The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card are two of Capital One’s most popular travel cards. If you’re trying to decide between applying for the Capital One Venture or VentureOne, this article will help you pick the right card for you.

Main details

The Venture and VentureOne cards both earn rewards in Capital One’s proprietary Venture miles currency, but their welcome offers and rewards rates are different. Here’s a look at some of the key features of these two rewards credit cards.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Welcome bonus 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel 20,000 bonus miles (worth up to $200 in travel) if you spend $500 within the first 3 months of having the card
Rewards rate 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25X miles on all purchases
Intro APR N/A 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (19.99 percent to 29.99 percent variable APR after; a 3% balance transfer fee applies to transfers within the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR)
Annual fee $95 $0
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Up to a $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years N/A

As you can see, the cards share similarities, but a few key differences can make it challenging to decide between the two.

Capital One Venture vs. VentureOne highlights

Welcome bonus winner: Venture

The Venture card’s welcome bonus is significantly larger than that which the VentureOne offers. With the Venture card, you’ll earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening (a value of $750 in travel). The VentureOne, on the other hand, offers 20,000 bonus miles when you spend $500 within the first three months (a value of $200 in travel).

Rewards rate winner: Venture

Again, the Capital One Venture card is the clear winner in terms of a rewards rate. It earns an unlimited 2X miles on all purchases, while the Capital One VentureOne card earns an unlimited 1.25X miles on all purchases. Both cards offer 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Annual fee winner: VentureOne

The VentureOne has no annual fee, while the Venture card charges a $95 annual fee. If you’re leaning toward the latter, you’ll need to evaluate how much you plan to spend with it and decide if your rewards earnings will offset the yearly cost.

Foreign transaction fee winner: Tie

Neither the VentureOne nor the Venture card charges foreign transaction fees. This makes either of these two credit cards a great choice to take with you when traveling abroad.

Which card earns the most?

While the Venture card offers a slightly higher unlimited rewards rate on all purchases compared to the VentureOne, it’s important to keep its $95 annual fee in mind — which could make a difference in deciding which card is right for your lifestyle.

Capital One Venture vs. VentureOne Rewards spending example

Let’s take a look at a yearlong spending example to see how these two cards compare:

  • Capital One Venture card: $12,667 in spending per year at 2X miles per dollar yields $253.34 in rewards. Subtracting the $95 annual fee, you would net rewards of $158.34.
  • Capital One VentureOne card: $12,667 in spending per year at 1.25X miles per dollar yields $158.34 in rewards.

As you can see, the break-even point between the two cards is $12,667 in spending each year (roughly $1,055 a month). If you plan to spend more than that amount on one of these two cards, the Capital One Venture makes the most sense. If you plan to spend less, then consider the VentureOne. It’s also important to note that, for the first year, the Venture card’s welcome offer and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck perk make it a clear winner, even with the $95 annual fee.

Why should you get the Capital One Venture?

Most people who are considering applying for either card will find great value in choosing the Venture. The welcome offer more than offsets the $95 annual fee, and when you throw in the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck benefit, you’ll almost certainly come out ahead.

Additional benefits

One of the Capital One Venture’s biggest benefits is the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit of up to $100 every four years, but you also receive Visa Signature benefits like lost luggage reimbursement, auto rental collision damage waiver coverage, extended warranty as well as access to Capital One’s assistant program, Eno. Eno features fraud monitoring and alerts, keeps you up to date on your account’s information (such as your current balance) and offers virtual credit card number storage.

Redemption options

For the most value, you’ll generally want to redeem your miles in one of three ways:

You do have other options for redeeming your miles, such as gift cards or purchases made through PayPal or Amazon.com, but these offer poor value compared to using your miles for travel.

Recommended credit score

Capital One recommends that applicants have excellent credit. That means you should have a FICO credit score of at least 800 and a VantageScore of 781 and above.

Why should you get the Capital One VentureOne?

If you don’t like the idea of paying an annual fee, you might consider the Capital One VentureOne — but there are more reasons to consider this card than the lack of a yearly fee.

Additional benefits

The VentureOne offers an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, a benefit that could come in handy if you’re looking to transfer a balance or have a large, upcoming purchase to make.

Similar to the Venture, the VentureOne gets you extended warranty, fraud coverage, access to both Capital One Eno and Capital One Experiences and more.

Redemption options

Unlike some other flexible rewards currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards, the miles you earn with the no-annual-fee VentureOne do not come with restrictions on redemption. This means you can redeem the miles you earn with your VentureOne card for the same things you can with the Venture.

Recommended credit score

Capital One recommends that applicants have good to excellent credit.

Consider the Capital One Venture X

If neither of these two cards is a perfect fit for you, you might consider the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which is Capital One’s newest addition to its credit card portfolio.

The Venture X provides the perfect balance between premium travel benefits and the same 2X base rewards rate that Capital One Venture cardholders enjoy. Your rewards rate jumps to 10X miles on hotel and rental car purchases through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights (also through Capital One Travel).

If you’ve always wanted a premium travel card that grants you access to swanky airport lounges, consider the Venture X. As a cardholder, you’ll get unlimited access to Capital One Lounges as well as Priority Pass Select membership, which opens the doors to more than 1,300 airport lounges across the globe.

If there’s one downside to the Capital One Venture X, it’s the $395 annual fee. However, you may be able to offset the fee thanks to the card’s $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel. The Venture X also gives you 10,000 bonus miles — worth $100 toward travel — every year beginning on your first cardmember anniversary.

The bottom line

When comparing the VentureOne and Venture, most people will be better off with Venture due to its higher welcome offer and rewards earning rate. Applicants who are averse to annual fees or are looking to take advantage of the introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, though, might prefer the VentureOne.

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.