents per mile in value or more.

Which is the best Amex card to get?

The best Amex credit card for you depends on the categories in which you spend the most, the benefits you want, and how you plan to redeem your rewards.

Can I get card_name if I already have the card_name?

It's possible to have both of these travel credit cards at once and having both cards could help you maximize your rewards haul. You may also be eligible to earn the welcome offer on both of these cards, which can make having both well worth it—especially the first year.

Can I switch from card_name to card_name?

You cannot upgrade one of these cards to the other, as they are from different card issuers. However, you can apply for both cards separately and get both or apply for one card after you have already been approved for the other.