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Capital One Venture Card Review: Among the Top Travel Cards You'll Find

Review Updated
Elizabeth Aldrich
Steven Porrello
By: Elizabeth Aldrich
Elizabeth Aldrich
Elizabeth Aldrich
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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 and  Steven Porrello
Steven Porrello
Steven Porrello
Writer

Steven is a personal finance writer covering topics from mortgages to credit cards to market news. He has written for The Motley Fool Canada, Ramsey Solutions, Nerdwallet, Clever Real Estate, and other major outlets. Steven launched his writing career at the age of four with his first book, "Revenge of the Bad Guys." He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.

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Our Credit Cards Experts

Nathan Alderman
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Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) is a good fit for travelers who want an easy-to-use, no-frills rewards card with the potential to earn lots of miles and multiple ways to redeem them. The flat rewards rate is competitive, and new cardholders can snag an incredible welcome offer. You likely won't want to redeem rewards for cash back, but using them to cover your travel purchases is a solid choice.

Read on to learn how this card excels, what could be improved, and whether it's right for your wallet.

Ratings Methodology
Award Icon 2024 Award Winner

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Great for: Unlimited travel rewards

Apply Now for Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

On Capital One's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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. 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.
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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. 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.
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= Excellent
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Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

On Capital One's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Offer Ends 9/9/2024!
Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel (must click "Apply Now" to qualify).
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase. Earn unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

2X-5X miles

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel

75,000 Miles

  • This is one of our top travel credit cards overall, because of its highly lucrative, yet dead simple rewards program. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and use them to get reimbursed for any travel purchase — or to book a trip through Capital One Travel. TSA Pre✓® credit and the opportunity to earn a massive sign-up bonus (worth $1,000 in travel) make this credit card one of the best travel companions.

    • Excellent sign-up bonus
    • Unlimited miles on purchases
    • Travel credit
    • Multiple ways to use miles
    • No foreign transaction fee
    • Annual fee
    • No 0% intro APR offer
    • Low cash back redemption value
    • Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
    • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
    • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
    • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
    • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
    • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
    • Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
    • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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. 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.
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Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. Circle with letter I in it. N/A 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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. 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.
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= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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. 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.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Capital One Venture Card review

Is the Capital One Venture Card worth it?

If you want a travel credit card to use for all your spending, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card might be the right fit for you. Its simplicity and flat rewards rate make it simple to use and manage, and the welcome bonus gives new cardholders the card's annual fee in value many times over.

Author's personal experience

My wife got the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card in 2022 and I'm an authorized user. So far, we've been extremely pleased with the card's simplicity. While we were concerned about the annual fee at first, the card regularly pays it back in rewards. Add the welcome bonus, the $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credit, and the $50 experience credits, and we've gotten our money's worth. For frequent travelers, I can't think of a better catch-all credit card that doesn't cost a fortune in annual fees.

What everyone else is saying

Given the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card's popularity, it's no big surprise that the internet has a lot to say about this card. Let's take a look at what everyone is saying.

What other review sites say

Average review site rating: 4.6/ 5.0 stars

Review sites praise this card's straightforward rewards rate, its stellar welcome bonus, and low annual fee. They also love that miles can be applied against a variety of travel purchases, including trains, limousines, and timeshares.

One review site called out that Capital One hasn't partnered with many domestic airlines, which might disappoint travelers who want to book fares with those companies. Everyone agrees that redeeming miles for cash back is the worst way to use them, unless you're okay taking a lower valuation. One reviewer was also disappointed that the card didn't have bonus rewards rates on non-travel spending.

Online consensus

Although review sites generally give this card a big thumbs up, reviews from people who are actually using it are a mixed bag.

Most negative reviews were aimed at Capital One's customer service (there were, however, plenty of positive reviews for the same customer service team). Other users were disappointed about rejected applications or smaller credit limits than expected.

