With a selection of 22 personal and business cards, Capital One has credit card options geared toward many different types of spenders.
Capital One cards are typically low-cost and there are plenty of fair-credit options for those rebuilding a bad credit score or starting from no credit history. Plus, you can choose from rewards cards earning points, miles, or cash back in various categories — whether you dine out often, you want rewards on your business spending, or you’re saving for a future trip.
Capital One doesn’t fall short in customer service, either. The issuer ranks third in customer satisfaction among national U.S credit card issuers, according to the 2019 J.D. Power Credit Card Satisfaction Study. If you’re considering a new credit card from Capital One, here are a few of our favorite picks to consider
Before You Start
Smart credit card use requires a foundation of healthy credit habits like paying your full balance on time each month. It’s important to keep in mind that any high-interest debt balance can quickly wipe out any rewards you earn, so eliminate existing debt before applying for a new credit card.
- Intro offer:75,000 miles
- Annual fee:$95
- Regular APR:18.99% – 26.99% (Variable)
- Recommended credit score:670-850 (Good to Excellent)
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. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Flat 2x miles on every purchase
- Generous sign-up bonus
- Flexible rewards redemptions
- No foreign transaction fees
- High variable APR
- $95 annual fee
- Travel transfer partners options and value aren’t as good as some other programs
Additional Card Details
- Flexible redemption options to use rewards toward future travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership every four years
- Two complimentary visits to Capital One Lounge locations each year
- Intro offer:$200
- Annual fee:$0
- Regular APR:17.99% – 27.99% (Variable)
- Recommended credit score:670-850 (Good to Excellent)
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 unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day.
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- No annual fee
- Welcome bonus
- 0% Introductory APR on purchases for 15 months (19.24% – 29.24% variable APR thereafter); 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
- No higher-earning bonus rewards categories
Additional Card Details
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a variable APR of 19.24% – 29.24% based on creditworthiness
- No foreign transaction fees
- Rewards don’t expire as long as the account is open
- Unlimited 1.5% rewards
- Multiple redemption options
- Access to Capital One Experiences
- Intro offer:75,000 miles
- Annual fee:$395
- Regular APR:19.99% – 26.99% (Variable)
- Recommended credit score:740-850 (Excellent)
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
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Exceptional rewards for travel purchases
- Lower annual fee than many premium travel credit cards
- Flexible rewards redemption options, including transfers to airlines and hotels
- Must book travel through Capital One to earn the best rewards rate
- High APR
- Not as valuable for those who only travel occasionally
Additional Card Details
- Up to $300 annually in statement credits for travel booked through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 anniversary bonus miles each year, starting your first anniversary
- Cell phone protection worth up to $800 when your phone is stolen or damaged*
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck membership
- Priority Pass Select membership
- Access to Capital One airport lounges
- Travel protections including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, primary rental car coverage, and more
- Intro offer:N/A
- Annual fee:$0
- Regular APR:28.49% (Variable)
- Recommended credit score:(No Credit History)
Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases. Pay on time to boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% for that month.
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Credit-building tool for users with little credit history
- Earn rewards on spending
- Automatic credit line reviews after six months
- No annual fee
- High variable APR for purchases
- No cash intro bonus offer
Additional Card Details
- Each month you pay on time, earn a boosted 1.25% back on all purchases
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Automatic credit line reviews after six months
- Prequalify with no hard credit check
- 29.74% variable APR
- Intro offer:Up to $1,000 cash bonus
- Annual fee:$150
- Regular APR:N/A
- Recommended credit score:740-850 (Excellent)
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions.
NextAdvisor’s Take
- No preset spending limit
- Great flat-rate rewards on spending
- Generous bonus offer
- Potential for annual cash back bonus
- No option to carry a balance
- High annual fee for a cash back card
- Minimal cardholder benefits
- High spending required to maximize rewards
Additional Card Details
- Score an annual cash bonus of $200 when you spend $200,000 or more on your card in a year
- Pay-in-full card with no preset spending limit (2.99% fee on any balances not paid in full each month)
- Download spending reports to Quicken®, QuickBooks®, and Excel®
- Free employee cards
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad
- Roadside assistance
- Extended warranty protection for extra year of coverage on purchases that come with a manufacturer’s warranty
- Intro offer:5%
- Annual fee:$0
- Regular APR:17.99% or 28.99% (Variable)
- Recommended credit score:580-740 (Fair to Good)
Earn 5% cash back on Walmart.com purchases, including pickup and delivery Earn 2% cash back on purchases in Walmart® stores, Murphy USA and Walmart® fuel stations. 2% cash back on restaurants and travel purchases. 1% cash back on all other purchases everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted.
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Earn 5% back on Walmart.com purchases, including pickup and delivery (and grocery delivery)
- 5% back in Walmart stores the first year
- No annual fee
- Flexible rewards redemptions
- Highest ongoing bonus category for online purchases only, not in-store
- Weak on cardholder benefits
- No introductory APR for purchases or balance transfers
- No cash welcome bonus
Additional Card Details
- For the first 12 months, earn 5% back in Walmart stores when you use your card to pay with Walmart Pay
- Capital One’s Card Lock feature prevents new purchases if your card is lost or stolen
- Zero fraud liability
- Security alerts via text or email when suspicious activity is noticed on your account
- Access to the Capital One mobile app to pay bills or track purchases
Best Capital One Credit Cards of January 2023
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Good For: Flexible Travel Miles
Earn a flat 2 miles per dollar on every purchase you make and 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. These miles can be put directly towards your next trip — or redeemed in multiple other ways.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Good For: Flat Cash Back
A simple card for cash back rewards. Get 1.5% cash back with every swipe. Plus, no annual fee, and an introductory bonus of $200 when you spend $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Good For: Staying In or Going Out
Save around town with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. You’ll get 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, 3% back at grocery stores, and 1% on all other purchases.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Good For: Premium Travel Rewards
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has one of the highest welcome bonuses available now. Like the Venture card, you’ll get 2x miles on everything, but you’ll boost your rewards with 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
Journey Student Rewards
Good For: Students
If you’re just starting out your credit journey, the Journey Student Rewards card can help you out. Build your credit while earning 1% cash back on every purchase.
