Capital One Venture X vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
Last updated July 2026
Capital One Venture X
Premium travel card that returns its own annual fee
Advantages
- $300 annual Capital One Travel credit + 10,000-mile anniversary bonus effectively covers the fee
- Unlimited Priority Pass + Capital One Lounge access for cardholder and up to 2 guests
- 2x miles on everything, 5x on flights and 10x on hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- Transfer partners include Air Canada, Turkish, Air France/KLM, British Airways, and more
- Free authorized users with matching lounge access
Drawbacks
- $395 annual fee before credits
- Transfer partner list is not as strong as Chase Ultimate Rewards for domestic travel
- No dining or grocery multipliers
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Premium travel card with the strongest transfer partners
Advantages
- $300 annual travel credit auto-applies to any travel purchase (easiest premium credit to use)
- Priority Pass Select + access to newly-opened Chase Sapphire Lounges
- 3x on dining and general travel; 5x on flights and 10x on hotels/cars via Chase Travel
- Points transfer to Chase's 14 partners including United, Hyatt, and Southwest
- Points worth 1.5c each when redeemed through Chase Travel portal
Drawbacks
- $550 annual fee ($795 as of the 2025 refresh), still steep
- No Centurion lounge access
- Priority Pass restaurants no longer included (removed in 2019)
Capital One Venture X and Chase Sapphire Reserve both play in rewards credit cards, but they're aimed at different buyers. Capital One Venture X is built for travelers who book through Capital One Travel and want lounge access without a $695+ card. Chase Sapphire Reserve is built for travelers who want the strongest transfer partners for domestic redemptions. Which one fits depends on which of those descriptions sounds more like you.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Capital One Venture X | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $395 | $795 (2025 refresh) |
| Base Rewards Rate | 2x miles on all purchases | 1x on most spending |
| Bonus Categories | 5x flights, 10x hotels/cars via Capital One Travel | 3x dining + travel; 5x flights, 10x hotels/cars via Chase Travel |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Typically 75K-100K miles after minimum spend | Typically 60K-100K UR points |
| Transfer Partners | 15+ partners including Turkish, Air France/KLM, Air Canada | 14 partners including United, Hyatt, Southwest |
| Annual Travel Credit | $300 annual Capital One Travel credit | $300 easy annual travel credit + Chase Travel credits |
| Lounge Access | Priority Pass + Capital One Lounges (cardholder + 2 guests) | Priority Pass Select + Chase Sapphire Lounges |
| Insurance Protections | Trip cancellation, primary rental car, cellphone protection | Trip cancellation, primary rental car, delay |
Too Close to Call
Capital One Venture X and Chase Sapphire Reserve land roughly even overall; the right pick depends on which of their strengths matters more to you.
Capital One Venture X's standout strength: $300 annual Capital One Travel credit + 10,000-mile anniversary bonus effectively covers the fee. Chase Sapphire Reserve's standout strength: $300 annual travel credit auto-applies to any travel purchase (easiest premium credit to use). Neither dominates across the board, and both have well-known weak spots. Capital One Venture X's biggest drawback: $395 annual fee before credits. Chase Sapphire Reserve's biggest drawback: $550 annual fee ($795 as of the 2025 refresh), still steep. Pick the one whose strengths line up with what you actually need.
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