Best Capital One Credit Cards of July 2025
Updated: Jul 2, 2025
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Capital One offers some of the best-known credit cards on the market, thanks to the company's celebrity spokespeople and ubiquitous catchphrase, "What's in your wallet?" (Capital One's recent bid to buy Discover has further raised its profile.) But Capital One'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 they don't have is foreign transaction fees.
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Capital One offers some of the best-known credit cards on the market, thanks to the company's celebrity spokespeople and ubiquitous catchphrase, "What's in your wallet?" (Capital One's recent bid to buy Discover has further raised its profile.) But Capital One'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 they don't have is foreign transaction fees.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Capital One offers some of the best-known credit cards on the market, thanks to the company's celebrity spokespeople and ubiquitous catchphrase, "What's in your wallet?" (Capital One's recent bid to buy Discover has further raised its profile.) But Capital One'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 they don't have is foreign transaction fees.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Capital One offers some of the best-known credit cards on the market, thanks to the company's celebrity spokespeople and ubiquitous catchphrase, "What's in your wallet?" (Capital One's recent bid to buy Discover has further raised its profile.) But Capital One'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 they don't have is foreign transaction fees.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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NerdWallet's Best Capital One Credit Cards of July 2025
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for Simple travel rewards
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Miles Boost: Best for Simple travel rewards + no annual fee
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for Travel perks
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Simple cash back
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Going out & staying in with no annual fee
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Bonus cash back for students
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Simple cash-back for students
Capital One Platinum Credit Card: Best for Fair credit + no annual fee
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Fair credit + cash back
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: Best for Flexible security deposit
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Poor credit + cash back
Capital One Spark Cash Plus: Best for Cash back for business
Capital One Spark Cash Select: Best for Cash back for business + no annual fee
Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Best for Travel rewards for business
Best Capital One Credit Cards From Our Partners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Miles BoostApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Simple travel rewards + no annual fee | $0 | 1.25x-5x | 40,000 miles | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Going out & staying in with no annual fee | $0 | 1%-8% | $200 | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Simple travel rewards | $95 | 2x-5x | 75,000 miles | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Simple cash back | $0 | 1.5%-5% | $200 | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Simple cash-back for students | $0 | 1.5%-5% | $100 | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Travel perks | $395 | 2x-10x | 75,000 miles | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Spark Cash PlusApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Cash back for business | $150 | 2%-5% | $2,000 | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Spark Cash SelectApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Cash back for business + no annual fee | $0 | 1.5%-5% | $500 | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Spark Miles for BusinessApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Travel rewards for business | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | 2x-5x | 50,000 miles | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Poor credit + cash back | $0 | 1.5%-5% | N/A | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Platinum Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Fair credit + no annual fee | $0 | N/A | N/A | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Bonus cash back for students | $0 | 1%-8% | $100 | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One Platinum Secured Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Flexible security deposit | $0 | N/A | N/A | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
 Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit CardApply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Best for Fair credit + cash back | $39 | 1.5%-5% | N/A | Apply Nowon Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Our pick for: Simple travel rewards + no annual fee
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn a bonus of 40,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $400 in travel
- 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR; this product does not have an introductory APR period, 4% fee on amounts transferred at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 1.25X 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
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Miles Boost 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.
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 40,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $400 in travel..
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.
Our pick for: Going out & staying in with no annual fee
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- 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 and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The $0-annual-fee Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a popular dining card that pays unlimited 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 3% cash back on dining, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Target and Walmart) and entertainment, including streaming services; and 1% back on all other purchases.
This might be the perfect dinner-and-a-movie credit card, but it's also pretty darn good even for those who tend to cook at home and watch Netflix. The sign-up bonus is also quite nice: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
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.
Our pick for: Simple travel rewards
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
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.
The card earns 2 miles per $1 spent on most purchases, among the best rewards rates in its class. The sign-up bonus is similarly generous: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel. 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.
There's an annual fee of $95. If you'd rather have cash back, your miles will be worth less. Capital One says cash redemption values "may vary and are subject to change." As of April 2024, Venture cardholders were seeing a redemption rate of 0.5 cent per point.
Our pick for: Simple cash back
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn a 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
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- 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 and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
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.
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: Earn a 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.
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.
Our pick for: Simple cash-back for students
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a simple and straightforward pick that offers solid rewards on every purchase.
The $0-annual-fee card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
You can find student cards that outearn this one in specific bonus categories.
Our pick for: Travel perks
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee.
As with the regular Venture-branded card, you earn 2 miles per dollar on purchases. But when booking through Capital One Travel, you also get 5X miles on airfare and 10X miles on hotel and rental cars. There's up to $300 a year in statement credit for bookings through the portal, a 10,000-mile annual bonus, airport lounge access and a jumbo sign-up offer.
The value you'll get from this card is highly dependent on whether you use Capital One to book your travel. If you prefer to reserve directly with airlines or hotels, best to stick with the standard Venture card. The bonus offer is big, but so is the spending required to earn it.
Our pick for: Cash back for business
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1!
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Enjoy purchasing power that adapts to your business. The Spark Cash Plus card has no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history, credit profile and other factors
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while you earn rewards from their transactions with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- $150 annual fee - Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year
- Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
- For businesses that need large spending capacity and want to maximize cash back
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers generous, easy-to-manage cash-back rewards at a strong rate. And while there's an annual fee, big spenders can easily offset it thanks to unlimited cash back.
In addition to its 2% flat-rate earnings, the card offers an attractive sign-up bonus: Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months and an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You'll also get business-specific perks like an itemized expense summary at year's end (great for tax time).
It's got an annual fee of $150, which could be unpalatable to some. (You may 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.
Our pick for: Cash back for business + no annual fee
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn a $500 bonus when you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere — with no limits or category restrictions
- No annual fee
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
- Rewards won't expire for the life of the account
- Redeem your cash back rewards for any amount
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Capital One Spark Cash Select is a solid choice for entrepreneurs who don't spend as much: unlimited 1.5% cash back and a $0 annual fee. (For more options, see our list of the best Capital One Spark business credit cards.)
With its cash back rewards rate and $0, this card is like a "Quicksilver for business." You also can earn a solid sign-up bonus.
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, described above, even with its annual fee.
Our pick for: Travel rewards for business
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- 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
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One's travel booking site
- Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
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.
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 and you receive a rate of 2 miles per dollar on purchases. There's a great sign-up bonus, too.
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.
Our pick for: Poor credit + cash back
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- No annual or hidden fees, and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. See if you're approved in seconds
- Put down a refundable $200 security deposit to get at least a $200 initial credit line
- Building your credit? Using a card like this responsibly could help
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
Unlike many other secured cards, the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card earns a decent rewards rate on all purchases as you work to strengthen your credit.
The $0-annual-fee card earns a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, a solid rate even compared with many traditional "unsecured" cards. It also offers an automatic credit limit review, plus the possibility of an upgrade path to a higher-tier Capital One card eventually.
There's a minimum security deposit of $200. And while you can get eventually get the money back when you upgrade to a regular card or close the account in good standing, for many it still represents a sizable sum of cash to lock up.
Our pick for: Fair credit + no annual fee
Card details
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's 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
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
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.
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.
There are no rewards. Plus, the ongoing APR is on the high end at 29.74% 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.
Our pick for: Bonus cash back for students
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is among the best in its class, thanks to its rich rewards in several popular spending categories for students.
The $0-annual-fee card earns 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 3% back on dining, entertainment purchases, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases; and 1% back on all other purchases.
A flat-rate rewards card would be more straightforward and easier to manage.
Our pick for: Flexible security deposit
Card details
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
- Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get at least a $200 initial credit line
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
When you have poor credit, a secured card can help. The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card 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.
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.
Like most secured cards, this card doesn't earn rewards. The ongoing APR is 29.74% Variable APR, so carrying a balance is not ideal.
Our pick for: Fair credit + cash back
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- 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
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
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.
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.
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.
