Next, we'll go over how these top credit cards compare in the most important areas.
Amex Gold Card vs. Capital One Venture Card annual fee
The American Express® Gold Card has a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). But it could end up costing you as little as $10 per year, depending on how many of its somewhat complicated spending credits you can use. Here are the main credits it offers:
- $120 dining credit: Earn up to $10 in statement credits per month when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at participating partners: Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.
- $120 Uber Cash: Add your American Express® Gold Card to your Uber account, and you'll automatically get $10 in Uber Cash each month. You can use it for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the United States.
- Select enrollment required, terms apply.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is much more affordable, with a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). It doesn't have nearly as many spending credits, but it does cover your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership. That's a credit of up to $120 every four years.
While the American Express® Gold Card offers more value for a cardholder, its credits are much harder to use. And they're the type of credits that could lead to spending more. Most people spend more than $10 when they go out to eat, order Uber Eats, or take an Uber ride. So if you're only doing that because of spending credits on your American Express card, you're not really coming out ahead.
Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Amex Gold Card vs. Capital One Venture Card welcome offer
The American Express® Gold Card has a welcome offer of 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. American Express points are valuable, as you can transfer them to travel partners or use them through the card issuer's travel portal for cash bookings. Terms apply.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has it beat, though: 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 to use in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel. Rewards are worth $0.01 per mile when redeemed for travel purchases, so you can get at least $1,000 in value from this welcome offer. Capital One Venture miles are also transferable, although the card issuer doesn't have as many travel partners as American Express.
Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Amex Gold Card vs. Capital One Venture Card rewards
If you're a foodie, the bonus categories for the American Express® Gold Card will be right up your alley. It earns:
- 4X points per $1 at restaurants worldwide, as well as takeout and delivery in the United States
- 4X points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per year
- 3X points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or on American Express Travel
- 1X point per $1 on other purchases
- Terms apply.
As mentioned above, American Express also has an excellent travel rewards program. Points are transferable to over 20 airlines and hotels, so you'll have plenty of ways to use them.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 2X miles per $1 on purchases. It also earns 5X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars you book through Capital One Travel.
Both of these cards are great for earning and redeeming rewards. The American Express® Gold Card has useful bonus categories and earns an extremely high rate in them. It also has a better rewards program with more transfer partners. But 2X miles per $1 across all spending categories is hard to beat, so there are no losers here.
Winner: Tie
