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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review: A great beginner card with a valuable bonus

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card overview

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card effortlessly blends fixed-value redemptions with 15-plus airline and hotel transfer partners. Its modest $95 annual fee (see rates and fees ) and solid return on everyday spending make this card a keeper once you're approved for it. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The world of award travel is incredibly complex, with airline miles, hotel points and award charts to keep track of, let alone credit card programs that allow you to transfer your rewards to various partners.

But it shouldn't be challenging to earn and use credit card rewards. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent antidote to the complexity of travel rewards, offering both simple earning and redemption options for beginners and high-value transfer options for the more experienced points and miles collector. You will need good to excellent credit for this card, so TPG recommends a credit score of 670 or higher.

Here's everything you need to know about the Capital One Venture Rewards.

Capital One Venture Rewards pros and cons

Capital one venture rewards welcome offer.

The Capital One Venture Rewards comes with a solid sign-up bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening. This sign-up bonus isn't the highest we've ever seen from Capital One, but it's a solid offer for the relatively low spending requirement.

Based on TPG valuations , Capital One miles are worth 1.85 cents each when transferred to the issuer's loyalty program partners , which include Air Canada Aeroplan and Air France-KLM Flying Blue. In other words, this 75,000-mile bonus can be worth around $1,388.

Related: Redeeming Capital One miles for maximum value

Capital One Venture Rewards benefits

Venture Rewards cardholders receive some helpful travel perks, including:

• Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck : Up to a $100 credit
• Access to hotel bookings with Capital One's Lifestyle Collection
• Travel assistant services
• MasterRental insurance
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees )

These are solid perks for a card with a reasonable annual fee — though if you're looking for enhanced benefits, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card could be a better fit for your wallet (more on that later).

Earning miles on the Capital One Venture Rewards

Earning miles on the Venture Rewards card is straightforward, making the card useful to those who don't want to spend a lot of mental energy swapping credit cards in and out for different merchants.

You'll earn 2 miles for every dollar you spend with the card on every transaction, which means you're getting a value of 2 to 3.7 cents (factoring in TPG's latest valuations ) for every dollar in purchases, with no annual cap.

Plus, you'll earn an even higher 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel .

It's easy to zero in on high-powered and popular bonus categories for dining or travel , but you might spend a lot of money outside of defined bonus categories. Adding a Venture Rewards card to your wallet can help you mop up all those extra miles and ensure you aren't leaving anything on the table when paying for non-bonus purchases.

Redeeming miles on the Capital One Venture Rewards

You'll likely get more value out of transferring your Capital One miles than redeeming them outright, but if you prefer a more straightforward approach, there are several options available at a fixed value:

• Book travel : Through Capital One Travel, you can directly book travel using your miles at a rate of 1 cent per mile. This allows you to avoid the complexities of loyalty programs.
• Pay off travel purchases : Venture customers can redeem their miles for any recent, travel-related purchase (such as vacation rentals, flights with any airline, hotels, rental cars, cruises, etc.)
• Redeem for gift cards : Another option is to exchange your miles for gift cards, with each mile being valued at 1 cent.

It is important to recognize that these fixed-value redemption options will result in a lower value compared to TPG's valuation of 1.85 cents per point.

Transferring miles on the Capital One Venture Rewards

Transferring your Capital One Venture miles to airline and hotel partners is often how you'll get the most value from your earnings. Under the right circumstances, you can get some phenomenal value from these rewards.

Here are some examples of how you can maximize your Capital One miles :

• Booking through Avianca LifeMiles
• Booking United Airlines business-class transcontinental flights through Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Booking U.S. domestic flights on various airlines through partners, like redeeming Singapore KrisFlyer or Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles miles for United tickets, or Flying Blue miles for Delta tickets

Even programs that fly under the radar can be a great option — as TPG director of content Nick Ewen recently found.

I was searching for a hotel room in Park City for a ski trip over President's Day Weekend, and prices were really high. But then, I stumbled across a Wyndham Rewards property close to downtown that had the option of booking a two-bedroom suite for just 30,000 points per night. I transferred 90,000 Capital One miles to my Wyndham account to book a three-night stay that would've set me back over $2,100 dollars.

Now, it's worth noting that these redemptions aren't for everyone, so be sure to check out our guide to help you make the decision on whether to transfer Capital One miles . And if you're confused about the process of how to transfer miles to airline and hotel partners, here's a guide on how to do it .

Which cards compete with the Capital One Venture Rewards?

No card perfectly replicates the Capital One Venture, but there are a few that offer similar benefits:

• If you prefer Chase: Consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . For a $95 annual fee, you'll enjoy 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase Travel portal and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred .
• If you want more perks: Look at the premium Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . You'll get 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked via Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on everything else, plus $300 back in credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel and loads more perks, including a Priority Pass lounge membership. It does carry a $395 annual fee (see rates and fees ), but the perks can easily cover that — and then some. For more information, read our full review of the Venture X .

For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel cards .

Read more: Credit card showdown: Capital One Venture vs. Capital One Venture X

Is the Capital One Venture Rewards worth it?

If you want a card that earns valuable rewards on non-bonus spending and has a reasonable annual fee, the Capital One Venture Rewards is a great option. However, those looking for premium benefits and bonus rewards in top spending categories will need to look elsewhere.

Bottom line

The Capital One Venture packs a lot in for a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees ), and it even makes the cut as one of our best travel credit cards . It earns miles at a consistent rate and can facilitate simple, fixed-rate redemptions along with more complicated awards by transferring your miles to hotel and airline partners, making it a valuable card worth a spot in your wallet.

Apply here: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card with 75,000 bonus miles

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.

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Rate and fee information

• Purchase &
• Transfer APR: 29.99% variable APR
• Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
• Transfer Fee: No Transfer Fee with this Transfer APR; 4% on the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a Promotional APR that we may offer you
• Transfer APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that
• Transfer Fee: 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months; 4% on the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a Promotional APR that we may offer you
• Annual Membership Fee: 
• Transfer APR: 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR
• Transfer APR: 19.48% or 29.99%variable APR
• Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable APR
• Transfer Fee: No Transfer Fee with this Transfer APR; 3% on the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a Promotional APR that we may offer you
• Cash Advance Fee:Either $3 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
• Purchase APR:29.99% variable APR
• Transfer APR and Cash Advance APR: Not applicable
• Transfer Fee and Cash Advance Fee: Not applicable
• Transfer APR:30.24% variable APR
• Cash Advance APR:30.24% variable
• Transfer Fee:No Transfer Fee with this Transfer APR; 3% on the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a Promotional APR that we may offer you
• Cash Advance Fee:Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
• Minimum Payment: The minimum payment due is the New Balance as indicated on your statement
• Transfer Fee: Not Applicable
• Annual Fee: $150 annually
• Transfer APR: 18.49% - 24.49% variable APR
• Cash Advance APR: 32.24% variable APR
• Transfer Fee: None
• Purchase APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months; 21.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that
• Transfer APR: 21.24% - 29.24% variable APR
• Cash Advance APR: 30.74% variable APR
• Annual Fee: $395 annually
• Transfer APR: 26.24% variable APR
• Annual Fee: $0 intro for the first year, $95 after that
• Transfer APR for purchases at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela'
• s: 7.99% APR
• Transfer APR for other purchases and transfers: 20.49% - 32.24% variable APR
• Cash Advance APR: 32.24% variable
• Transfer Fee: No Transfer Fee on transfers at Transfer APR
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $3 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
• Purchase APR for purchases at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela'
• s:9.99% APR
• Cash Advance APR:32.24% variable
• s: 9.99% APR
• Purchase APR: 19.24% - 30.24% variable APR Transfer APR: 19.24% - 30.24% variable APR
• Cash Advance APR: 30.24% variable APR

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Capital One Miles: How the Program Works

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Table of Contents

Capital One Miles: The basics

Cards that earn capital one miles, how to redeem capital one miles, key takeaways about capital one miles.

If you have a Capital One travel credit card, then you can earn Capital One Miles. Here’s what you need to know about those miles and how to get the most out of them:

» MORE: NerdWallet’s best Capital One cards

Depending on which of Capital One's travel cards you’re using, you'll earn 1.25 to 2 miles for every dollar of spending. Those miles can be redeemed for up to 1 cent apiece, with travel redemptions offering the most value. You can also choose to transfer your miles to a variety of travel transfer partners, which can allow you to yield a higher value for your miles.

Capital One Miles also give you added flexibility because they don’t expire as long as your account remains open.

» MORE: Benefits of the Capital One Venture

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate: 2 miles per dollar spent.

Bonus offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Annual fee: $395

» MORE: Review of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus offer: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Annual fee: $95 .

» MORE: Review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate: 1.25 miles per dollar spent.

Bonus offer: Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.

Annual fee: $0 .

» MORE: Review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Bonus offer: Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95 .

» MORE: Review of the Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Paying for travel

The best way to redeem Capital One Miles is for travel. You can either use them to book travel through Capital One, or you can redeem them for credit on your statement against travel purchases. With either option, miles are worth 1 cent apiece.

The big draw here is that you can book travel however you want — through Capital One or elsewhere, flying on any airline, staying at any hotel — and use your miles to pay for it. That's why the ubiquitous ads for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card stress that there are no blackout dates or restrictions on how you use your miles.

There is also no minimum redemption amount when using your miles for travel expenses.

» MORE: Making the most of Capital One Venture

Transferring to loyalty programs

Capital One lets you transfer your miles to the loyalty programs of more than a dozen airline and hotel partners. In some cases, though, the transfer ratio is less than 1:1.

Aeromexico (1:1 ratio).

Air Canada (1:1 ratio).

Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).

Avianca (1:1 ratio).

British Airways (1:1 ratio).

Cathay Pacific (1:1 ratio).

Emirates (1:1 ratio).

Etihad (1:1 ratio).

EVA (2:1.5 ratio).

Finnair (1:1 ratio).

Qantas (1:1 ratio).

Singapore Airlines (1:1 ratio).

TAP Air Portugal (1:1 ratio).

Turkish Airlines (1:1 ratio).

Accor (2:1 ratio).

Choice Privileges Hotels (1:1 ratio).

Wyndham Rewards (1:1 ratio).

When you transfer your miles, the value you ultimately get per mile depends on how you redeem them with the program you moved them to.

» Learn more: The best Capital One transfer partners — plus ones to avoid

This redemption method will get you a value of around 1 cent per mile, too, so if a getaway isn’t achievable, there’s still a way to decent value from your rewards. You'll need a minimum of 2,500 miles to redeem for a gift card, though.

» Learn more: Should you use Capital One Rewards to pay for merchandise through PayPal?

Other redemption options

You can also use your Capital One miles for cash back in the form of a check or statement credit for a non-travel purchase. But cash-back redemptions cut the value of mile in half, meaning that miles are worth 0.5 cent each. You'll need a minimum of 5,000 miles for a cash-back redemption.

There isn't a lot of fine print in the Capital One rewards program that could trip you up. There’s no limit to the miles you can earn, and miles never expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. If you close your account, however, you’ll lose any unused miles.

Also, if you pay your credit card bill late and are charged a late fee, you won't earn miles during the billing cycle that the late fee was charged. But carrying a balance won’t affect your ability to earn rewards, as long as you make your minimum payment on time.

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

1%-10% Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024. Terms apply.

$200 Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

2x-10x Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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