At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for . The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
3.8
Bottom line
With so many spending categories available, it can be hard to say which cash back card fits you best long-term. With the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards credit card, you get a well-rounded card that can be a steady source of rewards no matter what you purchase. Check out the card details below.
Rewards rate
Annual fee
Intro offer
Regular APR
Recommended Credit Score
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a mainstay among flat-rate rewards cards. It earns cash back on all purchases with no annual or foreign transaction fees, making it a great all-rounder for any budget.
You might be an excellent fit for this Capital One credit card if your spending doesn’t fit bonus categories’ terms neatly.
Continue reading our Capital One Quicksilver review to see whether this flat-rate card deserves a spot in your wallet.
No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
15-month, 0 percent introductory purchase and balance transfers APR
Solid travel and shopping protections through Capital One
Ongoing 19.24 percent to 29.24 percent variable APR could be higher than competing cards’ interest rates
3 percent balance transfer fee
No flight or rental car redemption options
As a new cardholder, you can earn $200 in cash rewards after spending only $500 on purchases within your first three months.
A $200 value is on par with other average no-annual-fee cash back cards’ sign-up bonuses. Granted, this isn’t a cash back jackpot, but it’s an easy-to-reach payday considering a $500 spending requirement is typically one of the lowest you’ll find.
The Capital One Quicksilver is a prime example of a flat-rate cash back card, which is the most straightforward type of rewards credit card compared to bonus category cards. A card like Quicksilver could be perfect if you prefer a streamlined rewards experience over higher maintenance credit cards.
But be careful — although it looks like a starter credit card, you need good to excellent credit to qualify. Capital One has plenty of other solid options if you’re building credit or have at least fair credit, including the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, which offers the same rewards rate as the Quicksilver but for a $39 annual fee.
The Quicksilver is a great rewards card if many of your expenses fall outside the usual bonus categories, such as superstore purchases, a variety of online shopping retailers and bill payments.
Its unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases can make this card a valuable partner — especially if you regularly spend beyond bonus categories’ reward spending caps. That said, the best flat-rate cash back cards offer 2 percent cash back — a small difference, but one that can add up quickly.
You can redeem your cash back rewards for hard cash in the form of a check or receive it as a statement credit. Cash back can also be used to cover recent card purchases, online purchases at checkout on Amazon.com and PayPal or equivalent gift cards.
To make things a little easier, you can also choose to receive your cash back automatically at a set time each year or at a certain cash value. That way, you don’t have to track your rewards balance.
The 1.5 percent cash back rate means that every dollar you spend will net you 1.5 cents.
Capital One cash back is also one of the few reward currencies to maintain a consistent value across all redemption options. Even when used to shop with points on Amazon or PayPal, your cash back keeps its full value.
By comparison, Chase Ultimate Rewards points drop to 0.8 cents each and Amex Membership Rewards points are worth only 0.7 cents apiece in this manner.
Despite appearing as a no-annual-fee card slim with benefits, the Quicksilver carries a host of standard Capital One travel and shopping perks.
The Quicksilver card comes with a healthy spread of travel and shopping protections for a no-annual-fee card. Virtual credit card numbers through the Eno assistant app can guard your real card data while you shop online, and extended warranty protection and travel accident insurance can keep you covered when you pay with your card.
You’ll be able to snag exclusive travel and entertainment opportunities like pre-sale tickets through Capital One Access. Plus, you can access various 24/7 services like travel and roadside assistance and complimentary concierge assistance.
If you want a low-maintenance credit card, the Capital One Quicksilver doesn’t have many ongoing fees to keep track of. There is no annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees in case you plan to travel.
The 15-month zero-interest intro APR on purchases and balance transfers can make it even easier to curb extra costs (19.24 percent to 29.24 percent variable APR ongoing for purchases). The balance transfer fee is 3 percent of each transferred balance that is posted during the first 15 months that your account is open or at a promotional APR that we may offer you at any other time.