ALSO SEE: Best credit cards of 2025 || Visa || Mastercard || American Express || Discover || Bank of America® || Capital One || Chase || Citi || US Bank || Wells Fargo
Best Capital One credit cards
Before applying, verify details on the issuer's website:
CONSUMER CREDIT CARDS
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Simple 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 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. 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 (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Miles Boost
Our pick for: Simple travel rewards + no annual fee
With the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Miles Boost, you don't pay an annual fee, but you also don't get rewards as rich as those on the regular Venture card (see rates and fees). Still, the bonus offer makes this a solid card for starting out with travel rewards. Read our review.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Travel perks
Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Simple 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 APR period (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Going out & staying in with no annual fee
Some credit cards reward you well for going out, others for staying in. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is the rare card that does both. It offers a terrific cash-back rate not only on dining and entertainment but also at grocery stores and on popular streaming services. Toss in a good bonus offer and intro APR period, and this card is a winner. (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Bonus cash back for students
Among cards aimed at students, the $0-annual-fee Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is near the head of the class. It earns 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 3% back in a variety of popular spending categories for students — including dining, entertainment purchases, eligible streaming services and grocery store purchases — which is a better deal than you'd find on many cards requiring annual fees or sterling credit (see see rates and fees). Read our review.
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Simple cash back for students
The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card gets high marks for cards in its class, thanks to its $0 annual fee and its no-fuss rewards rate: 1.5% cash back on all purchases (see rates and fees). That's as good a combo as you'd find on even a lot of non-student cards. Read our review.
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
Our pick for: Fair credit + no annual fee
You don't get rewards with the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, or a sign-up bonus or a 0% period (see rates and fees). 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.
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Fair credit + cash back
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 (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Our pick for: Flexible security deposit
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card 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 starting at $49. Further, you can be automatically considered for a higher credit line with no additional deposit in as little as six months (see rates and fees). Read our review.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Poor credit + cash back
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an impressive combination of features for those with poor credit. A deposit is required, but in exchange you get a $0-annual-fee card that reports to all three credit bureaus (see rates and fees); an automatic credit limit review after six months; and a possible upgrade path to an unsecured Capital One card. Oh, and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, plus 1.5% back on all other purchases, which equals what you'd find on many unsecured cards. Read our review.
BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Our pick for: Cash back for business
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is an excellent option for business operators whose expenses don't fall into the bonus categories on other business credit cards. There's no preset spending limit and you get a high, flat rewards rate on every purchase. Plus, you can earn a welcome bonus if you hit certain spending requirements. Just make sure that you can pay off your spending in full each month, as this is a charge card that doesn't let you revolve a balance. (See rates and fees.) Learn more and apply.
Capital One Spark Cash Select
Our pick for: Cash back for business + no annual fee
The Capital One Spark Cash Select offers a generous, attainable sign-up bonus, no annual fee and flat-rate cash-back rewards. (See rates and fees.) Businesses that expect to spend $30,000 or more in their first three months should look to the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, which offers a higher bonus and rewards rate (for a higher annual fee). (See rates and fees.) Learn more and apply.
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Our pick for: Travel rewards for business
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One's travel booking site and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. 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. (See rates and fees.) Learn more and apply.
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
Our pick for: Travel rewards for business + 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. Learn more and apply.*
What credit score do you need to get a Capital One credit card?
The credit score required to get a Capital One credit card depends on the card you’re considering. For example:
As is often the case with any issuer, premium cards with the most perks require excellent credit, generally defined as a credit score of 720 or better. An example here is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Many of Capital One's most popular rewards cards are available to applicants with good to excellent credit. Good credit is generally defined as a score of 690 and up.
Capital One also has cards specifically designed for fair or "average" credit, generally represented by scores in the mid-600s. These include the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, which is a basic card with a $0 annual fee (see rates and fees), and the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, which offers the same spending rewards as the regular Quicksilver card but charges an annual fee and does not come a sign-up bonus or a 0% intro APR offer (see rates and fees).
Student credit cards from Capital One generally require fair credit.
The issuer also has options for bad credit. The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card doesn’t have any specific credit score requirement — but it requires a cash security deposit.
Keep in mind, however, that your credit score is just one factor in determining whether you’ll qualify for any credit card. Issuers typically look at your income and other information on your application as well as specific data from your credit report.
Ask our credit card experts
Craig Joseph
Craig JosephWHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CAPITAL ONE CARD, AND WHY?
