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What we think: If you’re a frequent traveler and like to earn miles, the Capital One Venture Rewards card is a great option, especially for a card with a low ($95) annual fee compared to other travel cards.
This card comes with strong security features and access to multiple shopping and entertainment benefits.
Capital One works with several transfer partners, making it easier to transfer your miles to certain airline and hotel rewards programs.
With the Capital One Venture, you can use your miles to book travel or pay for experiences, redeem them for a statement credit, or even transfer them to friends and family members.
SUMMARY
Capital One offers a variety of financial products, including the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, a travel credit card designed for users with excellent credit.
When you use the Capital One Venture card, you earn bonus miles that can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and other travel expenses. We created this Capital One Venture card review to help you determine if this credit card might be a good fit for your lifestyle.
Find out how the card works, what kind of rewards you can earn, how Capital One protects you against fraud, and whether the Capital One Venture Rewards card is worth the $95 annual fee.
Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotel stays or rental cars booked through Capital One’s portal and 2X miles on all other purchases. $95 annual fee.
Is the Capital One Venture card worth it?
The Capital One Venture Rewards credit card is worth it if you travel frequently and don’t mind earning bonus miles instead of cash rewards. It’s also ideal for discerning travelers who want premium perks at airports and hotels.
The annual fee for the Venture card is just $95, making it a good value, especially when compared to cards with annual fees of $250 to $600.
That said, there are a couple of drawbacks that may make the Capital One Venture Rewards card a poor fit for your needs. For example, cardholders can’t use bonus miles to cover the annual fee. Therefore, this card is a little less flexible than the Venture X Card offered by Capital One.
Additionally, the rewards rate isn’t quite as high as the rewards rate offered by many other travel credit cards. Each mile is worth no more than 1 cent unless you use a limited number of transfer partners to book your travel. This low reward rate makes it difficult to maximize your earnings. If earning potential is important to you, a card with a better rewards rate may be a better addition to your wallet.
Some users may also have trouble spending $4,000 within three months of opening an account, which is the minimum amount you must spend to qualify for the sign-up bonus. If you don’t plan to use your credit card for everyday purchases, look for a card that gives you a sign-up bonus with a lower minimum spend.
Capital One is offering a sign-up bonus of 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 within three months of opening your account. At a rate of 1 cent per mile, this is equivalent to $750 worth of travel benefits.
You also earn five miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and two miles per dollar on everything else.
For example, assume you use Capital One Travel to book a $700 flight. When you get to your destination, you spend $400 on a rental car and $200 on souvenirs. You’d earn 1,800 miles on the flight/souvenirs ($900 in expenses times two miles per dollar) and 2,000 miles on the car rental ($400 in expenses times five miles per dollar).
Capital One also has a rewards calculator to help you determine how many miles you’ll earn based on your typical spending habits. The more you spend, the faster your miles accumulate. For example, if you spend $3,500 per month, you have the potential to earn 84,000 miles per year or $840 worth of travel benefits.
To maximize your rewards, consider using the Capital One Venture card to pay for restaurant meals, utilities, medical bills, and other expenses. Just keep an eye out for companies that charge a fee to use a credit card instead of another payment method. If you have to pay extra to use your Capital One Venture card, the fee is likely to outweigh any travel benefits you’ll earn. This is where credit cards with no annual fee are great.
Redeem Capital One Venture rewards
Capital One gives you seven ways to redeem your miles:
1
Transferring miles to a partner
Capital One allows you to transfer your miles to one of its transfer partners. Most partners have a 1:1 ratio, which means you’ll receive one mile or point for every mile you transfer. The EVA Air Infinity MileageLands program has a 2:1.5 ratio, which means you’ll get 750 MileageLands miles for every 1,000 Capital One miles you transfer. Accor Live Limitless has the least favorable transfer ratio, as you only get 500 Accor points for every 1,000 Capital One Miles.
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2
Redeeming miles as a statement credit
If you don’t want to move your miles to another loyalty program, you can redeem them for a statement credit. This is helpful if you want to use your miles to cover past travel expenses or if you want to use your miles without using Capital One Travel.
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3
Booking miles through the travel center
You can also redeem your Capital One Venture miles by using Capital One Travel to make your travel arrangements. For example, if you want to visit your family for the holidays, you may be able to use miles to pay for your flight and accommodations.
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4
Sharing them
If a friend or family member has the Capital One Venture, you can transfer your miles to their account
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5
Redeeming miles for events and experiences
You can use your miles to pay for concert tickets, sporting events, and other experiences. Note that you must use Capital One Entertainment to make your purchase.
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6
Buying gift cards
With the Capital One Venture, you can redeem your miles for gift cards from many major brands, including Best Buy and Barnes & Noble.
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7
Redeeming for cash
If you don’t have any upcoming travel plans and don’t want to share your miles, buy gift cards, or purchase premium experiences, you can redeem your Capital One Venture Rewards credit card miles for cash. Once you make the redemption, Capital One will send you a check or issue a statement credit.
Many of these benefits are travel-related, but Capital One also offers excellent consumer protections and access to coupons, discounts, and other deals with Capital One Shopping.
Travel perks
Lounge access
If you’re traveling to Dulles International Airport or Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport, you can use your card to access the Capital One Lounge. The Capital One Venture comes with two free lounge visits per year. If you want to bring a spouse, child, or colleague with you, the guest fee is $45. Make sure you have your Capital One Venture Rewards credit card with you, as you’ll need to present it at the lounge access point. Cardholders also have access to Plaza Premium Lounges at other airports.
Travel insurance
Access to Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges isn’t the only reason to sign up for the Venture card. Your membership also entitles you to travel insurance, which covers trip cancellations, trip interruptions, and trip delays. Additionally, Capital One travel insurance comes with baggage insurance and rental car insurance. Check your cardholder agreement to learn more about your coverage limits and exclusions.
Premium hotel benefits
If you use Capital One Travel to book a hotel in the Lifestyle Collection, your card entitles you to a $50 experience credit. When available, you may also qualify for complimentary room upgrades.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck make getting through airport security a little less of a hassle. If you have the Venture card, you’ll get a credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee, making these programs more affordable. This credit is worth up to $100.
No foreign transaction fee
If you enjoy traveling overseas, the Venture card may be a good fit, as it has no foreign transaction fees. These are surcharges that some banks charge on all foreign transactions. Depending on how often you travel and how long you stay overseas during each trip, the lack of foreign transaction fees may help you save a significant amount of money.
Capital One Entertainment and Capital One Dining
The Venture card also comes with several entertainment and dining benefits. Capital One Entertainment allows you to redeem your miles for concerts, sporting events, and VIP experiences. You may even qualify for Capital One Cardholder Exclusive Tickets, giving you access to better seats than you’d get if you purchased your tickets elsewhere.
Capital One Dining gives cardholders access to exclusive dining experiences, such as dinners prepared by world-renowned chefs. You can even use your card benefits to dine at award-winning restaurants and eateries listed in the Michelin Guide.
Consumer protections
The Venture card comes with multiple consumer protections:
1
Security alerts
If you enable security alerts, Capital One will send you a text any time there’s suspicious activity on your account. You can also set up instant purchase notifications, making it easier to spot fraud before it becomes a big problem.
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2
$0 fraud liability
Credit card fraud is a persistent problem, but if someone manages to use your card without authorization, you won’t be liable for any of the charges.
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3
Emergency card replacement
If you lose your card or if someone steals it from you, Capital One will replace it for free
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4
Extended warranty coverage
When you make a purchase with your Venture card, you may be entitled to extended warranty coverage, ensuring that you have some recourse if the item is damaged or defective. Be sure to keep your receipt in case you have to file a warranty claim. Check your cardholder agreement for more information about coverage limits and exceptions.
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5
Eno
You also have access to the Capital One Digital Assistant (Eno), making it easier to find answers to common questions. For example, Eno can tell you how to add an account to your profile or check your balance.
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CreditWise credit monitoring
CreditWise gives you access to your credit report and VantageScore, making it easier to see how your financial habits affect your credit profile. It also sends you alerts when your report changes, which may help you stop fraud in its tracks.
Capital One Shopping
Venture cardholders have access to Capital One Shopping, a browser extension that displays coupon codes and deal alerts when you’re shopping online. It also gives you access to personalized deals, such as a flat-rate discount on streaming subscriptions and extra cashback on shoes and clothing.
