If you’re ready to add a premium travel rewards card to your wallet, you may find yourself debating between the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) and The Platinum Card® from American Express — and with good reason.
Both cards offer premium perks like airport lounge access, valuable statement credits and travel protections. But no one card is right for everyone, and that’s especially true in the premium card space. While both the Venture X and Amex Platinum are fantastic cards, they have some major differences that almost guarantee one is a better fit for you than the other.
To help you decide which is the right card for you, here’s a breakdown of what the Venture X and the Amex Platinum bring to the table.
Capital One Venture X vs. Amex Platinum comparison
| Feature | Capital One Venture X | Amex Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $395 | $695 (see rates and fees) |
| Welcome offer | Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of card membership. | Earn 80,000 points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of card membership. |
| Earning rates | 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 miles per dollar spent on flights booked through Capital One Travel 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases |
5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar)
5 points per dollar spent on hotels booked through AmexTravel.com 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases |
| Redemption options | Multiple direct redemption options, including redeeming as a statement credit for travel purchases
Transfer miles to any of 15 airline and three hotel partners |
Multiple direct redemption options, including gift cards, merchandise and travel
Transfer points to any of 17 airline and three hotel partners |
| Statement credits | Up to $300 annual travel credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel
Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years |
Up to $200 prepaid hotel credit
Up to $240 digital entertainment credit Up to $155 Walmart+ credit Up to $200 Uber Cash annually Up to $200 airline fee credit Up to $300 Equinox credit Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit Up to $189 Clear membership credit Up to $300 SoulCycle at-home credit Up to $100 Global Entry credit every four years or up to $85 TSA PreCheck credit every 4 1/2 years Enrollment is required for select benefits. |
| Lounge access | Capital One lounges (complimentary for cardholder and two guests)
Priority Pass Select membership (complimentary for cardholder and unlimited guests, does not include restaurants) Plaza Premium lounges (complimentary for cardholder and two guests, cost for additional guests varies) Same lounge privileges for authorized users |
Centurion Lounges (complimentary for cardholder, $30 per guest age 2 to 17, $50 per guest over 18 unless cardholder has qualified for guest privileges by spending $75,000 or more on the card in a calendar year)
Priority Pass Select membership (complimentary for cardholder and two guests, does not include restaurants) Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta (complimentary for cardholder, guests cost $39 each) Airspace lounges (complimentary for cardholder and two guests or immediate family) Escape lounges (complimentary for cardholder and two guests or immediate family) Plaza Premium lounges (complimentary for cardholder and one guest) Select Lufthansa lounges (complimentary for cardholder) Other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges (complimentary for cardholder, guest policies vary) Enrollment is required for select benefits. |
| Travel protections | Car rental coverage
Travel emergency assistance Baggage loss or damage Trip delay Trip cancellation and interruption Travel accident insurance |
Car rental coverage*
Travel emergency assistance** Baggage loss or damage*** Trip delay**** Trip cancellation and interruption**** Emergency evacuation and transportation |
| Purchase protections | Purchase protection
Extended warranty Return protection Cellphone protection |
Purchase protection***
Extended warranty*** Return protection*** Cellphone protection**** |
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, cardmembers are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
***Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
****Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Related: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison
Capital One Venture X vs. Amex Platinum welcome bonus
The Capital One Venture X has a current welcome bonus of 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 within the first three months from account opening. TPG values this bonus at $1,388.
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Meanwhile, the Amex Platinum is currently offering 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 during your first six months of card membership. TPG values this bonus at $1,600. Also keep in mind that you could be targeted for a higher bonus through the CardMatch tool (CardMatch offers are not guaranteed and are subject to change at any time).
Winner: Amex Platinum. Its welcome offer is worth over $200 more than the Venture X’s current offer.
Related: The best time to apply for these 10 popular travel credit cards — based on offer history
Capital One Venture X vs. Amex Platinum benefits
A standout benefit of both cards is the lounge access they offer. With the Venture X, you’ll get access to Capital One, Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges. You’ll get more extensive lounge access with the Amex Platinum, though. It gives you access to Centurion, Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta), Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa and other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges in addition to Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges.
With the Venture X, you’ll also get a $300 credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel, as well as a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit and a generous guest allowance with your airport lounge access. If you’re able to maximize these benefits, you’ll easily offset the card’s $395 annual fee, which is comparatively low for a premium travel credit card.
The Venture X also comes with some travel and purchase protections, which will grant you peace of mind even if you aren’t able to take advantage of its monetary value.
Plus, you can add up to four authorized users to your account for no additional charge, which is especially valuable given that each authorized user has the same airport lounge access as the primary cardholder.
The Amex Platinum’s benefits, on the other hand, are far more extensive. They include over $1,500 in available statement credits and comprehensive airport lounge access, as well as significant travel and purchase protections, including cellphone protection of up to $800 per claim with a $50 deductible (maximum of two claims per 12-month period).
