BEST OF
Best Capital One Credit Cards of April 2021
ALSO SEE: Best credit cards of 2021 || Visa || Mastercard || American Express || Discover || Bank of America® || Capital One || Chase || Citi || US Bank || Wells FargoCapital One's credit cards include some of the best-known products on the market, thanks to the company's celebrity spokespeople and its ubiquitous catchphrase, "What's in your wallet?" But the issuer's cards are more than hype — they include generous rewards cards as well as excellent products for business owners, students and those with average or poor credit. What won't you find on any Capital One card? Foreign transaction fees.
ALSO SEE: Best credit cards of 2021 || Visa || Mastercard || American Express || Discover || Bank of America® || Capital One || Chase || Citi || US Bank || Wells FargoCapital One's credit cards include some of the best-known products on the market, thanks to the company's celebrity spokespeople and its ubiquitous catchphrase, "What's in your wallet?" But the issuer's cards are more than hype — they include generous rewards cards as well as excellent products for business owners, students and those with average or poor credit. What won't you find on any Capital One card? Foreign transaction fees.
Best Capital One Credit Cards From Our Partners
Our pick for
Travel rewards
Annual Fee
$95
Regular APR
17.24% - 24.49% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rec Credit Score
690-850Good - Excellent
- Earn 100,000 bonus miles when you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening, or still earn 50,000 miles if you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- Redeem on travel—from vacation rentals to car rentals and more. Plus transfer your miles to over 10+ travel loyalty programs
- No foreign transaction fees
Pros
The card earns 2 miles per $1 spent on all purchases, among the best rewards rates in its class. The sign-up bonus is similarly generous: Earn 100,000 bonus miles when you spend $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening, or still earn 50,000 miles if you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months And redemption is easy: Go through Capital One's travel center, or simply book however you want and redeem miles for statement credit against the purchase. There’s no minimum redemption amount, either.
Cons
There's an annual fee of $95. If you'd rather have cash back, a mile is worth only half a cent when redeemed this way.
Why We Like It
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is at the front of the wallet for many frequent travelers, thanks to its rich flat-rate rewards, plum sign-up bonus and flexible redemption options.
Our pick for
Travel rewards + no annual fee
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
15.49% - 25.49% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
Rec Credit Score
690-850Good - Excellent
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Travel when you want with no blackout dates and fly any airline, stay at any hotel, anytime
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Transfer your miles to over 10+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 15.49% - 25.49% variable APR after that
Pros
Miles can be redeemed for statement credit against travel purchases at a value of 1 cent per mile, with no restrictions on when you travel. There's a sign-up bonus, too: Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
Cons
The ongoing rewards rate is lower than the 1.5 points or miles per dollar offered by some competitors in the no-annual-fee travel card field.
Why We Like It
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers an unlimited 1.25 miles per dollar spent, with miles redeemable the same way as on the regular Venture card, for an annual fee of $0.
Our pick for
Flat-rate cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
15.49% - 25.49% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
Rec Credit Score
690-850Good - Excellent
- One-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; 15.49%-25.49% variable APR after that
- Pay no annual fee or foreign transaction fees
Pros
Easy-peasy describes this card's simple earning and redemption structure. There are no bonus categories to keep track of, no limit to how much you can earn, and rewards don't expire. There's a nice sign-up bonus: One-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. Plus, you'll get a great intro 0% APR period.
Cons
If you're willing to keep track of rotating bonus categories, or if you spend heavily on things like gas and groceries, you might do better with a card that pays higher rewards on select purchases.
Why We Like It
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a standard-setter: Its easy-to-understand 1.5% cash-back rate on all purchases spawned an army of imitators. The $0-annual-fee card not only earns unlimited rewards, but it also allows you to redeem your rewards in any amount, at any time.
Our pick for
Dining/entertainment rewards + no annual fee
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
15.49% - 25.49% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
Rec Credit Score
690-850Good - Excellent
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; 15.49% - 25.49% variable APR after that
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
Pros
Though it offers a lower rewards rate on dining and entertainment than its annual-fee-bearing big brother, this card is a better choice for people who don't eat out all the time. The sign-up bonus is smaller, too, but still quite nice: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Cons
If you're a one-card kind of person rather than someone with a card for every occasion, you might get more value from a card that pays 1.5% or 2% cash back on every purchase.
Why We Like It
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card — the $0-annual-fee version of Capital One's popular dining card — pays unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% back at grocery stores and 1% back on all other purchases.
Our pick for
College students
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
26.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rec Credit Score
630-689Average
- Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases. Pay on time to boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% for that month
- Earn $5 per month for 12 months on Select Streaming Subscriptions when you pay on time. *Exclusions Apply
- Enjoy no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- You can help build your credit with responsible use of a card like this
- Pick the monthly due date that works best for you
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
- Monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise® app, free for everyone
Pros
The annual fee is $0. On top of the spending rewards, the card also offers up to $60 in credits for streaming media. With responsible use, you can be considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months. You don't have to be a student to apply for the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One, making it a good option for someone with average credit.
