Best capital one credit card for rewards

The information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card was collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details haven’t been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Compare our top picks for Capital One credit cards

A closer look at our best Capital One credit cards

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards: Best for simple cash back

• What we love about the Capital One Quicksilver: It’s a simple cash back card with no annual fee that earns at least an unlimited 1.5 percent back on all purchases.
• Who this card is good for: Cash back beginners. If you’re considering getting a rewards card, this is a great entry point to test the waters of cash back credit cards.
• Alternatives: The Citi® Double Cash card earns a little bit more cash back (1 percent when you use the card and 1 percent as you pay your bill) without an annual fee as well. If you’re a disciplined credit user who always pays their bill, this card could prove more rewarding.

Read our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and entertainment with no annual fee

• What we love about the SavorOne card: It has alluring rewards rates on dining and grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target), along with select streaming services, making it an easy way to earn on food and your favorite TV shows.
• Who this card is good for: Homebody foodies and social butterflies. The 3 percent back on its food-related categories make it a lucrative card for both outgoing people and couch potatoes.
• Alternatives: If you’re a foodie who also loves traveling, then the American Express® Gold Card offers rewards on categories that you probably spend the most in. Just watch out for its annual fee.

Read our Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for travel rewards

• What we love about the Venture Rewards card: Capital One’s transfer partners and this comparatively low annual fee make it a solid first choice for earning miles on everyday purchases. Plus, you can get statement credits for travel-related purchases made in the previous 90 days.
• Who this card is good for: Casual travelers—its 2X miles on everyday purchases in addition to its 5X miles on hotels and cars booked through Capital One Travel is just enough to fund the occasional trip.
• Alternatives: The Venture Rewards’ direct competitor, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, offers similar rewards rates, annual fee and sign-up bonus, but higher points value when booking through the issuer’s travel portal. Choosing between the two will come down to comparing the issuers’ travel partners.

Read our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One Platinum Credit Card: Best for limited credit history

• What we love about the Capital One Platinum: It has a relatively low recommended credit score requirement of 580 to 740 and you’ll get an automatic credit line increase review after six months.
• Who this card is good for: The serious credit-builder who wants to improve their score with responsible use and healthy financial habits.
• Alternatives: If you want to earn modest rewards while you build credit, the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card will let you do just that. Just keep in mind that the distraction of rewards could shift your focus from building credit.

Read our Capital One Platinum Credit Card review.
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Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for no annual fee travel rewards

• What we love about the VentureOne Rewards card: This card comes with an attainable sign-up bonus (20,000 bonus miles if you spend $500 within the first three months) plus a simple, low-cost way to earn miles on everyday purchases for no annual fee.
• Who this card is good for: The budget traveler who wants a no annual fee travel rewards card to start earning miles.
• Alternatives: Any of Capital One’s other travel rewards cards earn higher rewards rates, at the cost of an annual fee. If you don’t mind the cost of carrying one of the issuer’s other travel cards, you will definitely find more value in them.

Read our Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One Spark Cash Plus: Best for small businesses

• What we love about the Spark Cash Plus: Earning a flat 2 percent back on all purchases makes for consistent rewards on business expenses, so we love that it’s a no-hassle business card.
• Who this card is good for: Small-business owners looking to earn high cash back rewards without keeping track of bonus or rotating categories.
• Alternatives: The Spark Cash Plus is a solid choice, but there are business cards available that tout no annual fees with similar rewards rates like the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Mastercard® credit card.

Read our Capital One Spark Cash Plus Review..
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Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for fair credit

• What we love about the QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards card: It’s an entry for people with fair credit to earn rewards without shelling out a super-high annual fee or turning to a secured credit card. Plus, cardholders are automatically considered for a higher line of credit in as few as six months with on-time payments.
• Who this card is good for: People with fair credit who want to improve their score while earning modest rewards.
• Alternatives: While the QuicksilverOne is worth it if you have fair credit, you might be able to qualify for rewards with no annual fee if your score is on the cusp of good credit. We recommend its upgrade to the Quicksilver, which has the same rewards rate but with no annual fee.

Read our Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best overall card for students

• What we love about the Quicksilver Student: Its 1.5 percent flat-rate cash back on all purchases and 5 percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) is a rarity for student cards. You can also earn $100 when you spend $100 in the first three months.
• Who this card is good for: Students who want to earn substantial cash back rewards right away without too much hassle.
• Alternatives: There aren’t many comparable student cards, but if you’re a student that can handle rotating and bonus categories, the Discover it® Student Cash Back and SavorOne Student Cash Rewards cards will serve you well.

