Capital One Venture Miles vs Citi Thankyou Rewards Points

Are you a traveler? A shopaholic? Or someone looking to maximize your rewards to the fullest? If you are, you will benefit from the wildly different rewards programs by Capital One and Citibank. Our analysis of Capital One Venture Miles vs Citi Thankyou rewards points tells you everything you need to know before choosing a fruitful card.

Capital One Venture Miles vs Citi Thankyou Rewards Points

Capital One Venture Miles vs. Citi ThankYou Rewards Points is a competition. Capital One rewards program is known for its simple framework. You get the highest value where you might need it the most — travel. You can avail of a few added services that can be useful to you.

On the other hand, Citi’s Thankyou Rewards program is coveted because of its diverse redemption options. You can even share your points or donate them to charity.

Overview of Capital One Venture Miles

Capital One Venture Miles is a simple and flexible program. You earn unlimited miles per dollar on every purchase with the Venture credit cards. You don’t have to stay alert to choose and activate rotating categories like several rewards cards offer every few months.

You can get airport lounge access if you book through the bank’s travel portal. However, Capital One has announced that the Venture Rewards credit card and the Spark Miles for Business card will not have lounge access after December 31, 2024.

You can redeem your reward miles for travel purchases at 1 cent per point. It means that 60,000 miles earn you $600 in Capital One Travel bookings. Or, you can transfer your reward miles to Capital One’s 15+ airline and hotel partners at a higher value conditionally. Other redemption options include:

• Amazon gift cards
• Purchases through PayPal
• Statement credit
• Buying events and venue tickets with Capital One Entertainment

Overview of Citi Thankyou Rewards Points

The Citi ThankYou Rewards program is known for its multiple redemption options. Out of 14 Citi credit cards, only five participate in this rewards program. They are: 

• Citi Rewards + Card
• Citi Double Cash
• Citi Custom Cash
• Citi Starta Premier
• Citi AT&T Points Plus
• Citi Premier Card– No longer accepting new applications

You can earn Thankyou points through a mix of flat rate and rotating categories and welcome bonuses. You can look into redemption options once you accumulate a big rewards pool. 

• Direct travel booking
• Transfer points to Citi travel partners
• Shop with points at 10+ renowned retailers, like Shell
• Gift cards from 40+ food, entertainment, and lifestyle brands
• Pay your credit card bills 
• Share points with family and friends
• Donate reward points to charitable organizations
• Statement credit or check

Citi reward points value up to a ratio of 1:1.5 with transfer partners. Also, you get a 1 cent per point value when redeeming with gift cards. Retailers, except Amazon and Best Buy, limit point usage to anywhere between $5 and $20. 

Comparing Capital One Venture Miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards Points

While Capital One Venture Miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards Points may seem completely different, they have similar points. 

Similarities

• Both rewards programs offer the best value when you redeem towards the issuers’ airline and hotel transfer partners.
• You get multiple redemption choices with both programs. It is to make sure you maximize your rewards to their full extent.
• Both rewards programs allow a few cards to participate out of several Capital One cards and CitiBank offer.

Differences

• You get a 1:1 ratio, which is the highest with Capital One transfer partners. However, you can get up to a 1:1.5 ratio with Citibank.
• Capital One has limited options for gift card partners. On the other hand, Citibank offers an exhaustive list of brands and retailers to redeem your points.
• You can get lounge access with Capital One Venture Miles. Citi Thankyou Points don’t offer it. Only AA co-branded cards offer it.
• Capital One offers recommendations for the cheapest flights. They give you a total price match if you find a cheaper flight. Citibank does not have this service.

Major Distinguishing Factors

• Citi Thankyou Reward Points offer a higher point value than Capital One Venture Miles.
• Citibank has more shopping partners than Capital One. You can redeem your points towards food, entertainment, and lifestyle categories.
• Citibank does not offer additional price match or price protection services. Capital One does.

When to Use Capital One Venture Miles

If you ask us, the most significant advantage of this rewards program is its straightforward approach. You don’t need to sift through cards trying to find one that redeems the highest value. When you book travel through Capital One Travel, your miles are worth one cent each. This no-frills valuation makes booking flights or hotels easy and transparent.

You can also use your miles to ‘erase’ travel purchases off your credit card statement at the same rate. This feature offers flexibility after your travels are booked. If something unexpected comes up, it could be a convenient benefit.

You can transfer your Venture Miles to one of Capital One’s travel partners if you want more value. Alternatively, you can use this program to redeem rewards for gift cards or cash back. You also get:

• Alerts about the cheapest flight rates and the best time to book travel.
• A total price match if you find a cheaper flight than Capital One’s recommended rates.
• Flexibility to cancel your flight at any time at a nominal fee. You must select this option at the time of booking.

When to Use Citi ThankYou Rewards Points

We believe that the highest value of Citi Thankyou Points lies in its choice of travel transfer partners. It allows you to add value during your trips.

• For frequent flyers, ThankYou Points can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan or Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles programs at a 1:1 ratio. This allows you to leverage airline miles to book flights and upgrades.
• Your points can go further with hotel partners such as Wyndham Rewards and Choice Privileges. Transferring points there can lead to free nights or room upgrades.

Furthermore, you can redeem rewards towards gift cards for brands like Sephora, Nike, Hulu, Papa John, Uber, etc. You get a good value of 1 cent per point here. However, you must know where to avoid using your points as their value will be decreased:

• Transfer partners that offer a ratio less than 1:1.
• Amazon and PayPal purchases – 0.8 cents per point
• CVS – 0.8 cents per point

Which Rewards Program Is Better?

When comparing the Capital One Venture Miles against Citi ThankYou Rewards Points, your choice is what you value more in a rewards program. Remember that Capital One Venture Miles can get you lounge access while Thankyou points can not. However, it is a secondary benefit that you might not have.

We have established that both rewards programs garner a 1:1 point value with most of their travel partners. That said, Citibank points can be valued up to 1.5 partner points for every Thankyou point. Capital One might get you up to 1.3 partner points for every Venture Mile. Also, both issuers partner with prestigious airlines like Turkish and Emirates Airlines.

As for gift cards, Citibank offers more than Capital One. You get a 1 point per 1 cent value with Thankyou points against 0.8 cents per 1 mile with the Venture Miles. Plus, Citibank has more brands to choose from. Based on these facts, we find the Citi Thankyou Rewards points the better overall program.

Related Questions

Conclusion

Capital One Venture Miles is known for its simple and flexible redemption structure. Contrarily, Citi Thankyou Rewards Points have a wide range of redemption options. You get the highest value by redeeming travel transfer points with both programs. However, Citi offers a higher point value there, so it can be a better choice.