Capital One Venture card fees, rates & limit
Capital One Venture card fees
If you sign up for the Venture card, expect to pay the following fees:
Annual fee: $95
Balance transfer fee: $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Cash advance fee: The greater of $5 or 5% of the advance
Foreign transaction fee: $0
Late payment: $40
Capital One Venture card interest rates
If you decide to get a Venture card, you should be aware of the following rates:
Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR, depending on your credit history
Purchase intro APR: N/A
Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
Cash advance APR: 29.99%
Capital One Venture card limit
As a Visa Signature card, the Capital One Venture comes with a minimum credit limit of $5,000. It maxes out at a limit of $25,000. Remember, Capital One determines your limit based on your credit history.
Capital One is more than just a credit card issuer
The first step in growing and maintaining consistent savings is to understand your personal finances through checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and more.
The Venture card is best for users who travel frequently, as it offers five miles per dollar on qualifying hotel and rental car transactions. Otherwise, you get two miles per dollar.
This card is also ideal for anyone looking to experiment with a travel card without paying a steep annual fee.
How do I become a Capital One Venture card member?
To apply for the Capital One Venture, follow these steps:
1
Learn more
Click “Learn More” next to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card at the top of this page, or below this list.
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2
Open the application
Click “Apply Now” to open the application page on the Capital One website.
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3
Review disclosures
Review the disclosures displayed at the bottom of the first screen.
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4
Provide requested info
Provide the requested personal and financial information.
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5
Submit!
Submit your completed application.
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The Venture is for people with excellent credit, so you need a high credit score and a solid credit history. It’s difficult to get approved if you have a limited credit history or have negative items on your credit reports.
Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotel stays or rental cars booked through Capital One’s portal and 2X miles on all other purchases.
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Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer
75,000 miles
Regular APR
19.99% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
Some travel rewards cards can have complicated categories, making it difficult to take full advantage of their benefits. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card keeps things simple by offering flexible, flat-rate rewards. It also offers a variety of travel-related benefits like a credit every 4 years that can be used towards Global Entry or TSA Precheck.
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Card Details
More Card Info
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Pros
Travel insurance protections incuded
Earn flexible rewards for travel
Reasonable $95 annual fee
Cons
Requires good or excellent credit
No everyday spending bonus categories
High APR
Bottom Line
The massive sign-up offer and generous, flexible rewards make this card a great option for casual travelers.
How does the Capital One Venture card compare to other travel cards?
Overall, the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card is a strong contender in the travel credit card arena.
Compared to similar cards, it has a low annual fee and favorable interest rates for customers with excellent credit scores. It also comes with several travel benefits, making it a worthy addition to your wallet if you make at least a few trips each year. You can read more on how it compares in our detailed comparison of Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture.
However, co-branded airline credit cards and hotel credit cards can provide better rewards than the Venture card for specific brands or chains, if you are loyal to one (like Hilton Hotels or Southwest Airlines). Additionally. if you tend to travel for business, you may want to look into the best business credit cards, which provide business-related rewards.
If you’re still interested in a Capital One card but have decided the Venture Rewards card isn’t right for you, check out our other Capital One credit card reviews.
Generally, the miles you earn with the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card are worth 1 cent each. They may be worth a little less in certain scenarios.
Is the Capital One Venture card a Visa or Mastercard?
As of April 2024, the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card is a World Elite Mastercard.
What credit score is needed to qualify for Capital One Venture rewards?
Capital One doesn’t publish minimum score requirements, but it does market the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card as a product for consumers with excellent credit. According to the National Credit Union Administration, a FICO® score over 800 is considered “exceptional,” while a score of 740 to 800 falls into the “excellent” category.
Remember that your credit score isn’t the only factor a bank considers when determining whether to approve your application. You could have a FICO score of 780 and still get denied for a Capital One Venture. It all depends on how much you earn, how much debt you have, and your current credit profile.
Is a Capital One Venture card better than The Platinum Card® from American Express?
It depends on your spending habits and financial goals. If you’re looking for a credit card that helps you earn travel-related rewards for a low annual fee, the Capital One Venture Rewards card is a lower-cost option than The Platinum Card® from American Express. (see Amex rates and fees)
Leigh Morgan is a seasoned personal finance contributor with over 15 years of experience writing on a diverse range of professional legal and financial topics. She specializes in subjects like navigating the complexities of insurance, savings, zero-based budgeting and emergency fund development.
In the last 5 years, she’s authored over 300 articles for credit unions, digital banks, and financial professionals. Morgan is also the author of “77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse,” a book focused on helping caregivers protect the elderly from financial scams.
In addition to her writing skills, she brings real-world financial acumen thanks to her previous experience managing rental properties as part of a $34 million real estate portfolio.
* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
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