The Best Capital One Credit Cards for Travel Rewards, Cash-Back, and More [August 2024]

Well-known for its advertising slogan “What’s in your wallet?” Capital One presents a compelling case for always having one of its cards on hand for earning rewards on every purchase you make.

Add the fact that J.D. Powers has recognized Capital One as having the highest customer satisfaction among the mobile banking apps of all financial institutions, and you’ll start to understand the company’s commitment to delivering a good product.

Capital One cards historically don’t come with fancy quarterly bonus categories, airline or hotel perks, promotions needing registration, or a long list of bonus categories you have to memorize. You normally just earn unlimited rewards and enjoy no-hassle redemptions.

However, Capital One’s entry into the premium travel rewards card space offers a more vibrant card that we’ve included in today’s collection.

If you’re looking for a credit card that earns travel rewards, cash-back, or a chance to build or rebuild your credit history, there’s bound to be a Capital One card that fits your needs.

Let’s take a look at the rewards, benefits, and credit-building solutions offered by some of the best Capital One credit cards.

While we will review a more exhaustive list of the best Capital One credit cards for various categories, here’s a detailed overview of our favorites:

How To Choose a Capital One Credit Card

Before we get into our breakdown of each of our top Capital One credit cards, here’s what to keep in mind as you’re choosing which Capital One card is right for you.

Which Types of Rewards Do You Want To Earn?

For the most part, all of the best Capital One credit cards either earn cash-back or Capital One miles. This is an important distinction because, depending on how you want to redeem your rewards, you want to make sure you choose a card that offers that option.

What Card Perks Are You Looking For?

It’s also important to keep in mind that not all perks are available on all Capital One credit cards. So if you want a specific card feature, like airport lounge access, then that narrows your pool of eligible cards.

Do the Bonus Categories Match Your Spend?

If your goal is to earn as many points as possible, then you should select a card that offers bonus categories for the items you spend the most on, whether that is travel, dining, grocery stores, or a combination of categories.

Best Cards for Travel Rewards

Capital One Venture X Card (Best Premium Card for Travel and Lounge Access)

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

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.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• 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 booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• 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
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Capital One’s flagship credit card, the Capital One Venture X card, is a powerhouse when it comes to earning Capital One miles on travel purchases. You’d fare best when purchasing travel via Capital One Travel, but you still earn 2x miles on every other purchase you make, including travel.

At redemption time, you can use your Capital One miles to purchase travel via Capital One Travel or transfer your miles to airline or hotel partners for greater potential value.

And, as you’d expect from a premium travel rewards card, you get plenty of perks and benefits. Perks include worldwide lounge access with your Priority Pass Select membership, access to Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges, a $300 travel statement credit for travel purchased via Capital One Travel, cell phone protection, car rental insurance and benefits, and more.

Capital One Venture Card (Best Midtier Card for Travel and Lounge Access)

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.

$250 Capital One Travel Credit + 75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,600

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• 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
• 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 $100 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
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

If simplicity is still your priority, the Capital One Venture card may be a fit, as you’d earn double miles every day on every purchase you make, making it a great travel rewards card.

When it’s time to redeem your miles, you can purchase travel via Capital One Travel or transfer miles to the card’s partners.

That strong marketing message of earning double miles has made the Capital One Venture card a popular choice, and with simple earning and redemptions and lots of benefits, it’s an easy card to have in your wallet.

Have more questions about these 2 popular Capital One travel rewards cards? Don’t miss our in-depth article comparing the Capital One Venture X card and the Capital One Venture card.

Best Card for Dining

Capital One Savor Card (Best for Cash-Back on Dining, Entertainment and Streaming)

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

An excellent cash-back card that offers rewards for categories like dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

An excellent cash-back card that offers rewards for categories like dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)

Welcome Offer

Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

$300

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.74%-28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

 

When it comes to rewards credit cards, you can break up most savvy consumers into 2 camps: those who prefer travel rewards and those who prefer cash-back.

