United Gateway 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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Let's break down the key reasons why the Capital One Venture Rewards (See Rates & Fees) card is a top pick for travelers.

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• It offers a simple rewards structure, allowing you to earn a flat rate of miles on every purchase without tracking bonus categories.
• You can redeem miles flexibly for travel or transfer them to a wide range of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• The card comes with valuable travel perks, including a statement credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

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Pros

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• Consistent, flat-rate mile earnings on every purchase, so you don't have to keep track of changing bonus categories.
• Offers great flexibility when you redeem your miles, with options to cover travel purchases directly or transfer to a variety of airline and hotel partners.
• Includes key travel protections and perks like a credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and no foreign transaction fees.

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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 lower value, as not all offer a 1:1 ratio.
• It lacks some of the premium travel perks found on higher-tier travel cards.

Capital One Venture Rewards vs United Gateway

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Categories

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When deciding which is better, United Gateway or Capital One Venture, it's crucial to look at where each card shines in terms of spending categories.

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• United Gateway℠ Card: This card is best for those who spend on United Airlines purchases, at gas stations, and on local transit. It's a solid choice for earning United MileagePlus miles through everyday spending.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card is ideal for both everyday purchases and travel-related spending. It especially rewards users for booking hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars through Capital One Travel.

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Redemption

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United Gateway℠ Card: Miles earned with this card are added to your MileagePlus account and can be redeemed for flights on United and its airline partners, hotel stays, and other travel experiences.

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card offers flexible redemption options, allowing you to use your miles to cover any recent travel purchase as a statement credit or transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners.

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Travel Perks

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: For international travelers, the Capital One Venture Rewards card stands out by charging no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad. In contrast, the United Gateway℠ Card does apply a fee to foreign transactions.
• Travel Portals: The Venture card provides access to the Capital One Travel portal, where you can book travel and earn bonus miles. Miles from the Gateway card are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program for flights on United and its airline partners.
• Lounge Access: The Venture card includes complimentary airport lounge visits each year, a perk not offered by the Gateway card.
• Additional Perks: The Venture card offers a statement credit to cover the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. The Gateway card provides a discount on in-flight purchases, including food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United-operated flights.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the decision easier, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare thousands of top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply.
• Get an analysis of your approval odds for specific cards based on your credit report.
• Earn extra rewards on top of your card's rewards when shopping at participating stores with Kudos Boost.
• Receive a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Let the tool automatically select and fill in the best card at checkout to maximize your rewards on every purchase.

Who Should Choose the United Gateway?

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The United Gateway℠ Card is an excellent choice for occasional United Airlines flyers and credit card beginners who want to earn travel rewards without paying an annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for budget-conscious travelers, offering a straightforward way to accumulate MileagePlus miles on everyday purchases like gas and local transit. With no foreign transaction fees, it's also a practical option for international travel, making it a solid entry-level card for those starting their rewards journey.

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 prioritize a simple, flexible rewards system over complex bonus categories. This card is ideal for individuals who want to earn a consistent 2X miles on all their everyday spending and then redeem those miles for travel purchases or transfer them to various airline and hotel partners. Furthermore, it suits travelers seeking valuable protections like rental car coverage and trip cancellation insurance without the hefty annual fee of a premium-tier card.

Alternatives to Consider

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Perhaps our United Gateway vs. Capital One Venture comparison has made it clear that neither card is the ideal choice for your wallet. Fortunately, the travel rewards landscape is full of strong contenders that might be a better fit.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most successful applicants have good to excellent credit scores.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can naturally meet the welcome offer’s spending requirement.
• Research the rewards – Understand the card’s loyalty program to ensure it aligns with your goals.

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Application Strategy

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• Match the card to your goals – Consider if you're an occasional flyer suited for an entry-level card or a frequent traveler who can maximize a premium card.
• Leverage existing relationships – Applying for a card from a bank you already use, like a Chase card, may streamline the process.
• Evaluate reward flexibility – Decide if you prefer simple, flexible miles like those from the Capital One Venture or miles tied to a specific airline.

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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Which card is better for someone who only flies United?

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The United Gateway card is co-branded with the airline, so its benefits are tailored specifically for United flyers. The Capital One Venture card offers more general travel rewards that can be used across different airlines.

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Can I use the rewards from both cards for things other than flights?

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Yes, both cards offer redemption options beyond air travel. The United Gateway card's rewards can be used for other travel-related purchases through United, while the Capital One Venture card's miles can cover a wide range of travel expenses.

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Is one card better for beginners in travel rewards?

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The Capital One Venture card is often considered a great starting point for travel rewards due to its straightforward rewards structure. The United Gateway card might be a better fit for those already familiar with and loyal to the United MileagePlus program.

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Do I need a good credit score for these cards?

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Both the United Gateway and Capital One Venture cards are generally intended for applicants with good to excellent credit. Your approval odds will depend on your overall credit profile and other financial factors.

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