Capital One Venture X Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Card [Detailed Comparison]

We’ve been conditioned to enjoy the simplicity of Capital One’s credit cards. We generally haven’t expected luxury travel benefits or complex earning structures, and it’s easy to understand the process at redemption time.

Predictable? Yes, but manageable, familiar, and ultimately rewarding.

Capital One surprised us all, however, with its entry into the premium travel rewards card market, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. With an enhanced earning structure and lots of benefits, the card bears little resemblance to the previous portfolio of Capital One cards.

And, while we like a lot about the card, some may prefer the simplicity of Capital One’s workhorse, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, the no-annual-fee alternative to the popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Earning and redeeming rewards on the Capital One VentureOne card certainly doesn’t get any simpler, but should you forget about that card and opt for the Capital One Venture X card instead?

Today we’re going to answer that question by looking at these 2 solid Capital One cards to sort out the differences and define how each card may play a role for the appropriate cardholder.

Capital One Venture X Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Card — Overview

Before we dive deeper into each of our featured cards, let’s look at a high-level overview of the major features of the Capital One Venture X card and the Capital One VentureOne card:

Hot Tip: Use the no-risk CardMatch tool to find out if you have card offers waiting for you. Using the tool does not require a hard inquiry on your credit report so there is no risk in seeing if you have existing card offers available. Capital One is a participating card issuer available via the CardMatch tool. 

The Value of a Welcome Offer

Once you’re approved for your Capital One card, you’ll have the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus by meeting minimum spending requirements in the immediate months after card approval.

Depending on the redemption option you select, we estimate the value of Capital One miles to be worth around 1.8 cents each. Welcome bonuses vary, as well as valuations, so be sure to check for the most current available information before you apply for any card.

Bottom Line: Both of our featured cards offer a welcome bonus that can be earned by meeting minimum spending requirements within the initial specified period after card approval. The Capital One Venture X card’s welcome bonus is much higher than the Capital One VentureOne card, however, the minimum spending requirements are also higher. 

Earning Potential

You will earn Capital One miles on every purchase you make with either the Capital One Venture X card or the Capital One VentureOne card. Maximizing bonus earnings, however, will ultimately depend on your spending mix.

The highest level of earnings will be for select travel purchased via Capital One Travel, but both cards offer flat-rate earnings on all other purchases, including travel purchased from other providers.

Here’s how our featured cards compare when it comes to earning rewards:

Bottom Line: Both cards offer accelerated earnings on select travel purchases via Capital One Travel and flat rate earnings on all other purchases. While the Capital One Venture X card offers a minimum of 2x earnings on every purchase and the Capital One Venture card just 1.25x earnings, you will have to pay an annual fee on the Capital One Venture X card. 

Redemption Options

Since you’re earning Capital One miles on both the Capital One Venture X card and Capital One VentureOne card, you’ll have the same flexible redemption options.

Let’s take a look at the best options for redeeming Capital One miles:

Bottom Line: The best option for redeeming miles earned on either of our featured cards is to transfer your miles to airline frequent flyer programs and redeem them for award flights. Additional travel redemption options include redeeming for travel via Capital One Travel at the rate of 1 cent per mile or redeeming for a statement credit for previous travel purchases (within 90 days), also at the rate of 1 cent per mile. 

Travel Benefits and Protections

Travel benefits and protections add value to a card in the form of saving you money or providing needed protection should something go wrong during your travels. Here are some of the perks you’ll find on the Capital One Venture X card and the Capital One VentureOne card:

• Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges — Enjoy complimentary access to current and future Capital One Lounges, as well as Plaza Premium Lounges. The Capital One Venture X card comes with unlimited visits for you and 2 guests while the Capital One VentureOne card comes with 2 free visits each calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees — Neither card charges a fee for foreign transactions.
• Lost Luggage Insurance — Use your card to pay for your common carrier ticket, and if your luggage is lost, you are eligible for up to $3,000 in reimbursements per trip ($2,000 for New York residents)

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, each card offers its own additional travel benefits and protections.

Capital One Venture X Card

• Priority Pass Select Membership — Receive worldwide access to over 1,300 airport lounges.
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck — Pay for your application or renewal fee with your card and receive reimbursement, up to $100 as a statement credit.
• $300 Travel Statement Credit — Receive a statement credit each year for travel purchased via Capital One Travel.
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Elite Status — Receive complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status as long as you have the card.
• Primary Rental Car Insurance — This credit card offers primary rental car insurance as long as you use your card to pay for your car rental reservation and decline the collision damage waiver/loss damage waiver (CDW/LDW) offered by the rental agency
• Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption — Receive up to $2,000 per trip if your trip is canceled or interrupted due to a covered reason.
• Trip Delay — Use your card to pay for at least a portion of your trip and if your trip is delayed for a covered reason for more than 6 hours, you could receive up to $500.
• Roadside Assistance — For 1 flat fee, receive towing (up to 5 miles), lockout service, tire changing, emergency fuel delivery (cost of fuel not included), standard winching, or jump-starting.
• Travel Accident Insurance — Should an eligible tragedy or accident occur while traveling, this card offers up to $1 million in travel accident insurance when you pay for your common carrier ticket using your card.