Cons
If you've already built good credit, you can probably score a card with higher rewards than this card offers. The ongoing APR is 26.99% Variable APR, which is steep if you plan on carrying a balance.
Why We Like It
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One gives you 1% cash back on all your purchases, plus 0.25% back when you make your monthly payment on time, for a total of 1.25% cash back. That's pretty good for a student card.
Our picks for
Fair credit
Annual Fee
$39
Regular APR
26.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rec Credit Score
630-689Average
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Earn cash rewards without signing up for rotating categories
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise® app, free for everyone
- $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
- No limit to how much cash back you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Get customized alerts and manage your account with the Capital One mobile app
Pros
The card pays unlimited 1.5% cash back on all spending. You can redeem those rewards at any time, in any amount. Pay your bill on time, and you can be automatically considered for a credit limit increase in as little as six months.
Cons
There's an annual fee of $39, so you'd have to spend at least $2,600 a year on the card to break even. The APR on this card is high.
Why We Like It
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of just a handful of cards for average credit that earn rewards. In fact, it earns the same rate as the regular version of this card for people with excellent credit.
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
26.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rec Credit Score
630-689Average
- Pay no annual fee
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Fraud coverage if your card is lost or stolen
- Use online banking to access your account, even from your smartphone, with our mobile app
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
- Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee - and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
Pros
The annual fee is $0. Pay your bill on time, and you can be automatically considered for a credit limit increase in as little as six months. You can choose your own due date, which lets you schedule payment for the time of the month that best suits your cash flow. If you do make a late payment, the card doesn't impose a penalty APR. And the card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
Cons
There are no rewards. Plus, the ongoing APR is on the high end at 26.99% Variable APR. That's not an issue if you pay in full every month, but look elsewhere if you expect to carry debt from month to month.
Why We Like It
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is an ideal choice for those with average credit who don't carry a balance, don't want to pay for carrying a card and appreciate an incentive for responsible behavior. It also travels well.
Our pick for
Poor credit
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
26.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rec Credit Score
300-629Poor
- No annual fee
- Unlike a prepaid card, there is regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
- Accepted at millions of locations worldwide
- Make the minimum required security deposit and you'll get an initial credit line of $200. Plus, deposit more money before your account opens to get a higher credit line
- Access to an authorized bank account is required to make your $49, $99 or $200 refundable security deposit
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- We will monitor your account, and as you use it responsibly by doing things like making on-time payments, you may be able to earn back your deposit as a statement credit
- Easily manage your account 24/7 with online access, by phone or using our mobile app
Pros
The annual fee is $0. For a starter credit line of $200, your deposit may be $49, $99 or $200. Plus, Capital One will let you pay off that deposit in installments within a certain amount of time after approval. Pay your bill on time, and you can be automatically considered for a credit limit increase in as little as six months with no additional deposit.
Cons
Like most secured cards, this card doesn't earn rewards. The ongoing APR is 26.99% Variable APR, so carrying a balance is not ideal.
Why We Like It
When you have poor credit, a secured card can help. The Secured Mastercard® from Capital One reports to all three of the major credit bureaus and may give you access to a higher credit line without an additional deposit after you make your first five monthly payments on time.
Our pick for
Small business: Cash back
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Regular APR
20.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rec Credit Score
690-850Good - Excellent
- Earn a one-time $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions
- Purchase above your credit limit with no hassle and no over-limit fees
- $0 annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
- $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
- Rewards won't expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
- No foreign transaction fees
Pros
In addition to its 2% flat-rate earnings, the card offers an attractive sign-up bonus: Earn a one-time $500 cash bonus once you spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. You'll also get business-specific perks like an itemized expense summary at year's end (great for tax time).
Cons
It's got an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95, which could be unpalatable to some. (You could be able to deduct it as a business expense on taxes, though.) If your business spends heavily in specific areas, you might do better with a card offering higher rewards in those categories.
Why We Like It
With versatility and high rewards, the Capital One Spark Cash for Business is an ideal option for the right business owner. It earns 2% back on all purchases, and earnings are paid out in cash, the most flexible reward of all.
Our pick for
Small business: Cash back + no annual fee
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 9 months
Rec Credit Score
690-850Good - Excellent
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Save on interest with 0% intro APR on purchases for 9 months; 13.99% - 23.99% variable APR after that
- No annual fee
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Rewards won't expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
- $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
- No foreign transaction fees
Pros
With its 1.5% rewards rate and $0, this card is like a "Quicksilver for business." You also can earn a decent sign-up bonus, and there's a 0% introductory APR period if you have a big expense you'd like to finance.