The Venture X, and it's not even close. Lounge access, a hefty sign-up bonus, an easy-to-use annual travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles every cardholder anniversary year? Yes, please!
Craig Joseph
Lead Writer
Caitlin Mims
Caitlin MimsWHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CAPITAL ONE CARD, AND WHY?
I love the SavorOne. Its rewards on dining and entertainment make it such a great one-and-done card for a night out with friends. It doesn’t have travel partners like other Capital One cards, but you can move rewards you earn on this card to the Venture family and transfer your rewards from there.
Caitlin Mims
Editor & Content Strategist
Melissa Lambarena
Melissa LambarenaWHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CAPITAL ONE CARD, AND WHY?
The Venture X is my favorite because it’s simple to use and packs a lot of value. It’s helping me keep my travel goals on track, and I don’t have to think about rewards rates, expiration dates or blackout dates.
Melissa Lambarena
Senior Writer & Content Strategist
Sara Rathner
Sara RathnerWHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CAPITAL ONE CARD, AND WHY?
Venture X all the way. If you max out the card's many benefits, the annual fee becomes a negative number.
Sara Rathner
Senior Writer/Spokesperson
Paul Soucy
Paul SoucyWHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CAPITAL ONE CARD, AND WHY?
Quicksilver is my designated card for recurring bills like my car insurance and gym membership. The 1.5% cash back isn't the highest rate available, but it's outstanding for set-it-and-forget-it expenses.
Paul Soucy
Director of Content
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CAPITAL ONE CARD, AND WHY?
The Venture X, and it's not even close. Lounge access, a hefty sign-up bonus, an easy-to-use annual travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles every cardholder anniversary year? Yes, please!
Craig Joseph
Lead Writer
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CAPITAL ONE CARD, AND WHY?
I love the SavorOne. Its rewards on dining and entertainment make it such a great one-and-done card for a night out with friends. It doesn’t have travel partners like other Capital One cards, but you can move rewards you earn on this card to the Venture family and transfer your rewards from there.
Caitlin Mims
Editor & Content Strategist
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CAPITAL ONE CARD, AND WHY?
The Venture X is my favorite because it’s simple to use and packs a lot of value. It’s helping me keep my travel goals on track, and I don’t have to think about rewards rates, expiration dates or blackout dates.
Melissa Lambarena
Senior Writer & Content Strategist
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CAPITAL ONE CARD, AND WHY?
Venture X all the way. If you max out the card's many benefits, the annual fee becomes a negative number.
Sara Rathner
Senior Writer/Spokesperson
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CAPITAL ONE CARD, AND WHY?
Quicksilver is my designated card for recurring bills like my car insurance and gym membership. The 1.5% cash back isn't the highest rate available, but it's outstanding for set-it-and-forget-it expenses.
Paul Soucy
Director of Content
What are the interest rates on Capital One credit cards?
Interest rates on Capital One credit cards vary. As of this writing, the issuer's rewards cards for good or excellent credit generally offer a range of rates, and the APR charged on your account will largely depend on your credit history. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, for example, charges rates in this range: The ongoing APR is 19.99%-29.24% Variable APR (see rates and fees). Meanwhile, Capital One cards for people with fair or bad credit tend to charge a single interest rate. The ongoing APR is 29.74% Variable APR on the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, for example (see rates and fees).
Some cards offer a 0% introductory APR promotion, which means no interest is charged on your balance for a period of time after you open the account. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, for example, has a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.24%-29.24% Variable APR (see rates and fees).
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus, a card for small business operators, stands out because it doesn’t have an APR at all. It’s a charge card, not a credit card, meaning the balance must be paid in full each month. Late payments on the Capital One Spark Cash Plus incur a 2.99% penalty. (See rates and fees.)
What credit limit can I get with a Capital One credit card?
For regular, unsecured credit cards, your credit limit will depend on several factors, including your income and information from your credit report — including other debts and how much credit you have available on other accounts. This is typically the case with all issuers. In most cases, you aren't going to know how much of a credit limit you qualify for until you submit your application.
With secured cards, you must provide a security deposit to open the account, and the amount you deposit usually becomes your credit limit. The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card, for example, requires a $200 minimum initial deposit, and the maximum is $3,000. Capital One reviews Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card accounts for a potential credit limit increase with no additional deposit after the account has been open for at least six months.
Credit limits for the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card range from $200 to $1,000. However, some applicants may qualify for an initial credit line of $200 with a security deposit of only $49 or $99. With this card, too, you may be eligible for a credit line increase with no additional deposit in as little as six months after opening the account.
How can I get a credit limit increase on a Capital One card?
You can request an increase in your credit limit, or Capital One may offer you one, usually after you’ve demonstrated responsible credit use, such as paying balances in full every month. Requests can be submitted online through your account portal. When you submit a request, you’ll be asked to provide your total annual income, employment status and monthly housing payment. For Spark business cards, you’ll also need to supply last year’s total business revenue.
With secured credit cards, you generally can't request a credit line beyond what you get with your initial deposit. However, Capital One reviews secured credit card accounts for credit limit increases with no additional deposit after they have been open for at least six months.
What are the benefits of Capital One credit cards?
Benefits are highly specific to each Capital One credit card, but there are some commonalities. All Capital One credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees. If you have a rewards card, the cash back or miles earned with that card do not expire, and there is no limit on the amount you can earn. Capital One cardholders also get access to Capital One Entertainment, a ticketing platform that offers early and sometimes exclusive access to concerts, sporting events and more. See our reviews of individual cards for specific benefits.
Is Capital One a good credit card?
What makes any card "good" for one person may not be a good fit for someone else, but Capital One offers a variety of credit cards to suit a range of consumers, and those cards regularly find a home on NerdWallet's roundups of the best credit cards. Those who regularly dine out may like the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and its unlimited 3% cash back on dining, for example, while the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card may be a match for someone who wants to earn simple rewards without having to pay an annual fee (see rates and fees).
Does Capital One have a pre-approval process for its credit cards?
Capital One’s website offers "pre-approval" for several of its credit cards. You fill out a form with questions similar to what's asked in a standard credit card application, and Capital One will show you offers you may be eligible for. The initial process doesn’t involve a "hard inquiry" on your credit report so there's no effect on your credit scores. If you see an offer you like, you can then formally apply. Note that being "pre-approved" does not necessarily guarantee approval when you submit an official application.
How many Capital One cards can you have?
Capital One will neither confirm nor deny whether it has limits on how many cards you can have. Cardholders have reported, however, that they can have no more than two personal cards at any given time, and that they can't get approved for more than one card every six months.
Can you combine points on Capital One credit cards?
You can combine miles on Capital One travel credit cards by linking the accounts, and you can do the same with the rewards on Capital One cash-back cards. Cash-back rewards can be transferred to a travel card account, but miles cannot be transferred to a cash-back account. Accounts must be linked in order to transfer rewards, which can be done in the Capital One Rewards hub.
*Information for this card is not reviewed by or provided by Capital One.
NerdWallet's Jae Bratton contributed to this article.
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit 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 as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the easiest Capital One card to get?
Credit cards designed for consumers with bad credit or limited credit generally have less-stringent requirements, making them easier to get. The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card and the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card both require a cash security deposit, which lowers the risk to the issuer, which in turn makes them easier to qualify for. However, approval for any card is not guaranteed, and you can still be denied if you don’t meet the issuer’s requirements — for example, if you don't have sufficient income or if you have a pending bankruptcy.
How do I cancel a Capital One credit card?
According to Capital One’s website, you can cancel your credit card online by following these instructions: “Sign in to your account and click on the card you wish to close. Select ‘I want to,’ scroll to ‘Control your card’ and follow the directions under close account.”
Do Capital One cards have sign-up bonuses?
Many Capital One cards offer sign-up bonuses. Depending on the card, you might receive a nice sum of cash back or miles after meeting certain spending requirements. Capital One credit cards for consumers with fair or bad credit generally don't have bonus offers.
How do I activate a Capital One credit card?
You must be enrolled in online banking in order to activate a Capital One credit card. If you’re activating a new card but already have other Capital One cards, you’ll have to link the new credit card account to your existing profile.
About the author
Kenley Young
Managing EditorAbout the reviewer
Caitlin Mims
Editor & Content StrategistAbout the editor
