Best Capital One credit cards for 2021

The information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details haven’t been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Top picks for Capital One credit cards

Here’s a look at the best Capital One credit cards for 2021, according to our experts:

A closer look at our best Capital One credit cards

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best for simple cash back

• This card is best for: If you like the rewards rate but are looking for a card that’s easier to qualify for, this is a great low-maintenance card for earning cash back.
• This card is not a great choice for: Those who want a higher rewards rate for specific bonus spending categories.
• What makes this card unique? The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card  is a no annual fee card that allows you to earn 1.5% cash back on every eligible purchase and there’s a $200 sign-up bonus when you spend $500 within your first 3 months of account opening.
• Is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card worth it? This is a popular card that’s worth its while for cardholders who want a straightforward cash back card that earns rewards on all purchases. Other than the possible interest, there are no ongoing fees or bonus categories to worry about.

Read our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Best for travel rewards

• This card is best for: Anyone who wants a flat-rate travel rewards card that allows you to redeem miles to offset travel purchases and everyday expenses.
• This card is not a great choice for: Those who will not spend enough to receive the sign-up bonus or offset the $95 annual fee.
• What makes this card unique? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee and cardholders will not be subject to foreign transaction fees.
• Is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card worth it? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a worthwhile option if you prefer simple flat-rate rewards or if you don’t spend enough on travel to justify a bonus category card.

Read our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best for dining and entertainment with no annual fee

• This card is best for: Anyone who wants to earn rewards for spending on a wide variety of categories, especially foodies.
• This card is not a great choice for: Those who want to rack up rewards on travel purchases.
• What makes this card unique? The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card allows for 3% cash back earnings on dining and entertainment, plus an inviting bonus offer for those who spend at least $500 within the first three months of opening the account. Plus, starting May 18, 2021, you can also earn 3% cash back on popular streaming services and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) .
• Is the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card worth it? The sheer variety of this card’s bonus cash back categories while requiring no annual fee and offering a generous introductory bonus make it one of the best cash back cards on the market, especially for foodies.

Read our Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Best for no annual fee travel rewards

• This card is best for: Anyone who wants a no annual fee travel rewards card with an attainable sign-up bonus to boost your first-year earnings.
• This card is not a great choice for: Those who want a higher rewards rate for specific bonus spending categories.
• What makes this card unique? The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a simple, low cost travel card that allows you to earn miles (5X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 1.25X miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases) on your daily purchases and boost your earnings with an attainable sign-up bonus (20,000 bonus miles if you spend $500 within the first three months).
• Is the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card worth it? This card is a strong choice for those looking to earn a modest amount of miles while avoiding paying an annual fee. However, those with good credit may see better value from a higher-tier Capital One card or another one of the top travel rewards cards.

Read our Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Best for limited credit history

• This card is best for: Anyone who wants to build their credit history with responsible use and healthy financial habits.
• This card is not a great choice for: Those who want to be rewarded for regular spending or receive a sign-up bonus.
• What makes this card unique? The Capital One Platinum gives those pursuing fair credit (FICO score between 580 and 669) an opportunity to prove their creditworthiness so they can upgrade to a better credit card in the future.
• Is the Capital One Platinum Credit Card worth it? If you have fair credit and do not want to pay an annual fee, this card is a solid choice. Just make sure to keep a low balance and always pay your credit card bill early or on time because the regular APR (26.99% variable) can be unforgiving.

Read our Capital One Platinum Credit Card review.
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Secured Mastercard® from Capital One

Best for bad credit

• This card is best for: Anyone who wants to start their credit-building journey and needs a low barrier to entry to do so.
• This card is not a great choice for: Those who want to be rewarded for their spending or carry a large balance (regular APR is 26.99% variable).
• What makes this card unique? The Secured Mastercard from Capital One is a smart option among secured credit cards since it doesn’t come with an annual fee, and you can get started building credit with a security deposit as low as $49. In addition, you will be automatically considered for a higher line of credit in as little as six months with on-time monthly payments.
• Is the Secured Mastercard® from Capital One worth it? If you have bad credit and need easy approval, this card can set you on the right path to prove your creditworthiness and earn a higher credit limit over time.

