Navigating the world of travel rewards credit cards can feel like trying to pick a destination with unlimited options—exciting, but overwhelming. Two cards consistently rise to the top of every traveler’s list: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Both are powerhouses, both have legions of loyal fans, and both promise to turn your everyday spending into your next great adventure.
But which one is right for you?
That’s the million-dollar question (or, more accurately, the 75,000-point question). One card is a master of maximizing rewards in specific categories, while the other offers elegant simplicity. This head-to-head comparison will break down everything you need to know about their rewards, benefits, and hidden perks to help you choose the perfect co-pilot for your travels.
Quick Verdict: Who Are These Cards For?
Don’t have time for the full deep dive? Here’s the bottom line:
- Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred if: You are a “travel maximizer.” You enjoy planning your redemptions, love the high value offered by hotel and airline transfer partners (like Hyatt and Southwest), and a significant portion of your budget goes toward dining, streaming, and online groceries.
- Choose the Capital One Venture if: You are a “travel simplifier.” You want a straightforward, no-fuss way to earn rewards on every single purchase without worrying about bonus categories. You value the ability to easily “erase” any travel purchase from your statement.
A Head-to-Head Comparison: At a Glance
Let’s start with a bird’s-eye view of how these two cards stack up on the most important features.
| Feature | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card |
| Annual Fee | $95 | $95 |
| Welcome Bonus | Typically 60,000+ bonus points | Typically 75,000 bonus miles |
| Earning on Travel | 5x points on travel via Chase Travel℠; 2x on other travel | 5x miles on hotels & rental cars via Capital One Travel |
| Earning on Dining | 3x points | 2x miles (as part of flat rate) |
| Earning on All Else | 1x point | 2x miles |
| Point Value (Portal) | 1.25 cents per point for travel | 1 cent per mile for travel |
| Key Perk | Excellent transfer partners, strong travel insurance | Simple rewards, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit |
Disclaimer: Welcome offers, annual fees, and card benefits can change. Always check the issuer’s official website for the most current information before applying.
Deep Dive: Earning Rewards
How you rack up points is the foundation of any rewards strategy. This is where the core philosophies of these cards diverge.
Chase Sapphire Preferred: The Multiplier Master
The Sapphire Preferred is built for those whose spending aligns with modern habits. It rewards you handsomely in specific, high-use categories:
- 5x points on travel purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal.
- 3x points on dining, including restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services.
- 3x points on select streaming services.
- 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs).
- 2x points on all other travel purchases.
- 1x point on everything else.
Plus, you get a 10% anniversary points boost, calculated on the total dollar amount you spent in the previous year. If you spend $25,000, you get an extra 2,500 points. It’s a nice little bonus that rewards your loyalty. Learn more on the official Chase website.
Capital One Venture: The Simple Flat-Rate Earner
The Venture Card’s appeal lies in its beautiful simplicity. There are no categories to memorize or activate. You earn:
- 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal.
- An unlimited 2x miles on every other purchase, every single day.
That’s it. Whether you’re buying a flight, paying a utility bill, or grabbing coffee, you’re earning a solid 2 miles per dollar. This makes it a fantastic “catch-all” card for any expense that doesn’t fall into one of the Sapphire Preferred’s bonus categories. Check the latest offer on Capital One’s website.
Winner: It’s a tie, depending on your spending. If you dine out often and book travel through the portal, the Sapphire Preferred pulls ahead. If your spending is spread across a wide variety of uncategorized merchants, the Venture Card is the clear winner for its simplicity and consistency.
The Ultimate Test: Redeeming Your Rewards
Earning points is fun, but redeeming them is the whole point. This is where the value proposition of each card truly shines—or doesn’t.
The Power of Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR)
Chase points are a fan favorite for one main reason: flexibility and value.
- Chase Travel℠ Portal: When you book flights, hotels, or rental cars through the Chase portal, your points are worth 25% more. That means 60,000 points are worth $750 in travel, not just $600.
- 1:1 Point Transfers: This is the golden ticket. You can transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to over a dozen high-value airline and hotel partners. This includes domestic powerhouses like Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and World of Hyatt. Transferring points to Hyatt, for example, can often yield a value of 2 cents per point or even higher, doubling the value you’d get from a simple cash-back redemption.
The Flexibility of Capital One Miles
Capital One offers a different, but equally compelling, kind of flexibility.
- Purchase Eraser: This is the easiest redemption method in the game. Simply pay for any travel-related purchase with your Venture card—be it a flight, an Airbnb, a cruise, or a taxi—and you can use your miles to “erase” that charge from your statement at a value of 1 cent per mile.
- Transfer Partners: Capital One also has a growing list of over 15 airline and hotel transfer partners. While they lack some of the big US domestic carriers that Chase has, they have excellent international partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred. While the Venture Card’s Purchase Eraser is incredibly user-friendly, the sheer potential value of transferring Chase points to partners like World of Hyatt and Southwest gives it a significant edge for those willing to do a little research.
Beyond the Points: Key Travel Perks & Benefits
A great travel card is more than just its rewards program. It’s about the perks that make your journey smoother and safer.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred:
- $50 Annual Hotel Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel℠.
- Superior Travel Insurance: Offers excellent trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, and trip delay reimbursement. This is a huge value and can save you hundreds of dollars.
- DoorDash DashPass: Complimentary membership for at least one year when you activate.
- Capital One Venture:
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit: Receive up to a $100 statement credit for the application fee once every four years. This is a fantastic perk for any frequent flyer.
- Two Complimentary Lounge Visits: Get two free visits per year to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges.
- Hertz Five Star® Status: Enjoy complimentary elite status with Hertz rental cars.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred. While the Venture Card’s Global Entry credit is a clear, tangible benefit, the comprehensive suite of travel insurance protections offered by the Sapphire Preferred provides incredible peace of mind and potentially thousands of dollars in value if things go wrong.
The Final Verdict: Which Card Should You Choose?
After breaking it all down, the decision comes back to your personal travel and spending style.
Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card if…
- You are a travel rewards strategist who enjoys finding the best transfer partner deals.
- You spend a lot on dining out, food delivery, and streaming services.
- You value robust travel protections and a primary rental car waiver.
- You are loyal to airlines like Southwest or United, or hotels like Hyatt.
Choose the Capital One Venture® Rewards Credit Card if…
- You value simplicity and want to earn a high, flat rate on all your purchases.
- You don’t want to think about bonus categories.
- You want an easy way to redeem miles for any travel purchase without blackout dates.
- You haven’t gotten Global Entry or TSA PreCheck yet and want the fee covered.
Ultimately, there is no single “best” card—only the card that’s best for you. Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Capital One Venture are top-tier choices that can unlock incredible travel experiences. Analyze your spending, define your travel goals, and you’ll find your perfect match. read about Beginner’s Guide to Using Credit Card Transfer Partners here.
