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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a rare pick among travel rewards credit cards that has it all -- a big sign-up bonus, a high rewards rate, a low annual fee, and travel perks you can actually use. To top it off, redeeming Venture® miles is as simple as it gets. If you've been searching for a new travel card, this Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review covers if it's the right fit for you.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Great for: Unlimited travel rewards
Apply Now
On Capital One's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. 4.50/5
Apply Now
On Capital One's Secure Website.
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Unlimited 2X miles, TSA Pre✓® credits, and a big sign-up bonus make this credit card one of the best travel companions.
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- Excellent sign-up bonus
- Unlimited miles on every purchase
- Travel credit
- Multiple ways to use miles
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee
- No 0% intro APR offer
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- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $600 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- Redeem on travel—including flights, vacation rentals, car rentals and more. Plus transfer your miles to over 15+ travel loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fees
Full Capital One Venture Card review
This credit card is a good fit for: Travelers who want an easy-to-use rewards card with the potential to earn lots of miles.
Top perks
60,000 bonus miles: You'll earn 60,000 miles when you spend $3,000 in the first three months of account opening. That's equal to $600 in travel.
Unlimited 2 miles per $1: You won't find a travel rewards card earning more than this on purchases. There's no need to pay attention to bonus categories, as you'll earn a high rewards rate whenever you use it.
Fixed-rate redemptions: Venture® miles are always worth $0.01 per mile toward travel expenses, so you can simply redeem your miles without worrying about what kind of value you're getting. The redemption process itself is a breeze, and the best option is applying your miles as a statement credit toward previous travel purchases. By the way, Capital One classifies many types of transactions as travel, giving you ample opportunity to use your rewards.
$95 annual fee: For its benefits, the card has a reasonable annual fee of $95.
Up to $100 Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® credit: When you pay $100 for a Global Entry membership or $85 for a TSA Pre✓® membership, Capital One automatically credits you back. You can use this credit once every four years. Just so you know, a Global Entry membership also gets you a TSA Pre✓® membership, making it the easy choice.
No foreign transaction fee: Have no fear of using your card internationally, as there's no foreign transaction fee.
Alternatives to consider
- If you want to earn more flexible travel points: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is another popular travel credit card at this price point. It may have a slightly lower earn rate on some purchases, but its points are more valuable for some and it comes with a big sign-up bonus. The Ultimate Rewards® points you'll earn with this card are each worth $0.0125 redeemed through Chase, and you can potentially get even more value if you transfer them to a long list of airline and hotel partners.
- If you want a premium travel credit card: If you travel often, it's also worth considering the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. While the annual fee is steep, frequent travelers can easily recoup it, given the card's long list of luxury perks and extensive benefits. Aside from premium travel and dining rewards, you'll also get complimentary airport lounge access, generous annual travel credits, travel insurance, and more.
As of Oct. 11, 2021
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| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve® |
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. |
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Apply Now
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now
On Chase's Secure Website. |
| Read Full Review | Read Full Review |
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Credit Rating Requirement: |
Credit Rating Requirement: |
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60,000 points |
50,000 points |
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1x - 5x points |
1x - 10x points |
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Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
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Regular APR: 15.99% - 22.99% Variable |
Regular APR: 16.99%-23.99% Variable |
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Annual Fee: $95 |
Annual Fee: $550 |
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Highlights:
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Highlights:
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Apply Now
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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What could be improved
Cash-back redemption value: For cash back, this isn't the card to choose, because you'll get a low value for your miles ($0.005 per mile, although Capital One has reserved the right to change that at any time). That's to be expected, because this is a travel rewards card. But it's still important to know about.
Find the best credit card for your needs
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
Suggested credit score
Aim to have a FICO® Score of 670 or higher when you apply for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Our recommended range is 700 to 750, and the higher your score, the better your odds of a successful application.
If your credit score isn't quite there yet, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is an excellent alternative that's intended for applicants with lower scores.
Is the annual fee worth it?
If you spend at least $4,750 per year, which is about $395.83 per month, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is worth the annual fee.
At 2 miles per $1 spent, $4,750 in spending will earn you 9,500 miles. At a value of $0.01-per-mile, 9,500 miles is worth $95, the same amount as the annual fee. Don't forget that your card will also pay your Global Entry/TSA TSA Pre✓® fee every four to five years (memberships last five years, but you can renew after four).
Those are exact numbers, but let's also look at two more general scenarios to demonstrate when this card would and wouldn't be worth the annual fee.
| Credit Card Use | Typical Spending | Miles Earned Per Year | Miles Value Minus Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent | $2,000 per month, $24,000 per year | 48,000, $480 value | $385 |
| Occasional | $250 per month, $3,000 per year | 6,000, $60 value | -$35 |
Source: Author's calculations
When you're putting most of your usual expenses on your credit card, the rewards you earn with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card will be much greater than the annual fee. But if you're the type of person who uses your credit card only every now and then, you should get a travel card with no annual fee instead.
Remember that the card also has an excellent value in the first year. With a big sign-up bonus and the Global Entry/TSA TSA Pre✓® credit worth up to $100, you'll come out well ahead after the annual fee, plus the miles you earn through your regular spending.
This credit card is right for you if:
As long as there's an open space in your wallet, you can probably benefit from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card . It's an especially good match if any of the following are true:
- You want a card you can use for all your spending while earning a high rewards rate.
- You prefer the simplicity of fixed-rate redemptions with a set value for your miles.
- You want a card that with an annual fee less than $100 per year.
Another positive about this card is that it works just as well as a companion card that you use in conjunction with other credit cards. Here's how this can enhance your travel rewards:
- You can use cards with higher bonus rewards rates in specific spending categories, and then use the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for 2 miles per $1 on your other expenses.
- You can use your Venture® miles to cover travel expenses that you can't book with your other travel rewards, such as vacation rentals, train tickets, or rental cars.
Apply Now
On Capital One's Secure Website.
About the Author
Elizabeth is a personal finance writer specializing in credit cards, debt repayment, and small business. Her work has appeared on The Motley Fool, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider. She’s an avid credit card points collector and perpetual traveler currently living in Costa Rica.
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