American Express® Blue Cash Preferred vs Capital One Venture X

American Express® Blue Cash Preferred
VS
Capital One Venture X
The short answer: The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the Capital One Venture X if you spend more on dining, travel.

Side-by-side comparison

American Express® Blue Cash PreferredCapital One Venture X
Annual fee$95$395
Welcome offer$300 statement credit75,000 Miles
Dining1x2x
Groceries6x2x
Gas3x2x
Travel1x5x
Streaming6x2x
Everything else1x2x
Est. yearly rewards*$679$637
Points typeCash back onlyTransfers to airlines & hotels
NetworkAmexVisa

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns about $679 a year in rewards and the Capital One Venture X about $637, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred charges $95, but carries about $84 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Capital One Venture X charges $395, but carries about $500 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred delivers more total value, about $134 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and streaming. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Capital One Venture X earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred pays plain cash back. Favor the Capital One Venture X if you will use travel transfers, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Capital One Venture X currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, streaming. Pick the Capital One Venture X if your spending leans toward dining, travel, everything else.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred or the Capital One Venture X better?
On typical household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred comes out ahead after its annual fee, by roughly $134 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Capital One Venture X can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred and the Capital One Venture X?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred or the Capital One Venture X?
As of June 2026, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred offers $300 statement credit and the Capital One Venture X offers 75,000 Miles. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.