The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is a natural starting point for anyone new to travel rewards, thanks to its strong bonus categories, flexible Ultimate Rewards points and solid travel protections at a reasonable annual fee.

But after you’ve used it for a while, a familiar question tends to pop up: What card makes sense to add next?

For me (and many others), the answer was the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. After adding it to my wallet last year, I quickly saw how well the two cards complement each other, making it easier to earn rewards across everyday spending.

Together, the cards carry $490 in annual fees ($95 for Sapphire Preferred and $395 for Venture X), but their benefits can help offset that cost.

If you’re thinking about what card to pair with your Sapphire Preferred, here’s why the Venture X makes sense as a next step.

The Venture X complements the Chase Sapphire Preferred — it doesn’t replace it

The key to this pairing’s success is that the two cards are designed to play very different roles.

The Sapphire Preferred shines as a category-focused travel card, rewarding dining, gas and select travel purchases as well as common spending categories like online groceries and select streaming services.

It also unlocks access to Chase’s powerful Ultimate Rewards ecosystem and valuable travel protections.

The Venture X, on the other hand, is built for simplicity and consistency. It’s the card to reach for when a purchase doesn’t fall into a bonus category, earning a flat rate on everyday spending while delivering premium-style perks that elevate the travel experience.

Adding the Venture X allows you to keep everything that already works about the Sapphire Preferred while strengthening your overall earning and travel strategy.

Related: How Venture X perfects premium travel benefits

The two cards cover more of your everyday spending

The Sapphire Preferred offers strong bonus categories, including 3 points per dollar spent on dining, gas, electric vehicle charging, select vacation rentals* and online groceries. However, purchases outside its bonus categories earn just 1 point per dollar.

*At these top brands: Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com and Vacasa

That’s where the Venture X comes in. The card earns at least 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, with higher earnings when booking through Capital One Travel.

With a flat-rate structure like this, there’s no need to track rotating categories or wonder whether a purchase qualifies for bonus rewards.

In practice, this approach simplifies day-to-day card use.

I rely on my Sapphire Preferred for dining, gas, online grocery orders and eligible vacation rentals — I’ve stayed in over 60 Airbnbs — then use the Venture X for nearly all other everyday purchases. Over time, that consistent base rate of 2 miles per dollar spent adds up quickly — especially on everyday purchases that might otherwise earn just 1 point per dollar.

For Sapphire Preferred cardholders looking to boost earnings without adding complexity, using the Venture X as a catch-all card is an efficient way to round out a two-card setup.

Related: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains the top travel rewards credit card

2 rewards ecosystems offer more flexibility when booking travel

Maximizing rewards is only half the equation — the real value comes when it’s time to redeem them.

Holding both cards gives you access to two transferable rewards currencies: the Sapphire Preferred earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, while the Venture X earns Capital One miles.

When it comes to redeeming rewards through transfer partners, Capital One offers access to 15-plus airline and hotel loyalty partners, while Chase provides transfers to 10 airline and four hotel programs.

Chase stands out for partners like Southwest Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt, while Capital One offers access to international airline partners like Avianca Lifemiles, Etihad Guest and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles.

Having access to both programs gives you more options when searching for award flights and hotel stays. And because some transfer partners overlap, you may even be able to combine rewards from both programs in the same loyalty account.

Personally, I tend to transfer Chase points to hotel programs and use Capital One miles for flights.

I recently redeemed 75,000 Chase points for a three-night stay at Hotel 50 Bowery in New York City over Labor Day weekend. I also recently transferred around 7,000 Capital One miles (plus taxes and fees) to Air France-KLM Flying Blue to fly from Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) on SAS.

Instead of relying on one rewards program, I can choose which points or miles make the most sense for each trip.

Related: Why all travelers should earn transferable credit card points

You get premium travel perks without paying a premium annual fee

One of the biggest ways the Venture X elevates the Sapphire Preferred is access to premium travel perks, most notably airport lounge access. And while the two cards carry a combined $490 in annual fees, their benefits can help offset that cost.

As a frequent traveler, lounge access always felt slightly out of reach to me, reserved for cards with eye-popping annual fees. The Venture X was the first premium card that made those benefits feel attainable.

With the Venture X, cardholders receive:

The annual travel credit alone can help offset much of the Venture X’s annual fee if you are comfortable booking through Capital One Travel. Factor in the anniversary bonus miles, which are worth $185 per TPG’s October 2026 valuations, and it’s possible to get enough value from these benefits to justify the card’s cost.

The Sapphire Preferred, meanwhile, carries a $95 annual fee and offers its own benefits, including a $100 annual hotel credit on eligible Chase Travel℠ bookings, valuable travel protections and complimentary DoorDash DashPass (membership is valid until Dec. 31, 2029).

Together, these cards offer a strong combination of premium travel benefits and everyday rewards, particularly if you can take full advantage of their credits and perks.

Related: Are premium credit cards worth the annual fee?

Who should and shouldn’t pair the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Venture X?

This card pairing makes the most sense for travelers who already understand the basics of earning and redeeming points and are ready for more flexibility, but aren’t interested in juggling multiple premium cards or navigating overly complex benefit structures.

It’s a strong fit if you:

• Want better airport and travel perks without jumping straight to a card with a $700-plus annual fee
• Prefer simple, predictable earnings on everyday purchases alongside strong bonus categories
• Value flexibility over committing fully to one airline or hotel program

However, this pairing may not make sense if you:

• Rarely travel
• Prefer to keep your rewards in one program
• Won’t use enough of the Venture X’s benefits to justify its $395 annual fee

Related: Why the Venture X should be your first premium card

Bottom line

If you already have the Sapphire Preferred, pairing it with the Venture X is a smart way to level up your travel rewards strategy.

The two cards complement each other well, covering everyday spending and key bonus categories while unlocking premium travel benefits at a reasonable combined annual cost.

While the $490 combined annual fee isn’t insignificant, this pairing can offer substantial value for travelers who make the most of both cards’ benefits.

To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Sapphire Preferred and the Venture X.