TravelDiari matches your credit cards to every hotel booking — saving you points you'd otherwise miss.

Card vs Card Comparison

Amex Platinum
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 Platinum

Annual fee

$895

Points

Membership Rewards

Signup bonus

Currently around 175K points after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →5x on flights booked direct or on Amex Travel
  • →5x on prepaid hotels on Amex Travel
  • →1x everywhere else (the weakest baseline of the premium cards)

Top perks

  • →$200 hotel credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection)
  • →$200 airline incidental credit
  • →$200 Uber credit
See Amex Platinum 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 Platinum wins if

Pick this if you travel internationally a few times a year, stay at higher-end hotels, and will actually use the monthly credits.

Honest downside: Weak everyday earner. The $895 fee only pencils out if you use the credits, otherwise it is the most expensive card to carry.

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 PlatinumCapital One Venture X
Annual fee$895$395
Points currencyMembership RewardsVenture Miles
Signup bonusCurrently around 175K pointsCurrently around 75K miles
Top earn category5x on flights booked direct or on Amex Travel10x on Capital One Travel hotels and car rentals
Second earn category5x on prepaid hotels on Amex Travel5x on Capital One Travel flights
Third earn category1x everywhere else (the weakest baseline of the premium cards)2x on everything else (the best baseline of the premium cards)
Signature perk$200 hotel credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection)$300 Capital One Travel credit each year
IssuerAmerican ExpressCapital One

Questions

Frequently asked.

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

expand_more

Amex Platinum wins if you travel internationally a few times a year, stay at higher-end hotels, and will actually use the monthly credits. 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 Platinum and the Capital One Venture X?

expand_more

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 Platinum or Capital One Venture X?

expand_more

Amex Platinum has the higher annual fee at $895, compared to $395 for Capital One Venture X. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.