Meet the Contenders
Strongest in groceries at 6% (up to $6,000/yr).
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas.
Annual fee: $95
Sign-up bonus: $300 after $3,000 spend in 6 months
Foreign fees: 2.7%
Perfect if: Your monthly spending stays within the bonus cap for maximum value.
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2x miles on every purchase, 5x on hotels and rentals through Capital One Travel.
Earns a solid 2.0% on everything else.
Annual fee: $95
Sign-up bonus: 75,000 miles after $4,000 spend in 3 months
Foreign fees: 0%
Perfect if: You're comfortable booking through the issuer's own site for the best rate.
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The Verdict
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express pulls ahead for
travel, groceries, gas spending.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card wins on
dining.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express carries $120/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings), while Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card carries $170/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings).
Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.