Besides the benefits previously mentioned, any ongoing value after your first year will be solely rooted in your rewards and any personal value from the simplified spending and rewards style.
There are no card costs to recoup since there’s no annual fee. This is helpful considering that flat-rate cards with lower cash back rates typically require you to spend more than cards with boosted category rewards to pocket rewards beyond the yearly price tag.
Unless your spending regularly exceeds typical bonus categories’ spending limits, your favorite merchants and biggest expenses aren’t covered by standard bonus categories or you only plan to use one rewards card for everything, you might want to consider a card with more valuable reward rates and perks.
| Benefits and costs | First-year value | Ongoing value (no welcome offers) |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly rewards* | +$441 | +$441 |
| Welcome offers | +$200 (after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months) | — |
| Perks (of monetary value) | N/A | N/A |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Total value | $641 | $441 |
| Total value of intro purchase APR** |
|
|
*Based on the following estimates for annual expenditures by category: groceries ($4,600); dining ($3,500); household utilities, fuels and public services ($4,000); household supplies, furnishings and home improvement ($2,800); apparel and services and department stores ($1,800); gas and gas stations ($2,000); transit and rideshares ($800); entertainment ($3,000); personal care products and services, household operations and other miscellaneous spending ($3,300); travel ($2,000); pharmacies and drugstores ($1,300); online shopping ($1,800).
**Intro APR card data based on a $1,000 unexpected expense, average credit card interest rate (at time of writing), minimum ongoing variable APR and the minimum monthly payment to pay off the balance within the card’s intro APR period factored into Bankrate’s credit card payoff calculator for comparison.
Quicksilver’s 1.5 percent flat-rate cash back rate is standard, but the interest rate of 19.24 percent to 29.24 percent variable may be too high for some cardholders. If you want a card with lower interest or more perks, it may be worth looking into another card.
Annual fee
Intro offer
Rewards rate
Recommended Credit Score
Annual fee
Intro offer
Rewards rate
Recommended Credit Score
Annual fee
Intro offer
Rewards rate
Recommended Credit Score
If you need to transfer your balance and always pay your card off on time, the Citi® Double Cash Card may be a better choice. It provides a stellar 18-month, zero-interest intro balance transfer APR (18.24 percent to 28.24 percent, variable, ongoing).
Plus, it’s one of the few flat-rate cash back cards that tops the average 1.5 percent rate. You can earn up to 2 percent cash back on all purchases — 1 percent back at purchase and 1 percent upon payment. (Note: the intro APR on the Double Cash does not apply to new purchases.)
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is also a stiff Quicksilver competitor with additional bonus cash back categories. You earn 5 percent cash back on travel purchases through Chase Unlimited Rewards, 3 percent cash back on dining and drugstores purchases and 1.5 percent cash back on all other purchases.
Since the Freedom Unlimited’s cash back rate matches the Quicksilver card, if a good chunk of your spending goes to dining and drugstores, it might be a better choice.
Since flat-rate cards reward purchases that don’t usually fall within standard bonus categories, you could benefit by pairing your Quicksilver with a bonus category card for your specialized spending.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express would make an excellent partner for 6 percent cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $6,000 per year, then 1 percent); 6 percent back on select U.S. streaming services; 3 percent cash back on transit; 3 percent back on U.S. gas station purchases; and 1 percent back on all other purchases — if you don’t mind a $95 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year).
If you prefer dining or delivery to cooking, the no annual fee Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card earns unlimited 3 percent cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), plus 1 percent on all other purchases.
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a popular choice among 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. Capital One can even automate the redemption process.
But if you don’t mind a bonus category or two, you might be able to rack up more cash back and receive specialized benefits on a different card. “I think everyone should have a card like the Capital One Quicksilver,” says finance expert Ana Staples, “I have a travel rewards card and a cash back card with rotating categories but it’s the Quicksilver that helps me make sure I get more than 1 percent back on all of my purchases. This card really completes my credit card strategy.”
Learn More: Is Capital One Quicksilver worth it?
* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.