Since its 2021 launch, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has developed a solid fan base with its premium perks and reasonable annual fee. And in 2023, the Venture X Business burst onto the scene with many of the same benefits we love about the Venture X for the same $395 annual fee (see Venture X Business rates and fees; Venture X rates and fees).
At first glance, the Venture X Business looks almost identical to the Venture X — just with a higher welcome bonus and much higher spending requirement. But there are a few other differences between the cards that will likely put one ahead of the other for you.
Here’s what you need to know before choosing the Venture X or the Venture X Business.
Venture X vs. Venture X Business comparison
| Venture X | Venture X Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $395 | $395 |
| Welcome offer | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening. | Earn 150,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 in the first three months from account opening. |
| Earning rates | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases |
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases |
| Benefits | $300 back in credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel
10,000 bonus miles on every account anniversary Complimentary access for cardholders and up to two guests per visit to Capital One lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Plaza Premium lounges Add up to four authorized users for no additional cost, and authorized users get the same lounge privileges as the primary cardholder Access to Capital One’s Premier Collection and Lifestyle Collection of hotels Hertz President’s Circle status* Up to $100 in statement credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry once every four years Cellphone protection Visa Infinite card benefits |
$300 back in credits annually for bookings made through Capital One Travel
10,000 bonus miles on every account anniversary Complimentary access for cardholders and up to two guests per visit to Capital One lounges, Priority Pass lounges and Plaza Premium lounges Complimentary access to Priority Pass non-lounge airport experiences, including restaurants Access to Capital One’s Premier Collection and Lifestyle Collection of hotels Up to $100 in statement credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry once every four years Mastercard World Elite for Business benefits
|
Venture X vs. Venture X Business welcome bonus
Both the Venture X and the Venture X Business come with valuable welcome bonuses. New Venture X cardholders will get 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. TPG values Capital One miles at 1.85 cents each, making this bonus worth $1,388.
The Venture X Business, on the other hand, comes with a much higher welcome bonus along with a substantially higher spending requirement. New cardholders will get 150,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 in the first three months of account opening. This bonus is worth $2,775, according to TPG valuations.
While you don’t have to be a traditional business owner in order to qualify for a business credit card, the spending requirement for the Venture X Business welcome bonus seems to be geared more toward traditional business owners who put significant spending on their card. If you can’t hit the high spending requirement and earn the higher bonus, you’ll want to go with the Venture X for its easier path to a valuable bonus.
Winner: Venture X Business. If you can meet the spending requirement, you’ll get double the bonus that you would with the Venture X.
Related: 10 ways to meet a spending requirement
Venture X vs. Venture X Business benefits
Initially, both the Venture X and Venture X Business appear to have the same list of benefits. No matter which card you choose, you’ll get:
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However, the two cards also have some key differences in the benefits they offer.
The most significant edge the Venture X has is that authorized users get the same airport lounge access as the primary cardholder, including access for up to two guests per visit. Additionally, the Venture X comes with Hertz President’s Circle status* and cellphone protection.
Meanwhile, the Venture X Business doesn’t extend airport lounge benefits to authorized users but includes access to Priority Pass restaurants.
Another way they differ is that the Venture X is a Visa Infinite card, while the Venture X Business is a World Elite Mastercard. Both come with valuable benefits, but this could be a determining difference for you.
As a Visa Infinite card, the Venture X gives cardholders additional car rental privileges, access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, Visa Infinite Concierge, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and extended warranty and purchase protection.
As a World Elite Mastercard, the Venture X Business gives cardholders additional merchant offers, World Elite Concierge, rental car status, a ShopRunner membership, access to the Mastercard Luxury Hotels & Resorts Portfolio and cellphone protection.
Note that while the Venture X Business doesn’t have cellphone protection in its benefits list, cardholders receive cellphone protection as one of their World Elite Mastercard perks.
The network difference might seem minor, but with so many other similarities, this difference might be what tips the scales in favor of one card over the other for you. For instance, anyone who spends significant money at Costco and wants to earn miles on those purchases will want to choose the Venture X since Costco only accepts cards in the Visa network.
Winner: Venture X. The value potential of lounge access for authorized users and Visa Infinite travel protections makes its benefits list worth more than that of the Venture X Business.
Earning miles on the Venture X vs. Venture X Business
Both the Venture X and the Venture X Business have the same earning rates:
- 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5 miles per dollar on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
- 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases
Since both cards have the same earning rates, if you want to earn bonus rewards on any specific categories, such as dining, general travel or other common business expenses, you’ll likely want to explore different card options.
Winner: Tie. Both cards have the same earning structure.
Related: The best credit cards for each spending category
Redeeming miles on the Venture X vs. Venture X Business
Both the Venture X and the Venture X Business earn transferable Capital One miles and have the same redemption options.
The most valuable redemption option is to transfer your miles to any of Capital One’s 18 hotel and airline travel partners.
Both cards also give you the simpler option to redeem your miles for a statement credit to cover travel expenses or for gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per mile. You can also redeem your miles for cash back, but you’ll only get 0.5 cents per mile, so we recommend avoiding this redemption route as much as possible.
Winner: Tie. Both cards have the same redemption options.
Related: Should you transfer your Capital One miles or redeem them directly for travel?
Transferring miles with the Venture X vs. Venture X Business
Both the Venture X and the Venture X Business earn miles that you can transfer to any of Capital One’s 18 hotel and airline partners, including options like Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles and Wyndham Rewards.
TPG’s own Kyle Olsen and Matt Moffitt both appreciate the option to transfer their miles to Air France-KLM Flying Blue to get great value on business-class flights to Europe, especially when they can take advantage of a transfer bonus. With the wide range of options available, you’ll easily find a transfer option that works with your travel preferences and goals.
Winner: Tie. Both cards have the same transfer options.
Related: How to maximize your Capital One miles
Should I get the Venture X or the Venture X Business?
If you can meet the spending requirement to earn the welcome bonus and want Priority Pass restaurant access, the Venture X Business is likely your better option. However, if you want your authorized users to have their own airport lounge access, the Venture X is your winner. And if you prefer Visa Infinite benefits, you’ll want to go with the Venture X, but World Elite Mastercard fans will want to choose the Venture X Business.
Bottom line
The Venture X and Venture X Business have some key similarities, including an annual credit, airport lounge access and anniversary bonus miles for the same $395 annual fee. However, they have some significant differences in benefits, such as lounge access for authorized users and travel protections, that will likely make one card a better fit for you than the other. Whether you choose the personal or business version, (Venture) X marks the spot for premium perks and a reasonable annual fee.
For more details, check out our full review of the Venture X and our full review of the Venture X Business.
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.
*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g., at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program, and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply