Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card vs RCI® Elite Rewards® Mastercard®

A detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right card for your spending.

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One

RCI® Elite Rewards® Mastercard®

Barclays

Annual Fee

$395

Welcome Bonus

75,000 Flex point

2,500 points

Base Earn Rate

Top Earn Categories

10X Hotels

10X Car Rentals

10X Car Rentals Capital One

5X Flights

5X Rci

2X Travel

Network

VISA

MASTERCARD

Key Benefits

✓Lounge access

✓Travel insurance

✓Global Entry credit

✓Purchase protection

None

Pros

+Effective $95 annual fee after $300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles (~$100 value)
+10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
+Access to premium Capital One Lounges in Dallas, Denver, and Washington D.C.
+Priority Pass Select membership with 1,300+ lounges worldwide
+Free authorized users (until Feb 2026, then $125/year for lounge access)

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Cons

−$395 annual fee requires maximizing credits to get value
−10X earning rate requires booking through Capital One Travel portal
−Guest lounge access changing to $35/guest at Priority Pass after Feb 2026
−No airline transfer bonuses unlike some competitors
−Travel credits only work for Capital One Travel bookings

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The Bottom Line

The RCI® Elite Rewards® Mastercard® has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $395), making it the more accessible option.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access.

For everyday spending, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns more with its 2X base rate.

Explore More

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — Full Review All Capital One Cards

RCI® Elite Rewards® Mastercard® — Full Review All Barclays Cards

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card vs RCI® Elite Rewards® Mastercard®

A detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right card for your spending.

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