Read our Secured Mastercard® from Capital One review.
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Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best for fair credit

• This card is best for: Anyone with fair credit who wants to improve their score through responsible use and earn a respectable amount in cash back rewards.
• This card is not a great choice for: Those who want to receive a sign-up bonus or carry a large balance (regular APR is 26.99% variable).
• What makes this card unique? The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card provides cash back rewards on every purchase and is one of the few cards that is available to those with fair credit. Plus, cardholders are automatically considered for a higher line of credit in as few as six months with on-time payments.
• Is the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card worth it? If you have fair credit, this card is very much worth it. There aren’t many rewards credit cards available for those with fair credit, so you can use this to both build your credit and get cash back on all your purchases, but keep the $39 annual fee in mind.

Read our Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Best for small businesses

• This card is best for: Small business owners looking to earn high cash back rewards without keeping track of spending categories.
• This card is not a great choice for: People who may not have the cash flow in their business to cover the annual fee.
• What makes this card unique? Small business owners can earn unlimited 2 percent cash back on all purchases, making it a bit easier to earn consistent rewards on business expenses. There’s also the opportunity to earn cash bonuses with certain terms and conditions.
• Is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus worth it? For small businesses with the cash flow to handle an $150 annual fee, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a great way to earn consistent and high cash back rewards on purchases. If you’re looking to earn some of the cash bonuses but you’re worried about the spending requirements, there may be other cards on the market that offer a different set of rewards that better fit your needs.

Read our Capital One Spark Cash Plus Review..
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Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best for on-the-go students

• This card is best for: Students who spend extensively in several popular spending categories like dining and entertainment.
• This card is not a great choice for: Students who don’t spend widely across a few spending categories or who spend primarily in one category over others.
• What makes this card unique? The Capital One SavorOne Student card allows students to take advantage of higher cash back rewards rates in several popular spending categories, including dining, entertainment and popular streaming services.
• Is the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card worth it? If you’re looking to spend considerably across a few specific spending categories, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card will offer you some significant returns. If you’re looking for a bit more consistency and less hassle with keeping track of certain spending categories, another card on the market may work better for you.

Read our Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Review.
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Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best overall for students

• This card is best for: Students who want to earn substantial cash back rewards right away without too much hassle.
• This card is not a great choice for: Students looking to take advantage of even higher cash back rewards in certain spending categories.
• What makes this card unique? The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards card has one of the highest flat-rate cash back rewards rates for students. Students can earn unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases
• Is the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card worth it? Students who want to earn considerable cash rewards quickly will fare well with the Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards card. There’s no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, so you don’t have to worry too much about onerous charges.

Read our Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Best for business travel rewards

• This card is best for: Small business owners on the hunt for travel rewards that also like the appeal of other flat-rate Capital One rewards cards.
• This card is not a great choice for: Those who want a host of premium travel perks.
• What makes this card unique? Business owners and their employees will collect unlimited 2X miles spent on all purchases. By spending $4,500 in combined purchases within your first three months, you can earn 50,000 miles, which can be boosted higher by finding a great deal through a Capital One transfer partner.
• Is the Capital One Spark Miles for Business worth it? The opportunity to earn unlimited 2X miles on all purchases could be huge for small business owners with expenses that surpass or fall outside the scope of traditional bonus categories. Although this card’s $95 annual fee is $0 intro in the first year, there are competing cards that offer higher rewards rates and more features to justify such a fee.

