Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture 2026
Chase Sapphire Preferred wins if you eat out, use Uber, or want to transfer points to premium airline programs (United, British Airways, Hyatt). Capital One Venture wins if you want simplicity — 2x on every purchase, no category tracking, and the flexibility to erase any travel purchase. Both charge $95/year and currently offer a 75,000-point/mile bonus.
Apply Now →At a Glance
| # | Card / Product | Award | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | APR Range | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Best Overall | $95 | 5x Chase Travel; 3x dining, streaming, online groceries; 2x other travel; 1x everywhere else | 19.24%–27.49% Variable | Apply → |
| 2 | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Also Excellent | $95 | Unlimited 2x miles on all purchases; 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | 19.49%–28.49% Variable | Apply → |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
“3x dining + 5x Chase Travel. 75k points after $5k/3mo. Best for dining spenders and premium transfers.”
What we like
- $95 annual fee — $300 less than Venture X gross fee ($395)
- 1:1 transfer to Hyatt (best hotel points program), United, and Southwest — not available via Capital One
- 3x on dining and online groceries — strong everyday earning for non-travel spend
- 75,000-point bonus ($937.50 toward Chase Travel) after $5,000 spend in 3 months
Watch out for
- No lounge access (major Venture X advantage for frequent flyers)
- 1x on general purchases (vs. Venture X’s 2x) — earns half as many miles on non-bonus spending
- 5x only on Chase Travel bookings (direct bookings earn 2x)
Rates as of April 8, 2026. Terms apply. Verify on issuer site.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
“2x miles on everything, flat rate. 75k miles + $250 C1 Travel credit after $4k/3mo. $95 fee.”
What we like
- Unlimited 2x miles on every purchase — no category tracking required
- 5x on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel
- 75,000-mile bonus + $250 Capital One Travel credit after $4,000 spend in 3 months. Terms apply.
- Lower bonus spend requirement than Chase Sapphire Preferred ($4,000 vs. $5,000)
- $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit (every 4 years)
- Redeem miles against any travel purchase as a statement credit — total flexibility
Watch out for
- $95 annual fee
- 2x flat rate trails CSP's 3x on dining for dining-heavy spenders
- Transfer partner lineup lighter on domestic U.S. airline options vs. Chase
Rates as of April 8, 2026. Terms apply. Verify on issuer site.
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture Buying Guide
Choosing Between Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture
The core difference: Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards specific categories at elevated rates — 5x Chase Travel, 3x dining, 3x streaming, 2x travel. Capital One Venture earns a flat 2x miles on every purchase. If your spending is concentrated in dining and travel, CSP earns more. If your spending is spread across categories — grocery, gas, hardware, clothing — Venture's flat 2x rate wins by keeping it simple.
This is where the gap widens. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to 14 airline and hotel partners including United MileagePlus, British Airways Avios, Hyatt World of Hyatt, and Southwest Rapid Rewards — all at 1:1. Savvy redeemers routinely extract 1.5–2.5 cents per point. Capital One miles transfer to 19 airline partners (mostly international carriers), but the lineup is thinner on domestic options. Capital One miles also redeem simply at 1 cent each against any travel purchase made with the card — no portal required.
Sign-Up Bonus Comparison (as of March 2026)
-
Chase Sapphire Preferred: 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $5,000 spend in first 3 months. Worth $750 minimum (1 cent each), $1,125+ via Chase Travel portal (1.25 cents), or $1,500–2,500+ via airline transfers.
-
Capital One Venture: 75,000 miles after $4,000 spend in first 3 months + $250 Capital One Travel credit in first cardholder year. Miles worth $750 at 1 cent each. The lower spend requirement ($4,000 vs. $5,000) makes Venture's bonus easier to earn.
-
Dine out frequently → Chase Sapphire Preferred (3x dining)
-
Want to maximize rewards without tracking categories → Capital One Venture (flat 2x)
-
Want to redeem for premium airline seats → Chase Sapphire Preferred (United, British Airways transfers)
-
Travel primarily on international carriers → Capital One Venture (Air France, Turkish Airlines, Avianca, etc.)
-
Want Global Entry/TSA PreCheck paid for → Capital One Venture ($120 credit included)
For the full travel card category, our Best Travel Credit Cards of 2026 ranks every major option from no-annual-fee to ultra-premium. Also comparing the Sapphire Preferred against the Amex Gold? The Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred 2026 head-to-head covers the dining vs travel earning rate tradeoff. For cash-back alternatives if you decide points redemption isn't worth the effort, Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2026 covers flat-rate and category cards that are simpler to use.
Watch Before You Buy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card has the better sign-up bonus right now?
Can I have both cards?
Which has better travel insurance?
Does Capital One Venture charge foreign transaction fees?
Which is better for booking hotels?
How We Evaluate Financial Products
We compare financial products based on objective criteria: annual fees, APR ranges, rewards rates, sign-up bonuses, and key perks. We do not factor in issuer relationships or compensation when determining rankings. Products are ranked based on overall value for the target use case described on this page.
Rates and terms change frequently. We update these pages regularly, but always verify current rates directly on the issuer’s website before applying. APR ranges shown reflect the full possible range — your actual rate depends on your creditworthiness.
This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We compare products; we do not advise on which product is right for your personal financial situation. Read our full methodology →