Capital One Credit Cards

All information about Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Spark Miles for Business has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

Comparing Capital One Credit Cards

Updated: September 18, 2020

Imagine credit cards that are easy to use, miles that are easy to redeem and rewards that are easy to love. Capital One has all this and more. You will find travel cards, cash back cards and products for the consumer just starting out, all backed by one of the nation’s largest banks.

The best Capital One credit card is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. This card offers a hefty sign-up bonus of 100,00 miles for spending $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months or you can earn 50,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. The bonus is worth either $1,000 or $500 respectively when redeemed for travel. You’ll also earn 2X miles on all qualifying purchases. Capital One offers flexible redemption options as you can redeem your miles with any airline or hotel.

We look here at what Capital One offers and how the cards work:

• What are the best Capital One credit cards?
• Compare the Capital One credit card offers
• What is Capital One?
• Which Capital One card should you get?
• Capital One rewards program and best redemption options
• Other benefits of having Capital One credit cards

Best Capital One Credit Cards

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Why it’s the best Capital One credit card for building credit

Need a leg up on your credit? Look no further. The Platinum is a great first card or a product for the consumer trying to build his or her credit with responsible card use.

Pros

This card accepts consumers with average, fair or limited credit. There is no annual fee, unlike the QuicksilverOne, and like the QuicksilverOne, you may be able to up your credit limit after the first 6 months of on-time payments.

Cons

There are no ongoing rewards with this card, unlike the QuicksilverOne.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why it’s the best Capital One credit card for cash back

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is great for consumers who want the freedom of cash back without having to worry about rotating categories.

Pros

Unlike the QuicksilverOne, which accepts consumers with lower credit, the Quicksilver has no annual fee. This card can’t be beat when you are looking for a no-annual-fee card that has across-the-board boosted ongoing rewards.

Cons

If you are willing to pay an annual fee, you can get a better welcome bonus and better tiered ongoing rewards, as with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

Secured Mastercard® from Capital One

Why this is the best Capital One secured credit card

Some of us are struggling to get ahead financially – especially students – and this card can get you on your way, with no annual fee and the opportunity to build credit with responsible use.

Pros

The Secured Mastercard from Capital One accepts consumers with bad or limited credit and is ideal for someone looking to repair credit. That’s because the easiest and fastest way to build credit is with a credit card. Why? Because the dominant scoring models favor responsible credit card use.

Cons

With a secured card like this one, you will be required to put down a refundable deposit that you will be borrowing off of for your credit limit. There are no ongoing rewards or sign-up bonus.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Why it’s the best Capital One credit card for travel rewards

If you are looking for tight rewards and don’t want to be tied down by a specific travel brand, the Venture Rewards is perfect. As one of the best credit cards for travel rewards, it’s worth your while if you do a fair amount of traveling, even with a $95 annual fee.

Pros

The Venture Rewards’ 2X miles on all purchases are solid, as is the sign-up bonus of 100,000 miles if you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months or 50,000 miles after only a $3,000 spend within the first 3 months.

Cons

While the Venture Rewards card now have airline partners, the 2:1.5 transfer ratio is less than that of some other competitor travel cards.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Why it’s the best Capital One credit card for no annual fee

The VentureOne is a great first travel card, with no annual fee as well as no foreign transaction fee.

Pros

The VentureOne’s fun rewards make it worth a look. This is a strong choice for a first travel card with flexibility in redemptions and partnerships with more than ten airlines.

Cons

The ongoing rewards of 1.25X miles on all purchases and the signup bonus could be better.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why it’s the best Capital One credit card for dining rewards

It’s practically unheard of to find a cash back card that offers 3% back on dining and entertainment with an unlimited spend. If those are the types of purchases you often find yourself making, the SavorOne is a great option.

Pros

The SavorOne is an improved product when compared to the old Savor. There’s a great $200 bonus after a $500 spend within the first 3 months and 2% back at grocery stores, in addition to the great dining rewards.

Cons

Although there’s no annual fee, this card’s sign-up bonus is in the middle of the pack when compared to other cash back cards.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why it’s the best Capital One credit card for limited credit history

QuicksilverOne is a great option for the consumer with fair credit who wants experience with earning rewards. It also may give you access to a higher credit limit after you make your first 6 payments on time.

Pros

This card has the same ongoing rewards as the Quicksilver Cash Rewards, making it a compelling choice for your wallet.