Both options can be very lucrative to you and your wallet, especially if you’re using the right card. For those who fall in the “cash is king” camp, you’ll likely find the Capital One Savor card quite compelling.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10% cash-back on Uber and Uber Eats
• 8% cash-back on Capital One Entertainment
• 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• This is strictly a cash-back card, so it features no travel rewards like other cards offer

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases.
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
• Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment.
• 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.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74%-28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 

Often overlooked but certainly worthy of consideration is the Capital One Savor card.

If you’re a foodie, have a lot of business dining expenses, or dine out frequently, you can’t go wrong earning 4% cash-back on dining.

You earn at least 1% cash-back on every purchase and 3% at grocery stores, so there’s plenty of earning potential for everyday spending.

Best Cards for Cash-Back

They may lack excitement, but simplicity may be more important when it comes to everyday earnings, and that’s what you get with Capital One cash-back credit cards.

You earn cash-back on every purchase, but you can also take advantage of the 0% APR periods for purchases and balance transfers that come with all of these cash-back credit cards.

Capital One SavorOne Card (Best for No Annual Fee and Cash-Back on Popular Categories)

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One SavorOne card is a great no-annual fee card for those who regularly spend on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart^® and Target^®).

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne card is a great no-annual fee card for those who regularly spend on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart^® and Target^®).

Welcome Offer

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One SavorOne card is a phenomenal option when it comes to no-annual-fee cash-back credit cards. With popular bonus categories like dining, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart^® and Target^®), entertainment, and popular streaming services, and the ability to earn 3% cash-back on these purchases, it is easy to see why those who use the card can earn some serious cash-back throughout the year.

The card also offers the ability to take your rewards and experiences even further by offering access to Capital One Travel, Capital One Dining, and Capital One Entertainment.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Cons

• Rewards are purely cash-back, so there is no access to outsized travel rewards redemptions

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• 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, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart^® and Target^®), plus 1% on all other purchases
• Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• 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; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• No foreign transaction fee
• No annual fee

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Quicksilver Card (Best for No Annual Fee and Everyday Cash-Back)

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A flexible, no-frills card that earns 1.5% cash-back on all purchases. Redeem rewards for any amount anytime you choose with no annual fee.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

A flexible, no-frills card that earns 1.5% cash-back on all purchases. Redeem rewards for any amount anytime you choose with no annual fee.

Welcome Offer

One-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Low maintenance, that’s your motto. When it comes to your credit cards, you don’t have the time or inclination to figure out which spending categories earn you the most cash-back.

A card that earns 1.5% cash-back for everything is more your speed.

That’s why you should consider the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. You’ll never waste your time with changing categories, and there’s no limit to the cash-back you can earn.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Unlimited 1.5% cash-back on all purchases
• No annual fee (rates & fees)
• Up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024

Cons

• Doesn’t offer bonus categories for those looking to maximize certain purchases

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• 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
• Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• 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; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

This card’s rewards will accrue on the card and be available under capitalone.com.

Hot Tip: Don’t forget that you can earn additional cash-back by using Capital One Offers.

Best No-Annual-Fee Cards

Capital One has a long list of cards in its lineup that do not charge an annual fee. The collection of no-annual-fee Capital One cards includes a credit card for every spending profile and credit history.

You’ll find rewards-earning credit cards, 0% APR credit cards, cash-back credit cards, cards for less-than-perfect credit, and a card for rebuilding your credit.

Bottom Line: Regardless of your credit history, Capital One has a no-annual-fee credit card that can match your financial profile. 

Best Cards for Business

Earning 2% cash-back or 2 miles per dollar on all of your business expenses can be a respectable return, but you have to pay an annual fee to do so on the following cards, unlike with the no-annual-fee business credit cards.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card (Best Business Card for Cash-Back)

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus card offers an unlimited 2% cash-back on all purchases and helpful features for business owners.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus card offers an unlimited 2% cash-back on all purchases and helpful features for business owners.

Welcome Offer

$2,000 cash back 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.

