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. Paying hundreds of dollars in annual fees for premium credit cards is not for everyone, especially when you're new to points and miles .
The good news is that there are plenty of travel credit cards on the market with annual fees of less than $100 . These cards still earn lucrative rewards that can unlock dream trips.
Among the top cards in this category are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees ) and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card . Both come with manageable annual fees for beginners and experts and a recommended credit score of 670 or higher.
Let's compare these two cards to help you determine which is best for your wallet.
Here are the basics of each of these two cards in the major categories:
Annual fee $95 $95 Welcome bonus Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Bonus categories 5 points per dollar spent on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ 3 points per dollar spent on dining, gas, electric vehicle charging, select streaming services, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and vacation homes booked with select brands^ 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases TPG July 2026 valuation of rewards currency 2.05 cents per point 1.85 cents per mile Foreign transaction fees None None Travel protections Baggage delay insurance Emergency evacuation and transportation coverage Lost luggage insurance Primary auto rental coverage Travel and emergency assistance services Trip cancellation and interruption insurance Trip delay reimbursement Auto rental collision damage waiver* (coverage is secondary) Master RoadAssist (fees apply)* Travel accident insurance* Trip cancellation/interruption coverage* World Elite Concierge* Other benefits Up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fees every four years A $100 annual hotel credit A DoorDash DashPass subscription and monthly nonrestaurant promos Extended warranty protection Purchase protection Up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees every four years Extended warranty protection* Hertz Five Star status ^Select brands are: Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com and Vacasa. * Benefits are only available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard. Terms apply.
Both cards are currently offering solid welcome bonuses that can provide a ton of value to new cardholders.
The Sapphire Preferred is currently offering 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months…