Read our Capital One Spark Miles for Business review.
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Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

Best for responsible students

• This card is best for: Responsible students who will always pay their bill on time.
• This card is not a great choice for: Students looking to earn substantial cash back rewards.
• What makes this card unique? The unlimited cash back rate on this card starts at 1 percent and students who use this card responsibly can earn a cash back increase to 1.25 percent for that month after paying each billing cycle on time. There’s also a fairly nice welcome offer for students who enjoy streaming services where you can earn up to $60 in streaming subscription credits for popular streaming services when you pay on time (exclusions apply).
• Is the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One worth it? There are certainly other student cash rewards cards that offer higher rewards rates. However, the Journey Student Rewards is a great starting point for earning an unlimited cash rewards rate with the possibility of increasing those rewards over time. Plus, you might learn some smart spending habits along the way.

Read our Journey Student Rewards from Capital One review.
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What is Capital One?

Established in 1994, Capital One has more than 700 branches nationwide in locations including New York, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. The full-service bank is known for its cutting-edge digital banking features.

Services offered by Capital One

• Credit cards: both for businesses and personal accounts
• Banking: both for businesses and personal accounts
• Loans: business loans, auto loans and refinancing
• Investing: both for businesses and personal accounts
• Merchant services: for businesses
• Commercial banking solutions: commercial lending and banking, wealth management services and more.

Source: Capital One Corporate Information

Pros and cons of Capital One credit cards

Pros

• Rewards rate: Capital One has a broad range of rewards cards designed for a variety of spending habits.
• Credit range: Whether you have bad credit or excellent credit, Capital One has a card designed to help you achieve your financial goals.
• Travel benefits: No Capital One cards charge foreign transaction fees, saving you 3% to 5% per transaction.

Cons

• Annual fees: Many Capital One offerings require you to pay an annual fee, however some cards have it waived in the first year.
• Regular APR: Many cards offered by Capital One have a relatively high regular APR, so cardholders will want to avoid carrying a large balance.
• Competition: Capital One does not offer a truly high-end card, meaning its competitors may offer more in terms of rewards and overall value.

Who should get a Capital One credit card?

The traveler

Whether you’re already a world traveler or just want to earn points and miles on everyday purchases, there’s a Capital One card that will put you one step closer to your dream vacation with every eligible transaction.

The everyday shopper

Capital One offers a variety of flat-rate credit cards to maximize your spending on everyday purchases and several that allow you to capitalize on a selection of bonus categories.

The foodie

Capital One credit cards provide ample opportunity to get rewarded on eligible transactions at your favorite restaurants while dining in, carrying out or even at the grocery store.

The credit-builder

Capital One has a card for individuals in every stage of their credit journey and provides tools to put you on the right path to prove your creditworthiness and earn a higher credit limit over time.

The business owner

You can use a Capital One business credit card to earn valuable rewards and boost your bottom line. Business credit cards often feature bonus categories tailored to small businesses, such as internet services, office supplies, travel and dining.

Benefits of having Capital One cards

From travel to cash back to business cards, Capital One has a variety of credit card options for various types of credit scores. Here is a rundown of what else Capital One has to offer:

Account management services

• Eno® Your Intelligent Assistant from Capital One allows you to keep tabs on your account with texting, balance checking options, transaction review and bill payment.
• You’ll have access to 24/7 customer service support.
• Capital One offers Proactive Account Alerts via email and text to keep you updated on account happenings.

Apps and digital services

• With the Capital One Mobile App, you can view your balance and transactions, pay your bill and more.
• CreditWise® from Capital One helps you monitor your credit for free, without hurting your score.

Travel and retail benefits

• No Capital One cards charge foreign transaction fees, giving you a savings of 3% to 5% per foreign transaction.
• Capital One will automatically monitor your transactions for suspicious activity, like excessive tips or duplicate charges. Also, you can lock and unlock your card instantly through the app.

Downsides of having a Capital One card

• There are no high-end cards available from Capital One. High-end cards are more advantageous in terms of rewards and overall value.
• Some of Capital One’s lower-end credit cards have low credit limits to match.

Benefits of the Capital One travel rewards program

The Capital One travel rewards program offers a decent amount of flexibility when it comes to earning miles. Capital One offers the Venture Rewards and VentureOne Rewards as travel card options. Seeing as they aren’t co-branded cards, or affiliated with certain hotels or airlines, you won’t be limited to one brand. Plus, you’ll earn a flat rewards rate for every purchase – no rotating bonus categories, no problem.

