Venture X vs Sapphire Reserve
By Quy Dinh · Updated Oct 24, 2026
The short answer
For most people, the Venture X. Its $300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles cover the $395 fee, and 2x on everything is easy. The Sapphire Reserve costs twice as much and earns more on dining and on flights and hotels booked direct, but you only come out ahead if you use its newer credits: The Edit, StubHub, dining, DoorDash and Apple.
If you’d use those anyway, or you want lounge guests in free (Capital One now charges $45 per guest at its lounges), the Reserve can be worth the extra $400.
Pick the Venture X if
- You want the fee covered without thinking about it
- You’d book at least $300 a year through Capital One Travel
- Most of your spending doesn’t fit a bonus category
Pick the Sapphire Reserve if
- You spend a lot on dining and on travel booked direct
- You’ll use The Edit, StubHub, dining and DoorDash credits
- You often bring guests into lounges
Side by side
| Feature |  Capital One |  Chase |
|---|---|---|
| In one line | If you book at least $300 of travel a year through Capital One Travel, the travel credit and the 10,000 anniversary miles pay the $395 fee, and 2x miles on everything does the rest. | Strong if you travel often and use Chase Travel, but at $795 it only pays off if you use the $300 travel credit, the lounges and most of the newer credits. |
| Annual fee | $395 | $795 |
| Statement credits | Up to $330 a year in 3 credits | Up to $2,340 a year in 13 credits |
| How it earns |
|
|
| Lounge access | Capital One Lounge access Priority Pass lounge membership | Priority Pass Select Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Cafés |
| Welcome offer | 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. | 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. |
| Counts toward Chase 5/24 | Yes | Yes |
Credits are counted at their full cash value; see each card’s page for how each one works and which need activation. Offers change; the bank’s page has the current one.
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