Capital One VentureOne Card

• Secondary Rental Car Insurance — Pay for your car rental reservation using your card while declining the CDW/LDW from the rental agency, and you’ll receive secondary rental car insurance (not primary rental car coverage like the Capital One Venture X card)
• Roadside Dispatch — If you’re stranded on the side of the road, you can receive 24/7 assistance with just 1 call. The cardholder is responsible for the services received.

Bottom Line: The Capital One Venture X card benefits include worldwide lounge access, a $300 Capital One Travel credit, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement, and a 10,000-mile bonus at card renewal. If you travel, these benefits could provide true economic value and help offset the annual fee. 

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Shopping benefits and protections are not reason alone to select a specific rewards card, but both can come in handy for saving money on your purchase or providing protection should something go wrong after the purchase.

Here are the shopping benefits and protections you can expect on both the Capital One Venture X card and the Capital One VentureOne card:

• Purchase Security — Receive up to $500 per item (Capital One VentureOne card) or $10,000 per item (Capital One Venture X card) if that eligible item, purchased with your card, is damaged or stolen within 90 days (Capital One VentureOne card) or 120 days (Capital One Venture X card) from the date of purchase.
• Extended Warranty — On eligible items with manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less, receive up to an additional 1 year of warranty coverage.
• Capital One Offers — Sign in to your online card account and select offers that can earn statement credits for select purchases.

In addition to these benefits and protections, our featured cards have additional perks:

Capital One Venture X Card

• Cell Phone Protection — Pay for your monthly cell phone bill with your card and receive up to $800 if your phone is stolen or damaged. There is a limit of 2 claims per 12-month period and a $50 deductible per claim.
• Return Protection — If you purchase an eligible item with your card and the merchant will not accept it as a return within 90 days of the purchase date, you could receive up to $300 per item and up to $1,000 maximum per calendar year.

Capital One VentureOne Card

• Introductory 0% APR — Make an eligible purchase(s) with your card and enjoy up to 15 months from card approval to repay the balance without interest charges. After that, normal interest rates apply (as specified in the card table at the beginning of this article). The introductory 0% APR offer also applies to balance transfers. Terms and conditions apply.

Note that we have abbreviated the cards’ benefit and protection descriptions and only listed key benefits for comparison purposes. You’ll want to access each card’s guide to benefits for full descriptions and the terms and conditions.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

The bottom line value you receive from a card may depend on whether the value of the benefits you actually use exceed the annual fee you’ll be paying. Any charges you may incur to add authorized users will also come into play.

Here’s how the Capital One Venture X card and Capital One VentureOne card compare regarding annual fees and adding authorized card users:

• Annual Fees — The Capital One Venture X card charges an annual fee of $395 while the Capital One VentureOne card does not charge an annual fee.
• Authorized Users — You can add up to 4 authorized users to the Capital One Venture X card for no additional annual fees. The Capital One VentureOne card does not charge for adding authorized users.

Hot Tip: Authorized users on the Capital One Venture X card enjoy the unique privilege of having complimentary Priority Pass Select membership and access to Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges. Plus, authorized users may bring 2 additional guests. There is no fee for adding up to 4 authorized users to the card. 

Value Comparison

If you’re considering the Capital One VentureOne card because it doesn’t have an annual fee (while the Capital One Venture X card charges $395), don’t let that annual fee deter you from considering the latter.

Here’s why.

If you book travel via Capital One Travel, the $300 travel statement credit on the Capital One Venture X card goes a long way to negating the annual fee.

Priority Pass Select membership costs $469 per year and doesn’t include guest access. If you value this benefit, you’ll receive more value than the cost of the Capital One Venture X card’s annual fee.

You’ll be earning 2x miles on non-bonus category purchases with the Capital One Venture X card versus 1.25 miles on the Capital One VentureOne card. So if you were to spend $20,000, you’d earn 40,000 miles on the Capital One Venture X card and 25,000 miles on the Capital One VentureOne card.

Cell phone protection is another benefit through which you’ll find additional value with the Capital One Venture X card.

And finally, the 10,000 bonus Capital One miles earned at card renewal can be worth around $180 by our valuations.

Bottom Line: Don’t let the annual fee deter you from considering the Capital One Venture X card. With a $300 travel statement credit, Priority Pass Select membership, 2x earnings on every purchase, cell phone protection, and more, the benefits you receive could more than offset the annual fee. 

Final Thoughts

If your spending level is low and you’re not a frequent traveler, you may find the Capital One VentureOne card more than adequate for your needs. You’ll still earn rewards on every purchase and elevated earnings on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel. You’ll also have the same flexible options at redemption time as the Capital One Venture X card.

If you’re a frequent traveler, and your spending levels are higher, you’ll fare better with the Capital One Venture X card for many of the reasons mentioned above.

If you’re looking for additional cards with no annual fees, we’ve put together a nice collection of options. If you’re a frequent traveler, you might consider a travel rewards card. Here’s a list of some of the best travel rewards cards available.

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.

Enrollment required through Capital One website or mobile app. Upon enrollment, 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.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.