capital one travel reward cash

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Capital one cash-back rewards can now be redeemed for travel. here's how, rewards earned from capital one's cash-back credit cards can now be redeemed in the travel portal..

There's good news for Capital One cash-back cardholders when it comes to travel benefits and rewards. The credit card issuer announced May 17th, 2022 that cardmembers can now redeem Capital One Rewards for bookings within the Capital One Travel portal, as long as they have one of two student cards — the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card — or one of the following cards:

• Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card*
• Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Spark Cash Plus Credit Card*

On top of that, these cardholders can earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal. The portal is a fairly new feature , and comes with outstanding consumer protection options such as price alerts, price drop protection and the best available prices, plus the flexibility to cancel your flight for any reason.

Below, Select breaks down the new feature for Capital One cardholders, as well as some tips for booking travel efficiently this summer.

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Using Capital One Rewards to book travel

The cost of travel, just like nearly everything else, has skyrocketed in recent months. Airline tickets are up by 25% , rental cars have gone up by 11% and hotel room prices have increased by 20% — all within the last year.

Earning credit card rewards through Capital One — whether it's miles with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or cash-back with the Capital One Quicksilver Credit Card — will allow you to save some money on your upcoming summer vacation.

Simply visit the Capital One Travel portal to book your trip. As you go through the booking process, you will be given the option to pay with your miles or cash back, depending on the card you're using. The amount you redeem will be deducted from your rewards balance, and you're done.

Saving directly on travel at checkout makes Capital One cash-back cards that much more valuable. Depending on the card you select, you could also earn rewards for making the purchase.

The best Capital One credit cards

What's the best credit card? It's a common question among consumers. But the answer really depends on you: Your 'best' credit card is the one that earns you the most rewards based on your purchases and that best aligns with your short- and long-term financial goals.

If your goal is to fly first-class next year, for example, choosing a travel rewards credit card would help you achieve this. If your goal is to save money on your monthly expenses to bolster your emergency fund, a cash-back credit card would be a better option.

If you want to earn points and miles to put toward a summer vacation and other travels, Capital One offers several rewards cards worth considering. Here's a look at two of the most valuable Capital One credit cards, their welcome bonuses and some of their best perks for cardholders.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

N/A for purchases and balance transfers

Regular APR

19.99% - 29.99% variable

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

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

Terms apply.

• 5 miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every 4 years
• No introductory APR
• There’s a $95 annual fee

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a solid pick for consumers looking to earn miles for travel. As you spend on the card, you will earn:

• 5X miles per dollar on hotel and rental car reservations booked via Capital One Travel
• 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases

The card also offers a valuable welcome bonus allowing you to earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of card membership — that's a pretty good start if you're looking to redeem miles for flights, hotels, rental cars or other travel expenses this summer.

Cardholders receive several travel-related perks, such as a credit up to $100 to put toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership, access to exclusive reservations and experiences through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment, 24-hour Travel Assistance Services*, and extended warranty protection.

*Benefit available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard product, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions in the World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits. See Account Terms or Application Terms for more details. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

The Capital One Venture Rewards card has a modest $95 annual fee but no foreign transaction fees.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital one savor cash rewards credit card.

4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 4% on eligible streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases

Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening

4% for promotional APR offers; none for balances transferred at regular APR

• Unlimited 4% cash back on entertainment purchases
• Ability to redeem rewards at any amount, unlike some other cards with $25 minimums
• No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• $95 annual fee
• No introductory 0% financing offers for purchases or balance transfers

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* is a great pick for anyone who spends regularly on dining and entertainment. The card has valuable cash-back categories, including:

• 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, and when you pay for popular streaming services
• 3% when you spend at grocery stores (excluding Superstores like Walmart and Target)
• 1% for all other purchases
• 5% for all hotel and car rental reservations booked through Capital One Travel

Once approved for the card, you can earn an up to $300 cash bonus after spending $3,000 within three months of opening your account.

Cardholders also have access to Capital One perks such as extended warranty protection, complimentary concierge services, 24-hour travel assistance and the ability to use rewards to cover your Amazon purchases, among other benefits.

The annual fee is $95, which can be easily earned back by completing the welcome offer's conditions. There are no foreign transaction fees.

Bottom line

Travel is going to be expensive for quite some time and using the right credit card to earn rewards and book travel can be a great strategy for knocking down some of those costs.

Before applying for a new credit card , it's prudent to have a well-established budget and prioritize your emergency fund and any investing for the future . With those foundational pieces in place, a new Capital One credit card could help you earn rewards and save on travel costs.

Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of  personal finance ,  tech and tools ,  wellness  and more, and follow us on  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

*Information about the Capital One Savor Cash and Capital One Spark Cash Plus credit cards has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

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Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One miles rewards guide

The best ways to earn and use Capital One miles

Published: June 9, 2023

Author: Emily Sherman

Author: Siobhan Neile

Editor: Kaitlyn Tang

Reviewer: Angelica Leicht

How we Choose

A recent revamp has made Capital One Travel one of the most robust travel rewards programs out there. Learn the best ways to earn and redeem Capital One miles to get the most out of your rewards.

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Please review our list of best credit cards , or use our CardMatch™ tool to find cards matched to your needs.

After a revamp of both its rewards credit cards and its travel portal, the Capital One Travel rewards program has managed to climb the ranks and compete with the likes of other robust travel programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards. Nearly all Capital One credit cards now offer access to the Capital One Travel portal, and many provide boosted rewards when booking select types of travel on the site.

If you are on the hunt for a straightforward but rewarding travel credit card , Capital One has a few great options. Whether you are looking for a business card or personal card, you can earn flexible Capital One miles on your everyday purchases. Here’s what you should know about the ins and outs of the Capital One Travel rewards program, the best ways to earn Capital One miles and the best ways to redeem them.

• What are Capital One miles?

