Overview of the Best Capital One Credit Cards
Capital One is one of the largest issuers of credit cards in the United States. No matter if you are looking for a card that offers cash back or travel rewards, Capital One has something that will fit your needs. For a long time Capital One has been known for their “Hassle Free” rewards, but they’re so much more than that. They offer cards with no foreign transaction fees, cards with no annual fees, cards for people with bad credit, and cards for small business owners. No matter what your situation, Capital One has a card for your wallet. We have taken the time to dive into each card and have come up with the best Capital One card based on different criteria. See More
Best Capital One Credit Card for Travel
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Benefits
If you like using your credit cards to earn travel rewards, then you have a lot of options available. Some cards allow you to earn rewards toward a specific hotel or airline, and other cards earn rewards that can be used toward any travel expense. One card that has flexible redemption options is Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
When you sign up for Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll receive a one-time early spend bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of card membership. You will earn 2x miles on every purchase that you make.
When it comes time to redeem your miles, every 100 miles is worth a $1 statement credit on any travel expense. This includes airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises and much more. Plus, your rewards will never expire as long as your account stays active.
Things to Consider
If you are planning to make a large purchase in the near future, you should be aware that there isn’t an introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers. Instead, your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card will have an APR of 17.49% - 25.49% Variable. The card will also come with an annual fee of $95.
Our Verdict
If you are looking for a travel reward credit card that offers flexible redemptions, then Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great choice. Not only will you earn double miles on every purchase, but because it’s a Visa, you will receive Visa Signature benefits.
- Receive a one-time early spend bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of card membership
- Earn double miles on all purchases
- Miles can be redeemed for any travel expense
- No foreign transaction fees
- No ability to earn bonus rewards on popular categories
- $95 annual fee
More Details
- Earn a one time early spend bonus of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases during your first 3 months with the card
- On every purchase, you will earn an unlimited 2 miles per dollar
- There's no limit to the number of miles you can earn and your miles won't expire as long as your account is in good standing
- Receive up to a $100 credit for either Global Entry or TSA Precheck when you use your Venture Card
- Receive 2 complimentary visits to Capital One Lounges per year, or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
- Earn 5x miles on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel - terms apply
- Redeem your miles for travel from car rentals to vacation rentals, and more. Transfer your miles to 15+ loyalty travel programs for additional flexibility
Annual Fee
$95Purchase Intro APR
N/ABalance Transfer Intro APR
N/ARegular APR
17.49% - 25.49% VariableBenefits
If you like using your credit cards to earn travel rewards, then you have a lot of options available. Some cards allow you to earn rewards toward a specific hotel or airline, and other cards earn rewards that can be used toward any travel expense. One card that has flexible redemption options is Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
When you sign up for Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll receive a one-time early spend bonus of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of card membership. You will earn 2x miles on every purchase that you make.
When it comes time to redeem your miles, every 100 miles is worth a $1 statement credit on any travel expense. This includes airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises and much more. Plus, your rewards will never expire as long as your account stays active.
Things to Consider
If you are planning to make a large purchase in the near future, you should be aware that there isn’t an introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers. Instead, your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card will have an APR of 17.49% - 25.49% Variable. The card will also come with an annual fee of $95.
Our Verdict
If you are looking for a travel reward credit card that offers flexible redemptions, then Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great choice. Not only will you earn double miles on every purchase, but because it’s a Visa, you will receive Visa Signature benefits.
Best Capital One Credit Card for Cash Back
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Benefits
There was a time when earning a flat 1% cash back on a credit card was normal. Things have changed and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is near the front of the pack. Once you are approved for this card, you will receive a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months.
Then each time you make a purchase you will earn 1.5% cash back. There is no limit to the amount of cash back you can receive. Plus, your rewards will never expire and they can be redeemed at any time, for any amount. That means you don’t need to wait until you get to a specific level before redeeming.
Things to Consider
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card comes with an introductory 0% APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. This will give you a little additional time to pay off any upcoming purchases that you might want to make. Once the introductory period is over the APR will change to 19.74% - 29.74% Variable. There is also no annual fee on this card and no foreign transaction fees. That means you can feel confident using your card when traveling outside the United States.
Verdict
If you are looking for a straightforward cash back card, then Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is the perfect choice. You will earn generous rewards on every purchase, plus you won't need to keep track of any bonus categories.
- $200 early spend bonus after making $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
- Requires good or excellent credit to be approved
- Very limited redemption options available
More Details
- Earn a one-time early spend bonus of $200 when you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of having an account
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back - no matter the purchase
- There is no annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad
- Earn 5% unlimited cash back on rental cars and hotels booked with Capital One Travel. Terms Apply
- Categories don't change or rotate, rewards are automatic. There is no limit to the cash back you can earn and cash back won't expire as long as your account is in good standing
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months; receive 19.74%- 29.74% variable APR after that depending on creditworthiness. For balances transferred, there is a 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
Annual Fee
$0Purchase Intro APR
0% for 15 MonthsBalance Transfer Intro APR
0% for 15 monthsRegular APR
19.74% - 29.74% VariableBenefits
There was a time when earning a flat 1% cash back on a credit card was normal. Things have changed and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is near the front of the pack. Once you are approved for this card, you will receive a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months.
