The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card have quite a few things in common, including the fact that neither one charges an annual fee. Both cards also offer flat-rate rewards on spending, welcome bonuses worth a few hundred dollars and generous zero-interest offers on purchases and balance transfers.

Still, these two cards dole out rewards differently, and the Capital One VentureOne, in particular, offers significantly more options when it comes to redeeming your rewards for travel.

If you’re comparing the Capital One VentureOne and Capital One Quicksilver to decide which one you want, read on to see how they stack up.

Main details

 Capital One VentureOne Capital One Quicksilver
Welcome bonus 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 within three months of account opening $200 cash bonus after spending $500 within three months of account opening
Rewards rate
  • 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One
  • 1.25X miles on all purchases
  • 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (16.49% to 26.49% variable APR after) 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (16.49% to 26.49% variable APR after)
Annual fee $0 $0

Capital One VentureOne vs. Capital One Quicksilver highlights

These two rewards cards have quite a bit in common, but there are areas where one wins out over the other. The categories below are some that you likely care the most about.

Welcome bonus winner: Tie

The Capital One VentureOne offers 20,000 bonus miles when you spend $500 on purchases within three months of account opening—worth $200 in statement credits on your account. The Capital One Quicksilver offers a $200 cash bonus with the same minimum spending requirement. The only difference is earning your rewards as miles or cash back.

Rewards rate winner: Capital One Quicksilver

The Capital One VentureOne is a travel credit card that offers both 1.25X miles on all purchases and 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. But if your primary focus is flat-rate rewards on every purchase, the Capital One Quicksilver’s 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases takes the cake.

This means $1,000 in general spending would net you $12.50 in statement credits with the Capital One VentureOne, yet you would earn $15 in statement credits with the Capital One Quicksilver.

Of course, if you’re more focused on travel rather than cash back (and anticipate booking through Capital One Travel often), the VentureOne would be the better choice.

Credit card fees winner: Tie

These two cards have the same $0 annual fee, so they tie in this category. Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, either, so you can use them for purchases outside of the United States without paying more.

Intro APR offer winner: Tie

Both the VentureOne and Quicksilver offer 0 percent introductory APRs on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of 16.49 percent to 26.49 percent.

They also both charge the same 3 percent balance transfer fee when you transfer a balance during their introductory periods.

Which card earns the most?

It’s easy to see why you would pick the Capital One Quicksilver if you care the most about flat-rate rewards on everyday purchases. This card offers an unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase, whereas the Capital One VentureOne offers 1.25X miles on every purchase (equivalent to 1.25 percent in cash back).

But, how much do these rewards rates really impact your earnings? That depends on how much you spend on your card each year.

Capital One VentureOne vs. Capital One Quicksilver spending example

To determine how much your non-category rewards might vary with these two Capital One credit cards, let’s imagine you’re a family of four with parents under the age of 50 and two kids (a girl and a boy), ages 12 and 13.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), you might spend an average of $14,598 per year ($1,216.50 per month) on food on a “moderate” budget. Let’s also imagine you spend $3,600 per year dining out ($300 per month) and another $12,000 per year ($1,000 per month) on miscellaneous purchases.

With a total of $30,198 spent on a credit card each year, you would earn the following amounts in rewards with either card:

  • Capital One VentureOne: approximately $377 in rewards
  • Capital One Quicksilver: approximately $452 in rewards

Why should you get the Capital One VentureOne?

If you travel frequently or would get some use out of the 5X miles category for hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, the VentureOne could be the card for you. Here are some of the standout features and benefits you can expect.

Additional benefits

One important benefit of Capital One VentureOne is the fact that you get a 0 percent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of 16.49 percent to 26.49 percent. This benefit can help you save big on interest whether you want to pay down a large purchase over time or need to consolidate debt.

This card also comes with Capital One VentureOne benefits including extended warranties, travel accident insurance and no foreign transaction fees.

Redemption options

If you like to travel, the Capital One VentureOne is a better option by far. Not only can you redeem your points for travel statement credits on your account, but you can transfer your miles to Capital One airline and hotel partners. You can also use your miles for purchases on Amazon.com and PayPal.

Recommended credit score

The Capital One VentureOne requires good to excellent credit, so not everyone can qualify.

Why should you get the Capital One Quicksilver?

The Capital One Quicksilver is a cash back credit card with a better rewards rate for non-category purchases, but there are other factors to consider before you sign up.

Additional benefits

The Capital One Quicksilver lets users skip interest on purchases and balance transfers for the same amount of time as the VentureOne, which can be useful for those who need to consolidate debt or get a break from interest payments on new purchases. This card also comes with a few extra perks, such as extended warranties, travel accident insurance and no foreign transaction fees.

Redemption options

Once you earn cash back with this card, you can redeem it for a check in the mail, statement credits on your account, gift cards or purchases made through Amazon.com or PayPal.

Recommended credit score

Similar to the VentureOne, the Capital One Quicksilver also requires good to excellent credit.

The bottom line

If you’re looking to earn miles and want more ways to redeem rewards for travel, pick the Capital One VentureOne. Meanwhile, you should pick the Capital One Quicksilver if you’re after a higher rewards rate on everything you buy.

Both of these cards are excellent for earning rewards with no annual fee, yet the right card for you depends on what you want the most.