Chase Freedom Flex vs Capital One Venture: Which Is Better In 2025?

Capital One Venture Rewards Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why the Capital One Venture Rewards card (See Rates & Fees) is a favorite for travelers seeking simplicity and value.

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• Its straightforward rewards structure lets you earn miles on every purchase, so you don't have to worry about tracking bonus categories.
• Redemption is flexible—use your miles to cover any travel expense or transfer them to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• The card includes valuable travel benefits like a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and no foreign transaction fees.

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Pros

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• Simple, flat-rate rewards structure means you earn miles on every purchase without needing to track complicated bonus categories.
• Highly flexible rewards can be redeemed for travel, transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners, or used for cash back and gift cards.
• Valuable travel perks include no foreign transaction fees, and miles don't expire for the life of the account.

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Cons

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• The card comes with an annual fee that is not waived for the first year.
• Transferring miles to some travel partners may result in a less-than-ideal value exchange.
• It lacks the premium travel perks, like airport lounge access, that are common with higher-tier cards.

Capital One Venture Rewards vs Chase Freedom Flex®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Chase Freedom Flex or Capital One Venture, depends entirely on your spending habits and what you want from your rewards. Each card excels in different areas, catering to distinct types of spenders.

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• Chase Freedom Flex®: This card is ideal for maximizing rewards on rotating bonus categories that change quarterly. It also offers strong returns on everyday spending like dining and drugstore purchases.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card is best suited for frequent travelers and those who prefer a simple rewards structure that earns miles on every purchase, with higher earnings on travel booked through its portal.

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Redemption

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Chase Freedom Flex®: This card offers flexible redemption options, allowing you to get cash back or use your points for travel, gift cards, and more through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. Your rewards can be tailored to fit whether you prefer straightforward cash or other valuable redemptions.

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: With this card, you redeem miles to cover the cost of travel purchases, essentially erasing them from your statement. You can also transfer your miles to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs for potentially greater value.

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Travel Perks

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• Chase Freedom Flex®: While not a dedicated travel card, you can book trips through the Chase travel portal. However, it does come with a foreign transaction fee and does not offer airport lounge access, making it less ideal for international journeys.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card is built for travelers. It features no foreign transaction fees, making it a great companion abroad. Cardholders receive annual lounge visits and a statement credit for either a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee. You can also book travel through the Capital One Travel portal to earn even more miles.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the right choice, a tool like Kudos can be invaluable, offering a data-driven way to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards and find the optimal match for your financial habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Simulate the potential value of a new card using your real spending data to see projected annual rewards before you apply—all without impacting your credit score.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your chances of approval for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, the platform will match it.
• Bonus tracking: Monitor your progress toward earning credit card sign-up bonuses for free.
• Exclusive offers: Gain access to special promotions, such as the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ for adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Flex®?

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The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent choice for savvy spenders who enjoy maximizing rewards and don't want to pay an annual fee. This card is particularly beneficial for those who frequently dine out or shop at drugstores and are willing to track rotating quarterly bonus categories to earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter you activate, then 1%. It's also a strategic pick for individuals looking to build a "Chase trifecta" by pairing it with premium Chase cards to pool and maximize Ultimate Rewards® points.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Venture Rewards?

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who prefer a straightforward rewards program over tracking complicated bonus categories. It’s designed for individuals who want to earn a simple, flat rate of at least 2X miles on every purchase and value the flexibility to redeem those miles for travel, transfer them to airline and hotel partners, or get cash back. The card is also well-suited for international journeys, as it comes with no foreign transaction fees and valuable travel protections like rental car coverage.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, the Chase Freedom Flex® vs Capital One Venture Rewards comparison didn't reveal a clear winner for your wallet? No problem—let's explore a few other top-tier rewards cards that might be a better match.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score as most rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet any welcome offer requirements.
• Review application rules as some issuers have restrictions, like the Chase 5/24 rule, that may impact your eligibility.

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Application Strategy

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• Consider issuer rules like Chase's 5/24, which may impact your eligibility for certain cards.
• Align with your lifestyle by choosing a card with a rewards structure that matches your spending habits.
• Think long-term by considering how a new card might pair with others in your wallet to maximize rewards.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do the rewards programs for the Chase Freedom Flex and Capital One Venture cards differ?

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The Chase Freedom Flex features rotating bonus categories that change periodically, rewarding spending in specific areas. In contrast, the Capital One Venture card offers a consistent, flat rate of miles on every purchase.

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Is one card better for travel rewards?

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The Capital One Venture is primarily designed as a travel card, allowing you to redeem miles for travel-related expenses. While the Chase Freedom Flex earns flexible rewards, it is often seen as more of an everyday spending card, though its rewards can be pooled for travel with other Chase cards.

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Can I combine rewards from these cards with other credit cards?

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Yes, rewards from both cards can be combined with other cards from their respective issuers. Chase Freedom Flex rewards can be pooled with premium Chase cards, and Capital One Venture miles can be combined with other Capital One rewards cards.

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