Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture X: Which Travel Card Wins in 2025?

Choosing the right travel credit card can literally save you thousands of dollars every year. But with flashy sign-up bonuses and complicated reward structures, how do you know which card actually delivers the best value?

I've spent the last six months using both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture X for everything from international flights to coffee runs. Today, I'm breaking down exactly which card deserves a spot in your wallet based on real-world testing, not just marketing hype.

Quick Comparison Overview

Feature
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Capital One Venture X
Annual Fee
$95
$395
Welcome Bonus
60,000 points ($750 value)
75,000 miles ($750 value)
Travel Credit
$50 hotel credit
$300 annual travel credit
Lounge Access
None
Unlimited Priority Pass + Capital One Lounges
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
None
Earning Rate (Travel)
5x points via Chase portal, 2x direct
5x on hotels/rentals via Capital One, 2x general travel
Earning Rate (Dining)
3x points
2x miles
Earning Rate (Everything Else)
1x points
2x miles
TSA PreCheck/Global Entry
None
$120 credit every 4 years

The Annual Fee Reality Check

Let's address the elephant in the room: The Venture X costs $395 annually while Sapphire Preferred is just $95. That's a $300 difference. But is that difference justified?

Venture X Effective Annual Fee Calculation:

• Annual fee: $395
• Annual travel credit: -$300
• Effective fee: $95

When you factor in credits, both cards essentially have the same yearly cost for travelers who can use the benefits. However, the Sapphire Preferred wins if you're a casual traveler who won't maximize the Venture X perks.

Welcome Bonus: Who Offers More?

Both cards offer roughly $750 in welcome bonuses, but the requirements differ:

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

• 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in first 3 months
• Points worth 1.25 cents each through Chase Travel Portal
• Effective value: $750

Capital One Venture X:

• 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in first 3 months
• Miles worth 1 cent each, or higher with transfer partners
• Effective value: $750-$1,125 (depending on redemption method)

Winner: Slight edge to Venture X for flexibility and higher potential value with airline transfers.

Earning Rewards: The Daily Use Test

This is where things get interesting. I tracked every purchase for 90 days to see which card earned more.

My Spending Breakdown (Typical American):

• Dining: $800/month
• Groceries: $600/month
• Travel: $400/month
• Gas: $200/month
• Other: $1,000/month

Monthly Earning Results:

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

• Dining (3x): 2,400 points
• Travel (2x direct): 800 points
• Everything else (1x): 1,800 points
• Total: 5,000 points/month = $62.50 value

Capital One Venture X:

• Dining (2x): 1,600 miles
• Travel (2x): 800 miles
• Everything else (2x): 3,600 miles
• Total: 6,000 miles/month = $60-90 value

Winner for Daily Spending: Venture X edges ahead due to 2x on everything, especially if you don't spend heavily on dining.

Redeeming Rewards: Where Your Points Go Further

This is the most critical factor that most reviews ignore.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Redemption Options:

Option 1: Chase Travel Portal

• Points worth 1.25 cents each
• Easy to use, instant booking
• Sometimes higher prices than direct booking

Option 2: Transfer to Airline/Hotel Partners

• Transfer to United, Southwest, Hyatt, Marriott, etc.
• Can get 1.5-2.5 cents per point value
• Requires more research and planning

Option 3: Cash Back

• 1 cent per point
• Simple but poor value

Capital One Venture X Redemption Options:

Option 1: Erase Travel Purchases

• 1 cent per mile on any travel purchase
• Maximum flexibility
• Book anywhere, erase with miles

Option 2: Transfer to Airline Partners

• Transfer to Air Canada, British Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines
• Can get 1.5-3 cents per mile value
• Great for international premium flights

Option 3: Capital One Travel Portal

• 1 cent per mile
• Price match guarantee

Winner: Chase has better hotel partners (Hyatt is incredible), but Venture X offers more redemption flexibility for those who don't want to play the points game.

Lounge Access: A Game-Changer

This is where the Venture X absolutely dominates.

Chase Sapphire Preferred: No lounge access at all. You'll pay $32+ per visit or need another card.

Capital One Venture X: Unlimited Priority Pass Select access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, PLUS exclusive Capital One Lounges in major airports (Dallas, Denver, Washington DC). These are some of the best domestic lounges in America.

Real-world value: If you travel just 8 times per year and use lounges, that's $256+ in value. For families, it's even better since you can bring two guests for free.

Winner: Venture X, and it's not even close.

