Key takeaways

  • The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit are two strong cards offering rewards rates on dining, entertainment, hotels, car rentals and more, as well as welcome bonuses that depend on your spending.
  • The Capital One Savor takes the edge for its higher welcome bonus and rewards that include cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), which can make the $95 annual fee well worth the cost..
  • Yet the SavorOne is right on its tail, offering an intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers you won't find with the Capital One Savor — and with no annual fee to eat into your rewards.
  • Ultimately, the best card for you comes down to what you spend on eating and hanging out, and how comfortable you are with an upfront fee.

If you’re looking for a rewards credit card that gives you more points on dining and entertainment, then either the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* or the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card could be an ideal option. Both cards offer similar earning structures and allow you to redeem cash back in similar ways, but one offers a slightly less lucrative rewards structure in exchange for no annual fee.

Should you pay the $95 annual fee for the Capital One Savor in order to score a bigger welcome bonus and more points on your spending, or would you rather skip the fee and earn slightly less in cash back throughout the year? This card comparison should help you decide.

Main details

Cards Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Welcome bonus Earn a $300 bonus after spending $3,000 within your first 3 months Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 within your first 3 months
Rewards rate
  • 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services (including Hulu, Disney+ and Netflix)
  • 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
  • 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
  • 1% on all other purchases
Intro APR N/A 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of 19.99% to 29.99%; a 3% fee applies to balance transfers
Annual fee $95 $0

Capital One Savor vs. SavorOne highlights

It’s easy to see why the Capital One Savor or the Capital One SavorOne might make your list, but which one stands out more? We compare these cards side by side in several important categories.

Welcome bonus winner: Savor

The Capital One Savor is the clear winner in this category since you can earn a $300 bonus (after spending $3,000 within the first three months), which is $100 more than the SavorOne (which offers a $200 bonus after spending only $500 within three months). Although you’ll need to meet a higher spending requirement of $3,000 on the Savor card, this bonus is worth pursuing if you can charge at least $1,000 per month in regular bills and purchases for three months in a row.

Rewards rate winner: Savor

The Savor also comes out ahead in this category since you’ll earn 4 percent back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, instead of just 3 percent back on these purchases with the SavorOne. However, both cards let you earn the same 3 percent back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), 5 percent back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 8 percent back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 1 percent back on all other spending.

Annual fee winner: SavorOne

The SavorOne wins in this category, because it doesn’t charge an annual fee. In contrast, the Savor comes with a $95 annual fee.

Foreign transaction fee winner: Tie

Neither of these cash back cards charges a foreign transaction fee when making purchases outside of the United States. As a result, they tie in this category.

Intro APR offer winner: SavorOne

Since the Savor doesn’t include any 0 percent intro APR offers, the SavorOne comes out ahead in this category, offering a 0 percent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of 19.99 percent to 29.99 percent. Note that a 3 percent fee applies to balances transferred within the first 15 months.

Which card earns the most?

To figure out which card will help you earn more rewards, first determine how much you spend on dining, entertainment and streaming services. If you spend a lot in these three categories every month, then paying the $95 annual fee on the Savor could easily put you ahead.

Capital One Savor vs. SavorOne spending example

Imagine for a moment that you dine out for work or leisure most days of the week, and you frequently spend money on purchases Capital One counts as entertainment. For example, entertainment purchases include movie tickets, theatrical promoters, sports promoters, amusement parks, tourist attractions, aquariums, zoos, dance halls, bowling alleys, pool halls and record stores.

In any given month as a frequent spender, say you spend $2,000 on dining, entertainment and streaming services, $800 at grocery stores and $1,000 on all other spending with your credit card. At the end of 12 months, you’ll have earned $1,368 in cash back with the Savor. In the meantime, the SavorOne would leave you with $1,128 in cash back rewards for this same spending.

When including the welcome bonuses you would earn with that spending, you’re looking at $1,668 in first-year cash back earned with the Savor and $1,328 in first-year cash back earned with the SavorOne. Even after paying the Savor’s $95 annual fee — which would drop your first-year Savor yield down to $1,573 — you would earn $245 more in cash back rewards with the Savor during your first year than with the SavorOne.

Why should you get the Capital One Savor?

If you spend quite a bit on dining, entertainment and streaming services each year, then paying the $95 annual fee could be well worth it. After all, you’d earn considerably more in rewards over time with your spending, which could make the annual fee a good investment. Here are additional factors to consider before you sign up.

Additional benefits

Capital One allows you to earn 8 percent cash back on all Capital One Entertainment purchases, so you’ll have the potential to earn a lot more in rewards if you spend frequently in this category. You’ll also earn an unlimited 10 percent cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases, plus a complimentary Uber One membership (through Nov. 14, 2024).

You’ll also receive extended warranty coverage, travel accident insurance, 24-hour travel assistance services, complimentary concierge services and other basic cardholder benefits.

Redemption options

A true cash back credit card, the Savor lets you redeem cash back at any time and in any amount you want. You can redeem rewards for statement credits, checks, gift cards or paying for purchases on Amazon.com or PayPal. And your rewards won’t expire for the life of the account.

Recommended credit score

Consumers usually need good to excellent credit to qualify for most rewards credit cards, which means having a FICO score of 670 or better. However, you may have a better chance for approval if your credit score is considered very good, or your score is 740 or higher.

That said, Capital One recommends that Savor applicants have excellent credit. According to Capital One’s Credit Level Guidelines, this means that applicants must never have declared bankruptcy, defaulted on a loan or paid a credit card bill, medical bill or loan more than 60 days late within the last year. Additionally, applicants should have a credit card or loan that’s at least three years old and has a credit limit above $5,000.

Why should you get the Capital One SavorOne?

The SavorOne doesn’t have an annual fee, so it’s worth considering if you’re adamant about not paying one. Beyond its generous rewards, here are additional reasons to consider signing up.

Additional benefits

The SavorOne doesn’t offer any standout perks, but you do get some benefits as a cardholder. Like the Savor, this card gives you extended warranty coverage, travel accident insurance, 24-hour travel assistance services and more.

You can also earn 8 percent cash back on all Capital One Entertainment purchases and 10 percent cash back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases. You’ll also get a complimentary Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024.

Redemption options

You can redeem your rewards for statement credits, checks, gift cards or purchases made on Amazon.com or via PayPal. Your rewards won’t expire as long as your account is open.

Recommended credit score

Like the Capital One Savor, Capital One recommends that SavorOne applicants have excellent credit before applying for this card.

The bottom line

The card that’s best for you really depends on how much you spend on dining, entertainment and streaming services, along with whether or not you’re comfortable paying an annual fee. The Capital One Savor could easily leave you ahead if you spend a lot on these types of purchases and don’t mind paying $95 per year to earn more rewards, but the Capital One SavorOne is still a good option if you don’t want to pay an annual fee, since you’ll earn similar rates in several categories.

Either way, compare both of these cards to the best credit cards on the market today to find an ideal fit with your budget and spending habits. You may find other card options that let you rack up even more cash back in the categories where you spend the most.

*Information about Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.