Best Capital One credit cards
- Best no-annual-fee Capital One card: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best cash-back Capital One card: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best travel Capital One card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best luxury Capital One card: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Best student Capital One card: Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
- Best Capital One card for bad credit: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
- Best business Capital One card: Capital One Spark Cash Plus
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Best no-annual-fee Capital One card
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
On Capital One's secure site
Rewards
1.5% cash back on every purchase
Welcome bonus
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
17.99% - 27.99% variable
Balance transfer fee
3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Pros
- No annual fee
- Low spending requirement for the welcome bonus
- Redeem cash back for any amount at any time
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- 3% balance transfer fee during the first 15 months your account is open
- No bonus rewards categories
Who's this for? The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is an easy-to-use no-annual-fee credit card that offers cash back and a generous welcome bonus. Cardholders earn 1.5% cash back on everything you buy, which can be conveniently redeemed at any time and for any amount.
Plus if you spend $500 within the first three months your account is open, you'll earn a $200 cash bonus. That's like earning 40% back.
Beyond rewards, you can finance new purchases or transfer debt with a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months from account opening (then 17.99% - 27.99% variable APR; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months). This provides you with over a year to repay large purchases or get rid of debt once and for all.
The Quicksilver card also has no foreign transaction fees and provides 24-hour travel assistance, extended warranty protection and access to premier culinary, entertainment and sports event experiences.
Best cash-back Capital One card
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Rewards
4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 4% on eligible streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
17.49% - 25.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
3% for promotional APR offers; none for balances transferred at regular APR
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Pros
- Unlimited 4% cash back on entertainment purchases
- 8% cash back on all Vivid Seats ticket purchases through January 2023
- Ability to redeem rewards at any amount, unlike some other cards with $25 minimums
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No introductory 0% financing offers for purchases or balance transfers
Best travel Capital One card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
On Capital One's secure site
Rewards
5X miles on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A for purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
18.99% - 26.99% variable
Balance transfer fee
0% at the regular transfer APR
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Pros
- 5X miles on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every 4 years
Cons
- No introductory APR
- There’s a $95 annual fee
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great choice for travelers that aren't loyal to a particular hotel chain. This card offers one of the best rewards programs for travel, especially hotel bookings. Cardholders earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, plus 5X miles on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
You can redeem your points for travel by transferring them to one of Capital One's airline and hotel partners (like Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Air Canada Aeroplan), or you can use them to "erase" any recent travel purchases. You can also redeem your points for actual cash in the form of a check, but points are worth less if you go this route.
A noteworthy perk of this card is a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years worth up to $100. If you travel through airports often, this benefit can save you time and money.
While Venture does come with a $95 annual fee, it's low compared to some other travel cards with annual fees over $500. This card has no foreign transaction fees and comes with a variety of travel perks, such as 24-hour travel assistance services and an auto rental collision damage waiver.
Best luxury Capital One card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
On Capital One's secure site
Rewards
Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5X miles on flights and 10X miles on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$395
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
19.99% - 26.99% variable APR
Balance transfer fee
0% at the regular transfer APR
Foreign transaction fees
$0
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Pros
- Large welcome bonus
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Access to over 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges, as well as Capital One lounges
Cons
- High annual fee
- No introductory 0% APR period
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for someone who travels often and wants to reduce airport stress without being brand loyal. It offers a competitive rewards program for common travel expenses: Earn 10X miles on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles for every dollar spent on flights through the portal. Plus, you'll earn 2X points on all other purchases. As with the Venture Rewards Card, there are many ways to redeem your rewards, including transferring them to various airline and hotel partners.
It is loaded with benefits, including an up to $100 statement credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, complimentary cell phone insurance and access to Capital One Lounges as well as the extensive network of Priority Pass and Plaza Premium airport lounges worldwide. Every year, cardholders receive up to $300 back in statement credits each year for bookings made through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary.
