Everyday spender
- Dining $200
- Groceries $400
- Flights $50
- Other $1,500
Capital One Venture vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
Venture and Sapphire Preferred are the classic first travel cards, and they carry the same annual fee. The difference is shape. Venture pays one flat rate on everything, which is hard to beat for spend that doesn’t fit a category. Sapphire Preferred pays more on dining, travel, gas, and online groceries but less on everything else. The better card depends on how much of your budget lands in those bonus categories.
Fees and offers change—confirm current terms with Capital One and Chase. Then use the MaxPoints calculator presets below to test both cards on your real budget.
How MaxPoints helps
Because both cards cost the same, this matchup is about earn shape. MaxPoints shows which one nets more on your actual spend.
- Pick a preset below, or enter your own monthly spend.
- Be honest about how much is dining and travel versus everything else.
- Compare Year 1 (with any welcome bonus) and Year 2+ after the fee.
Open the free credit card rewards calculator — no signup required.
Spend presets
Illustrative monthly spends. Open a mix in the calculator, then change any dollar amount.
Dining-heavy
- Dining $600
- Groceries $400
- Flights $150
- Hotels $100
- Other $600
Frequent traveler
- Dining $400
- Groceries $350
- Flights $300
- Hotels $250
- Other $900
Quick comparison
Typical differences only. Fees, credits, and earn rates change—confirm current terms with the issuer before you apply.
Fee
Venture (typical story)
Same annual fee as Sapphire Preferred
Sapphire Preferred (typical story)
Same annual fee as Venture
Everyday earn
Venture (typical story)
Flat rate on every purchase—strong for non-bonus spend
Sapphire Preferred (typical story)
Base rate on spend outside its categories
Dining and travel
Venture (typical story)
Elevated mostly through Capital One Travel
Sapphire Preferred (typical story)
Elevated on dining, gas, online groceries, travel, and Chase Travel bookings
Credits
Venture (typical story)
Few credits to track
Sapphire Preferred (typical story)
A yearly Chase Travel hotel credit
Points
Venture (typical story)
Capital One miles; transfer partners
Sapphire Preferred (typical story)
Chase Ultimate Rewards; transfer partners including Hyatt
Best next step
Venture (typical story)
Sapphire Preferred (typical story)
| Angle | Venture (typical story) | Sapphire Preferred (typical story) |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | Same annual fee as Sapphire Preferred | Same annual fee as Venture |
| Everyday earn | Flat rate on every purchase—strong for non-bonus spend | Base rate on spend outside its categories |
| Dining and travel | Elevated mostly through Capital One Travel | Elevated on dining, gas, online groceries, travel, and Chase Travel bookings |
| Credits | Few credits to track | A yearly Chase Travel hotel credit |
| Points | Capital One miles; transfer partners | Chase Ultimate Rewards; transfer partners including Hyatt |
| Best next step | Run Is Venture worth it? | Run Is Sapphire Preferred worth it? |
Tips
Big “other” favors Venture. Bills, shopping, and services earn more on a flat-rate card.
Dining favors Sapphire Preferred. If restaurants are a top-three line, the Chase card usually pulls ahead.
Hyatt fans lean Chase. World of Hyatt is a Chase partner (at 4:3 from Sapphire Preferred), which Capital One doesn’t offer.
Chase 5/24 matters. Opening other cards first can block Sapphire approval—see Chase’s 5/24 rule.
Check transfer bonuses. Both programs run partner bonuses—see active transfer bonuses.
FAQ
Venture usually nets more when most spend falls outside dining and travel. Sapphire Preferred usually nets more for diners and travelers. Run a MaxPoints preset with your numbers.
Yes, they currently carry the same annual fee. Confirm current terms with each issuer before applying.
Both have strong airline and hotel partners. Chase includes World of Hyatt; Capital One has its own mix. The better program is the one with partners you’d actually use.
You can. Some people use Venture for everyday spend and Sapphire Preferred for dining and travel. Model the pair in the full calculator before adding a second fee.
Yes. The calculator is free and doesn’t require a signup to compare cards.
Same fee, different earn shape. Load a preset, adjust the dollars, and see which card nets more on your wallet.
Compare Venture vs Sapphire Preferred in MaxPoints →No signup · Instant recommendations · 100% free