Cons
If you expect to put more than $19,000 a year on the card, you'd come out ahead with the Capital One Spark Cash for Business, described above, even with its annual fee.
Why We Like It
The Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business is a solid choice for entrepreneurs who don't spend as much: unlimited 1.5% cash back and a $0 annual fee.
Our pick for
Small business: Travel rewards
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Regular APR
20.99% Variable APR
Intro APR
N/A
Rec Credit Score
690-850Good - Excellent
- Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
- Transfer your miles to 10+ leading travel loyalty programs like JetBlue™, Air Canada, and Emirates™
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
- Fly through security with one statement credit for either the $85 TSA Pre✓® application fee or the $100 Global Entry application fee
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
Pros
Capital One's miles are easy to use. They can be redeemed for any travel expense — no blackout dates or restrictions — at a rate of 1 cent apiece. In addition to the standard rate of 2 miles per dollar on purchases, you can earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. There's a great sign-up bonus, too.
Cons
The card has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95. After the first year, you'd have to spend at least $4,750 a year on the card before the rewards would outweigh the cost. But keep in mind that this fee could be deducted as a business expense on your taxes.
Why We Like It
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is made for traveling entrepreneurs whose spending doesn't fall neatly into specific categories. You simply get an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on everything.
Here are the top Capital One credit cards. Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, verify details on the issuer's website:
CONSUMER CREDIT CARDS
Our pick for: Travel rewards
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, and miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks. Read our review.
Our pick for: Flat-rate cash back
The original 1.5% flat-rate cash-back card still holds its own in a now-crowded field. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a compelling combination of a good rewards rate, redemption flexibility, sign-up bonus and introductory 0% APR period. Read our review.
Our pick for: Dining/entertainment rewards
If a night out is more than a once-in-a-while proposition for you, consider the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card. You get a best-in-class cash-back rate on dining and entertainment, plus bonus rewards at grocery stores. The sign-up bonus is one of the best you can get on a cash-back card. Read our review.
Our pick for: Dining/entertainment rewards + no annual fee
Love the night life but dead-set against paying an annual fee? Consider the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. It pays a lower cash-back rate on dining and entertainment than the regular Savor card, but the rewards are nevertheless quite good. The sign-up bonus is smaller than on the annual-fee version, too, but it's still solid. Read our review.
Our pick for: College students
The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One gives newcomers to credit a powerful incentive to develop responsible habits. You earn cash back on every purchase, but when you pay your bill on time, the cash-back rate for that month gets a boost. Read our review.
Our pick for: Fair credit
You don't get rewards with the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, or a sign-up bonus or a 0% period. But if you've got fair credit and you need a card you can use to build credit without paying an annual fee, it's definitely worth a look. Read our review.
Our pick for: Fair credit + rewards
This card for people with fair or "average" credit pays the same cash-back rate as the regular Quicksilver card, which targets people with excellent credit. The key difference is that this version charges an annual fee while the regular one does not. Read our review.
Our pick for: Poor credit
The Secured Mastercard® from Capital One requires a security deposit, as do all secured credit cards. But while most cards require you to put down a deposit equal to your credit line, this one allows some qualifying applicants to get a $200 credit line with a deposit of $49 or $99. Further, you can be automatically considered for a higher credit line with no additional deposit in as little as six months. Read our review.
BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS
Our pick for: Small business cash back
The Capital One Spark Cash for Business is an excellent option for business operators whose expenses are all over the map and don't fall into the bonus categories on other business credit cards. You get a high, flat rewards rate on every purchase, with no limit to how much you can earn. There's a great sign-up bonus offer, too. Read our review.
Our pick for: Small business cash back + no annual fee
For flat-rate cash back without an annual fee, look to the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business. The rewards rate is lower and the sign-up bonus is downsized compared with the regular Spark Cash card, but because there's no annual fee, smaller spenders might come out ahead compared with the regular version. Read our review.
Our pick for: Small business travel rewards
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is basically a business version of the popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. You earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, and miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus, too. Read our review.
Our pick for: Small business travel rewards + no annual fee
The Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business offers a lower rewards rate and a smaller bonus offer than the regular Spark Miles card, but there's no annual fee, either. Smaller spenders might come out ahead compared with the regular version. Read our review.
Our pick for: Small business fair credit
The rewards rate on the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business isn't going to wow anyone, there's no sign-up bonus and the APR is high. What makes this card valuable is that it's available to business operators with fair or "average" credit, who don't have a lot of options in business credit cards — especially with no annual fee. Read our review.
Other credit cards issued by Capital One
Last updated on April 16, 2021
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen in multiple categories.