Up to $4,000+

Annual Fee

$150

APR

N/A

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

The information regarding the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

---

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card is great for business owners looking to improve their bottom line by earning 2% cash-back on all purchases without a high annual fee. Further, with no preset spending limit, the ability to get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000, and no-additional-fee employee cards, there is something that every business owner will love (rates & fees).

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Unlimited 2% cash-back on all purchases
• 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• No preset spending limit

Cons

• $150 annual fee (rates & fees)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• 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 Travel
• 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

Financial Snapshot

• APR: N/A
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Don’t let the $150 annual fee deter you, as spending $50,000 a year on your business nets you $850 on the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card ($1,000 in earnings minus the $150 annual fee). Compare that to the Capital One Spark Cash Select card, with a $0 annual fee earning 1.5% x $50,000, or $750 cash-back.

Capital One Spark Miles Card (Best Business Card for Earning Miles)

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Spark Miles card is a low-annual-fee business card that earns 2x transferable miles on every $1 you spend. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

The Capital One Spark Miles card is a low-annual-fee business card that earns 2x transferable miles on every $1 you spend. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)

Welcome Offer

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.

50,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$900

Annual Fee

$0 intro for the first year, $95 after that

APR

26.24% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is a great option for business owners looking for an uncomplicated rewards card that earns double miles on every purchase they make and offers access to transfer partners, all for a low annual fee.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Unlimited 2x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• 5x miles per $1 spent on hotel and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2 complimentary visits to a Capital One Lounge per year

Cons

• Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, $95 after that

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• 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 and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 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
• Skip the lines with up to a $100 statement credit on TSA PreCheck^® or Global Entry
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
• Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 26.24% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

The same is true for the Capital One Spark Miles card, which earns 2x miles per dollar spent. Spending $50,000 would equal 100,000 Capital One miles for just an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, $95 after that, versus 75,000 miles earned for the same spending level on the Capital One Spark Miles Select card with a $0 annual fee.

Let’s look at how the cards compare:

Bottom Line: Don’t let an annual fee scare you away from a particular business credit card from Capital One. Estimate your annual spending on the card and calculate the value you’d receive in return. You may find that paying the annual fee increases your bottom-line earnings. 

Best Introductory 0% APR Cards

It would be wishful thinking to find a credit card that doesn’t charge interest, but the next best thing is a credit card that doesn’t charge interest for a period of time.

A window of interest-free purchases or balance transfers allows you to make a large purchase and pay off the balance over time — or transfer balances from your high-interest credit cards and receive temporary relief from interest charges.

You must manage your 0% APR transactions well and make sure all balances are paid off in full prior to the expiration of the 0% APR period to avoid incurring interest charges. Once the 0% APR period has expired, you’re subject to normal interest rates on the card, which can exceed 20%.

Recommended Capital One card choices for introductory 0% APR offers include:

• Capital One Quicksilver card (our preferred option)
• Capital One VentureOne card
• Capital One Spark Cash Select card
• Capital One Spark Miles Select card

Bottom Line: A 0% APR period can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars on interest charges. Fortunately, Capital One makes it easy to secure 0% APR credit cards for purchases and balance transfers, as none of these cards charge an annual fee.

Best Cards for Building Credit

Have you had past credit challenges and want to get back on the right path? Or are you just starting out and need a credit card to help you build a solid credit history? Perhaps you’re even an entrepreneur with less-than-stellar credit trying to get your business up and running.

These are all situations that Capital One addresses with its credit cards for building or rebuilding credit.

Bottom Line: Even with less-than-perfect credit or no credit, you can qualify for a Capital One credit card and get started on the path to building a better credit history. 

Best Card for College Students

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Student card is very similar to the standard Capital One SavorOne card but is designed for college students just starting their journey with credit cards.

With it, you earn unlimited 3% cash-back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores. Plus, you get 1% on all other purchases. You also earn 8% cash-back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 10% cash-back on purchases on Uber and Uber Eats, along with your Uber One monthly membership fee being covered through November 14, 2024.

