Amex Gold vs Capital One Venture X
The Gold earns 4× at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, where Venture X earns 2×. Venture X earns 2× on everything else, where the Gold earns 1×, and costs $70 more ($395 against $325). So it comes down to your mix: heavy dining and grocery spend favors the Gold, and a big share of spending outside those categories favors Venture X.
Which card earns more on your spending?
Enter what you spend in a typical month. We estimate a year of rewards on each card, after its annual fee.
Estimated rewards per year, after the annual fee
Amex Gold Wins on your numbers
4× dining and U.S. supermarkets, 3× flights
+$839
Rewards $1,164 · Fee −$325
Venture X
2× everywhere, 10× hotels via Capital One Travel
+$560
Rewards $955 · Fee −$395
Amex Gold comes out ahead by $279 a year on these numbers.
Break-even: about $2,570 a month on everyday spending, with your other amounts as entered. Above that, Venture X wins. Below it, Amex Gold does.
How we estimate
- Points are valued at The Points Guy’s October 2026 figures: Amex Membership Rewards 2¢, Chase Ultimate Rewards (Sapphire and Ink Preferred) 2.05¢, Citi ThankYou (Strata Premier and Elite) 1.9¢, Capital One 1.85¢, Bilt 2.2¢, SkyMiles 1.2¢ and Hilton points 0.4¢. Cash back is valued at 1¢, and so are Chase Freedom, no-fee Citi Strata and Double Cash points on their own; pooled with a premium card in the same program they are worth that program’s value.
- Net is a year of rewards minus the annual fee. Credits count only when you turn them on, and only the ones listed under each card.
- Welcome bonuses are left out so the numbers reflect an ordinary year.
- Amex Gold: 4× at restaurants worldwide (first $50,000 a year) and U.S. supermarkets (first $25,000 a year), 3× flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel, 1× else.
- Venture X: 2× on everything when you book direct. Capital One Travel bookings are left out.
- Venture X lounge access is not counted. Credits, including the Gold’s Resy and Dunkin’ credits, are off until you turn them on.
- Earn rates checked with issuers in October 2026. Offers change, so confirm terms with the issuer before you apply. Educational estimate, not financial advice.
- Point values from The Points Guy’s October 2026 valuations.
Two cards are only part of the picture. Take these amounts to the full calculator to see which wallet wins across all your spending, including cards you already hold.
Compare every card on your spending →{"a":{"key":"amex-gold","name":"Amex Gold","fee":325,"cpp":0.02,"base":1,"earn":[{"inputs":["dining"],"rate":4,"cap":50000,"above":1},{"inputs":["groceries"],"rate":4,"cap":25000,"above":1},{"inputs":["airfare"],"rate":3}],"creditItems":[{"key":"dining","name":"$120 dining credit","value":120},{"key":"uber","name":"$120 Uber Cash","value":120},{"key":"resy","name":"$100 Resy credit","value":100},{"key":"dunkin","name":"$84 Dunkin’ credit ($7 a month)","value":84}]},"b":{"key":"capital-one-venture-x","name":"Venture X","fee":395,"cpp":0.0185,"base":2,"earn":[{"inputs":["portal"],"rate":10}],"creditItems":[{"key":"travel","name":"$300 Capital One Travel credit","value":300},{"key":"miles","name":"10,000 anniversary miles","value":185},{"key":"priority_pass","name":"Priority Pass lounges (counted at $100, not the $469 list price)","value":100}]},"focus":"","inputs":[{"key":"dining","prefill":"dining","noun":"dining"},{"key":"groceries","prefill":"groceries","noun":"groceries"},{"key":"airfare","prefill":"airfare","noun":"flights"},{"key":"other","prefill":"other","noun":"everyday spending"}],"max":20000,"path":"/credit-card-rewards-calculator","pivot":"other","step":10}Which one should you get?
Pick Amex Gold if…
- Restaurants and U.S. supermarkets are a big share of your spending.
- You would use the dining and Uber credits.
- You want Membership Rewards transfer partners.
Pick Venture X if…
- Much of your spending falls outside dining and groceries, where Venture X earns 2×.
- You would use the $300 Capital One Travel credit and the 10,000 anniversary miles.
- You want lounge access with a premium card.
What actually differs
Checked with the issuers in October 2026. Terms change, so confirm with the issuer before you apply.
Annual fee
Amex Gold
$325
Venture X
$395
Earning
Amex Gold
4× restaurants worldwide (first $50,000 a year) and U.S. supermarkets (first $25,000 a year); 3× flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel; 1× else
Venture X
2× everywhere; 10× hotels and cars and 5× flights via Capital One Travel
Credits
Amex Gold
$120 dining credit, $120 Uber Cash, $84 Dunkin’
Venture X
$300 Capital One Travel credit; 10,000 miles each anniversary
Points
Amex Gold
Amex Membership Rewards
Venture X
Capital One miles
| Feature | Amex Gold | Venture X |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | $395 |
| Earning | 4× restaurants worldwide (first $50,000 a year) and U.S. supermarkets (first $25,000 a year); 3× flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel; 1× else | 2× everywhere; 10× hotels and cars and 5× flights via Capital One Travel |
| Credits | $120 dining credit, $120 Uber Cash, $84 Dunkin’ | $300 Capital One Travel credit; 10,000 miles each anniversary |
| Points | Amex Membership Rewards | Capital One miles |
FAQ
It is when you spend heavily at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, where the Gold earns 4× to Venture X’s 2×. Venture X wins when more of your spending falls outside those categories.
Venture X earns 2× on every purchase. The Gold earns 1× outside restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and flights.
They can on both. Venture X has a $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles. The Gold has dining and Uber credits worth up to $240. Count only the credits you would use anyway.
Yes, they come from different issuers. Many people use the Gold at restaurants and supermarkets and Venture X for everything else.