There are a lot of choices in the world of travel credit cards. You can earn cash back, miles, points, and even premium perks like airport lounge access or fast track to elite status. Also, each card you open can affect the cards and bonuses you can receive in the future. So you want to make sure that the card you apply for is the right one for you.
Two of the best options are Capital One and Chase cards. Both banks issue a variety of rewards credit cards. Let's take a look at which cards are best in different categories.
Capital One vs Chase Cards Comparison
Information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Get Rewards with Chase vs Capital One
All Capital One mileage cards earn 1.5 to 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. You can also earn various bonus categories, such as hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
For Chase, it depends on what card you have. For example, Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve both earn bonus points on travel and dining. The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, on the other hand, earns 3 points per dollar on $150,000 of combined purchases in each account anniversary year in the following categories:
- travel
- delivery
- Telecommunications, including Internet, cable, and phone services
- Advertising purchases through social media sites and search engines
When you make non-bonus purchases with your Chase card, you only earn 1 point per dollar. However, you can open up even more bonus categories by pairing your premium card with the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited or Chase Freedom Flex.
When you think about how easy it is to earn unlimited double miles anywhere with the Capital One Venture Rewards and Capital One Spark Miles cards, it's easy to see that it's even easier to earn Capital One miles unless you're spending a lot on Chase's bonus categories. You will find out.
With the right card combination, you can convert your Capital One cash back rewards into miles, making them even more valuable.
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winner: tie. Both issuers offer valuable rates of return depending on the card you get.
Redeem rewards at Chase and Capital One
According to TPG's June 2024 valuation, Capital One miles cost 1.85 cents each and Chase points cost 2.05 cents each. This value is based on the average value you would receive when transferring it to your travel partner.
You can also use your rewards as fixed value points to cover travel costs or even pay for travel. You can use Capital One miles to cover eligible travel expenses at 1 cent per mile, but Ultimate Rewards points can exceed that figure in a few ways.
First, Chase points can be redeemed for cash back in penny increments or used to pay for travel booked through Chase Travel℠. If you use points to pay for travel booked through the Chase portal, each point is worth 1.25 cents when using the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred credit cards. If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve, those numbers go up to 1.5 cents each.
winner: Chase Ultimate Rewards is a winner when it comes to rewards redemptions, thanks to its better transfer rates and more lucrative travel partners.
Related: Sapphire Preferred Stock and Sapphire Reserve
Transfer rewards with Chase vs. Capital One
Flexibility is key to making the most of your credit card rewards. Transferable points and miles are your best friend, and the Capital One and Chase issued cards are eligible for these rewards.
Earn transferable miles with these Capital One cards:
Information about Capital One Spark Miles Select has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
You can also earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points that are transferable to the following Chase cards:
Travel partners: Capital One miles transfer to more than 15 airline and hotel partners, and Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to 15 programs. However, the number of previous affiliates does not tell the whole story.
You should consider the usefulness of your partner loyalty program. Capital One has valuable partners including Air Canada's Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and Air France-KLM's Flying Blue.
Chase points will transfer to Singapore Airlines and Flying Blue, along with Virgin Atlantic (eligible for ANA and Delta awards, despite recent slight devaluation of Delta awards), United Airlines (Star Alliance award bookings), and other great partners . Hyatt (good for expensive luxury stays).
winner: to chase after. Overall, the transfer options make the points more valuable.
Who should get a Capital One card?
If you prefer simplicity, most Capital One card offers are good. For example, two of the best Capital One cards, the Venture Rewards card and the Spark Miles for Business card, both have a $95 annual fee (waived for the first year of Spark Miles) and earn 2 miles per dollar or 2% cash. Get a refund on all your purchases (see Venture Rates and Fees, Rates and Fees, or Spark Miles for Biz).
If you don't want to worry about carrying a card in your wallet to maximize bonus categories, one of these cards is a great choice for making the most of your spending. Plus, the rewards you earn are incredibly easy to redeem, and there's great value in the fact that you don't have to waste time figuring out how to get the most out of your miles.
Related: Best Capital One Credit Cards
Who should get a Chase card?
To get a Chase card, you must follow the Chase 5/24 rule. This means you must have been approved for no more than five cards from any bank in the last 24 months. If that's you, start your journey into the world of points and miles with a Chase credit card.
Many of the best airline credit cards, top hotel cards, and most valuable general travel cards are issued by Chase. So it makes sense to buy before they are closed by the 5/24 rule.
Related: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred Should Be Your First Card
Do I need to get cards from both banks?
Although there are strict application limits for applying for Capital One and Chase cards, it is possible to get a card from both. Other than the 5/24 rule above, there is no reason not to open cards with Chase and Capital One.
Among the restrictions: Capital One limits you to two personal Capital One cards at a time. Co-branded cards and business cards generally do not count towards this limit. You're also limited to being approved for one Capital One card every six months.
Chase does not allow you to have two Sapphire cards at the same time. Additionally, you cannot open a new Sapphire card if you have received a welcome bonus with the Sapphire card in the last 48 months.
conclusion
When it comes to earning credit card rewards, two of the best issuers are Capital One and Chase. Among these banks, you can easily find a card that suits your needs. Chase has a card that lets you earn invaluable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which translate into valuable hotel and airline loyalty programs. Capital One has a lineup of cards that earn you 2 miles per dollar on every purchase or 2% cash back on purchases, so you can't beat the simplicity.
The card that’s best for you will largely depend on your travel goals and what you want to get out of the card. In most cases, Chase has more rewards options, but if you’re looking for cash back, you’ll want to look into what Capital One has to offer.
Related: Best Travel Credit Cards