Savor vs. Quicksilver: Savor Wins in Close Capital One Duel

Capital One offers several cash-back credit cards, and two of its $0-annual fee options, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, are among of the best cards in their class. Both receive excellent ratings from NerdWallet, and each card has its own set of variants catering to a particular consumer. Savor and Quicksilver both have versions for those with excellent credit and for students.

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) beats out the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) as the superior card, but it’s a photo finish. Overall, cardholders will likely get more value out of the SavorOne thanks to its rewards structure.

Here's how to decide which Capital One card is right for you.

» MORE: How to choose a cash-back credit card

» SEE: Best Capital One credit cards

Why the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is better for most people

Comparing the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is an exercise in nuance. Because these two cards come from the same issuer and belong to the same cash-back “family,” they are really more alike than different.

They have the same intro APR period, plus a similar sign-up bonus. And, like all Capital One cards, there’s no foreign transaction fee or cap on rewards, and those rewards never expire.

Given those commonalities, a decision between the two cards comes down to one thing for most people: rewards.

Useful reward categories

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an elevated 3% cash back rate on four useful and broad categories. Cardholders earn an unlimited 3% back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores. For many consumers, these reward categories touch on at least one aspect of our daily lives, if not more — who hasn’t ordered takeout and binged watched a show on Netflix on a Friday night?

The entertainment category is especially inclusive. You’ll earn 3% on purchases at movie theaters, sporting events, aquariums, amusement parks, zoos, bowling alleys and more. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has a deserved reputation as a card for foodies, but with those categories, it also seems tailored for parents who want to keep their kids busy over the summer.

While the Savor’s reward categories are comprehensive, they’re not all-encompassing. For example, Amazon Prime Video isn’t eligible to earn 3% back even though it’s a streaming service. Similarly, Capital One doesn’t classify Walmart and Target as grocery stores. If your favorite streaming service is Prime Video, or you do most of your shopping at big box stores, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card won’t deliver maximum value to you.

» SEE: Best credit cards for grocery stores

More bonus categories

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has a four-tiered rewards structure; Quicksilver only has two. At the top of Savor’s reward categories is a stunning 8% cash back on purchases made through the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platform. An 8% rate is extremely rare among all credit cards and especially those, like the Savor, that don’t charge an annual fee. Through Capital One’s entertainment portal, cardholders may purchase tickets for concerts, sporting events like NCAA games and more. Note, though, that tickets purchased through Capital One’s pre-sales page don't earn 8%.

Who might prefer the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Simplicity

Keeping up with four reward categories requires more work than just two, so if you’d rather devote your head space to something other than credit cards, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is probably the better choice. Every time you swipe, you’ll earn a flat 1.5% rate, the industry standard. With terms that are straightforward, you won’t have to worry about exclusions and categories and eligibility.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has one additional reward category, but it’s a good one. Like the Savor, the Quicksilver earns 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Maybe you take a business trip every quarter or go on an annual family vacation. Without extending much mental effort, you can receive bonus cash back by remembering to book through Capital One’s portal and use your Quicksilver card to pay for the expense.

» LEARN: Capital One travel portal: How it works

Which card should you get?

For those who prize value over simplicity, the answer is clear: The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is the winner over the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.

True, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has multiple reward categories to keep track of, which means you might “miss out” on 3% back if you forget to use that card to pay the bill at your favorite restaurant, for example. It’s also true that the Savor is extremely generous with its reward categories. You’d have to work hard not to reap rewards with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card because so many everyday purchases qualify for bonus cash back.

Another truth: The Savor and Quicksilver make excellent companions. If you’re interested in really maximizing rewards, consider getting both cards. You’d use the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card for dining, entertainment, groceries and your streaming subscriptions, and save the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card for everything else. Both cards don't have an annual fee, so as long as you avoid overspending, you’ll turn a profit simply by charging everything to your two Capital One cards.