Everything Else You Need To Know

What Credit Score Do You Need To Get a Capital One Credit Card

There is no set credit score, no matter how high, that will guarantee that you will be approved for any Capital One credit card. Your credit score is just 1 factor in your approval decision, and other factors like your income, years of credit history, and history with Capital One are considered. That said, those with credit scores of 670 or above usually report a high percentage of success in getting approved for a Capital One card.

What Credit Limit Can I Get With a Capital One Credit Card?

The credit limit that you receive on your new card depends on what card you are approved for, your income, the amount of credit Capital One has already extended to you, and more.

For the most part, cards designed for building your credit might have a relatively low credit limit in the range of $500 to $1,000, while more premium Capital One credit cards might start with a credit limit of $5,000 and increase from there.

How Can I Get a Credit Limit Increase on a Capital One Credit Card?

Capital One gives you multiple ways to request a credit limit increase. You can do so through their online form or you can give Capital One a call at 1-800-227-4825 for personal cards and 1-800-867-0904 for small business cards.

Asking for a credit limit increase does not impact your credit score. You can request a credit limit increase at any time, but ideally, you should have had your credit card for at least a few months, always paying your bill on time and in full.

How Many Capital One Credit Cards Can You Have?

Capital One has a hard limit of 5 credit cards that you can hold at one time. That said, this only applies to personal credit cards, as Capital One does not publicly set a limit to the number of small business credit cards that you can have at once.

If you are currently at the 5 personal card limit and want to open a new Capital One credit card, you can simply close one of your current cards in order to get approved for the new one.

Can You Combine Points on Capital One Credit Cards?

Yes, all cards from the Venture, Savor, and Spark family of cards can combine the rewards earned among them. Say you have the Capital One Venture card, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus card, and the Capital One Savor card. You can convert the rewards from all 3 of those cards into Capital One miles and then transfer your Capital One miles to any Capital One transfer partner.

How To Apply for a Capital One Credit Card

Applying for a Capital One card is easy. You simply go to the Capital One website, navigate to the card you want to apply for, and then fill out the application details. This includes your name, address, income, Social Security number, and so on. You might receive an application decision instantly, but it also could take up to 7 to 10 days.

Prequalifying for Capital One Credit Cards

Applying for a credit card can be intimidating, as you’re never 100% sure you’ll get approved. Fortunately, you can lessen that stress with Capital One credit cards, as they have a user-friendly prequalifying process to let you know upfront if you’re likely to qualify for one of its credit cards.

Simply complete the short form to see if you’ve prequalified for any of its cards.

The prequalification form is not a credit card application, so there’s no hard credit pull and no guarantee you’ll ultimately be approved. However, it does give you an idea of which cards you’re likely to be approved for.

To read about the prequalifying process for Capital One and other credit card issuers, you can read our complete guide to credit card prequalification.

Another option is to use the CardMatch tool, which lets you know if you’ve been targeted for any credit card offers. Capital One is one of the participating financial institutions on the site.

Redeeming Rewards on Capital One Credit Cards

Once you sign in to your Capital One online account, you can easily redeem your miles for travel.

Redeeming Miles

Capital One miles are generally worth 1 cent each, are easy to redeem, and can be used for several different types of redemptions. Just log in to your Capital One online account to see how you can redeem them. Note that all redemptions are available for every card.

1. Use for Travel Purchases

You can redeem your miles for new travel with Capital One Travel or as a statement credit for travel purchases from the previous 90 days.

2. Transfer Miles to Travel Partners

One of the best options for redeeming your rewards is to transfer them to airline and hotel partners. If available for your card, this can result in potentially far better value than 1 cent per mile.

3. Redeem for Gift Cards

Use your miles to purchase gift cards at 1 cent per mile.

4. Redeem for Cash

Capital One only gives you 0.5 cents per mile when you redeem for cash. Avoid this choice if you can!

5. Donate

You can redeem your miles for a charitable donation. Capital One has a long list of organizations it works with, such as the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. Be sure to select an option that gives you at least 1 cent per mile in value.

6. Check Out With PayPal

When your eligible card is linked to PayPal, you can check out with PayPal and redeem your miles at a rate of 125 miles per dollar (or 0.8 cents per mile). We’d recommend this only if you can’t use your miles for travel or as a statement credit.

Hot Tip: Look for special offers when redeeming miles for gift cards, as there are frequently opportunities to redeem for better than 1 cent per mile. 

Collecting Your Cash-Back Rewards

It’s easy to collect the cash-back you’ve earned on your Capital One cash-back credit card.

Log in to your Capital One online account to view your rewards balance and choose the redemption you want. You can take your cash-back as a statement credit applied to your credit card balance, or Capital One can send you a check.

Cash-back rewards can also be redeemed for gift cards or for charitable donations.

Hot Tip: Are you curious about how Capital One credit cards stack up to their competitors? Check out our head-to-head comparison of Capital One cards to Chase cards.

Cardholder Benefits and Protections

Your specific Capital One credit card will have its own travel protections, shopping benefits, and additional features. This list comprises many of the benefits and protections available. However, your card agreement determines which ones apply to your credit card.

You will receive a cardholder agreement in the mail accompanying your new credit card, or you can access any Capital One benefits guide online.

Visa and Mastercard Protections and Benefits

• Visa Benefits: Capital One Visa credit cards come with an entire suite of benefits, including Visa Concierge services, expanded travel benefits, and additional shopping benefits.
• Mastercard Benefits: Capital One offers several types of Mastercards, each having its own collection of protections and benefits.

Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your guide to benefits for more details.

Methodology: How We Selected Our List

We analyze several factors when determining our list of the best Capital One credit cards. These factors include card perks, bonus categories, best credit card welcome bonus offers, fees, and redemption value.

Card Benefits

The benefits that a card offers are very important when determining its usefulness. This can include items like airport lounge access, travel credits, travel insurance and other purchase protections, and more.

Bonus Categories

We assign a higher rank to cards that offer useful bonus categories that most people are likely to spend a large portion of their income on, which might include categories like dining, supermarkets, gas, and more. We also highly value cards that offer a simpler rewards structure where you can also earn more than 1 mile or 1% back on all purchases made with the card.

Welcome Bonus Offers

A card’s welcome offer is a unique opportunity to earn a large number of rewards in a short period of time. Given that, we love credit cards that offer a large welcome bonus, as they usually offer significantly more value than those that do not.

Fees

Some of the very best Capital One credit cards, like the Capital One Venture X card, charge a high annual fee. That said, many of these cards do offer a large list of benefits to offset the fee. However, you should still be mindful of all of the fees a card charges and ensure you are getting more value from it than the fee you are paying.

Redemption Value

Lastly, we highly prioritize cards that offer multiple high-value redemption options. This usually includes redemptions like cash-back, travel portal redemptions, and our favorite way to redeem points and miles, travel transfer partners.

Final Thoughts

The broad collection of Capital One credit cards ensures there’s an appropriate card for every type of consumer, including frequent travelers.

With the addition of the Capital One Venture X card, you could now have access to premium travel perks such as travel statement credits, elevated earning categories for travel, and worldwide lounge access.

Business owners looking for related bonus purchase categories such as office supplies, shipping, travel, and internet or phone services won’t find these on Capital One credit cards, but they will find solid flat-rate earnings that ensure every purchase earns rewards.

And even if your credit is less than perfect, you can find a card that can help you build or rebuild your credit.

Capital One seems to know its market well and does a good job of delivering solid credit card solutions that offer simple-to-earn rewards that are also easy to redeem — and plenty of its cards do not charge an annual fee.

There’s no identity crisis here; Capital One knows exactly what it’s doing.

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For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa^® or Mastercard^® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
The information regarding the Capital One Spark Classic for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided or reviewed by the issuer.