If you are interested in transferring your points, Capital One offers many miles transfer partners. Here is a list of some of the airline transfer partners:

• Aeromexico
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France/KLM
• Alitalia
• Avianca
• Cathay Pacific
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad
• EVA
• Finnair
• JetBlue
• Qantas
• Singapore KrisFlyer

Here are a few other perks:

• You can redeem miles for travel, gift cards or as a statement credit for travel booked in the past 90 days on your Capital One card.
• Redemption also includes spending on Airbnb.

Let’s break down Capital One’s travel cards, the Venture and the VentureOne using a few examples:

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

If you’re looking to earn travel rewards on your everyday expenses, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a good match. You’ll earn a flat 2X miles on every purchase. This card comes with a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $600 in travel.  There is a $95 annual fee.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is the younger sibling to the Venture card. It offers no annual fee and a lesser rewards rate of 1.25X miles per purchase.

If you’re just getting into the travel rewards game, this is a great starter card. There’s also a small bonus of 20,000 miles when you spend $500 within your first 3 months of account opening, which is worth $200 in travel.

The bottom line

Both the Venture and VentureOne offer the option to transfer your miles to a variety of transfer partners. There aren’t any blackout dates on travel and you won’t be charged foreign transaction fees for spending abroad.

The main differences are that VentureOne does not have an annual fee and the Venture offers a higher rewards rate. Consider whether or not your spending habits will allow you to make up for the $95 annual fee of the Venture card. If you already travel a few times a month, we say go for it.

How to pair Capital One cards

Maximize your spending and rewards earned by combining two Capital One cards. Here’s one example:

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

In order to maximize the value of pairing these two cards, it’s best to use the Savor for all dining, entertainment and grocery store purchases, then the Quicksilver for everything else. Try not to use the Savor’s 1% category, seeing as you could use the Quicksilver and earn an extra .5% cash back.

If you’re interested in paying off big purchases without interest, use the Quicksilver to do so. You’ll get a 15-month introductory 0% APR on purchases (15.49%-25.49% variable thereafter).

Let’s take a look at first-year spending example for the two cards:

The bottom line

At the end of your first year of card membership, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards would earn you a total of $657.

How do I get a Capital One credit card?

So, you’ve decided you want a Capital One credit card. Here’s what an issuer will look at when you apply for one of their credit cards:

Credit score

First and foremost, any credit card issuer will look at your credit score to determine whether or not you qualify for a card. Your credit score is made up of the following categories:

• Accounts owned
• Payment history
• Credit mix
• Length of credit history
• New credit

What is the minimum credit score needed to get a Capital One credit card?

While Capital One doesn’t list numeric credit score requirements, the minimum credit level listed on Capital One’s website is for those who are “rebuilding credit,” which they define as someone who has defaulted on a loan more than once or been declined for a credit card in the last 3 months. This is one step below fair credit, so it’s safe to say someone who falls into this category has a credit score that’s lower than 580. Your options are pretty limited at this threshold, but the Secured Mastercard from Capital One is a viable choice if you’re committed to building your credit.

If you have fair to excellent credit (580-850), you have several Capital One cards to choose from. For those somewhere in the middle of the credit range, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great tool for earning rewards while building your credit. For the credit high-flyers, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has one of the most competitive rewards rates in the credit card market.

If you want to improve your credit score before applying, read our guide to building credit for tips on doing so efficiently.

Debt-to-income ratio

A card issuer will also look at your debt-to-income ratio, meaning how much of your monthly income is dedicated to paying off debt.

Check if you’re pre-qualified

Capital One offers a 60-second credit card pre-qualification check on their site. The tool will match you to Capital One credit cards that you qualify for, only requiring a few basic informational questions. Most importantly, it won’t impact your credit score.

