Annual FeeThe Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with a hefty annual fee of $550, making it the more expensive option of the two. On the other hand, the Capital One Venture X offers a slightly more affordable annual fee of $395.Both cards offer credits to help offset their onerous annual fees. The Sapphire Reserve offers an annual $300 annual travel credit toward any travel purchase while the Venture X offers a $300 back annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel—and $300 back annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel that can be redeemed in any way you choose. Winner: The lower annual fee of the Venture X makes it a more accessible option if you want premium benefits with a lower price tag.Earning RewardsBoth the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Capital One Venture X offer enticing rewards to cardholders, albeit with different reward structures. The Reserve is tailored for people who frequently travel and dine out, offering substantial rewards in these categories. It offers 10X points on Chase Dining through Chase Travel℠, 5x points on flights through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 spent annually on travel purchases, and 10x points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, among other rewards.The Venture X keeps earnings simple, offering 10X Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.Winner: While the rewards structure of the Reserve card is higher on travel and dining, the Venture X’s flat 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day make it a better option for daily use.Redeeming rewardsBoth the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Capital One Venture X offer flexible redemption options that cater to different preferences. Both cards also offer the ability to transfer to travel partners as we’ll discuss below. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Points can be redeemed through theChase Ultimate Rewards® portal for cash back, gift cards, and more at one cent each. When redeemed for travel through the portal, points are worth 1.5 cents each. This is a great option for tours, which is how I recently used Ultimate Rewards in Panama. Capital One Venture X: Miles can be redeemed for 1 cent each on travel through Capital One Travel or statement credits for travel purchases. However, if you want to use them for cash the value is reduced to 0.5 cents each. Winner: The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers more value per point when redeemed for travel through the Chase portal, making it a strong option for those looking to maximize their points for travel. It also wins because you could use cash back to pay for any purchases instead of just travel at 1 cent each. Transfer partnersOne of the key benefits of both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Capital One Venture X is the ability to transfer points or miles to travel partners, allowing for flexibility and potentially more value. However, their partners differ as you’ll see below. Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Capital One Venture X transfer partners side by sideProgramChase Sapphire ReserveCapital One Venture XAirlinesAir Canada AeroplanXXAir France/KLM Flying BlueXXBritish Airways Executive ClubXXEmirates SkywardsXXJetBlue TrueBlueXXSingapore Airlines KrisFlyerXXVirgin Atlantic Flying Club/Virgin RedXXAer Lingus AerClubXIberia PlusXSouthwest Rapid RewardsXUnited MileagePlusXTurkish Airlines Miles&SmilesXAvianca LifemilesXCathay Pacific Asia MilesXTAP Air Portugal Miles&GoXAeromexico Club PremierXEtihad GuestXEVA Air Infinity MileageLandsXFinnair PlusXQantas Frequent FlyerXQatar Airways Privilege ClubXHotelsHyattXIHG Rewards ClubXMarriott BonvoyXALL Accor Live LimitlessXChoice PrivilegesXWyndham RewardsX[EDIT.MOBILE_TITLE]AirlinesAir Canada AeroplanXXAir France/KLM Flying BlueXXBritish Airways Executive ClubXXEmirates SkywardsXXJetBlue TrueBlueXXSingapore Airlines KrisFlyerXXVirgin Atlantic Flying Club/Virgin RedXXAer Lingus AerClubXIberia PlusXSouthwest Rapid RewardsXUnited MileagePlusXTurkish Airlines Miles&SmilesXAvianca LifemilesXCathay Pacific Asia MilesXTAP Air Portugal Miles&GoXAeromexico Club PremierXEtihad GuestXEVA Air Infinity MileageLandsXFinnair PlusXQantas Frequent FlyerXQatar Airways Privilege ClubXHotelsHyattXIHG Rewards ClubXMarriott BonvoyXALL Accor Live LimitlessXChoice PrivilegesXWyndham RewardsXWinner: Chase Sapphire Reserve offers an easier-to-use range of 1:1 transfer partners, particularly Hyatt Hotels, making it more attractive if you’re looking to maximize value through transfers.Welcome OfferBoth the Sapphire Reserve and Venture X cards feature generous welcome offers to entice new cardholders. The Reserve card offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. In comparison, the Venture X offers 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening(That’s $750 toward travel through Capital One Travel).Winner: The winner here will vary depending on limited time offers, but in general the Sapphire Reserve will offer more value on points redeemed through Chase Travel thanks to the elevated 1.5 cent redemption rate. PerksWhen it comes to additional benefits and perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve stands out with its comprehensive suite of offerings. Cardholders of the Reserve card benefit from a $300 annual travel credit, lounge access for themselves and up to two guests through a Priority Pass™ Select Membership, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fee statement credit.The Venture X offers similar perks, including a $300 back annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel, Priority Pass™ Select Membership, and up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Venture X also provides up to 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary, which can be used toward travel. Notably, the Venture X also offers free authorized user cards, which the Chase Sapphire Reserve charges for. Winner: Both cards offer strong travel protections and airport lounge access benefits, but the Venture X edges out with a lower annual fee and additional anniversary miles.Another card to considerIf you’re seeking luxury travel perks and are open to a higher annual fee, theThe Platinum Card® from American Express is worth considering. With a $695 annual fee, it offers a comprehensive set of benefits including 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), access to the largest available network of airport lounges, a $200 airline fee credit, and credits for Uber, Saks Fifth Avenue, and more. The Platinum Card is a powerhouse for frequent travelers who want premium services and extensive lounge access.To view rates and fees of the Amex-PlatinumCard-CardName, see this page.The takeaway Choose the Venture X for: better value with its lower fee and free authorized user card benefits along with its ease of use. Choose the Sapphire Reserve for: transfers to a travel partner only offered by Chase or if you want the ability to redeem for cash back.You won’t go wrong with either the Sapphire Reserve and the Venture X as both offer strong bang for your annual fee buck. Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying. Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
