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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Bank of America Travel Rewards: Which card is right for you?
Emily Thompson specializes in beginner content as a credit cards editor. She taps into her prior experience as a high school English teacher to help others demystify credit scores and unlock experiences that credit card rewards can make possible.
Madison Blancaflor is the managing editor for TPG's content operations team. She focuses on helping TPG's broader editorial team bring news, features and advice to readers. She has nearly six years of experience covering the credit cards and travel industries.
also contributed to this story
January 28, 2025 • 9 min read
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.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Flat-rate earning cards are ideal for both beginners and experienced travelers seeking simplicity and consistent rewards.
Two leading flat-rate cards are compared, focusing on earning potential, redemption options and travel-related perks.
One card offers a higher intro bonus and more flexible redemption, including transfers to hotel and airline partners.
The other card appeals to those seeking to avoid extra fees, with added value for certain loyalty program members.
What to consider
Preferred loyalty program members with significant qualifying balances can boost their earning rates on one card.
Redemption minimums and reward values vary, with some options offering less value for non-travel redemptions.
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of earning rates, redemption flexibility and which card best fits different types of travelers.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Whether you're a beginner to points and miles or a seasoned pro, it's always a good idea to have at least one flat-rate earning credit card in your wallet.
Beginners can use these cards as a great jumping-off point for earning rewards because there aren't any bonus categories to worry about maximizing. In contrast, more experienced travelers can use them as a fall-back card for nonbonus spending.
No matter which category you fall into, you want to make sure you choose the right option. Let's compare two top flat-rate credit cards: the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card.
Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Bank of America Travel Rewards comparison
Card:
Capital One Venture Rewards
Bank of America Travel Rewards
Annual fee
$95
$0
Welcome offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening cardholder year.
Earn 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earning rate
5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2 miles per dollar on all purchases
3 points per dollar on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center
1.5 points per dollar on all purchases
25%-75% more points on every purchase for Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members
Rewards value
1.85 cents per mile (per TPG's January 2025 valuations)
1 cent per point
Top benefits
Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Travel protections
Visa Signature benefits
Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Bank of America Travel Rewards welcome offer
Currently, new Capital One Venture Rewards cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
TPG's January 2025 valuations peg Capital One miles at 1.85 cents each. That makes this welcome bonus worth $1,388.
THE POINTS GUY
New Bank of America Travel Rewards cardholders, on the other hand, can earn 25,000 online bonus points after spending at least $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. These points are worth $250 in statement credits toward travel and dining purchases.
Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards. It has a higher spending requirement, but the bonus is more than five times as much as the Bank of America Travel Rewards bonus.
Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Bank of America Travel Rewards benefits
The Bank of America Travel Rewards has no annual fee, so it comes with minimal benefits. However, it is a Visa Signature card, so cardholders receive some travel protections and benefits that come with this card type.
ALEKSANDARNAKIC/GETTYIMAGES
The Capital One Venture Rewards has a $95 annual fee and comes with some decent benefits for a mid-tier travel card, such as an up to $120 credit for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.
Additionally, cardholders get access to hotel bookings through Capital One's Lifestyle Collection, 24-hour travel assistance and travel and shopping protections.
Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards. It offers more benefits and access than you'll get with the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
Earning rewards with the Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Bank of America Travel Rewards
A major benefit of both the Capital One Venture Rewards and the Bank of America Travel Rewards is that they offer the simplicity of flat-rate earning structures and allow you to earn solid rewards on all your purchases.
The Venture Rewards earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.
WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES
The Bank of America Travel Rewards earns 3 points per dollar on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center and 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases. However, if you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards Program member, you'll earn an additional 25% to 75%, depending on your level.
The Bank of America Preferred Rewards program is available to Bank of America customers who have at least a $20,000 three-month average combined daily balance across Bank of America banking and Merrill investment accounts.
As a member, you get several benefits, including a certain number of no-fee ATM transactions at non-Bank of America ATMs, savings account boosts and a rewards bonus on Bank of America credit card earnings.
The program is organized into five tiers based on how much you have saved or invested with the company:
Preferred Rewards tier
Gold
Platinum
Platinum Honors
Diamond Honors
Required balance (three-month combined average across accounts)
$20,000-$49,999
$50,000-$99,999
$100,000-$999,999
$10,000,000+
Rewards bonus
25%
50%
75%
75%
Effective Travel Rewards earning rate
1.88 points
2.25 points
2.63 points
2.63
That rewards bonus significantly increases the value of the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. If you're a Platinum, Platinum Honors, or Diamond Honors member, you'll actually start earning at a higher rate on this no-annual-fee card than you would on the Venture Rewards card.
Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards, except for Platinum, Platinum Honors, or Diamond Honors Bank of America Preferred Rewards members.
Redeeming rewards with the Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Bank of America Travel Rewards
Both cards allow you to redeem your rewards directly for travel as a statement credit at a rate of one cent each.
Bank of America Travel Rewards allows you to redeem your rewards as a statement credit for travel and dining purchases (with a minimum redemption of 2,500 points). You can also redeem your rewards for gift cards or cash back, but these redemptions have a lower reward value.
HINTERHAUS PRODUCTIONS/GETTY IMAGES
The Capital One Venture Rewards has a wider range of redemption options. Like the Bank of America Travel Rewards, you can redeem your miles for a statement credit to cover travel purchases at a rate of one cent per mile. You can also use them to book travel through the Capital One Travel portal at the same rate.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt gets excellent value by transferring his miles to Air France-KLM Flying Blue and using them to book business-class flights to Europe.
Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards. Since the Bank of America Travel Rewards doesn't offer a transfer option, the Capital One Venture Rewards wins by default.
Should I get the Capital One Venture Rewards or the Bank of America Travel Rewards?
If you want to transfer your rewards to airline and hotel partners, the Capital One Venture Rewards is the easy choice.
However, if you want to avoid annual fees and be able to redeem your rewards for dining as well as travel purchases, the Bank of America Travel Rewards will serve you better.
Bottom line
Both of these cards have their merits. Suppose you are a loyal Bank of America customer with enough money stashed away to qualify for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program. In that case, there is a lot of value to be had from the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card.
However, most travelers will likely get the most out of the Capital One Venture Rewards. With a higher earning rate, more perks and flexible redemption options, this $95 annual fee card is hard to beat.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