Then each time you make a purchase you will earn 1.5% cash back. There is no limit to the amount of cash back you can receive. Plus, your rewards will never expire and they can be redeemed at any time, for any amount. That means you don’t need to wait until you get to a specific level before redeeming.
Things to Consider
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card comes with an introductory 0% APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. This will give you a little additional time to pay off any upcoming purchases that you might want to make. Once the introductory period is over the APR will change to 19.74% - 29.74% Variable. There is also no annual fee on this card and no foreign transaction fees. That means you can feel confident using your card when traveling outside the United States.
Verdict
If you are looking for a straightforward cash back card, then Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is the perfect choice. You will earn generous rewards on every purchase, plus you won't need to keep track of any bonus categories.
Best Capital One Credit Card for Cash Back with Average Credit
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Benefits
If you have less than perfect credit, it’s difficult to find a good rewards credit card. Most will have very mediocre earnings potential. However, that’s not the case with the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
With this card you will earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase that you make. There is no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn. Plus, you will not need to keep track of rotating bonus categories like other cards require.
Depending on your credit score, you might have a fairly low credit line when you first get this card. However, with responsible use you can gain access to a higher credit limit in as little as six months as Capital One will automatically review your account. This can quickly have positive effects on your credit score.
Things to Consider
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card does come with a $39 annual fee, but this is very low for a rewards credit card. The big thing to be aware of is that the card has a variable purchase APR of 26.99%. This is quite high, which means it’s extremely important to pay your balance in full each month. This will help you avoid any interest charges.
Our Verdict
If you don’t have perfect credit, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great rewards credit card to choose. You will earn a generous cash back rate and you will be given the tools to build your credit score. This will help you move into an even better product in the future.
- Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- There are no limits to the amount of cash back earned
- $39 annual fee
- No intro bonus reward on purchases
More Details
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back - no matter the purchase
- No need to sign up or opt-in to rotating cash back categories each quarter - earn cash back automatically
- With responsible card use the QuicksilverOne card can help strengthen your credit. Capital One will automatically review your account and consider you for a higher credit line in as little as six months
- Get access to the CreditWise app and monitor your credit score and credit report for free
- There is no limit to the cash back you can earn and cash back won't expire as long as your account is in good standing
- Earn an unlimited 5% cash back on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel - terms apply
- With the Capital One mobile app, you can set up personalized text or email reminders to help you stay current on your account
Annual Fee
$39Purchase Intro APR
N/ABalance Transfer Intro APR
N/ARegular APR
26.99% VariableBenefits
If you have less than perfect credit, it’s difficult to find a good rewards credit card. Most will have very mediocre earnings potential. However, that’s not the case with the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
With this card you will earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase that you make. There is no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn. Plus, you will not need to keep track of rotating bonus categories like other cards require.
Depending on your credit score, you might have a fairly low credit line when you first get this card. However, with responsible use you can gain access to a higher credit limit in as little as six months as Capital One will automatically review your account. This can quickly have positive effects on your credit score.
Things to Consider
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card does come with a $39 annual fee, but this is very low for a rewards credit card. The big thing to be aware of is that the card has a variable purchase APR of 26.99%. This is quite high, which means it’s extremely important to pay your balance in full each month. This will help you avoid any interest charges.
Our Verdict
If you don’t have perfect credit, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great rewards credit card to choose. You will earn a generous cash back rate and you will be given the tools to build your credit score. This will help you move into an even better product in the future.
Best Capital One Card for Small Businesses
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Benefits
As a small business owner, you have a lot to worry about every day. Your charge card should not be one of those things. With the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card you’re getting a simple, easy-to-manage card.
You will receive an early spend bonus of up to $1,000: $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months with the card. Each time you use your card for a business expense, you will receive 2% cash back on that purchase. Plus, you can get $200 in additional cash back every year that you spend more than $200,000 on your card. As long as your account stays open and active, your rewards will never expire. An added benefit is that you’ll now have the option to convert your rewards into Venture miles or Spark miles, giving you even more ways to cash in.
Allowing your employees to make business related purchases can be a great idea. Not only will this keep spending within one account, but it can also help generate rewards for the business quicker. With the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card, you will be able to add employee cards a no additional cost.
Things to Consider
There is a $150 annual fee. The card also has no APR, as you are expected to pay your balance in full every month.
Verdict
If you are a business owner looking for a cash back card, then the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a solid choice. Its high sign-up bonus and unlimited rewards earning potential make it stand out from most other cards.
- Earn up to a $1,000 early spend bonus: $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months with the card.
