Capital One Venture X vs. Amex Platinum: Which premium card is better for you?

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Oct. 13, 2025

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15 min read

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When you decide to add a premium travel rewards card to your wallet, you may face a choice between two popular options: the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the American Express Platinum Card®. And it makes sense to be conflicted.

Both cards offer premium perks like airport lounge access, valuable statement credits and travel protections. However, there are distinct differences to consider, and those are important when you decide which is a better fit for your travel style.

Let's break down what the Venture X and the Amex Platinum bring to the table.

Venture X vs. Amex Platinum comparison

Benefit	Venture X	Amex Platinum
Annual fee	$395	$895 (see rates and fees)
Welcome offer	Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of card membership.	Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Earning rates	10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals 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 Amex Travel 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 15-plus airline and hotel partners	Multiple direct redemption options, including gift cards, merchandise and travel Transfer points to 17 airline partners and three hotel programs
Statement credits	$300 annual credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years	Up to $600 prepaid hotel statement credit each calendar year (up to $300 biannually) on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection bookings when you pay with your Amex Platinum (The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay) Up to $400 Resy statement credit each calendar year (up to $100 each quarter) when you pay with your Amex Platinum at an eligible U.S. Resy restaurant; no reservation required* Up to $300 digital entertainment statement credit per calendar year (up to $25 monthly)* Up to $300 Equinox credit each calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)* Up to $300 Lululemon statement credit per calendar year (up to $75 quarterly) at U.S. stores (excluding outlets) and online* Up to $209 Clear Plus membership statement credit per calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)* Up to $200 airline fee credit per calendar year for incidental fees charged by one qualified airline you select* Up to $200 Oura statement credit per calendar year (only for hardware purchases)* Up to $200 Uber Cash each calendar year (up to $15 per month, plus a bonus of up to $20 in December). (Valid on U.S. purchases; your Platinum card must be added to your Uber account and you can redeem with any Amex card.) Up to a $120 Uber One statement credit that fully covers an auto-renewing $96 annual or $9.99 monthly membership* Up to $155 Walmart+ statement credit each calendar year (up to $12.95 monthly on one membership fee; subject to auto-renewal; Plus Ups excluded)* $120 Global Entry credit every four years or up to $85 TSA PreCheck credit every 4½ years Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit per calendar year (up to $50 biannually)*
Lounge access	Capital One lounges (plus two guests until Feb. 1, 2026) Priority Pass Select membership (plus two guests; does not include restaurants; until Feb. 1, 2026) Same lounge privileges for authorized users (until Feb. 1, 2026)	Centurion Lounges ($30 per guest age 2 to 17 with proof of age, $50 per guest over 18 unless the cardmember has qualified for guest privileges by spending $75,000 or more on the card in a calendar year)* Priority Pass™ Select membership (plus two guests; does not include restaurants)* Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta (guests cost $50 each; eligible Platinum cardmembers will receive 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight, unless they spend $75,000 or more on their card to unlock unlimited visits)* Aspire lounges* Escape lounges (plus two guests or immediate family)* Plaza Premium lounges (plus two guests)* Select Lufthansa lounges* Other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges (guest policies vary)*
Elite status	Complimentary Hertz President's Circle status#	Complimentary Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy* Complimentary Leaders Club Sterling status* Complimentary car rental status, including Avis Preferred Plus, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle and National Emerald Club Executive status*
Travel protections	Auto rental collision damage waiver Lost luggage reimbursement Trip cancellation and interruption Trip delay reimbursement	Baggage insurance^ Car rental coverage Premium Global Assist Hotline* Trip cancellation and interruption^^ Trip delay coverage^^
Shopping protections	Cellphone protection Extended warranty Return protection	Cellphone protection^^ Extended warranty^ Purchase protection^ Return protection^

#Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. 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.

*Enrollment is required.

**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.

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Venture X vs. Amex Platinum welcome bonus

New Venture X cardholders can earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months from account opening.

According to TPG's October 2025 valuations, this bonus is worth $1,388.

Capital One Venture X American Express Platinum card art — THE POINTS GUY

Meanwhile, those applying for the Amex Platinum can find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.)

According to TPG's valuations, this bonus is worth up to $3,500.

Winner: Amex Platinum. Its welcome offer is worth more than double the Venture X's bonus.

Venture X vs. Amex Platinum benefits

A standout benefit of both cards is the lounge access they offer. With the Venture X, the primary cardholder gets access to Capital One lounges and Priority Pass locations.

You'll get more extensive lounge access with the Amex Platinum, though. It gives you access to Centurion, Delta Sky Club (10 visits annually), Aspire, Escape, Lufthansa and other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges in addition to Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges.

With the Venture X, you'll get a $300 annual credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel, as well as a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. If you can 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 travel and shopping protections, which grant you peace of mind even though it's hard to calculate their monetary value.

Capital One Lounge JFK — ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Plus, you can add up to four authorized users to your account for no additional charge. However, starting Feb. 1, 2026, the Venture X will no longer provide complimentary lounge access to authorized users. Instead, cardholders will have the option to pay $125 annually for each authorized user to maintain access to all lounges.

The Amex Platinum provides many more benefits (including a large number of statement credits) in exchange for a much higher $895 annual fee. The card also provides useful travel and purchase protections.

You can add authorized users to your account at a cost of $195 annually for each one (see rates and fees). These authorized users receive lounge access as well as their own Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit.

Winner: Amex Platinum. Its lounge access and statement credits are hard to beat — for those who are able to maximize them.

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 and vacation rentals 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, then 1 point per dollar) and on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel. It earns 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

shopper purchasing goods or services with NFC with smart phone and credit card. — YULIYA TABA/GETTY IMAGES

While Venture X may offer more earning opportunities, keep in mind that according to TPG's October 2025 valuations, Amex Membership Rewards are worth 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 15-plus transfer partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan and Choice Privileges.

Alternatively, you can use your miles to book travel through Capital One Travel or redeem them as a statement credit for recent travel purchases 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'll get maximum value from your 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 select 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 offer more high-value options and are worth more than Capital One miles.

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 Club and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

However, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to a higher number of airline and hotel partners than Capital One, including ANA Mileage Club, Iberia Club 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.

TPG credit card writer Danyal Ahmed likes utilizing his Amex points for premium cabin redemptions. He often transfers his points to Aeroplan to take advantage of the program's valuable award chart and stopover program.

Winner: Amex Platinum. You can transfer Membership Rewards to a higher number of travel partners.

Should I get the Venture X or the Amex Platinum?

The Amex Platinum is the better choice for very frequent flyers, thanks to its extensive lounge access and bonus-earning on airline purchases. However, if your travels keep you on the ground a little more, you'll likely prefer the lower annual fee and broader earning potential on the Venture X. With it, you'll get substantial benefits like lounge access and an annual travel statement credit, with a much lower annual fee and broader earning opportunities.

Bottom line

Both the Venture X and the Amex Platinum are great cards, but it's important to consider your spending habits and travel patterns when making a decision.

If you're looking for extensive airport lounge access and 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, either card will significantly enhance your travel experience.

To learn more, read our full reviews of the Venture X and Amex Platinum.

Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Apply here: American Express Platinum Card

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Featured image by BROTHERS91/GETTY IMAGES

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.