Capital One Venture vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Capital One Venture wins 3-2. Simple travel earn — 2x on every dollar, no categories to track Chase Sapphire Reserve is still the right call if annual travelers — the upgrade path from sapphire preferred..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Capital One Venture | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | · $550 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 5% (travel) | 10% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | 2% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 75,000 miles after $4,000 in first 3 months (~$750 in travel) | = 60,000 points after $4,000 in first 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 700 | · 740 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.4/5 | 4.7/5 |
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
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- 10x on hotels and rental cars booked via Chase Travel
- 5x on flights booked via Chase Travel
- 3x on all other dining + travel
- $300 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass Select + Chase Sapphire Lounge access
- 50% bonus when redeeming for travel via Chase portal
FAQ
›Capital One Venture vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: which is better?
Capital One Venture wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›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, Chase Sapphire Reserve 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). Chase Sapphire Reserve: 60,000 points after $4,000 in first 3 months.