Discovered by Miles vs. Capital One Venture
Both the Discover it Miles Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Card provide a strong value proposition for cardholders. Here’s how they stack up.
discovers He – she® Miles |
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card |
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FinanceBuzz star ratings |
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FinanceBuzz value calculation | Year 1: $1,275
Year 2: $638 |
Year 1: $1,521
Year 2: $771 |
Annual fees | $0 | $95 |
Welcome bonus | Discover will match all miles you have earned at the end of your first year. | Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening |
Recovery methods |
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Statement credits | no one |
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Introduction April | 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 18.49% – 27.49% variable * rates as of December 12, 2024)
0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 18.49% – 27.49% variable *rates as of December 12, 2024) |
no one |
Foreign transaction fees | 0% | no one |
Credit needed | Excellent, good | Excellent, good |
Read the full review | Read the full review |
When to go with Discover it Miles
- You want a $0 annual fee card
- Want to take advantage of introductory APR offers?
- You can maximize your welcome offer
Annual fees
Discover it Miles fees are $0 per year, while Capital One Venture fees are $95 per year. For annual costs alone, the Discover it Miles program is the best option.
Introductory APR offers
Like many other Discover credit cards, Discover it Miles offers an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers.
- Introduction to APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 18.49% – 27.49% variable * rates as of December 12, 2024)
- Introduction to APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 18.49% – 27.49% variable *rates as of December 12, 2024) (3% upfront fee for balance transfer, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms) * ).
Capital One Venture Rewards doesn’t offer introductory APR offers, so if you’re looking to pay off a large purchase over time or work toward paying off debt, Discover it Miles would be a better option.
Earn cash back
With Discover it Miles, you automatically earn 1.5x unlimited miles on every dollar on every purchase. Although you’re technically earning miles and not cash back, you can only redeem your miles as a statement credit for travel purchases, as cash back, or when you check out on Amazon.com or PayPal. Your miles are worth 1 cent per point, and there is no way to max out their value.
So, you are effectively earning cash back on your purchases. This can be an excellent option for someone who is not interested in transferring miles to travel partners and wants a simple redemption method.
When to Go with Capital One Venture
- You have excellent credit
- You want a better rewards rate and more travel benefits
- Want to transfer your points to travel partners?
Travel benefits
Capital One Venture is the best option if you want more travel benefits. Cardholders get up to $120 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit once every four years, Hertz Five Star status, and a variety of travel protections.
Card protection
The Discover it Miles program offers very few protections – it mainly only provides online privacy protection. With Capital One Venture, you get the following protection and insurance benefits:
- Collision Damage Waiver for Car Rentals
- Travel accident insurance
- Extended warranty
- 24-hour travel assistance services1
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the relevant benefit guide for details, as conditions and exclusions apply.
Earn flexible point currency
Capital One Venture offers 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25. With a higher earning rate, especially when traveling booked through Capital One Travel, you can get more value by making the same purchases. Capital One Venture Rewards also offers more flexibility with its rewards program because you can choose from various redemption options. The Discover it Miles program has a decent rewards structure but can’t quite match Capital One Venture for redeeming miles for travel.
To get the most out of your Capital One miles, you have the option to transfer your miles to hotels and travel partners, often at a 1:1 ratio.
- Aeromexico Premier Club
- Air Canada – Aeroplan®
- Cathay Pacific – Miles Asia
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Choice Privileges®2
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest
- Veneer Plus
- Blue bird
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Singapore Airlines ChrisFlyer
- Click Miles and go
- Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles
- Red Virgin
- Wyndham Rewards
- Eva Air Infinity Mailaglands (1.5:1)
- All (Accor Life Without Borders) (2:1)
A closer look at welcome bonuses
The Discover it Miles program does not have a traditional welcome offer. Instead of an offer where you earn a certain number of miles after meeting specific spending requirements, Discover will match all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. If you spend $2,000 on your card each month, you’ll earn 36,000 miles in one year. With a Discover match, you’ll earn another 36,000 miles, giving you a total of 72,000 miles. There’s no limit to the amount you can earn, so the more you use your card, the more valuable your welcome offer will be.
Capital One Venture Rewards has a more traditional offering – new cardholders earn 75,000 bonus miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening. Although the Discover it Miles program has unlimited potential, you’ll have to spend a lot more to get the same value as the Venture Rewards welcome offer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between discover He – she® Cash back and discover He – she® Miles?
Discovery He – she® Cash Back earns cash back rewards on qualifying purchases, while Discover it miles earn travel rewards. They also have different rewards rates and a few different redemption options. Aside from these differences, they share largely the same features and benefits.
Is the Capital One Venture Card suitable for travel rewards?
Yes, it is an excellent card for earning direct travel rewards. With its simple pricing, you get 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25. Travel redemptions include covering previous travel purchases, booking travel through Capital One Travel, and transferring rewards to travel partners.
How much are Capital One miles worth?
Capital One miles are typically worth 1 cent per mile. For example, 10,000 Capital One miles are worth $100 for some of the most popular redemptions, such as coverage for past travel purchases and travel booking through Capital One Travel. Transferring your miles to a partner hotel or airline can potentially get you great value.
Bottom line
We recommend Capital One Venture Rewards over Discover it Miles because it offers more earnings potential and additional travel benefits. However, Discover it Miles is a solid option if you prefer the $0 annual fee and introductory APR offers. Your spending habits, financial goals, and travel plans will influence the decision between these cards.
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2024-12-31 08:12:39