Jump to section Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Editor's Note This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees ) is a natural starting point for anyone new to travel rewards, thanks to its strong bonus categories, flexible Ultimate Rewards points and solid travel protections at a reasonable annual fee.
But after you've used it for a while, a familiar question tends to pop up: What card makes sense to add next?
For me (and many others), the answer was the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . After adding it to my wallet last year , I quickly saw how well the two cards complement each other, making it easier to earn rewards across everyday spending.
Together, the cards carry $490 in annual fees ($95 for Sapphire Preferred and $395 for Venture X), but their benefits can help offset that cost.
If you're thinking about what card to pair with your Sapphire Preferred, here's why the Venture X makes sense as a next step.
The key to this pairing's success is that the two cards are designed to play very different roles.
The Sapphire Preferred shines as a category-focused travel card, rewarding dining, gas and select travel purchases as well as common spending categories like online groceries and select streaming services.
It also unlocks access to Chase's powerful Ultimate Rewards ecosystem and valuable travel protections .
The Venture X, on the other hand, is built for simplicity and consistency. It's the card to reach for when a purchase doesn't fall into a bonus category, earning a flat rate on everyday spending while delivering premium-style perks that elevate the travel experience.
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Adding the Venture X allows you to keep everything that already works about the Sapphire Preferred while strengthening your overall earning and travel strategy.
Related: How Venture X perfects premium travel benefits
The Sapphire Preferred offers strong bonus categories, including 3 points per dollar spent on dining, gas, electric vehicle charging, select vacation rentals* and online groceries. However, purchases outside its bonus categories earn just 1 point per dollar.
*At these top brands: Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com and Vacasa
That's where the Venture X comes in. The card earns at least 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, with higher earnings when booking through Capital One Travel .
With a flat-rate structure like this, there's no need to track rotating categories or wonder whether a purchase qualifies for bonus rewards.
In practice, this approach simplifies day-to-day card use.…