Capital One Travel is well known for its ease of use, making cards such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card a favorite of frequent travelers. Across all Capital One rewards cards, cardholders can earn an unlimited number of miles per year.  The redemption options are also flexible, including statement credits, gift cards and travel bookings.

Capital One also has a list of more than 15 travel partners to which cardholders can transfer their miles.

Capital One Travel rewards program overview

How to earn capital one miles.

Every Capital One rewards card has its own unique rewards rate and earning scheme, but there are a few strategies to help you earn more. To make the most of your Capital One rewards card, here are a few tips for racking up miles and getting one step closer to your next vacation.

Sign up for Capital One rewards cards to earn intro bonuses

All Capital One rewards cards offer competitive sign-up bonuses. No matter which card works best for your spending habits, the intro bonus can make a significant dent in the price of your next trip.

These sign-up bonuses are only available to new cardholders, however, and Capital One also limits the number of cards you can open with the issuer. If you already have two open credit cards with Capital One, you can’t be approved for a new one.

Keep an eye out for referral bonus offers

Another great way to earn Capital One miles is its Refer a Friend program. All you have to do is sign in to your account, get a personal referral link and give it to your friends and family. If someone applies and is approved, you’ll receive a bonus worth up to $500 per year. Just keep in mind that offers are targeted and might change by the cardholder.

Use your Capital One rewards card for most of your purchases

All Capital One rewards cards offer flat rewards rates for general purchases between 1.25 and 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. While many rewards cards require you to weigh your spending toward bonus categories to get a similar overall rate, Capital One rewards you for every purchase you make.

The advantage is that you’ll earn boosted rewards on all your purchases, regardless of the category, so it may make sense to put big charges and everyday purchases on your Venture or Spark Miles cards. All purchases will earn over 1 mile per dollar.

How to use Capital One miles

Capital One Travel is one of the most flexible rewards programs, allowing cardholders to redeem miles for travel purchases, cash back, gift cards, Amazon purchases, tickets from Capital One Entertainment and more. You can even cover previous travel purchases made on third-party websites. You also have the option to transfer your miles to over 15 travel partners, with varying transfer rates depending on the partner.

One downside to redeeming Capital One miles is that you lose some value if you redeem your miles for Amazon purchases, a statement credit or check.

Capital One rewards redemption options

Check out how much one Capital One mile would be worth when redeeming it for all the available options.

Some redemption choices decrease the value of your flexible miles. Regardless, Capital One miles have high value potential, especially if you transfer them to one of Capital One’s transfer partners.

Some of the best ways to redeem your Capital One miles include:

1. Booking travel through Capital One Travel

When you use your miles to book travel through Capital One Travel , you can choose to redeem for any portion of the purchase. That means you can make a booking no matter how many miles you have and cover the rest of the cost with cash. There’s also no minimum requirement, and you can redeem as little as one mile.

2. Redeeming for previous travel purchases

Perhaps the best feature of Capital One Travel, one that not many other flexible rewards programs offer,  is the ability to use miles for any previous travel purchases (redeemed as a statement credit).

You get the same value for your rewards as if you’d booked through Capital One Travel, with the added flexibility of choosing any airline or hotel you want. That way, you can go hunting for travel deals outside the issuer portal and still take advantage of your miles, as long as you redeem the miles within 90 days of the purchase date.

To use this feature, first book your hotel stay, flight or cruise with your Capital One rewards card. When you log in to your Capital One account and click “redeem rewards,” select “redeem a purchase” and view all eligible travel charges from the last 90 days. Simply choose how much of the charge you want to use miles for, and it will be awarded to your account as a statement credit.

3. Redeeming for cash back

Redeeming your miles for cash back, whether as a check or statement credit, is usually not the best choice for Capital One rewards cardholders. Both of these options only get you 0.5 cents per mile — only half the standard value. However, if you want the flexibility of cold cash, it’s always an option for you.

4. Buying gift cards

If you want to redeem your Capital One miles for something other than travel but aren’t thrilled about the 0.5-cent value, you could instead choose to use your miles to purchase gift cards. With this option, you may get the full point value of 1 cent per mile, though that value may change based on the gift card.

5. Shopping on Amazon

Another option for non-travelers is redeeming your miles for purchases made on Amazon.com. Unfortunately, this redemption option doesn’t give as much value as travel, but it’s still higher than cash back.

6. Transferring points to a Capital One travel partner

When transferring miles to a Capital One transfer partner , you can transfer at 1:1, 2:1.5 or 2:1 ratio, depending on the partner. You may lose value by transferring, such as is the case for the 2:1 transfer ratio. However, some airline miles have higher values per mile than Capital One miles, so transferring can potentially get you more per mile.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what your miles are worth with each Capital One transfer partner.

** The rewards values are average point values provided by Bankrate and The Points Guy .

To help you understand how these values stack up, consider what you can get out of a Capital One intro offer . With the Capital One Spark Miles for Business card, your sign-up bonus is 50,000 miles (when you spend $4,500 in the first three months). If you transfer those 50,000 miles to Air Canada, that bonus could be worth $600, instead of the $500 in travel when redeemed through the Capital One Travel portal. This could make a huge difference in how many flights you can afford on rewards alone.

If you typically travel domestically, you may not find it valuable to transfer your miles, as there are no major U.S. airlines among Capital One’s list of travel partners. Still, frequent flyers who use certain international airlines, such as Air Canada, Emirates and Singapore Airlines, may find great value in doing so.

*All information about the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

Editorial Disclaimer

The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.

Emily Sherman is a senior editor at CreditCards.com, focusing on product news and recommendations. She is also one of the founders of To Her Credit, a biweekly series of financial advice by women, for women. When she's not writing about credit cards, she's putting her own points and miles to use planning her next big vacation.

Siobhan Neile is a freelance writer covering finance, tech, and other related topics. She lives in Austin, Texas.