Some users questioned whether earning 2X miles is better than earning 2% in cash back on cards. Plenty of no fee credit cards earn 2% back on every purchase. Why pay a $95 annual fee for a card that functions the same way?

But many users bring up the extra value when transferring miles to travel partners. They also mention that the welcome bonus and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credit can more than pay for the card's first year. Finally, the card also earns 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One, making it especially lucrative for frequent travelers.

Capital One Venture Card features and benefits

Massive welcome offer that can cover the card's annual fee 10 times over

The sign-up bonus is 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year -- that's equal to $1,000 in travel.

Capital One miles are worth $0.01 per mile when you redeem them for travel purchases.

Unlimited 2X miles per $1 means no more wasting time on complicated rewards programs

Against a backdrop of more complex travel cards, this one is as simple as basic arithmetic is to calculus. There's no need to track how much you spend or pay attention to bonus categories, as you'll earn an unlimited 2X miles on everyday purchases.

Bonus 5X miles per $1 for extra savings on rental cars and hotels

For rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel, you'll earn an unlimited 5X miles per $1.

One of the easiest redemption processes you'll find

Capital One miles are always worth $0.01 per mile when you redeem them as a statement credit against travel expenses. The redemption process is a breeze, and many types of transactions are classified as travel, giving you ample opportunity to use your rewards.

A lower annual fee puts more rewards in your pocket

For all its benefits, the card has a reasonable annual fee of $95.

Get through security faster with a $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credit

When you pay $100 for a Global Entry membership or $85 for a TSA PreCheck® membership with your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One automatically credits you back. You can use this credit once every four years. A Global Entry membership also gets you a TSA PreCheck® membership, making it the easy choice.

No foreign transaction fees to ruin your travel budget

Have no fear of using your card internationally, as this is a no foreign transaction fee credit card.

Enjoy extra hotel perks from Lifestyle Collection

Venture cardholders can enjoy premium hotel benefits when they book a stay through Capital One's Lifestyle Collection. These benefits include a $50 experience credit, complimentary wifi (when available), room upgrades, early check-in, and late checkout.

What could be improved

Redeeming miles for cash back slashes their value in half

If you want to cover non-travel purchases with your Capital One miles, their redemption value will be $0.005 per mile -- half of what they could have been if redeemed for travel. That's to be expected, because this is a travel rewards card. But if you want a card that gives you better cash back options, you might want to look for another card.

Find the best credit card for your needs

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

Compare cards

What to know before applying

Capital One Venture Card 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. 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.

Pre-approval process

Capital One lets you check which cards might fit your credit profile without dinging your credit score. You'll supply some information about yourself -- like your annual income and housing payment -- and Capital One will see if you're a good fit. If you are, you can finish your application to see if you're approved.

Regular APR

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable) APR. This is pretty standard for travel credit cards. Unlike some credit cards, this one does not offer a 0% intro APR at this time.

Fees

  • Annual fee: $95
  • 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: None
  • See rates and fees

Credit limit

Cardholders report credit limits as low as $5,000 and as high as $20,000. Your specific credit limits will depend on personal factors, like your income and credit. If you're not happy with your credit limit, you can request an increase through the app or online.

Should you apply for the Capital One Venture Card?

This could be a great card for you if you want a travel card that you plan to use for all (or most) of your spending and redeem for travel purchases. If you prefer a card that offers the simplicity of fixed-rate redemptions for your travel expenses and an annual fee under $100, then this just might be your ideal travel card.

Our credit card methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • Though previously a Visa card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card became a Mastercard in April 2024.

  • The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card includes limited travel accident insurance and rental car coverage when you pay for your travel expenses with your card. It does not provide travel interruption or cancellation coverage, baggage insurance, or trip delay coverage.

  • The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee and earns 1.25X miles on purchases. Meanwhile, the Venture Rewards has a $95 annual fee and earns 2X miles on purchases. In general, you would need to charge $12,667 annually for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to become more profitable than its no fee counterpart.