Is the Capital One Venture X worth the $395 annual fee?
The **Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card** is emerging as a top choice for frequent travelers seeking premium benefits without the exorbitant fees associated with many high-end credit cards. With an annual fee of $395—significantly lower than competitors like the Citi Strata Elite Card—the Venture X offers a compelling package of perks that can easily justify its cost. The current welcome offer is particularly enticing, providing 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first six months. This translates to approximately $1,850 in value, according to recent evaluations, which more than covers the annual fee multiple times over. However, it’s crucial for potential applicants to note that Capital One has strict approval criteria, making it essential to maintain a clean credit profile to increase the chances of approval.
Beyond the impressive welcome bonus, the Venture X card boasts a variety of additional benefits that enhance its value. Cardholders can take advantage of a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel, which is often cited as a primary reason for retaining the card. Additionally, cardholders receive 10,000 bonus miles each anniversary, equating to another $185 in value. The card also provides access to both Capital One lounges and Priority Pass lounges, which can significantly enhance the travel experience, especially for those who frequently fly. Furthermore, the Venture X includes perks like top-tier Hertz President’s Circle status for car rentals, access to luxury hotel programs with valuable benefits, and comprehensive travel protections such as trip cancellation insurance and cellphone protection.
In summary, the **Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card** stands out as one of the most valuable premium travel cards on the market, especially for those who can maximize its benefits. With a combination of a generous welcome offer, annual travel credits, and numerous travel perks, this card is well-suited for avid travelers looking to enhance their journeys while enjoying significant savings. For anyone considering a premium travel credit card, the Venture X is definitely worth a closer look, particularly with its current promotional offer.
Most frequent travelers can benefit from a premium credit card like the
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
. However, the steep annual fees mean it’s important to carefully consider how useful the card’s perks will be for you.
The Venture X is easier to justify than many other cards at its level since it has an annual fee of just $395. That’s $200 cheaper than the next most affordable premium card from a major issuer, the
Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
(see
rates and fees
).
Here are the benefits that could make the Venture X worth a spot in your wallet.
Welcome offer
The
Venture X
‘s current welcome bonus matches the
best-ever offer
: 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in the first six months of account opening.
According to TPG’s November 2025
valuations
, these miles are pegged at 1.85 cents apiece, making this bonus worth $1,850.
THE POINTS GUY
It’s worth noting that Capital One can be picky when
approving credit card applications
; the bank is known for being very sensitive about the information on your credit report, including the number of recent hard inquiries, new accounts and accounts with other issuers.
The value of this welcome bonus alone covers this card’s annual fee a few times over, but I personally believe that a great welcome offer alone isn’t enough to justify paying a premium annual fee. Fortunately, the Venture X has plenty of other perks to offer.
Related:
The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
Travel credit
The easiest way to recoup most of the
Venture X
‘s annual fee is through its annual $300
Capital One Travel
credit. This likely won’t be enough to cover a hotel stay at a top property or a round-trip flight to Europe, but it’s a great way to pay for a long weekend getaway or a short stay at a boutique hotel.
CAPITAL ONE
TPGers who hold the Venture X often highlight this credit as one of the top reasons they keep the card year after year. TPG senior points and miles writer Ben Smithson
used his Venture X’s Capital One Travel credit
to cover a flight from Miami to the Caribbean. Contributing credit cards editor
Matt Moffitt
uses his to cover Hertz car rentals.
Related:
How the Capital One Venture X travel credit can save you $300 on your next trip
Anniversary bonus miles
TPGers with the
Venture X
generally use the value of the anniversary bonus miles to offset the remaining portion of the card’s annual fee after the Capital One Travel credit.
The Venture X offers 10,000 bonus miles after each account anniversary. According to our November 2025 valuations, that’s $185 in value. Of course, that’s assuming you transfer your miles to
Capital One’s travel partners
.
Related:
Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Capital One Venture X?