On this page

• Rewards program overview
• How to earn miles
• How to use miles

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How much are Capital One miles worth?

Capital One miles have a value of 1 cent per mile, but that value can fluctuate based on how they are redeemed.

Capital One transfer partners

Capital One has an evolving list of transfer partners that provide added flexibility to its miles for Venture and Spark cardholders. Here’s everything you need to know about partners and if it is worth it to transfer your miles.

Capital One Platinum Credit Card benefits guide

Credit score required for the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card

How to maximize your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Credit score needed for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card

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How to Maximize the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card makes earning miles easy with its simplified rewards structure. Unlike travel rewards cards that feature tiered programs or spending caps, this card allows you to earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on purchases. The annual fee is $95 .

That makes earning miles hassle-free, whether you're spending on travel, dining out or just picking up groceries. Redeeming miles is just as easy, since you can use them to book travel with no blackout dates or restrictions. Miles are valued at 1 cent each so there's no guessing about how much they're worth.

If you have the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or you're thinking of applying for this card, here's how to make the most of it.

Snag the welcome bonus miles

If you're a brand-new cardmember, you can boost your miles earnings by qualifying for an introductory welcome bonus . The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is currently offering the following welcome bonus: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Even if you don't plan to travel soon, you could earn the bonus by charging everyday purchases and bank those miles for when you're ready to travel.

Use your card to pay for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

Global Entry and TSA PreCheck can help you get through airport screenings faster. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card comes with a credit of up to $100 to offset the application fee for one of these options — just use your card to pay the fee when enrolling.

» Learn more: TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry: Which is right for you?

Visit airport lounges

New in 2022, cardholders get two complimentary visits per year to Capital One lounges or to more than 100 Plaza Premium lounges.

Transfer miles to hotel and airline loyalty partners

While you can redeem miles earned with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for a travel statement credit, that's not the only way to put them to use.

You can also transfer miles to several hotel and airline travel partners, including:

Aeromexico.

Air Canada.

Cathay Pacific.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.

When transferring miles earned with Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to airline and hotel partners, pay attention to the transfer ratio to make sure you're squeezing the most value possible from your miles.

» Learn more: The 4 best Capital One transfer partners — and those to avoid

Use miles to shop at Amazon if you're taking a travel break

Miles earned with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card can be exchanged for cash back, though that cuts your mileage value in half. A better option for users who don’t plan to redeem miles for travel might be to use them to shop at Amazon.com . To do this, add the card details to your Shop With Points account in Amazon, then use miles to pay at checkout.

While you won't get the same 1 cent each value for miles that you’d get if you redeemed them for travel, you will get around 0.8 cent each when redeemed through Amazon. You’ll get more value through the online retailer than you would if you redeemed them for cash.

Pair it with a cash back card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card keeps things simple when it comes to earning miles. But you can do double-duty on earning rewards by pairing it with a cash-back card that pays a high cash-back rate for spending in specific categories like supermarkets. Use each card for the purchases where it pays the most miles or cash back to get more out of every dollar you spend.

The bottom line

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card can get you extra value if you use it strategically. Earn the welcome bonus, know which airline and hotel partners offer the best returns on miles transfers and consider pairing the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card with a cash back card to make every purchase as rewarding as possible.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

1%-10% Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024. Terms apply.

$200 Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

2x-10x Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Quicksilver: Do you want miles or cash back?

O ver the past few years, Capital One has raised its rewards game by expanding and improving its slate of credit cards . These include easy-to-use cash-back cards whose points can be redeemed at a fixed value toward travel purchases and other statement credits. These cards give cardholders a reliable rate of return on their everyday spending.

The issuer has also expanded its Capital One miles program so that certain cardholders can transfer miles to 15-plus airline and hotel partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club and ALL Accor Live Limitless.

Depending on where you spend the most money and how you want to redeem your rewards, deciding which Capital One credit card to apply for can be difficult. Among the products you might be deciding between are the popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card . Let's take a closer look to see which may be a better fit.

Related: Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Venture X

Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Quicksilver comparison

Capital one venture rewards vs. capital one quicksilver welcome offer.

The Capital One Venture Rewards currently offers new cardholders 75,000 bonus miles when they spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. These miles are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed at a fixed rate for travel purchases or new bookings via Capital One Travel and for gift cards. That means the bonus is worth at least $750 in travel.

However, the miles you earn with the Capital One Venture Rewards are transferable to 15-plus airline and hotel partner loyalty programs . Given that extra flexibility, TPG values these miles at 1.85 cents apiece, bringing the sign-up bonus value up to $1,388.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards ' sign-up bonus is considerably more modest — only $200 cash back. But you only have to spend $500 in the first three months of opening an account to qualify.

Winner: Venture Rewards. The Venture Rewards' sign-up bonus is worth significantly more than the Quicksilver's.

Related: 7 reasons to get the Capital One Venture Rewards Card

Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Quicksilver benefits

The Venture Rewards is categorized as a travel card; therefore, the benefits are tailored toward travel. Benefits include Hertz Five Star status* and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit (up to $100).

The Quicksilver Cash Rewards provides complimentary Uber One membership for up to six months via statement credits through Nov. 14.

Both cards lack foreign transaction fees , provide concierge services and give cardholders access to exclusive events (see Quicksilver rates and fees and see Venture Rewards rates and fees ). They also include various purchase and travel protections.

The Venture Rewards carries a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees ), while the Quicksilver Cash Rewards doesn't have an annual fee (see rates and fees ).

* Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at the upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g., at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program, and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

Winner: Venture Rewards. The Venture Rewards comes out slightly ahead here, with a couple of extra benefits like Hertz Five Star status and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.

Related: Credit card perks and benefits you should be using

Earning rewards with the Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Quicksilver

The Quicksilver Cash Rewards earns 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and a flat 1.5% back on all other purchases. That makes your return on spending easy to calculate and count on. It's also on par with competing cash-back cards from other issuers.

