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Card vs Card Comparison

Amex Gold
vs
Capital One Venture X.

Updated

Two cards, head-to-head. We break down earning rates, perks, transfer partners, and the real scenarios where each one wins.

American Express

Amex Gold

Annual fee

$325

Points

Membership Rewards

Signup bonus

Currently around 60K to 100K points after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →4x on restaurants worldwide
  • →4x on US supermarkets (up to $25K per year)
  • →3x on flights booked direct or on Amex Travel

Top perks

  • →$120 Uber Cash ($10 per month)
  • →$120 dining credit ($10 per month at select partners)
  • →$84 Dunkin' credit
See Amex Gold detailsarrow_forward

Capital One

Capital One Venture X

Annual fee

$395

Points

Venture Miles

Signup bonus

Currently around 75K miles after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →10x on Capital One Travel hotels and car rentals
  • →5x on Capital One Travel flights
  • →2x on everything else (the best baseline of the premium cards)

Top perks

  • →$300 Capital One Travel credit each year
  • →10,000-mile anniversary bonus (worth $100+)
  • →Capital One Lounge plus Priority Pass
See Capital One Venture X detailsarrow_forward

The verdict

When each card wins.

Amex Gold wins if

Pick this if you spend heavily on restaurants and US groceries and will use the monthly credits as they drop.

Honest downside: Credits split into monthly buckets that you forfeit if you miss a month.

Capital One Venture X wins if

Pick this if you want a premium card with the lowest annual fee, the best 2x baseline earn, and a Capital One Lounge near your home airport.

Honest downside: Lounge guest access tightened in February 2026 ($45 per adult guest, $25 for kids 17 and under, free for kids under 2). Authorized users no longer get free lounge access (now $125 per AU per year). Hitting $75K in annual spend unlocks two free guests in Capital One Lounges. Transfer partner list is thinner than Chase or Amex.

At a glance

Side-by-side spec sheet.

SpecAmex GoldCapital One Venture X
Annual fee$325$395
Points currencyMembership RewardsVenture Miles
Signup bonusCurrently around 60K to 100K pointsCurrently around 75K miles
Top earn category4x on restaurants worldwide10x on Capital One Travel hotels and car rentals
Second earn category4x on US supermarkets (up to $25K per year)5x on Capital One Travel flights
Third earn category3x on flights booked direct or on Amex Travel2x on everything else (the best baseline of the premium cards)
Signature perk$120 Uber Cash ($10 per month)$300 Capital One Travel credit each year
IssuerAmerican ExpressCapital One

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Questions

Frequently asked.

Which is better, Amex Gold or Capital One Venture X?

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Amex Gold wins if you spend heavily on restaurants and US groceries and will use the monthly credits as they drop. Capital One Venture X wins if you want a premium card with the lowest annual fee, the best 2x baseline earn, and a Capital One Lounge near your home airport.

Can I have both the Amex Gold and the Capital One Venture X?

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Yes. These are issued by different banks (American Express and Capital One), so they don't conflict on application rules. Many travelers carry both to stack the strongest benefits from each card's ecosystem.

Which has the higher annual fee, Amex Gold or Capital One Venture X?

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Capital One Venture X has the higher annual fee at $395, compared to $325 for Amex Gold. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.

Your next step

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