Lounge access
Venture X
cardholders have access to two types of lounges:
Priority Pass
and
Capital One’s own lounges
for themselves and up to two guests (guest access will be
restricted
from Feb. 1, 2026).
While Capital One’s lounge footprint isn’t as extensive as
American Express’ Centurion Lounge network
, gaining access to these lounges through your Venture X can mean a lot if you live near or frequently transit through an airport with one.
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Priority Pass access comes with virtually every worthwhile premium card, but it’s a valuable perk if you don’t already have a card that provides it.
The exact monetary value of lounge access is hard to quantify since it depends on how often you visit lounges and what you actually do while you’re there. I typically value each lounge visit at around $30, as that’s likely what I’d spend on a nice meal if I weren’t in the lounge.
However, if you aren’t eating a lot when you visit lounges and aren’t using the other amenities that may be included, you might value each visit a lot less.
Related:
Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Car rental perks
If you’re open to booking a rental car through an issuer’s travel portal, the
Venture X
is a great option. You’ll earn 10 miles per dollar spent on car rentals booked through the portal, one of the best returns of any premium card.
Venture X cardholders also receive top-tier
Hertz President’s Circle status
*. Assuming you rent a car once or twice a year, this perk can offer significant value.
SCOTT MAYEROWITZ/THE POINTS GUY
After registering, you’ll receive guaranteed upgrades, the widest choice of cars when starting your rental and a free additional driver (which typically costs $13.50 per day, up to a maximum of $189 during your rental).
*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 (i.e., 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.
Related:
Stacking rental car perks with Hertz and the Venture X
Access to luxury hotel programs
Venture X
cardholders can access Capital One’s
Premier Collection
and
Lifestyle Collection
hotel programs. Cardholders can pay cash or redeem their miles at a rate of 1 cent each to book stays.
Benefits at top-tier Premier Collection properties include:
$100 on-property credit for things like meals and spa visits
Free daily breakfast for two people
Room upgrades (when available)
Free Wi-Fi during your stay
Lifestyle Collection properties are mostly lower-tier boutique properties, but they still offer useful benefits for Venture X cardholders, such as a $50 credit to use toward eligible charges and early check-in and late checkout (where available).
Since you’ll book through Capital One Travel, you’ll earn 10 miles per dollar spent when paying for your stay with the Venture X.
Related:
A comparison of luxury hotel programs from credit card issuers: Amex, Capital One, Chase and Citi
Other key perks
Venture X
cardholders receive reimbursement for their application fee for
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
. This benefit is available once every four years and is worth up to $120. I recommend
Global Entry
for any frequent traveler since it comes with
TSA PreCheck
.
10,000 HOURS/GETTY IMAGES
Cardholders also have access to several travel and shopping protections when paying with their card:
Cellphone protection
Extended warranty and return protection
Lost luggage reimbursement
Primary rental car insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Trip delay reimbursement
Related:
6 things to do when you get the Capital One Venture X
Valuable authorized user perks
One of the
Venture X
‘s big draws for many is its extensive authorized user perks. Cardholders can add multiple free
authorized users
to their accounts, who enjoy the following benefits:
Access to Capital One lounges and Priority Pass lounges (additional $125 fee from Feb. 1, 2026)
Purchase and travel protections, such as
trip cancellation/interruption insurance
,
trip delay reimbursement
and
cellphone protection
LEOPATRIZI/GETTY IMAGES
For comparison, the
American Express Platinum Card®
and the
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
(see
rates and fees
) both charge $195 for each authorized user (see
rates and fees
for the Amex Platinum).
Related:
Why you should add authorized users on the Capital One Venture X
Bottom line
The
Venture X
is one of our favorite premium travel cards for a reason. It’s easy to get outsize value from its $395 annual fee if you’re able to maximize its annual $300 Capital One Travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles.
Plus, for a limited time, new cardholders have the opportunity to earn a best-ever offer. If the Venture X has been on your wish list for a while, now is the time to apply.
To learn more, check out our
full review of the Capital One Venture X
.
Learn more:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
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.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click
here
.
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.