The Venture Rewards earns 2 miles per dollar on purchases, with an elevated 5 miles per dollar spent on hotel and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal.

Winner: Venture Rewards. The Venture Rewards earns slightly more on non-bonus spending than the Quicksilver, meaning it barely edges out the competition here.

Related: Capital One Savor vs. Capital One Quicksilver

Redeeming rewards with the Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Quicksilver

Here's where the two cards diverge most dramatically.

The Quicksilver Cash Rewards is a cash-back card, plain and simple. With a 1.5% rate of return on every dollar you spend, you can redeem your cash back in a few different ways. Among them are statement credits, gift cards, Amazon.com purchases or a check.

On the other hand, the Venture Rewards earns miles that can be redeemed either for cash back or transferred to Capital One's travel partners. Regarding cash back, you can redeem your miles at a rate of 1 cent apiece for travel purchases and gift cards. If you opt for statement credits on other types of purchases or a check, you only get a rate of 0.5 cents per mile, essentially cutting your value in half, so you'll want to avoid this option.

However, Capital One Venture miles are transferable to 15-plus partner programs in addition to cash back. The best way to maximize your Capital One Venture miles would be to transfer them to partners such as British Airways Executive Club , Air Canada Aeroplan or Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles . Creative redemptions are also always an option; TPG senior aviation business reporter David Slotnick has used Capital One miles to secure seat upgrades to business class on long flights.

Winner : Venture Rewards. Since the Venture Rewards has access to transfer partners, and the Quicksilver does not, the Venture Rewards wins here.

Related: Best ways to maximize Capital One Miles

Should I get the Capital One Venture Rewards or the Capital One Quicksilver?

If you prefer to earn cash-back at a fixed rate of 1.5% across all purchases and to use the rewards to help offset your credit card bill or to purchase gift cards, then the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is for you. On the other hand, if you want a wider range of flexibility in redeeming your rewards, then the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card makes better sense. The Venture Rewards does offer more benefits and stronger earning categories, so if you don't have a preference between cash back and miles, the Venture Rewards makes the most sense.

Bottom line

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card are great rewards card options. The Quicksilver is useful for folks who want a simple cash-back formula for earning and redeeming without much effort.

However, if you want miles specifically for travel purchases and can maximize Capital One's travel transfer partners and benefits, such as the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit, the Venture Rewards is a much better choice.

To learn more, read our Capital One Venture Rewards review and Capital One Quicksilver review .

Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards

Learn more: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards

Related: Capital One Venture X credit card review

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Advertiser Disclosure

Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Bankrate.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval, also impact how and where products appear on this site. Bankrate.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers.

Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.

A suitable credit card for people who want to maximize travel rewards without paying for excess luxury perks

• • Credit card strategy
• • Credit card comparisons

Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, credit monitoring and identity theft analysis on NextAdvisor.com, he joined the CreditCards.com and Bankrate teams as a staff writer to develop product reviews and comprehensive credit card guides focused on cash back, credit scores and card offers.

• • Rewards credit cards
• • Travel credit cards

Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate,  focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards programs, point valuation and credit scores, and his stories on building credit have been cited by Mic.com, LifeHacker, People.com and more. Through his thorough card reviews and product comparisons, Nouri strives to demystify personal finance topics and credit card terms and conditions to help readers save money and protect their credit score.

• • Rewards strategy
• • Small business marketing

Cathleen’s stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer.

The Bankrate promise

At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money and how we rate our cards . The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

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Bottom line

This card is a great pick if you travel frequently. The annual bonuses offset its cost, and Capital One offers flexible travel redemption and solid rewards rates for everyday spending.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

75,000 miles

Intro offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel

Offer valuation

We calculate this number by multiplying the card's intro offer by Bankrate's valuation of this issuer's rewards program , showing you how much your points or miles are worth in dollars.

2 Miles - 10 Miles

Rewards rate

10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Regular APR

On This Page

• Current offer details
• Venture X pros and cons
• Reasons to get this card
• Reasons to skip this card
• Expert experience
• First year vs. ongoing value
• Capital One Venture X vs. other luxury travel cards
• Best cards to pair with the Venture X
• Is this card worth getting?
• Rating methodology

Frequently asked questions

Capital one venture x rewards credit card overview.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards card strikes a terrific balance between mid-tier and luxury travel cards, offering a winning combination of streamlined rewards and practical  perks for frequent travelers.

On top of the 2X base rewards rate that made the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card a favorite, the Venture X comes with valuable benefits like an annual travel credit and anniversary points. Though these perks may not be as luxurious as those you get with a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® from American Express , they are easy to use and offer enough value to offset Venture X card’s annual fee on their own.

This combination of valuable benefits, streamlined rewards and a $395 annual fee ( See Rates & Fees ) make the Venture X a terrific fit if you’re focused on ongoing value and practical perks.

• 10X miles on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5X miles on flights through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles on all other purchases

Expert Appraisal: Good See our expert analysis

Welcome offer

• 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months

Expert Appraisal : Typical See our expert analysis

Rates and fees

• Annual fee: $395 
• Regular APR: 19.99 percent to 29.99 percent (variable)
• ( See Rates & Fees )

Expert Appraisal : Good See our expert analysis

Other cardholder perks

• Annual $300 Capital One travel credit
• 10,000-mile bonus miles every year on your account anniversary (worth $100)
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit
• Priority Pass Select membership and Capital One Lounge access
• Complimentary Hertz Gold Plus President’s Circle status (through 12/31/2024)*
• Visa Infinite travel insurance benefits
• Purchase and return protection
• Cellphone protection
• Credits and perks with Premier Collection hotels

Expert Appraisal : Exceptional See our expert analysis

Capital One Venture X pros and cons

This card improves on its sibling card with 5X or 10X miles on select Capital One Travel.

Travel credit and bonus miles can offset the annual fee.

Redeeming miles to cover travel purchases gives flexibility and time to accumulate additional points to cover those purchases.

The higher annual fee may deter people who won’t use the travel credits.

Transfer partners aren’t as popular or valuable as other premium card issuers.

With limited ways to earn bonus miles. the value of this card reduces compared to similar cards.

Why you might want the Capital One Venture X

This card not only combines bonus rewards on travel with a generous base rewards rate on all other purchases, but also boasts valuable annual credits and a ton of travel perks. While the annual fee may be intimidating, it should be easy to offset if you take advantage of the card’s features to travel in style. 

Rewards rate: Terrific mix of bonus categories and valuable rewards

The Venture X stands out from other top-tier travel cards thanks to its combination of a travel bonus category and a generous flat rewards rate on all other purchases. 

Like the original Capital One Venture card, the Venture X delivers a streamlined 2X miles on all nontravel purchases. But the Venture X also offers 5X miles on airfare and 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, while the original Venture only offers 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One.

On top of that, Capital One gives you a solid mix of options for redeeming your bonus miles. Along with booking airfare and other travel through the issuer’s travel portal, you can redeem miles toward a statement credit for travel purchases made within the past 90 days. This gives you the flexibility to book any travel-related purchase and still put your miles to good use while giving you additional time to earn rewards to cover those purchases. You also have the option of transferring your miles to  Capital One’s travel partners . 

Your miles are worth 1 cent each when you redeem through Capital One Travel or for statement credits on recent travel purchases, but some transfer partners could offer even higher redemption values. Based on Bankrate’s latest mile valuations , each mile could be worth around 1.7 cents per mile on average with the right airline or hotel transfer partner.

Outside of travel, gift cards are probably your best redemption option since they could potentially get you a 1-cent-per-mile redemption value. Since your rewards don’t expire for the life of your account and aren’t subject to blackout dates, it’s best to sit on your miles until you’re ready to use them.

Cardholder perks: Valuable, practical benefits for travelers

The Venture X offers $400 in value every year with two easy-to-maximize benefits. You’ll get 10,000 bonus miles each year on your account anniversary (worth $100) and a $300 Capital One travel credit each year. These perks alone make up for your annual fee. 

You can also receive up to $100 in experience credits during your stay at a Premier Collection hotel booked through Capital One Travel. You’re also eligible for room upgrades, complimentary breakfast for two, early check-in and late checkout.

The Venture X card’s Visa Infinite status also has several useful travel and purchase protections and is one of the best cards for travel insurance due to its trip cancellation and interruption insurance* (one of the most sought-after protection perks). You’ll also get an auto rental collision damage waiver*, trip and baggage delay reimbursement* (from common carrier tickets), as well as purchase and return protection * and cellphone protection *.   

These are all valuable, practical perks for frequent travelers which can come in handy when travel issues arise.

Why you might want a different travel card

Annual fee: might be too costly.

While the card's annual fee is not as high as many of its competitors’, it might still be too steep for some travelers, especially if you only travel occasionally. 

The Venture's X card’s $395 annual fee ( See Rates & Fees ) could be hard to offset if you don’t earn many rewards from card spending or aren’t able to use both the anniversary bonus miles and annual credit every year. If you don't plan on using those features, another travel card would work better.

Welcome offer: Recent drop in value

The Venture X card's current welcome offer is a drop from the card’s previous bonus. You can now earn 75,000 bonus miles if you spend $4,000 in your first three months — a 25,000-point drop from the previous offer, which came with 100,000 bonus miles after a $10,000 spend in your first six months. While the current bonus should be a bit easier to earn, it’s much less valuable. 

Based on Bankrate’s latest mile valuations, which give Capital One miles an average redemption value of around 1.7 cents per mile, 100,000 miles are roughly worth $1,700 when redeemed with the right transfer partner. Compare this with the new 75,000-mile offer, which would only be worth around $1,275.

While the previous offer was impressive, the current bonus matches some of the card’s main competitors, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . The Sapphire Preferred carries a lower annual fee and earns 75,000 points when you spend $4,000 in your first three months. Chase points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal, giving this bonus a base value of $900. But according to Bankrate's estimations, Chase Sapphire Preferred points could be worth around 2.0 cents with the right transfer partner, giving the offer a potential estimated value of $1,200.

We tried it: Here’s what our experts say

Bankrate credit cards editor Nouri Zarrugh loves the Venture X card’s combination of practical perks that make the annual fee easy to offset:

I love that the card offers practical travel perks, expedited security screening credits and an annual travel credit. They’re all easy to take advantage of and can more than offset the annual fee on their own. Other premium travel cards may offer more perks, but they’re mostly ones that I’ll never use and — at least for me — don’t justify the higher fee. — Nouri Zarrugh, Editor at Bankrate

First-year vs. ongoing value

The Venture X card comes with several valuable perks that should more than justify its annual fee in the first year and beyond.

Thanks to the card’s generous flat rewards rate, offsetting the Venture X card’s annual fee shouldn’t be too difficult, especially if you can squeeze more value out of your miles with a strategic transfer to an airline or hotel partner.

This combination of ongoing perks and rewards should give the Venture X card solid ongoing value. Here’s a look at how much you can expect to earn based on our card value rating methodology , which assumes an annual spend of $22,500:

How the Capital One Venture X compares to other travel cards

The Capital One Venture X offers great annual perks for its price tag, but let’s see how it stacks up against two of its most prominent competitors.

Recommended Credit Score

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

New Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

Capital One Venture X vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

You might consider the original Capital One Venture card if you prefer a lower annual fee, but there isn’t much contest if you’re looking for a true travel card. The two cards’ values are similar when you have it for the first year, with comparable welcome bonuses, Mastercard-based protections and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit. The Venture’s annual fee is more affordable at $95 ( See Rates & Fees ), than the Venture X’s $395 fee   ( See Rates & Fees ). However, the Venture’s value drops immensely after the first year due to its lack of ongoing credits. 