Read our Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for premium travel benefits

• What we love about the Venture X card: Compared to other luxury travel cards, its lower annual fee makes it an affordable way to earn premium benefits and rewards on par with industry leaders.
• Who this card is good for: Luxury travelers who want to ball on a budget.
• Alternatives: It’s hard to find a true alternative to the Venture X, but if you really don’t want to cough up hundreds of dollars for the annual fee, then consider cards with low or no annual fees like Capital One’s other Venture travel rewards credit cards.

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.
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Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: Best for bad credit

• What we love about the Capital One Platinum Secured: It has a pretty low security deposit, even among secured credit cards, starting as low as $49. This factor makes it easier for people with little funds to start building credit.
• Who this card is good for: Anyone who wants to start their credit-building journey and needs a low barrier of entry to do so.
• Alternatives: If you can put down at least a $200 security deposit, the Citi® Secured Mastercard® might be a better choice because of its lower ongoing APR (25.49 percent variable). On the other hand, the First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card has an even lower APR (12.99 percent variable) with the same security deposit requirements.

Read our Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card review.
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Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Best for business travel rewards

• What we love about the Spark Miles for Business: The unlimited 2X miles earning rate on all purchases can help businesses reap rewards on their spending and employee spending. Plus, Capital One’s list of travel partners boost the value of miles.
• Who this card is good for: Business owners and their employees who travel occasionally for work.
• Alternatives: For no annual fee, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express offers a similar rewards rate, but a $50,000 cap on 2X points, then 1X points. If your business spends less than that, then it’s a worthy and cheaper alternative.

Read our Capital One Spark Miles for Business review.
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Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for on-the-go-students

• What we love about the SavorOne Student: This student card offers exciting rewards rates on categories that students typically spend in—dining, streaming, grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target) and entertainment. You can also earn $100 when you spend $100 in the first three months.
• Who this card is good for: Independent students with the income to spend meaningfully in the boosted categories to take full advantage of the cash back rate.
• Alternatives: Targeted spending can be difficult in the schedule of a busy student. A card like the Chase Freedom® Student credit card, that rewards all purchases with 1 percent cash back and $20 Good Standing award every account anniversary for five years is a solid alternative.

Read our Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Review.
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Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best secured card for flat-rate rewards

• What we love about the Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards: The fact that you can build credit and earn some rewards for no annual fee makes this card loveable.
• Who this card is good for: People with bad, thin or no credit who can’t qualify for non-secured rewards credit cards.
• Alternatives: The flat 1.5 percent cash rewards on a secured card is hard to beat, but the Discover it® Secured Credit Card may prove a worthy competitor. Its 2 percent back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 per quarter, then 1 percent) are key earning categories that edge out the Quicksilver Secured.

Read our Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Journey Student Rewards from Capital One: Best for responsible students

• What we love about the Journey Student Rewards: This card instills responsible credit usage in students by rewarding a 0.25 percent cash back increase for every month they pay their bill on time—that’s an unlimited 1.25 percent in potential cash back.
• Who this card is good for: Responsible students who always pay their bill on time.
• Alternatives: There are other student cash rewards cards on the market that earn higher rates, like the SavorOne Student. However, the Journey Student card is fantastic for establishing and rewarding responsible credit card use.

Read our Journey Student Rewards from Capital One review.
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What is Capital One?

Capital One is a full-service bank that offers personal loans, checking and savings accounts, mortgages and credit cards. Established in 1994, it’s one of the relatively younger financial companies, but offers industry-leading products and credit cards.

Source: Capital One Corporate Information

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Bankrate Insight

Capital One was rated the third-best credit card issuer for customer satisfaction in the 2021 J.D. Power U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction study with a satisfaction score of 815 on a 1,000 point scale.

Pros and cons of Capital One credit cards

Pros

• Credit card variety: Capital One has a long lineup of cards designed for a variety of spending habits.
• Credit range: Whether you have bad credit or excellent credit, Capital One has a card designed to help you achieve your financial goals.
• Travel benefits: No Capital One cards charge foreign transaction fees, saving you 3 percent to 5 percent per transaction.

Cons

• Annual fees: Many Capital One cards have an annual fee, however some cards have it waived in the first year.
• Regular APR: Many cards offered by Capital One have a relatively high regular APR, so cardholders will want to avoid carrying a large balance.
• Competition: Capital One only offers one high-end credit card, meaning its competitors may offer more in terms of rewards and overall value.

Who should get a Capital One credit card?

Still unsure if a Capital One credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

Capital One credit card benefits

From travel to cash back to business cards, Capital One has a variety of credit card options for various credit scores and spending habits. Here is a rundown of what else Capital One has to offer:

How to choose a Capital One credit card

Capital One has a number of credit card offerings, enough to suit the needs of almost any cardholder. When deciding on a Capital One card, consider what its primary function will serve as a financial tool and narrowing your choices will be simple. Consider the following when choosing a Capital One card:

What’s your credit score?

