Head-to-head · 🇺🇸 United States

Capital One Venture vs Amex Blue Cash Preferred

Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.

US
Capital One
Capital One Venture
VISA
Wins 2 of 10
US
American Express
Amex Blue Cash Preferred
AMERICAN
EXPRESS
Wins 2 of 10
Verdict

It's a true tie — neither dominates. Pick the one whose boost categories match where you actually spend.

Side-by-side

CriterionCapital One VentureAmex Blue Cash Preferred
Annual fee
=
$95
=
$95
Joining fee
=
None
=
None
Top reward rate
·
5% (travel)
6% (shopping)
Base reward rate
2%
·
1%
Forex markup
No FX fee
·
2.7%
Welcome bonus
=
75,000 miles after $4,000 in first 3 months (~$750 in travel)
=
$250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months
Fee waiver threshold
=
No waiver
=
No waiver
Min income
=
=
Min credit score
=
700
=
700
Editorial rating
·
4.4/5
4.5/5

Benefits compared

Capital One Venture

  • 2x miles on every purchase
  • 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
  • Up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
  • Transfer miles to 15+ airline/hotel partners
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Two complimentary visits/year to Capital One Lounges

Amex Blue Cash Preferred

  • 6% cashback on US supermarkets (up to $6K/year, then 1%)
  • 6% on streaming subscriptions
  • 3% on US gas stations + transit
  • 1% on everything else
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months

FAQ

Capital One Venture vs Amex Blue Cash Preferred: which is better?

It's a true tie — pick the one whose boost categories match your spend. Capital One Venture wins on 2 criteria, Amex Blue Cash Preferred on 2.

Can I get both?

Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Capital One Venture for its best categories, Amex Blue Cash Preferred for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.

Which one has the better welcome bonus?

Capital One Venture: 75,000 miles after $4,000 in first 3 months (~$750 in travel). Amex Blue Cash Preferred: $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months.