The Venture X, on the other hand, builds upon the Venture’s best features with bonus categories for travel purchases and other key perks, like annual travel credits and travel protections.

The Venture X could be an easy decision over the standard Venture card unless you only travel a few times a year and mostly put everyday expenses on the card, since you wouldn’t use the Venture X’s features or travel-based bonuses.

Capital One Venture X vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express

Both The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Venture X feature premium perks and similar reward rates. However, the Venture X is not as perk-oriented as the Amex Platinum, which offers credits that can be worth more than $1,000 annually. Membership Rewards points also offer a different set of travel partners and redemption options than Capital One miles. 

Despite the lack of premium luxury features, the Venture X is a formidable opponent in terms of affordability and rewards potential. But the Platinum provides more value if you can utilize all the benefits, which could be more difficult. 

Best cards to pair with the Capital One Venture X

The Venture X offers boosted flat-rate miles, so a bonus category card that rewards your biggest day-to-day expenses outside travel would make the best partner.  A cash back credit card may be a good option, or a card that can transfer rewards to your favorite Capital One transfer partner programs. 

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a prime choice since you can convert your cash back to Capital One miles at a higher value without an annual fee ( See Rates & Fees ) . This gives you even more value out of the SavorOne’s 3 percent cash back for dining, entertainment, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) and popular streaming service purchases. Plus, its 8 percent cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases offer popular reward opportunities.

Who is the Venture X right for?

The Venture X can be a terrific option if you want access to exclusive events and experiences or if you fly often and enjoy traveling in style.

Fans of luxury experiences

Anyone who enjoys luxury benefits and experiences will want this card. In addition to travel perks, with Capital One Dining, Venture X cardholders can book hard-to-get restaurant reservations in most major cities. 

Venture X cardholders can also use their miles, their card or a combination of both to get tickets through Capital One Entertainment to thousands of events, including cardholder-only access to a collection of VIP packages, on-site perks and more. 

Frequent flyers

This card carries many benefits for those who travel regularly, such as lounge access and travel protections. With bonus points for flights, rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel, you can accumulate miles quickly. For instance, a hotel stay that costs $1,500 for five days would earn you 15,000 miles. Those miles would cover a travel purchase worth $150.

Bankrate’s Take — Is the Capital One Venture X worth it?

The Capital One Venture X card is a great pick for frequent travelers who want a low-maintenance card with practical travel perks and none of the “fluff” features that often come with higher-fee cards. 

The Venture X doesn’t require you to subscribe to services you wouldn’t normally use just to offset its annual fee, and you won’t need to go out of your way to spend where you otherwise wouldn’t just to earn rewards.

This card is easily worth it if you love the flexibility of flat-rate rewards but also travel enough to take advantage of annual credits and perks. 

This combination of valuable flexible rewards rates and practical perks make the Venture X one of the best travel cards you can get.

*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

How we rated this card

We rate credit cards using a proprietary card scoring system that ranks each card’s estimated average rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, welcome bonus value, APR, fees, perks and more against those of other cards in its primary category.

Each card feature is assigned a weighting based on how important it is to people looking for a card in a given category. These features are then scored based on how they rank relative to the features on other cards in the category. Based on these calculations, each card receives an overall rating of 1-5 stars (with 5 being the highest possible score and 1 being the lowest). 

We analyzed over 150 of the most popular rewards and cash back cards to determine where each stacked up based on their value, cost, benefits and more. Here are some of the key factors that influenced this card’s overall score and how the score influenced our review:

Rewards value

The primary criteria for a rewards or cash back card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics . 

Based on this data, we determine a “chargeable” spend (which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards). This includes the following spending by category:

• Groceries: $5,200
• Dining out: $3,000
• Entertainment: $2,500
• Gas: $2,100
• Apparel and services: $1,700

Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 23 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries. We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases, as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

We also rate cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance. 

To start, each rewards or cash back card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other rewards or cash back cards. 

We also score each card based on how its annual fee influences its overall value. 

We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value. Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value, but if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score even if it carries a high annual fee. 

With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against other cards in the category when you subtract its annual fee.

Flexibility

We rate each card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards and factor this rating into a card’s overall score. 

Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether your points are worth less when you redeem for some options versus others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners. 

We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating. 

We break down these tiers as follows:

• Tier 1 has less than standard card features (an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits. 
• Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges. 
• Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection. 
• Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs.
• Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.

Is the Capital One Venture X a metal credit card?

Like the Capital One Venture, the Venture X has a sleek, metallic finish — possibly one of the best metal cards available if you want your credit card to show a little aesthetic character.

Can you have the Capital One Venture and Venture X?

We’ve heard from Capital One that if you’re a current Venture cardholder, you can apply for the Venture X and hold both at the same time. 

Keep in mind that Capital One limits applying cardholders to one new card every six months and you can only hold two personal Capital One cards at once. So, if you already have one of the issuer’s cash back cards, it’s likely worth letting go of the Venture.

What credit score do you need for the Capital One Venture X?

You’ll have the best approval odds for the Capital One Venture X if you have an excellent credit score (a FICO score of 740-850).

Is the Capital One Venture X a Visa or Mastercard?

The Venture X is a Visa Infinite card, meaning it comes with Visa’s highest level of benefits, including a variety of travel insurances, exclusive concierge travel assistance, purchase protections, exclusive discounts and more.

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

American Express® Gold Card Review

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Review

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Business travel rewards vs. cash back rewards credit cards

May 30, 2024 | 7 min read

Two popular business credit card options are travel rewards cards and cash back cards. Both can be beneficial for your business, and earning rewards for your expenses is a perk you shouldn’t ignore. But which card provides the rewards that align best with your business’s needs?

From earning miles and renting cars to cash back opportunities and annual fees, let’s take a closer look at how business travel rewards credit cards and cash back credit cards compare.