The card has a $395 annual fee, which is on the lower end for a premium credit card, but it can be quickly made back if you maximize the card's features. There is no fee on purchases made outside the U.S.
Best student Capital One card
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Information about the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Rewards
Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases. Pay on time to boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% for that month
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
28.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
None
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Fair/Good
Pros
- No annual fee
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- High variable APR
- No special financing offers
Who's this for? If you want to learn how to use credit responsibly while in college, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One can help teach you good habits without charging an annual fee. This card encourages you to pay on time with the benefit of earning extra cash back.
Cardholders earn 1% cash back on all purchases, which increases to 1.25% for every billing cycle that you make at least your minimum payment on time. While paying the minimumkeeps your account current and prevents late fees, we encourage you to pay in full to avoid interest charges from this card's steep 28.49% variable APR. By using this card during college to make purchases and bill payments, you can achieve a good credit score upon graduation.
Take note that this college student credit card doesn't require you to be a student to qualify, but you will need to show that you meet income requirements by providing your employment status and total annual income during the application process.
Beyond rewards and the ability to build credit, you can use this card abroad with no foreign transaction fees and benefit from auto rental collision damage waiver and more.
Best Capital One card for bad credit card
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Information about the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the cards prior to publication.
Rewards
None
Welcome bonus
No current offer
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A for purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
28.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
None
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
No credit history
Pros
- No annual fee
- $49, $99 or $200 refundable deposit
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
- Flexibility to change your payment due date
Cons
- High variable APR
- No rewards program
Who's this for? Prospective cardholders with bad credit may find it difficult to open a traditional, unsecured credit card. However, there's often the opportunity to qualify for a secured card, such as the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, which can be used to make purchases just like an unsecured card.
The main difference is that you'll be required to make a $49, $99 or $200 security deposit, based on your creditworthiness, to receive a $200 credit limit. This card stands out for offering the chance to qualify for a lower deposit and still receive the same $200 credit limit.
And if you don't qualify for the $49 or $99 deposits, you can receive access to a higher credit limit in as little as six months with no additional deposit needed. Capital One automatically considers you for a credit limit increase based on your payment history and creditworthiness in as little as 6 months.
Best business Capital One card
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Credit Card
Information about the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Rewards
Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase
Welcome bonus
Earn up to $1,000 in the first 6 months; $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months.
Annual fee
$150
Promo APR
None
Regular APR
No APR; pay off your balance in full every month to avoid a 2.99% late fee
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
$0
Credit needed
Excellent
Pros
- No present spending limit
- Free employee cards
- Roadside assistance benefits
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance must be paid in full each month
- Annual cash bonus of $200 requires $200,000 yearly spending
Who's this for? Small business owners who want to earn simple cash back on purchases should consider the Capital One Spark Cash Plus. This card offers 2% cash back on every eligible purchase — whether it's shipping costs, office furniture or meals for your employees.
The Spark Cash Plus also comes with helpful business benefits, including account management tools (such as the ability to view recurring transactions and download purchase records to Quicken®, QuickBooks® and Excel®), extended warranty and protection, travel benefits, and more.
This card does have a $150 annual fee, but employee cards are free so there's no added cost there.
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Our methodology
To determine which credit cards offer the best value, Select analyzed Capital One credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.
Select teamed up with location intelligence firm Esri. The company's data development team provided the most up-to-date and comprehensive consumer spending data based on the 2019 Consumer Expenditure Surveys from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can read more about their methodology here.
Esri's data team created a sample annual budget of approximately $22,126 in retail spending. The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). General purchases include items such as housekeeping supplies, clothing, personal care products, prescription drugs and vitamins, and other vehicle expenses.
Select used this budget to estimate how much the average consumer would save over the course of a year, two years and five years, assuming they would attempt to maximize their rewards potential by earning all welcome bonuses offered and using the card for all applicable purchases. All rewards total estimations are net the annual fee.
While the five-year estimates we've included are derived from a budget similar to the average American's spending, you may earn a higher or lower return depending on your shopping habits.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.