- Earn 2% cash back on all purchases made
- $150 annual fee
- Good or Excellent credit required for approval
More Details
- Earn up to a $1,000 early spend cash bonus: $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months with the card
- Earn 2% cash back - no matter the purchase and no limit to the amount you can earn
- There is no preset spending limit, the card will adapt to your needs based on credit profile, spending behavior and payment history
- Every year that you spend $200,000 or more, earn a $200 cash bonus
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One travel
- Add a card for your employees for free and earn cash back from their purchases
- There is a $150 annual fee
- There is no APR for the card because your balance is due in full each month.
Annual Fee
$150Purchase Intro APR
N/ABalance Transfer Intro APR
N/ARegular APR
N/ABenefits
As a small business owner, you have a lot to worry about every day. Your charge card should not be one of those things. With the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card you’re getting a simple, easy-to-manage card.
You will receive an early spend bonus of up to $1,000: $500 once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, and $500 once you spend $50,000 in the first 6 months with the card. Each time you use your card for a business expense, you will receive 2% cash back on that purchase. Plus, you can get $200 in additional cash back every year that you spend more than $200,000 on your card. As long as your account stays open and active, your rewards will never expire. An added benefit is that you’ll now have the option to convert your rewards into Venture miles or Spark miles, giving you even more ways to cash in.
Allowing your employees to make business related purchases can be a great idea. Not only will this keep spending within one account, but it can also help generate rewards for the business quicker. With the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card, you will be able to add employee cards a no additional cost.
Things to Consider
There is a $150 annual fee. The card also has no APR, as you are expected to pay your balance in full every month.
Verdict
If you are a business owner looking for a cash back card, then the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a solid choice. Its high sign-up bonus and unlimited rewards earning potential make it stand out from most other cards.
Best Capital One Credit Card for Poor Credit
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Benefits
If you have less than perfect credit, then using a credit card is one of the best ways to build your credit score back up. However, finding a quality card from a reputable issuer can be a struggle. The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card tends to be one of the best for anyone with poor credit.
This card requires a refundable security deposit, which will act as your credit line. Depending on your credit score, your deposit will be either $49, $99 or $200. This will give you an initial credit line of $200. If you want to have access to more, you can deposit up to $1,000 before your account opens.
Capital One® will automatically review your account and consider you for a higher credit line in as little as six months. To help track your progress, you will have access to your credit score each month through CreditWise.
Things to Consider
Most secured credit cards have a very high APR and Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is no different. You will receive a variable 26.99% APR on all purchases. This means it’s critical that you pay your balance in full each month. If not, your purchases will start accruing finance charges. This card doesn’t have an annual fee.
Verdict
Even though it has a high APR, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is one of the best cards available for anyone with poor credit. This card will give you all the tools needed to build your credit score back up.
- Flexible security deposit of $49, $99 or $200
- Be considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- No annual fee
- No opportunity to earn rewards on purchases
- High 26.99% Variable APR
More Details
- There are no hidden fees and no annual fee. It only takes seconds to see if you are approved
- With responsible card use, this card can help you build credit
- A security deposit of $49, $99, or $200 is determined based on your creditworthiness. Access to an authorized bank account is required for deposit.
- Capital One will automatically review your account and consider you for a higher credit line in as little as six months
- Earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you are a responsible card holder
- $0 fraud liability
- Have access to CreditWise from Capital One for free to help you monitor your credit
Annual Fee
$0Purchase Intro APR
N/ABalance Transfer Intro APR
N/ARegular APR
26.99% VariableBenefits
If you have less than perfect credit, then using a credit card is one of the best ways to build your credit score back up. However, finding a quality card from a reputable issuer can be a struggle. The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card tends to be one of the best for anyone with poor credit.
This card requires a refundable security deposit, which will act as your credit line. Depending on your credit score, your deposit will be either $49, $99 or $200. This will give you an initial credit line of $200. If you want to have access to more, you can deposit up to $1,000 before your account opens.
Capital One® will automatically review your account and consider you for a higher credit line in as little as six months. To help track your progress, you will have access to your credit score each month through CreditWise.
Things to Consider
Most secured credit cards have a very high APR and Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is no different. You will receive a variable 26.99% APR on all purchases. This means it’s critical that you pay your balance in full each month. If not, your purchases will start accruing finance charges. This card doesn’t have an annual fee.
Verdict
Even though it has a high APR, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is one of the best cards available for anyone with poor credit. This card will give you all the tools needed to build your credit score back up.
Methodology SmartAsset has developed a quantitative and independent system for evaluating the relative value of a credit card offer versus other offers in the marketplace. Our system evaluates cards based exclusively on their features, such as their rewards earning rate (if applicable), fees, perks, and rewards program redemption options. The annual rewards values on this page are calculated using annual spending assumptions in various categories such as, but not limited to, gas, restaurants, airfare, and US supermarkets. These spending assumptions are built on research that SmartAsset has conducted on existing balance transfer credit cardholders. Our promise with our credit card recommendations is that we will always strive to have the most comprehensive, accurate, and objective method of evaluating credit card offers. Any recommendations are solely determined by the result of this research and model, and is never influenced by any fees, commissions, or other forms of compensation that SmartAsset may receive from credit card issuers for leads generated on our website.