Applying for a Capital One card

When applying for a card, you’ll need to provide the following information:

• Full name
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Home address
• Estimated gross annual income
• Checking or savings account information

Card Approval

Capital One will notify you of their decision by mail within 7 to 10 days. If you are approved, you can use the card as soon as you activate it.

Increasing your credit limit

Once you’ve been using your card for a little while, you may wish to increase your credit limit. Even if your monthly bills don’t come close to your credit limit, having a higher amount of credit available to you will better your credit utilization, thus raising your credit score.

In many cases, it’s as simple as asking — you can either call the customer service line or log in and fill out the request online. However, a few scenarios make accounts ineligible for a credit line increase with Capital One:

• The account was opened within the last few months.
• The card is a secured credit card.
• You’ve received a credit line increase or decrease in recent months.

If none of these situations apply to you, you may be eligible for a credit line increase. A history of on-time payments and low credit utilization will work to your advantage, too. Capital One will request much of the same information you gave on your credit card application, like your total annual income, employment status and mortgage or rent costs.

What is the easiest Capital One card to be approved for?

As the only Capital One card available to those with bad credit, the Secured Mastercard from Capital One is the “easiest” option. Although there’s no guarantee you’ll be approved for any credit card — no matter the issuer — you might be able to start building credit for as little as a $49 deposit with the Capital One Secured Mastercard. The card doesn’t feature too many juicy perks, but its automatic credit line reviews can go a long way as you’re trying to establish a strong credit score.

If your credit is decent, you might qualify for the more lucrative Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, which earns cash back and often accepts applicants with fair credit scores.

Fortunately, Capital One lets you check your likelihood of being approved through prequalification, so be sure to start there and avoid a hit to your credit score.

What is the best Capital One credit card?

Although determining a “best” option calls for evaluating your own financial situation first, Capital One has two clear-cut leaders to seriously consider.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use no annual fee card, the best Capital One card is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. An unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases makes this card a low-maintenance option for everyday earning. It also features a welcome offer of a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months. Plus, this card currently comes with a 15-month introductory 0% APR window on purchases (15.49% – 25.49% variable APR after that), giving cardholders some financial flexibility.

Travelers and those willing to commit to a $95 annual fee in exchange for a higher rewards rate should consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. In addition to unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, cardholders can earn a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $600 in travel.

Can you do a balance transfer with Capital One?

Capital One offers several cards that allow balance transfers. If you’re unfamiliar, a balance transfer is a common debt-relief strategy of transferring debt from one or more credit cards to a different account. Ideally, the balance transfer card comes with an intro 0% APR offer, so the transferred debt can be carried at zero-interest for a number of months. By avoiding interest and organizing your debts into one spot, you’ll make paying down your outstanding balance significantly easier.

Unfortunately, the top options for doing a balance transfer with Capital One currently aren’t offering introductory 0% APR periods on balance transfers. Keep an eye out, however, as the Quicksilver Cash Rewards card and SavorOne Cash Rewards card both featured these offers as recently as December 2020.

How we chose our top Capital One credit cards

Bankrate’s personal finance experts have evaluated the top Capital One cards according to our 5-star rating system. The list of criteria for rating credit cards includes:

Rewards

Whether the card offers cash back, travel points/miles or multi-purpose rewards for eligible purchases and the potential returns based on rewards rate (1 percent cash back per $1 spent, 1 mile per $1 spent, and so on).

Perks and benefits

Whether the card offers extras such as retail discounts, extended warranties on purchases, travel insurance and financial management tools.

Annual fee

Whether the card charges an annual fee and if so, how much the card’s overall value and benefits might offset the fee.

Introductory offers

Whether the card has a sign-up bonus, welcome offer or similar sign-up incentive and how much it adds to the card’s overall value.

Variable APR

How the card’s annual percentage rate (APR) compares with current averages as an indicator of cost and value.

Foreign transaction fee

Whether the card charges a foreign transaction fee for international purchases and how the fee affects the card’s overall value.

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