Capital One has options for consumers at nearly every credit level, so almost anyone can get a Capital One credit card. On the other hand, your credit score will impact the specific Capital One cards you qualify for. If you’re looking to get rewards from your credit card, consider that the most lucrative rewards cards from Capital One will be reserved for consumers with good-to-excellent credit. Take a look at Bankrate’s CardMatch™ tool to connect you with credit cards that best suit your needs.

How will you use the card?

Where do you do the bulk of your spending? Consider the answer before deciding on a Capital One credit card. Will you be trying to earn free or discounted travel? Or are you looking to finance a significant purchase? Analyzing your answers should help you determine the perks and drawbacks of each card.

Can you stick to best practices?

While a Capital One credit card can provide a number of benefits when used strategically, it may also lead to an increase in debt, a negative impact on your credit score or growing interest charges if you’re not careful. Consider the following best practices and, if you can, stick to them when deciding on a Capital One credit card:

• Paying your balance on time and in full each month. Paying your balances in full and on time helps you to avoid interest charges. On time payments will also be reported to the three credit bureaus, helping you to improve your credit score over time.
• Making your payments on time every time. Again, on time payments are one of the major influences on your credit score. Late payments will negatively affect your credit score, and usually cost you a late fee as well.
• Only charging what you can afford. Your credit utilization ratio is another one of the criteria used to determine your credit score. The lower your utilization ratio the more favorable impact it will have on your credit score. Try to keep your credit utilization ratio below 30 percent.

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Bankrate Insight

The Capital One mobile app remains one of the top-rated finance apps on the market. It has a 4.8 review score in the Apple app store and a 4.7 review score in the Google Play store, currently ranking in the top 10 free finance apps in both stores.

Capital One travel rewards program overview

The Capital One travel rewards program offers a decent amount of flexibility when it comes to earning miles. Capital One offers the Venture X, Venture Rewards and VentureOne Rewards as travel card options. Seeing as they aren’t co-branded cards, or affiliated with certain hotels or airlines, you won’t be limited to one brand. Plus, you’ll earn a flat rewards rate for every purchase—no rotating bonus categories, no problem.

If you are interested in transferring your points, Capital One offers many miles transfer partners, and now most Capital One miles can be transferred to travel partners at a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, with Capital One, you can redeem rewards for travel, gift cards or as a statement credit for travel booked in the past 90 days (including Airbnb) on your Capital One card.

Let’s break down Capital One’s travel cards, the Venture and the VentureOne, using a few examples:

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

If you’re looking to earn travel rewards on your everyday expenses, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a good match. You’ll earn a flat 2X miles on every purchase. This card comes with 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. There is a $95 annual fee.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is the younger sibling to the Venture card. It offers no annual fee and a lesser rewards rate of 1.25X miles per purchase.

If you’re just getting into the travel rewards game, this is a great starter card. There’s also a small bonus of 20,000 miles when you spend $500 within your first 3 months of account opening, which is worth $200 in travel.

How to get a Capital One credit card

So, you’ve decided you want a Capital One credit card. Here’s the process of applying for and getting a Capital One card:

1. Check your credit score. As with any card issuer, there are credit score requirements for each product. If you have at least a fair credit score (580 and above), there are several cards to choose from. However, having excellent credit over 800 will give you the pick of the lot.
2. Look at prequalification. Capital One has a prequalification tool that lets you see which of its cards you might best qualify for. You can also use Bankrate’s CardMatch™ to get personalized offers.
3. Fill out the application. Once you’ve chosen the best Capital One card for you, head to the issuer’s site and start the application process. You need to provide your name, date of birth, address, Social Security number, estimated income and your checking or savings account information.
4. Get your decision. You’ll know quickly whether you’ve been approved or denied for the credit card. If you’re denied, Capital One is required by law to send you a letter explaining why.

How we chose our top Capital One credit cards

Bankrate’s personal finance experts have evaluated the top Capital One cards according to our 5-star rating system. The list of criteria for rating credit cards includes:

Rewards

Whether the card offers cash back, travel points/miles or multi-purpose rewards for eligible purchases and the potential returns based on rewards rate (1 percent cash back per $1 spent, 1 mile per $1 spent, and so on).

Perks and benefits

Whether the card offers extras such as retail discounts, extended warranties on purchases, travel insurance and financial management tools.

Annual fee

Whether the card charges an annual fee and if so, how much the card’s overall value and benefits might offset the fee.

Introductory offers

Whether the card has a sign-up bonus, welcome offer or similar sign-up incentive and how much it adds to the card’s overall value.

Variable APR

How the card’s annual percentage rate (APR) compares with current averages as an indicator of cost and value.

Foreign transaction fee

Whether the card charges a foreign transaction fee for international purchases and how the fee affects the card’s overall value.

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* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

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