Capital One Venture vs US Bank Altitude Reserve
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Capital One Venture wins 3-1. Simple travel earn — 2x on every dollar, no categories to track US Bank Altitude Reserve is still the right call if mobile-pay maximizers — 3x on apple/google/samsung pay transactions..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Capital One Venture | US Bank Altitude Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | · $400 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | = 5% (travel) | = 5% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | 2% | · 1.5% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 75,000 miles after $4,000 in first 3 months (~$750 in travel) | = 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel) |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 700 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.4/5 | 4.6/5 |
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
US Bank Altitude Reserve
- 5x on prepaid hotels and car rentals via US Bank Travel
- 3x on travel + mobile-wallet purchases
- 1.5x redemption rate when used for travel
- $325 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass Select (4 free visits/year)
- Up to $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
FAQ
›Capital One Venture vs US Bank Altitude Reserve: which is better?
Capital One Venture wins on more dimensions (3 vs 1). 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, US Bank Altitude 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). US Bank Altitude Reserve: 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel).