Imagine two boxing champions in the ring: Capital One and American Express. Both are strong contenders, but only one can win.
Which one offers better rewards? More helpful customer service? Smaller APR?
Check out our detailed comparison of Capital One Venture X vs. Amex Gold and see for yourself—
This article will show you:
- What Capital One Venture X and Amex Gold are, and how they compare.
- Their fees, bonuses, and other details.
- Noteworthy alternatives.
Read more:
Capital One Venture X and Amex Gold are travel rewards cards designed for folks with excellent credit scores.
Here’s a broad comparison:
|
Capital One Venture X |
American Express® Gold |
|
|
Rating |
4.2/5 |
4/5 |
|
Annual fee |
$395 |
$250 |
|
Promotion |
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening |
Get 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership |
|
Rewards |
2x–10x miles |
1x–4x points |
|
Learn more |
Learn more |
Learn more |
Do you already have your favorite? If not, let’s take a closer look at both cards separately.
Capital One Venture X card overview
|
Category |
Features |
Rating |
|
APR |
21.74%–28.74% (Variable) |
3/5 |
|
Annual fee |
$395 |
3/5 |
|
Intro offer |
Get 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months |
5/5 |
|
Rewards |
– 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel – 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel – 2x miles on all other purchases |
5/5 |
|
Overall credit card rating |
4.2/5 |
Capital One Venture X card—pros & cons
Pros
- Rewards program.
- No foreign transaction fee.
- 10,000 bonus miles as an anniversary gift.
- Annual travel credit.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit.
- Additional Capital One benefits.
Cons
- Excellent credit score required.
- High annual fee.
- High APR.
What we like
Rewards program
Enjoy generous earnings with 2x to 10x miles on various spending categories:
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
- 2x miles on all other purchases.
No foreign transaction fee
Travel worry-free without extra costs on spending abroad.
A 10,000 bonus miles as an anniversary gift
Celebrate loyalty with a yearly bonus to boost your rewards.
Annual travel credit
Offset your travel expenses with a $300 travel credit applied to eligible purchases. (Remember, though—it’s only for those who book through Capital One Travel.)
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit
Breeze through airport security with reimbursement for expedited clearance fees.
Additional Capital One benefits
Leverage extras like hotel perks and car rental discounts.
What to keep in mind
Excellent credit score is required
You’ll need a high credit standing to qualify for this card.
High annual fee
The $395 fee might be a hurdle if you’re budget-conscious.
High APR
High-interest rates may add up quickly if you don’t pay off the balance in full each month.
Capital One Venture X card—Useful links
See the Cardholder Agreement to learn more about the card here.
Download the Capital One Mobile app for Android or iOS.
Visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website.
Use our free credit card payoff calculator.
Amex Gold card overview
|
Category |
Features |
Rating |
|
APR |
Between Prime Rate + 12.74% and Prime Rate + 19.74% |
3/5 |
|
Annual fee |
$250 |
3/5 |
|
Intro offer |
Get 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership |
5/5 |
|
Rewards |
– 4x points at restaurants and US supermarkets (up to $25,000/year), – 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel – 1x points on all other purchases |
4.5/5 |
|
Overall credit card rating |
4/5 |
Pros
- Rewards program.
- No foreign transaction fee.
- Additional benefits.
- No preset spending limit.
- No hard inquiry.
Cons
- Excellent credit score required.
- High annual fee.
- High APR.
Pros—What we like
Rewards program
The Amex Gold card boasts an impressive rewards program, offering a high return on spending categories like dining and travel, making it ideal for foodies and frequent travelers.
No foreign transaction fee
Save on international purchases without having to worry about foreign transaction fees (yes, that includes online shopping).
Additional benefits
Enjoy Amex’s personalized travel services, baggage insurance, exclusive offers, and more.
No preset spending limit
Experience financial flexibility with no predefined spending limits during your daily or travel-related adventures.
No hard inquiry
Apply without worrying about the impact it may have on your credit score. It won’t have any—American Express doesn’t do a hard inquiry on your credit reports.
Cons—Keep in mind
Excellent credit score is required
The Amex Gold card demands a top-notch credit score for approval, which might be a problem for some. On that note, check your credit for free here.
High annual fee
The $250 annual fee can annoy those with a limited budget or those who can’t fully use the card’s benefits.
High APR
The card also comes with a relatively high APR—so be careful to pay off your balances in full each month.
Amex Gold card—Useful links
Download the Cardholder Agreement to learn more about the card here.
Download the American Express app for Android or iOS.
Visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website.
Use our free credit card payoff calculator.
Capital One Venture X vs. Amex Gold—Credit Cards Comparison
To learn even more about both cards, let’s compare the following:
- Fees and rates
- Rewards
- Benefits
- Approval rates
- Online customer reviews
Amex Gold vs. Capital One Venture X—fees & rates
See the key rates and fees for both cards below:
|
Fees |
Capital One Venture X |
Amex Gold |
|
Annual fee |
$395 |
$250 |
|
APR |
21.74%–28.74% (Variable) |
Between Prime Rate + 12.74% and Prime Rate + 19.74% |
|
APR for cash advances |
28.74% (Variable) |
29.99% (Variable) |
|
Balance transfer fee |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Cash advance fee |
3% of the amount of the cash advance, but not less than $3 |
Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater |
|
Foreign transaction fee |
None |
None |
|
Late fee |
Up to $40 |
Up to $40 |
|
Additional card |
$0 |
$0 |
It seems like a tie, doesn’t it?
Amex Gold vs. Capital One Venture X—rewards
Now, let’s compare rewards:
|
Rewards |
Capital One Venture X |
Amex Gold |
|
Restaurants |
2x miles |
4x points (including takeout/delivery) |
|
US supermarkets |
2x miles |
4x points (up to $25,000/year) |
|
Airline bookings |
10x miles (through Capital One Travel) |
3x points (booked directly or via Amex) |
|
Hotels |
5x miles (through Capital One Travel) |
1x point (no specific category) |
|
Other travel |
2x miles |
1x point (no specific category) |
|
Credits |
$300 travel credit |
Up to $120 dining credit (monthly) Up to $100 airline fee credit |
So, Venture X clearly wins for travel, but Amex Gold seems to be an all-around better card for everyday spending.
Now you may wonder: How much are the points worth?
The value of Amex Gold Membership Rewards points can vary based on how you choose to redeem them.
Here’s a breakdown:
|
Redemption option |
Point value (cents per point) |
|
Travel booking via Amex Travel |
1.0 |
|
Transfers to airline/hotel partners |
1.0–2.0 (varies by partner) |
|
Statement credit |
0.6 |
|
Gift cards |
0.7–1.0 (varies by retailer) |
|
Shopping (e.g.: Amazon, Best Buy, etc.) |
0.7 |
|
Charitable donations |
1.0 |
The same applies to Venture X card:
|
Redemption option |
Point value (cents per mile) |
|
Travel booking via Capital One Travel |
1.0 |
|
Transfers to airline/hotel partners |
0.8–1.4 (varies by partner) |
|
Statement credit (Travel purchase eraser) |
1.0 |
|
Gift cards |
0.8–1.0 (varies by retailer) |
|
Shopping (e.g.: Amazon) |
0.8 |
|
Charitable donations |
1.0 |
For our money, Venture X card takes the lead here.
American Express Gold card vs. Capital One Venture X—benefits
Both issuers aren’t stingy with cool perks and benefits:
|
Benefits |
Capital One Venture X |
Amex Gold |
|
Dining |
Access to exclusive reservations at award-winning restaurants |
$120 Uber Cash a year |
|
$120 dining credit |
||
|
Travel |
Annual travel credit—you’ll get $300 back as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel |
$100 experience credit to use during your stay at the Hotel Collection booked with American Express Travel |
|
Up to a $100 credit on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® |
24/7 Global Assist® Hotline |
|
|
Get 10,000 bonus miles ($100) every year, starting on your first anniversary |
Baggage insurance plan for the Entire Fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket |
|
|
Access to all-inclusive Capital One, Priority Pass™, and Plaza Premium Group lounges |
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance |
|
|
Complimentary PRIOR subscription |
Pay for flights and hotels booked through amextravel.com with Amex Membership Points |
|
|
Additional benefits |
Access to pre-sales, tickets, and more for events (including music, sports, and dining) |
Send money and split purchases with other Venmo or PayPal users, all in the American Express® App—without the additional fees |
|
A six month complimentary Enthusiast membership to The Cultivist |
||
|
A $300 toward an annual membership at Gravity Haus |
||
|
Cell phone protection (reimbursement up to $800) |
Capital One Venture X vs. Amex Gold—approval rate
Comparing approval rates for Capital One Venture X and Amex Gold cards really comes down to your owncreditworthiness—your credit score, how much money you bring in, and if you’ve paid your bills on time.
Both cards are typically for people with great credit—typically a 720+ credit score.
Actual approval rates aren’t out there for everyone to see, but if you’ve got a solid credit history and responsible financial habits, your chances of getting either card should be pretty good.
American Express Gold card vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards card—online customer reviews
Honest cardholders’ reviews are an information goldmine—
“Amex Gold isn’t a travel card, it just earns rewards that have the most value when used for travel. Venture X will have features that both make travel more comfortable and earn rewards towards travel.”
“I have both, and Gold is my food and restaurants card, which is a large portion of my spend being in NYC. Venture X I use for the subway, travel credit plus anniversary points, and my 2x catch all.”
“If your goal is to earn the most points possible to redeem for air travel, go with Gold. It will earn you 7,500 points per month (1.5k*4+1k+.5k), Venture X only 6,000. They have similar sign-up bonuses right now.”
Credit cards review: American Express Gold Card vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Card
What we like
- Amex Gold’s wicked rewards program caters to foodies and travel buffs.
- Capital One Venture X rocks a sweet sign-up bonus and earns points across various spending categories.
- No foreign transaction fees for both cards mean smooth international spending for jet-setters.
- Venture X throws in extra goodies like annual travel credit, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck®, and swanky airport lounge access.
Keep in mind that
- You’ll usually need excellent credit scores to snag either of these cards, which might be a bummer for some folks.
- Annual fees aren’t pocket change. Amex Gold charges $250, and Venture X charges $395, so make sure the perks outweigh the costs.
- Both cards can carry hefty APRs, so it’s best to pay off those balances every month and dodge interest.
- Check your spending habits and what you value most before you make the card match.
Cards comparison—Capital One Venture X vs. Venture Rewards vs. Amex Gold
Let’s take the comparison game even further:
|
Cards |
Capital One Venture X |
Amex Gold |
Capital One Venture Rewards |
|
Annual fee |
$395 |
$250 |
$95 |
|
Rewards |
– 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel – 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel – 2X miles on all other purchases |
– 4x points at restaurants and US supermarkets (up to $25,000/year) – 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel – 1x points on all other purchases |
– 2 miles per dollar on every purchase – 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
|
Promotion |
75,000 bonus miles Earn when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months |
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points Earn after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of Card Membership |
75,000 bonus miles Earn when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months |
Both Amex Gold and Capital One Venture X cards have a lot to brag about, but we wouldn’t be ourselves if we didn’t give you just a few alternatives for each.
Alternatives for the Capital One Venture X
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
This is a popular travel rewards card that offers a generous sign-up bonus, 2x points on travel and dining, and 1x points on other purchases. Points can be transferred to many airline and hotel loyalty programs.
American Express Platinum Card
This premium card offers 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel and on prepaid hotels booked on Amex Travel. It includes extensive travel benefits like airport lounge access, hotel status upgrades, and annual statement credits for select expenses.
Citi Premier Card
This card offers 3x points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations and 1x points on other purchases. Points can be transferred to Citi’s airline partners or redeemed for travel through the ThankYou Travel Center.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
This is a simpler alternative to the Venture X card, offering 2x miles per dollar spent on all purchases. It has a lower annual fee and includes a variety of travel benefits such as no foreign transaction fees and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.
Alternatives for the Amex Gold
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
This card offers 2x points on travel and dining and 1.5x points on other purchases. Cardholders can benefit from a $100 annual airline incidental credit and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit. Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn even higher rewards rates.
Chase Sapphire Reserve card
This premium travel card offers 3x points on travel (excluding $300 travel credit) and dining and 1x points on other purchases. It includes a generous annual $300 travel credit, airport lounge access, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
This no-annual-fee card offers 3x points on dining, gas stations, rideshares, transit, flights, hotels, car rentals, and popular streaming services, plus 1x points on other purchases. It provides cell phone protection and has no foreign transaction fees.