Cons

The QuicksilverOne doesn’t have the sign-up bonus of the Quicksilver, and it carries an annual fee of $39, which isn’t waived the first year.

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

Why it’s the best Capital One credit card for students

The Journey Student Rewards card incentivizes healthy credit habits with built-in features like a 25% boost to your rewards earnings for paying your bill on time each month– instead of 1% cash back on general purchases, you’ll get 1.25%. Also, cardholders are automatically considered for a credit line increase after six months of on-time payments.

Pros

For those just dipping their toe into the world of credit, this is a great card for learning healthy financial habits and earning rewards while doing so. Plus, students who study abroad will love the fact that there are no foreign transaction fees.

Cons

One possible disadvantage for young consumers is the high APR, at 26.99% variable. If you think you may not be able to pay the balance in full each month, you’ll keep more money in your pocket by pursuing a card with a low interest rate.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why it’s the best Capital One credit card for sign-up bonus

With superior ongoing rewards and a strong sign-up bonus, the Savor Cash Rewards has a lot to offer. Earn $300 cash back after a $3,000 spend within the first 3 months, making it a top cash back card for sign-up bonuses.

Pros

This card’s rewards of 4% on dining and entertainment beat the previous offer of 3% on just dining, as well as the same great 2% back at grocery stores.

Cons

There’s now an annual fee of $95 that is not waived in the first year.

Capital One Spark Cash for Business

Why it’s the best Capital One business credit card for cash back

If you are looking for a cash back business card, the Spark Cash for Business has some great features, such as the sign-up bonus. And if you want the convenience of a card that grants you employee cards at no charge, this card delivers.

Pros

The spark that this card’s 2% back offers makes it a challenge to ignore. Also, rewards don’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem for any amount.

Cons

Although it’s waived the first year, there’s a $95 annual fee. The sign-up bonus’ required spend is also high, at $4,500 within the first 3 months for a $500 bonus.

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Why it’s the best Capital One business credit card for travel

The Spark Miles for Business is similar to the Spark Cash, except you get miles instead of cash back, making it a good choice for travel redemptions.

Pros

Like the Spark Cash for Business, the Spark Miles card’s $95 annual fee is waived the first year, and the ongoing rewards are the same, making it a good card to have for travel.

Cons

The Spark Miles earns you 50,000 miles after a $4,500 spend within the first 3 months of card membership, making the required spend a high barrier.

Compare the best Capital One credit card offers of 2020

Capital One’s exciting lineup of credit cards includes business, cash and travel rewards, as well as vehicles for credit building. Also, you can allow an authorized user to build credit while giving a loved one access to a quality credit card. Here is a comparison of the best Capital One credit cards of 2020:

What is Capital One?

As the 10th largest bank in America, it’s little surprise the breadth of services Capital One offers.

From consumer to commercial, this bank offers a wide range of financial opportunities. Here are some of the services offered.

Consumer

• Credit cards – from credit building to rewards and cash back
• Banking – from checking and kids savings to CDs and IRAs
• Auto – for new or used car loan, or refinancing
• Invest – through Capital One Investing

Business

• Credit cards – Spark Cash and Spark Miles
• Banking – checking and savings
• Borrow – includes business loans
• Invest – includes creating 401(k) plans
• Manage – merchant services and cash management

Commercial

• Commercial lending – from term loans to lines of credit
• Depository services – commercial checking, savings or CDs
• Treasury management – digital tools and automated solutions
• Capital markets – from foreign exchange to public finance
• Private banking & wealth management – from asset management to trust services
• Corporate card – The One Card from Capital One simplifies expenses, accounts payable and billing processes

Which Capital One card is best for you?

Yes, other card issuers have higher end cards with lots of fancy features that you may or may not use, but a Capital One card is guaranteed to serve you well, depending on what you seek. Here is who can benefit from Capital One products:

The foodie who loves dining out

There are two cards to choose from for experiences. There’s little question that the Savor Cash Rewards card’s 4% back on dining out and entertainment is unbeatable, but if you want to avoid the annual fee, the SavorOne offers a superior 3% back for the same categories. That’s unlimited, making this a millennial’s dream.

The traveler

There are two options for the traveler, both great for domestic and international, and they are the Venture Rewards and the VentureOne Rewards. The VentureOne is best for the occasional traveler who just can’t justify an annual fee, and the Venture is great for the traveler who wants to max out spending.

The seeker of convenience

Want a cash back card that you don’t have to think about to get great rewards back? The Quicksilver and QuicksilverOne cards have the same across-the-board cash back offer, although the QuicksilverOne has an annual fee and no sign-up bonus in exchange for only recommending fair credit.

Compare Quicksilver cards…

The consumer just starting out

If you have thin or fair credit, Capital One offers two cards to choose from. The Capital One Platinum is a good choice for the consumer with fair credit, while the Capital One Secured accepts consumers who have no credit history. Neither has an annual fee.

The business owner

Whether you travel often for work or you have a fair amount of business expenses, Capital One has two business cards to choose from – the Spark Cash for Business offers cash back on all purchases, and the Spark Miles for Business offers miles on all purchases. Both cards’ $95 annual fee is waived the first year.

Capital One rewards program and best redemption options

It’s relatively easy to earn and redeem with the Capital One rewards program.

With the cashback program, you simply log in and follow the prompts to redeem. You can even set it up to automatically get your cash back. You can use your cash back for statement credits, a check, gift cards or donate to charity.

With the Capital One travel rewards program, you earn miles for all purchases and you get a sign-up bonus as well. A big advantage to the Capital One travel rewards program is that you aren’t tied down by loyalty to brands, and you aren’t limited to rewards for specific types of purchases. And you can also transfer your miles to a number of airline partners and travel loyalty programs.

You can use your miles for travel in the past 90 days, book new travel through Capital One, gift cards, a check or you can transfer them to another account. One plus about Capital One Venture cards: You always get 1:1 for travel redemption of miles. Redemption even includes spending on Airbnb and Uber.

Other benefits of having Capital One credit cards

From no foreign transaction fees to travel accident insurance, Capital One cards offer a plethora of benefits, including travel and retail; apps and digital services; and security. Here’s what this bank issuer offers:

Travel and shopping

No foreign transaction fees

Capital One cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, saving you about 3% to 5% per purchase outside the U.S.

24-hour travel assistance

You can get an emergency replacement card and a cash advance any time, along with emergency, medical, travel and legal referral services. The extent of services available (like roadside assistance) vary by card.

Auto rental collision damage waiver

An eligible rental vehicle is covered for damage due to theft, collision or possibly towing charges. Further coverage may depend on your card and whether it’s a domestic or international rental.

Travel accident insurance

When the entire travel fare is purchased using your card, eligible losses are covered at no extra charge.

Extended warranty

At no extra charge, you could receive an extended warranty of up to three additional years on eligible items purchased with your card for up to $10,000.

Mile transfer

Venture and VentureOne miles can be transferred to any of Capital One’s 10+ travel loyalty programs for the adaptability your trip needs.

Experience Access

Foodies, travelers and sports fans get access to cardholder-exclusive premium experiences, including dining, music, sports and entertainment events.

Capital One Shopping

This browser extension from Capital One saves online shoppers money by scanning the web for lower prices on your item.

Paribus

This online shopping service from Capital One tracks your online purchase confirmation emails from over 25 major retailers to monitor price changes and helps you get refunds for retail price drops, late deliveries and returns.

Security Services

Mobile app

The Capital One Mobile app allows you to manage your account on the go with activity and credit monitoring features, mobile check deposit, rewards redemption, Zelle® mobile payments and Card Lock to freeze your stolen or lost credit card.

CreditWise

CreditWise™ is a comprehensive, free credit monitoring resource that scans the dark web for your SSN, alerts you to any changes from two credit bureaus, and guides your next steps. This service is available to cardholders even if they aren’t Capital One customers.

Eno

The Capital One assistant tool allows you to keep tabs on your account with the ability to text a Capital One associate, check your balance, review transactions and pay your bill. Online shoppers can also use Eno to generate virtual credit card numbers for each merchant in order to keep your real credit card number secure.

Security and account alerts

Capital One monitors your account and can notify you through text, email and phone if they notice possible suspicious transactions.

Fraud coverage

In case your credit card was stolen, Capital One’s $0 fraud liability means you won’t even have to pay the FTC’s $50 liability limit for verified unauthorized purchases.

Laura is an editor and writer at CreditCards.com. She has written extensively on all things credit cards and works to bring you the most up-to-date analysis and advice. Laura’s work has been cited in such publications as the New York Times and Associated Press. You can reach her by e-mail at laura.mohammad@creditcards.com and on Twitter @creditcards_lm.