The Platinum’s list of benefits is arguably the best of any publicly available card, but it does come with a $695 annual fee, which is significantly higher than the Venture X. If you want to add authorized users to your account, it will cost you even more. You can add up to three authorized users to your account at a cost of $175 annually for each one.
Winner: Amex Platinum. Its lounge access and over $1,500 in available statement credits are hard to beat.
Related: Are premium credit cards worth the annual fee?
Earning rewards with the Venture X vs. Amex Platinum
The Venture X earns 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar spent on flights booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Meanwhile, the Amex Platinum earns 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com. It earns 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
While the Venture X may offer more earning opportunities, keep in mind that TPG values Amex Membership Rewards at 2 cents each while Capital One miles are valued at a lower 1.85 cents each.
Winner: Venture X. Most people will earn more rewards with 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases than with the Amex Platinum’s earning structure.
Redeeming rewards with the Venture X vs. Amex Platinum
With the Venture X, you can get maximum value from your miles by transferring them to any of Capital One’s 18 travel partners, including British Airways Executive Club and Choice Privileges. Or, more simply, you can use your miles to book travel through Capital One Travel or redeem them as a statement credit for recent travel at a flat rate of 1 cent per mile.
You also have the option to redeem your Capital One miles for gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per mile or use them to pay with Amazon or PayPal at a rate of 0.8 cents per mile. Your least valuable option is to redeem your miles for cash back at a rate of 0.5 cents per mile, so we recommend avoiding this option if you can.
Similarly, with the Amex Platinum, you can get maximum value from your Amex Membership Rewards points by transferring them to any of Amex’s 20 travel partners. You can also redeem your points for travel through AmexTravel.com, usually at a rate of 1 cent per point.
Lower-value redemption options include redeeming your points as a statement credit for eligible charges, using Pay with Points at various online merchants and redeeming your points for gift cards. You’ll almost always get a value of less than 1 cent per point with these options, so again, we recommend opting for travel redemptions to get the most value from your points.
Winner: Amex Platinum. Membership Rewards points have more high-value options and are worth more than Capital One miles, according to TPG valuations.
Transferring rewards with the Venture X vs. Amex Platinum
Both Capital One and American Express allow you to transfer your rewards to valuable travel partners easily. In both instances, you can transfer your rewards to most travel partners at a 1:1 ratio. In most cases, your points will transfer instantly. Both programs also regularly offer transfer bonuses that allow you to get even more value from your rewards.
The two programs have several overlapping transfer partners, including some of our favorites like Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Executive Club and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. However, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to a larger number of valuable airline and hotel partners than Capital One, including ANA Mileage Club, Iberia Plus and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Plus, historically, American Express has offered more transfer bonuses than Capital One.
Still, Capital One has its own valuable partners that set it apart, including Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles and Virgin Red.
When transferring either type of reward, be sure to note the transfer times of each program to avoid losing your coveted award deal waiting for your transfer to complete.
Winner: Amex Platinum. You can transfer Membership Rewards to a higher number of valuable travel partners.
Should I get the Venture X or the Amex Platinum?
The Amex Platinum is a better choice for frequent flyers thanks to its extensive lounge access and bonus earning on airline purchases, but if your travels keep you on the ground, you’ll likely prefer the lower annual fee and broader earning potential on the Venture X.
Beyond your travel goals, your spending habits will be a major factor in which card fits you better.
For instance, if you already subscribe to memberships like Walmart+ and Audible and can maximize most or all of the available statement credits, the Amex Platinum is a great choice for you.
If you travel regularly but want to earn more on your everyday purchases, the Venture X is probably a better fit. With it, you’ll get substantial benefits like lounge access and a travel statement credit but with a much lower annual fee and broader earning opportunities.
Another thing to consider when choosing between these cards is how they’ll fit with the other cards you already have in your wallet.
If you have the American Express® Gold Card, for instance, and earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on dining and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year), adding the Amex Platinum is a great complement if you want travel benefits and to earn bonus points on your flights.
However, if you don’t have a card that earns bonus points on everyday purchases, the Venture X is a great way to fill that void in your card portfolio.
Bottom line
Both the Venture X and the Amex Platinum are great cards.
If you’re looking for extensive airport lounge access as well as multiple statement credits and don’t mind paying a higher annual fee, the Amex Platinum is the better card for you. If your main priorities are earning a flat rate on all your purchases and getting premium perks for a lower annual fee, the Venture X is your winner.
That said, both cards are solid options. No matter where you land, you’ll be traveling like a pro in no time with either card.
For more details on each card, please see our full review of the Amex Platinum and our full review of the Venture X.
Official application link: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Official application link: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, please click here.
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.