American Express® Green card
This card earns 3x points on travel and transit and 3x points at restaurants worldwide. It comes with an annual $100 CLEAR credit for expedited airport security, an annual $100 LoungeBuddy credit for airport lounge access, and no foreign transaction fees.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® card
With no annual fee, this card offers 4x points on dining (including takeout and delivery), 2x points on groceries, gas stations, and streaming subscriptions, and 1x points on other purchases. It also includes a streaming service credit after 11 consecutive months of eligible streaming service purchases.
Capital One Venture X vs. Amex Gold—Which One To Choose?
Whether you skipped all of my previous points or read all of them carefully, before you choose between the cards, consider a few things:
Spending habits: Choose Venture X if you spend more on travel and use Capital One Travel, or Amex Gold if you spend more on dining and in US supermarkets.
Annual fee: Venture X has a $395 annual fee, while Amex Gold’s is $250. Weigh the benefits against the costs.
Application: Think through your credit profile, as both cards target applicants with excellent credit, but Capital One Venture X seems to accept folks with “only” good credit too.
Rewards flexibility: Venture X rewards are versatile for travel, whereas Amex Gold’s rewards work best with Amex Travel or for transfers to specific partners.
Credits: Amex Gold offers up to $120 in annual dining credit and up to $100 in airline fee credit—Venture X gives you a $300 travel credit.
FAQ
What is considered excellent credit?
Excellent credit is typically a credit score of 800 or above. To achieve and maintain excellent credit, follow our best tips on increasing your credit score.
Maintaining excellent credit can lead to lower interest rates on loans and credit cards, as well as better approval odds for rental applications and job offers that require a credit check.
Also, find out more about the credit score ranges and what a good credit score is.
Is Capital One Venture better than Amex Gold?
Compare the rewards and benefits of both cards and choose the one that matches your spending habits and lifestyle.
Think through the annual fees, sign-up bonuses, and rewards rates for each card.
For example, Capital One Venture X offers 2x miles on every purchase, while Amex Gold offers 4x points on dining and groceries. If you frequently dine out and buy groceries, Amex Gold may be the better option. However, if you prefer a flat rewards rate and travel often, Capital One Venture X may be the better choice.
As always, the best card for you depends on your individual needs and preferences.
See more of the best credit cards of 2023 here.
Are Amex or Capital One points worth more?
Amex points are generally worth more when redeemed for travel, while Capital One points are more flexible and can be redeemed for a wider range of rewards.
What competes with Amex Gold?
Consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred card as an alternative to Amex Gold. It offers similar rewards for dining and travel but with a lower annual fee. And the card offers a sign-up bonus of 100,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
Want more? Check out our list of the best credit cards of 2023, the best travel credit cards, and the best cash-back credit cards.
Is Capital One Venture X hard to get approved?
Capital One Venture X is for folks with good to excellent credit scores. That means it might be hard to get if you have a credit score of 669 or less.
If that’s the case, learn sixteen of the best ways to increase your credit score. It might be useful to learn what is a good credit score in the first place.
Is 200,000 Amex points a lot?
The actual value varies based on how you redeem. Generally, 200,000 points can go a pretty long way, unlocking stuff like travel, gift cards, cash back, or even shopping.
For instance, if you use the points for travel through Amex Travel, it could be worth $2,000 or more.
See more cash-back and travel credit cards.
Why is Amex Gold so expensive?
Consider the benefits of the Amex Gold card before dismissing it as expensive. The card offers a variety of perks, including a generous rewards program, travel insurance, and purchase protection. And, the card’s annual fee is offset by statement credits for dining and airline fees.
To make the most of the card, use it for everyday purchases and take advantage of the rewards program. Remember to pay off the balance in full each month to avoid interest charges. By doing so, you can earn rewards and enjoy the benefits of the card without the additional costs.
If you’re set on American Express, see our detailed review of Amex Blue Cash Preferred—it’s a cheaper version of the Amex Gold.
What is the 6-month rule for Capital One?
Pay your Capital One credit card bill on time for six consecutive months to be eligible for a credit line increase. This matters because a higher credit limit can improve your credit utilization ratio, which is a key factor in your credit score.
For example, if you have a $1,000 credit limit and you spend $500, your credit utilization ratio is 50%. But if your credit limit increases to $2,000 and you still spend $500, your credit utilization ratio drops to 25%. This can improve your credit score and make it easier to get approved for loans and credit cards in the future.
So make sure to pay your Capital One credit card bill on time for six months to be eligible for a credit line increase.
If you want to increase your credit score even more, click here.
