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Side-by-side

Capital One VentureOne vs Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One VentureOne comes from Capital One at $0/yr; the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card from American Express at $150/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($590 more in estimated value) than the Capital One VentureOne's. Get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card first; revisit the Capital One VentureOne after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureCapital One VentureOneDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
Annual fee$0$150
Sign-up bonus20,000 miles80,000 bonus miles
Bonus value (est.)$370$960
Min spend to unlock bonus$500 in 3 mo$3,000 in 6 mo
IssuerCapital OneAmerican Express
Card categorytravelairline
Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one)5x1x
Transfer partnerscapital-oneNone
Headline benefits
  • 1.25x everywhere
  • No annual fee
  • 15+ transfer partners
  • No foreign tx fees
  • Free first checked bag
  • $200 Delta flight credit
  • Priority boarding
  • 2x on restaurants & groceries
Read the full review
Capital One VentureOne
$0/yr · 20,000 miles
Read the full review
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
$150/yr · 80,000 bonus miles

Editorial take: Capital One VentureOne

The no-fee version of Venture. The 1.25x vs 2x is a real earnings hit, so only use this if you absolutely won't pay any annual fee, otherwise Venture pays back its $95 quickly.

Editorial take: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

A good choice for Delta loyalists. The free checked bag and $200 flight credit easily offset the $150 annual fee if you fly Delta a few times a year.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Capital One VentureOne or Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card has the bigger bonus, 80,000 bonus miles, worth roughly $960, versus 20,000 miles (~$370) on the Capital One VentureOne.
Is the Capital One VentureOne's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?
The Capital One VentureOne has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card's $150 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card's benefits to clear $150 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Capital One VentureOne.
Can I have both the Capital One VentureOne and Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Capital One and American Express) 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 Capital One VentureOne or the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One VentureOne: $500 spend in 3 months. Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card: $3,000 in 6 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.