Travel Protections: The Safety Net

Both cards offer solid travel protections, but there are differences:

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

• Trip cancellation/interruption: Up to $10,000 per trip
• Baggage delay insurance: $100/day (up to 5 days)
• Trip delay reimbursement: $500 (6+ hour delay)
• Lost luggage reimbursement: $3,000 per passenger
• Primary rental car insurance

Capital One Venture X:

• Trip cancellation/interruption: Up to $10,000 per trip
• Baggage delay insurance: $100/day (up to 3 days)
• Trip delay reimbursement: $500 (6+ hour delay)
• Lost luggage reimbursement: $3,000 per passenger
• Primary rental car insurance

Winner: Both are excellent, but Sapphire Preferred has slightly better baggage delay coverage.

Additional Perks Worth Mentioning

Chase Sapphire Preferred Exclusive Perks:

• $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel
• DoorDash benefits (varies by promotion)
• Lyft Pink membership benefits
• Purchase protection and extended warranty

Capital One Venture X Exclusive Perks:

• $300 annual travel credit (auto-applied)
• 10,000 anniversary bonus miles ($100 value)
• $120 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
• Hertz President's Circle status
• Premium concierge service

Winner: Venture X offers significantly more premium perks.

The International Travel Test

I took both cards on a two-week European trip. Here's what happened:

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

• No foreign transaction fees: ✓
• Accepted everywhere: ✓
• Easy to earn points on dining: ✓
• Lounge access: ✗

Capital One Venture X:

• No foreign transaction fees: ✓
• Accepted everywhere: ✓
• Lounge access saved $80+: ✓
• 2x miles on everything: ✓

For international travel, Venture X was the clear winner primarily due to lounge access and 2x on all purchases.

The Credit Score and Approval Factor

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

• Recommended credit score: 690+
• Subject to Chase 5/24 rule (can't have opened 5+ cards in 24 months)
• Easier approval for those with shorter credit history

Capital One Venture X:

• Recommended credit score: 720+
• More strict approval requirements
• Better for established credit profiles

If you have good but not excellent credit, start with Sapphire Preferred and upgrade to Venture X after building your score.

Real User Scenarios: Which Card is Right for You?

Choose Chase Sapphire Preferred if you:

• Travel 1-4 times per year
• Spend heavily on dining and restaurants
• Want a lower annual fee
• Are new to travel credit cards
• Prefer booking through Chase Travel Portal
• Love Hyatt hotels (best transfer partner)
• Are affected by Chase 5/24 rule considerations

Choose Capital One Venture X if you:

• Travel 5+ times per year
• Want premium lounge access
• Can maximize the $300 travel credit
• Spend on diverse categories (2x everything)
• Prefer booking flexibility
• Want TSA PreCheck/Global Entry covered
• Travel internationally frequently
• Have excellent credit (720+)

Choose BOTH if you:

• Travel extensively (10+ trips/year)
• Want to maximize category bonuses
• Use Sapphire for dining (3x) and Venture X for everything else (2x)
• Value having backup cards and maximum protections

My Personal Verdict After 6 Months

After extensive testing, here's my honest recommendation:

For most people: Capital One Venture X edges out as the better overall card due to lounge access, 2x on everything, and superior travel perks. The effective annual fee is the same when you use the credits, but you get significantly more value.

However, Chase Sapphire Preferred is perfect for:

• Foodies and restaurant lovers
• Those new to travel cards
• Anyone who can't meet Venture X's credit requirements
• Travelers who primarily use Hyatt hotels

My setup: I keep both. I use Venture X as my daily driver (2x on everything) and pull out Sapphire Preferred specifically for dining (3x points). This maximizes earnings in every category.

Common Questions Answered

Q: Can I have both cards? Yes! Many travelers do this to maximize category bonuses.

Q: Which has better customer service? Both offer excellent service. Capital One's concierge is exceptional for Venture X holders.

Q: Can I upgrade/downgrade between Chase cards? Yes, you can upgrade from Freedom to Sapphire Preferred or downgrade to avoid annual fees.

Q: What about the Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Venture X? That's a different comparison (Reserve has $550 fee). For most people, Venture X beats Reserve in value.

Q: Are the travel credits easy to use? Venture X credit auto-applies to any travel purchase. Chase's $50 hotel credit requires booking through Chase Travel.

Bottom Line: The Final Recommendation

If I could only choose one card for the next five years, I'd pick the Capital One Venture X. The lounge access alone justifies the cost for anyone who travels regularly, and the 2x earning rate on everything means you're always earning strong rewards.

However, if you're just starting your credit card journey or travel less frequently, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent entry point that delivers outstanding value at a lower cost.

The best strategy? Start with Sapphire Preferred, master the basics of travel rewards, then add Venture X once you're traveling more frequently. That's the power combo that maximizes your rewards in every situation.

Ready to apply? Make sure your credit score is above 690, have your income information ready, and consider spacing out applications by 2-3 months if applying for both.

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Which card are you leaning toward? Drop a comment below with your travel habits, and I'll give you my personalized recommendation!