Capital One Venture X: Personal Vs. Business

Link: Apply now for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (Rates & Fees) or Capital One Venture X Business (Rates & Fees)

Capital One has nicely expanded its premium card portfolio, as the issuer now has both the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) and Capital One Venture X Business (review). With the business card having only recently been introduced, I thought it would be worth comparing the two cards.

While the cards have a lot in common, they also have several significant differences that are worth highlighting. There’s potentially a lot of value to having both of these cards. Let’s take a look at the details.

What Capital One Venture X cards have in common

Let’s start with all of the things that the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business have in common:

• Both cards have a $395 annual fee
• Both cards offer a $300 annual travel credit that can be used through Capital One Travel
• Both cards offer 10,000 bonus Capital One miles on the account anniversary every year
• Both cards offer a Priority Pass membership for the primary card member, plus access to Capital One Lounges for the primary card member
• Both cards offer a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit once every four years
• Both cards have the same rewards structure — 10x miles for hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5x miles for flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2x miles on all other purchases
• Both cards accrue exactly the same points currency, as Capital One miles can either be transferred to airline or hotel partners, or be redeemed toward the cost of a travel purchase

As I view it, the cards have the same fundamental value proposition. The $395 annual fee is offset by the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 Capital One miles anniversary bonus. Then you’re left with a card that has great perks and an industry-leading return on everyday spending.

What’s different between Capital One Venture X cards

While the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business have a lot in common, they also have some major differences. The most obvious difference, of course, is that one card is a personal card, and one card is a business card. But beyond that, let’s go over the other major differences between the cards.

Different welcome bonuses

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business have very different welcome offers:

• The personal version of the card is offering 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months
• The business version of the card is offering 150,000 miles after spending $30,000 within the first three months

It goes without saying that the business card has a much bigger bonus, but also has a much bigger spending requirement. If you can reach the spending requirement, then the offer on the business version of the card is much better. However, admittedly that amount of spending may be out of reach for many.

Credit line vs. no preset spending limit

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a standard credit card, meaning that when you’re approved for the card, you’re given a credit limit. Meanwhile the Capital One Venture X Business is a charge card with no preset spending limit. That means you don’t have a specific credit line, but rather the size of the purchases that you can make changes over time based on your patterns.

There’s something to be said for the value of not having a preset spending limit, especially if you frequently make large purchases. For some consumers, I’d consider that to be an advantage of the business version of the card.

Authorized user perks

One area where the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a significant advantage over the Capital One Venture X Business is when it comes to authorized user perks.

On the personal version of the card, you can add up to four authorized users at no extra cost, and they receive all the same lounge access perks as the primary card member. This includes a Priority Pass membership and access to Capital One Lounges. There’s not a single other card out there that’s this generous for authorized users, making this a great card for families.

While you can add authorized users to the business version of the card, they don’t receive any lounge access perks. Rather the main benefit of adding authorized users is that their spending counts toward your rewards. So when it comes to authorized user perks, the personal card wins by a long shot.

Priority Pass restaurant credits

When it comes to the Priority Pass membership for the primary card member, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card does not come with restaurant credits. Priority Pass has dozens of restaurants, where eligible members can receive a credit toward food and drinks.

The consumer version of the card specifically excludes credits at Priority Pass restaurants. If you frequently fly out of an airport with a Priority Pass restaurant and value the perk, this might be a reason to avoid the consumer version of this card.

Other exclusive perks

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a Visa Infinite card, while the Capital One Venture X Business is a World Elite Mastercard. In and of itself that doesn’t necessarily have huge implications, but there are some general advantages to the personal card in terms of perks.

For example, the personal card offers Hertz President’s Circle elite status, and also offers cell phone protection, which you won’t find on the business version of the card.

Which Capital One Venture X card is better?

So, is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Business more lucrative? I don’t think there’s a single right or wrong answer, though here are a few thoughts:

• If you can achieve the bonus spending requirement on the business card, that’s a huge advantage
• If you care a lot about lounge access for authorized users, then the personal card definitely has the edge
• Ultimately you should apply for the card that matches your needs, depending on whether you’re looking for a personal or business card

I think the personal version of the card is probably more of a slam dunk, in terms of being in the “too good to be true” category. Getting a Priority Pass membership and Capital One Lounge access for up to four authorized users at no extra cost is incredible. That being said, the business card has an easy to justify value proposition as well.

What’s great about the two Capital One Venture X products is that while they’re premium cards with substantial annual fees, they don’t actually have to cost you much to hold onto. Between the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, I personally view these cards as basically being free to hold onto for savvy consumers.

I intend to hold onto both of these cards, and use them for my everyday personal and business spending, since the annual fees are so easy to justify, in my opinion.

Bottom line

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business are both excellent premium cards. They have a lot in common, including their annual fees, their rewards structure, their core annual benefits ($300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles), and lounge access for the primary card member.

However, they also have some differences, including their welcome offers, their spending ability, authorized user perks, Priority Pass perks, and more.

There’s not a single right or wrong answer as to which card is better, though hopefully the above helps you decide which makes the most sense for you.

Which Capital One Venture X do you find to be more valuable — the personal or business card?