Key takeaways

• Business travel rewards credit cards allow you to earn points or bonus miles toward business travel expenses. They often come with additional perks, like airport lounge access.
• Cash back rewards offer a simple, flexible way for businesses to redeem their rewards like a statement credit, check or gift card.
• Understanding your business’s needs can help you decide which type of rewards card makes the most sense for your organization. 

Capital One Venture X Business

Earn unlimited 2X miles to turn your business expenses into travel experiences.

What’s the difference between business travel rewards and cash back rewards?

Whether you use your business credit card for monthly office expenses or to treat clients to dinner, having a card designated solely for business expenditures can help streamline your budget. And when you have a business credit card that offers rewards , you’ll enjoy even more value for the money you’re already spending.

With so many perks to consider, it might be tough to decide which business rewards card makes the most sense for you. Should you get one that offers points or miles that can be redeemed for travel? Or should you go for one that offers cash back on your purchases? Here’s a little more information on both types of business rewards cards to help you decide.

Business travel rewards credit cards

With a business travel rewards card, you’ll accrue miles or points with every purchase. These rewards can then be applied toward travel expenses like airfare, hotels or rental cars. So when you use your card for business expenses, you can save on business travel while tapping into additional benefits like:

• Travel perks: Cardholders earn rewards while enjoying extras like access to airport lounges, credits toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® , free hotel stays, complimentary checked baggage and more.
• Travel insurance: Travel rewards credit cards often come with travel insurance, so you can rest easy knowing that you’re covered if you have to cancel your trip, it’s interrupted or delayed, your bags are lost, etc.
• Manage travel expenses: Using a credit card for business travel expenses helps you streamline your budget and understand where your money goes on each trip.

With the Venture X Business card from Capital One, for instance, you’ll earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, whether you use your card to buy your morning coffee or to get an employee a new laptop. Plus, you’ll enjoy a variety of other benefits, such as:

• Unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Unlimited 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• 150,000 bonus miles if you spend $30,000 in the first three months of using your Venture X Business card
• Anniversary bonuses and annual travel credits for booking through Capital One Travel

Business cash back credit cards

Cash back business credit cards usually allow you to earn a percentage of cash for each purchase you make with the card. Some cards have a fixed cash back rate while others offer higher percentages for certain spending categories. You can typically redeem your cash back as a statement credit or request a check. Some card issuers may also allow you to redeem rewards for gift cards. Other perks can include:

• Flexible rewards redemption: Cash back credit cards offer straightforward rewards with different ways to redeem based on what makes the most sense for your business, such as a statement credit or a check.
• Opportunity to maximize rewards: You can maximize your spending by choosing a card that offers rewards in categories where you spend the most. For instance, if you’re always dining out with clients, go for a card that offers cash back for restaurant purchases.
• Lower annual fee: Business cash back rewards credit cards generally have low—or even no—annual fees. 

How to choose between a business travel rewards or cash back credit card

So how do you choose which type of business rewards credit card is right for you? Before you apply , you should think about your current spending habits and what type of rewards would be most advantageous for your business.

Consider your business’s budget and where you use your credit card most often. Ask yourself the following types of questions:

• Do you or your employees travel frequently for business purposes?
• Are you buying office supplies or paying for shipping supplies or office utilities?
• Do you take clients or employees out to dinner often?

Once you have a clear picture of what your regular expenses are, it will be easier to determine which type of business credit card makes the most sense for your organization. But let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of each so you can make the most informed decision.

Pros and cons of business travel rewards credit cards

Pros: If you or your employees travel often, a business travel rewards card could be extremely beneficial. You’ll earn valuable rewards on travel purchases that may even cover the entire cost of a future flight. Plus, with additional perks like access to airport lounges, free checked bags and hotel upgrades, you can rest assured knowing that your trip will be comfortable while you’re saving money.

Cons: With a business travel credit card, you’ll be slightly more restricted when it comes to redeeming rewards. Generally, you’ll only be able to use rewards for travel purchases. And you might have fewer airline or hotel options, as some cards only offer the highest rewards for purchases made with a specific airline or hotel brand. 

Pros and cons of business cash back credit cards

Pros: Cash back cards for businesses can offer more flexibility to earn rewards on many different types of purchases—you won’t be limited to getting rewards only for travel purchases. And the options for redeeming rewards can be more flexible too. You can choose the reward that makes the most sense for your business, whether that’s a statement credit, a check or a gift card.

Cons: The rewards that cash back cards offer might feel slightly less beneficial than travel rewards. Unlike a travel card where your rewards can go a little further with additional perks, with a cash back card you get a straightforward reward that won’t exceed its value.

Business travel rewards vs. cash back credit cards FAQ

Still not sure whether you should get a travel rewards or cash back credit card for your business? Here are answers to a few frequently asked questions that may aid in your decision.

Is it better to redeem points for cash or travel?

If you travel often, redeeming points or rewards for travel offers perks above and beyond cash back. Venture X Business , for example, offers flexible best-in-class benefits and the ability to use miles to cover purchases from transportation to hotel stays.

But if you don’t travel frequently, cash back rewards provide a simple way to get rewarded for using your credit card.

Do travel rewards or cash back rewards expire?

Most credit card rewards don’t have an expiration date. Both travel rewards and cash back rewards shouldn’t expire as long as the account is open and in good standing. However, it’s always best to read the fine print to make sure you understand the terms and conditions of your particular credit card.

With Capital One rewards credit cards, there’s no limit to the amount of rewards you can earn. And they won’t expire for the life of the account. However, if you close your account, keep in mind that you may lose the rewards you’ve earned.

Should you get a business travel rewards or cash back credit card?

Depending on your organization’s needs, a business travel rewards card or a cash back credit card can offer a variety of benefits that can help your business thrive. Bonus miles that can be used for travel expenses are advantageous for frequent travelers, while cash back rewards are flexible and easy to redeem.

