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Side-by-side

American Express Schwab Investor Card vs Capital One Venture Rewards

Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Schwab Investor Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Capital One Venture Rewards from Capital One at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Capital One Venture Rewards is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,128 more in estimated value) than the American Express Schwab Investor Card's. Get the Capital One Venture Rewards first; revisit the American Express Schwab Investor Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureAmerican Express Schwab Investor CardCapital One Venture Rewards
Annual fee$0$95
Sign-up bonus10,000 Membership Rewards points75,000 miles
Bonus value (est.)$110$1,238
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$4,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressCapital One
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (All_purchases)1.5x2x
Transfer partnersamex-mrcapital-one
Headline benefits
  • 1.5X MR on everything
  • $0 annual fee
  • 1.0c/pt Invest with Rewards
  • Full MR transfer partners
  • 2x on everything
  • 18 transfer partners
  • $120 TSA credit
  • No foreign tx fees
Read the full review
American Express Schwab Investor Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
Capital One Venture Rewards
$95/yr · 75,000 miles

Editorial take: American Express Schwab Investor Card

The hidden gem of the Amex MR lineup for Schwab brokerage customers. Flat 1.5X MR with $0 annual fee, full transfer-partner access, AND a 1.0 cents-per-point cash-into-brokerage redemption guarantees you can always extract real cash. The catch: you need a Schwab brokerage account to apply.

Editorial take: Capital One Venture Rewards

The simplest travel card in the game. Flat 2x on everything plus transfer partners means you don't have to think, just swipe. Great for people who don't want to chase bonus categories.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Schwab Investor Card or Capital One Venture Rewards?
The Capital One Venture Rewards has the bigger bonus, 75,000 miles, worth roughly $1,238, versus 10,000 Membership Rewards points (~$110) on the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
Is the American Express Schwab Investor Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Capital One Venture Rewards?
The American Express Schwab Investor Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Capital One Venture Rewards's $95 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Capital One Venture Rewards's benefits to clear $95 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
Can I have both the American Express Schwab Investor Card and Capital One Venture Rewards?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Capital One) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the American Express Schwab Investor Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Schwab Investor Card: $1,000 spend in 6 months. Capital One Venture Rewards: $4,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.