@Anonymous wrote:I would chose the Quicksilver.
The Venture has a $59 AF, which really cuts into the rewards, especially considering that it's only .5¢/$ better rewards than QS. If you spend $11,800/yr or more, then the Venture would make more sense in just the QS vs. Venture comparison, however, the Venture fails when you look outside these two products.
You can get a straight 2% cash back card for $0 AF from either Citi or Fidelity. Also, the Venture requires you to go through the hassle of redeeming the "No Hassle" miles using their purchase eraser. With a straight Cash Back card, you don't have those restrictions.
The Quicksilver is the simpler option, and requires no AF to maintain it. You also get the benefits of no FTF if you need. Unless you do a lot of foreign travel, and spend a lot of money overseas (more than $11,800/yr), the benefit of the Venture over the QS is not worth it, IMO.
I would argue that the spend would need to be even higher than that. Yes, mathematically, that is the point at which both cards are equal. The question, imo, is whether the gain in rewards after that threshold is worth the stipulation of a required spend amount. If one will use the Venture as their primary card, then it is not an issue. Otherwise, you become tied to using it to offset the cost of the annual fee or out-gain the Quicksilver (sans the consideration of sign-up bonuses or a possible PC).
I would ask not whether your spend is at least $11,802 but, rather, if your spend is significantly higher than that amount and whether you are certain that it will see that spend. The Venture is valuable if you've determined that, based on your spend, an extra $5 is worth it (or $10 or whatever, if you're right around $12k annual spend). If it will see an amount significantly greater than $11,802 annually, then yes, the Venture is better but only in that specific set of circumstances.
So, I would also choose the Quicksilver - unless your card usage is consistent with what I discussed above, and you deem whatever extra gain after reaching the threshold is worth the requirement of using it substantially. If you're a big spender or do not care about +/-, then all of this is moot; choose the Venture if you want it.
There is an additional discussion required for rewards redemption that also gives a nod to the Quicksilver imo.
Quicksilver > Venture