Understanding where you could get the most value from the rewards will help you know which type of card can be the most beneficial for you and your team. Ready to start earning valuable rewards? Apply for Venture X Business today, or learn more about Capital One’s other business credit cards to see which one best meets the needs of your organization.

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review: A great beginner card with a valuable bonus

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card overview

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card effortlessly blends fixed-value redemptions with 15-plus airline and hotel transfer partners. Its modest $95 annual fee (see rates and fees ) and solid return on everyday spending make this card a keeper once you're approved for it. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The world of award travel is incredibly complex, with airline miles, hotel points and award charts to keep track of, let alone credit card programs that allow you to transfer your rewards to various partners.

But it shouldn't be challenging to earn and use credit card rewards. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent antidote to the complexity of travel rewards, offering both simple earning and redemption options for beginners and high-value transfer options for the more experienced points and miles collector. You will need good to excellent credit for this card, so TPG recommends a credit score of 670 or higher.

Here's everything you need to know about the Capital One Venture Rewards.

Capital One Venture Rewards pros and cons

Capital one venture rewards welcome offer.

The Capital One Venture Rewards comes with a solid sign-up bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening. This sign-up bonus isn't the highest we've ever seen from Capital One, but it's a solid offer for the relatively low spending requirement.

Based on TPG valuations , Capital One miles are worth 1.85 cents each when transferred to the issuer's loyalty program partners , which include Air Canada Aeroplan and Air France-KLM Flying Blue. In other words, this 75,000-mile bonus can be worth around $1,388.

Related: Redeeming Capital One miles for maximum value

Capital One Venture Rewards benefits

Venture Rewards cardholders receive some helpful travel perks, including:

• Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck : Up to a $100 credit
• Access to hotel bookings with Capital One's Lifestyle Collection
• Travel assistant services
• MasterRental insurance
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees )

These are solid perks for a card with a reasonable annual fee — though if you're looking for enhanced benefits, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card could be a better fit for your wallet (more on that later).

Earning miles on the Capital One Venture Rewards

Earning miles on the Venture Rewards card is straightforward, making the card useful to those who don't want to spend a lot of mental energy swapping credit cards in and out for different merchants.

You'll earn 2 miles for every dollar you spend with the card on every transaction, which means you're getting a value of 2 to 3.7 cents (factoring in TPG's latest valuations ) for every dollar in purchases, with no annual cap.

Plus, you'll earn an even higher 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel .

It's easy to zero in on high-powered and popular bonus categories for dining or travel , but you might spend a lot of money outside of defined bonus categories. Adding a Venture Rewards card to your wallet can help you mop up all those extra miles and ensure you aren't leaving anything on the table when paying for non-bonus purchases.

Redeeming miles on the Capital One Venture Rewards

You'll likely get more value out of transferring your Capital One miles than redeeming them outright, but if you prefer a more straightforward approach, there are several options available at a fixed value:

• Book travel : Through Capital One Travel, you can directly book travel using your miles at a rate of 1 cent per mile. This allows you to avoid the complexities of loyalty programs.
• Pay off travel purchases : Venture customers can redeem their miles for any recent, travel-related purchase (such as vacation rentals, flights with any airline, hotels, rental cars, cruises, etc.)
• Redeem for gift cards : Another option is to exchange your miles for gift cards.

It is important to recognize that these fixed-value redemption options will result in a lower value compared to TPG's valuation of 1.85 cents per point.

Transferring miles on the Capital One Venture Rewards

Transferring your Capital One Venture miles to airline and hotel partners is often how you'll get the most value from your earnings. Under the right circumstances, you can get some phenomenal value from these rewards.

Here are some examples of how you can maximize your Capital One miles :

• Booking through Avianca LifeMiles
• Booking United Airlines business-class transcontinental flights through Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Booking U.S. domestic flights on various airlines through partners, like redeeming Singapore KrisFlyer or Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles miles for United tickets, or Flying Blue miles for Delta tickets

Even programs that fly under the radar can be a great option — as TPG director of content Nick Ewen recently found.

I was searching for a hotel room in Park City for a ski trip over President's Day Weekend, and prices were really high. But then, I stumbled across a Wyndham Rewards property close to downtown that had the option of booking a two-bedroom suite for just 30,000 points per night. I transferred 90,000 Capital One miles to my Wyndham account to book a three-night stay that would've set me back over $2,100 dollars.

Now, it's worth noting that these redemptions aren't for everyone, so be sure to check out our guide to help you make the decision on whether to transfer Capital One miles . And if you're confused about the process of how to transfer miles to airline and hotel partners, here's a guide on how to do it .

Which cards compete with the Capital One Venture Rewards?

No card perfectly replicates the Capital One Venture, but there are a few that offer similar benefits:

• If you prefer Chase: Consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . For a $95 annual fee, you'll enjoy 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase Travel portal and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred .
• If you want more perks: Look at the premium Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . You'll get 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on everything else, plus $300 back in credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel and loads more perks, including a Priority Pass lounge membership. It does carry a $395 annual fee (see rates and fees ), but the perks can easily cover that — and then some. For more information, read our full review of the Venture X .

For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel cards .

Read more: Credit card showdown: Capital One Venture vs. Capital One Venture X

Is the Capital One Venture Rewards worth it?

If you want a card that earns valuable rewards on non-bonus spending and has a reasonable annual fee, the Capital One Venture Rewards is a great option. However, those looking for premium benefits and bonus rewards in top spending categories will need to look elsewhere.

Bottom line

The Capital One Venture packs a lot in for a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees ), and it even makes the cut as one of our best travel credit cards . It earns miles at a consistent rate and can facilitate simple, fixed-rate redemptions along with more complicated awards by transferring your miles to hotel and airline partners, making it a valuable card worth a spot in your wallet.

Apply here: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card with 75,000 bonus miles

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.