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Good For: Business Owners
Business owners can grab 2% cash back on on every purchase, and up to a $1,000 cash bonus. You can earn $500 after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening and another $500 after spending $50,000 within the first six months.
Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard
Good For: Walmart Shoppers
Earn 5% cash back on Walmart.com purchases, including pickup and delivery, 2% cash back on purchases in Walmart stores and Murphy USA and Walmart fuel stations, 2% back on restaurant and travel purchases, and 1% on everything else.
Best Capital One Credit Cards Summary
| Card | What It’s Good For | Annual Fee | Sign Up Bonus | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Flexible Travel Miles | $95 | 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months | 2x miles on every purchase Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Flat Cash Back | $0 | $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 1.5% cash back on every purchase |
| Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | Staying In or Going Out | $95 | $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Premium Travel Rewards | $395 | 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 within three months of account opening | 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles on all other purchases |
| Journey Student Rewards | Students | $0 | N/A | 1% cash back on all your purchases. Boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% each month you pay on time |
| Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Business Owners | $150 | $500 cash bonus once you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, and another $500 after you spend $50,000 within the first 6 months | 2% cash back on every purchase |
| Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard | Walmart Shoppers | $0 | 5% back on in-store purchases at Walmart using Walmart Pay for the first 12 months after approval | 5% back on purchases made at Walmart.com and the Walmart app, 2% back on purchases in Walmart stores and at Walmart and Murphy USA gas stations, 2% back on restaurant and travel purchases, 1% back on all other purchases |
Capital One Credit Card Benefits
Capital One offers a few different benefits for cardholders from automatic credit line renewals, to $0 fraud liability protection, to virtual card numbers to protect yourself while shopping online. Plus, any points or rewards you earn with your card never expire as long as your account is open.
Pros and Cons of Capital One Credit Cards
Pros
Travel insurance
No foreign transaction fees
Rewards redemption flexibility
Rewards don’t expire
Good cash back options
Cons
Not as many travel transfer partners as other issuers
Can earn higher rewards rates with other issuers
Limited added cardholder benefits
How to Redeem Capital One rewards
The redemption methods available for your rewards will depend on the individual Capital One card you have. But you can generally redeem for cash, directly for items when shopping, or for travel purchases like hotels and flights. You can see all the specific options eligible for your rewards by logging into your online account or the Capital One mobile banking app.
Capital One rewards never expire as long as your account is open, and you can redeem any amount whenever you want. But remember: you earn rewards on net purchases only, which excludes anything you return to the store for a refund or credits applied to your statement.
Capital One Miles
Business owners can earn miles using Spark Miles for Business. But the personal credit cards that earn Capital One Miles all fall under the Venture Rewards card family. There are four different Venture options, each suited to different cardholder types.
| Venture X Rewards | Venture Rewards | VentureOne Rewards* | VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rewards | 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles on all other purchases | 2x miles per dollar on every purchase | 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase | 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| Introductory Offer | 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening | 75,000 miles if you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening | 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening | N/A |
| Credit Requirement | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Variable APR | 21.24% – 28.24% | 20.24% – 28.24% | 19.24% – 29.24% | 29.74% |
| Annual Fee | $395 | $95 | $0 | $0 |
Even if you choose a miles-earning card, you don’t have to redeem your rewards for miles. Because Capital One Miles are a flexible rewards currency, you can also redeem for non-travel options like statement credits, cash, and gift cards, though you may get less value than by booking travel.
Capital One Travel Transfer Partners
You can transfer miles earned with your Capital One Venture card to any of the following airline and hotel transfer partners:
- Aeromexico Club Premier
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- ALL Accor Live Limitless
- Avianca LifeMiles
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest
- EVA Infinity MileageLands
- Finnair Plus
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Singapore KrisFlyer
- Wyndham Rewards
If you choose to redeem via transfer, the redemption value of your miles can vary based on partner and the details of your trip.
How to Apply for a Capital One Credit Card
If you’ve decided on a Capital One card you’d like to add to your wallet, the application process is simple:
- Check your credit. View your credit report (you can do this for free via AnnualCreditReport.com) for any errors, and make sure your credit score aligns with the recommended score for your card to guarantee the best chances of approval.
- Submit your application. You’ll need to provide general application information like your name, address, income, and Social Security number.
- Don’t apply for too many cards at once. Several new card applications within a short time can have a temporary negative effect on your credit score. Similarly, if your application is denied, don’t rush to apply for another. Take time to build healthy credit habits that can improve your credit score before applying for another card down the road with better approval chances.
Restrictions
Capital One has two unconfirmed application rules that you should keep in mind before submitting a new card application. We reached out to Capital One to try and learn more, but Capital One did not respond to our requests for comment.
The first such rule says you can only be the primary cardholder of two personal Capital One credit cards at one time (this does not include business credit cards or personal cards on which you’re an authorized user).
Capital One is also strict about the timing of your applications. You’ll only be approved for up to one card (including business cards) every six months, so make sure you time your applications accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I transfer my Capital One miles?
You can transfer your miles to Capital One travel partners. They are: Accor Live Limitless, Aeromexico, Air Canada/Aeroplan, Air France/Flying Blue & KLM, Asia Miles, Avianca, Cathay Pacific, Emirates (2:1), Etihad, EVA Air, Finnair, Hainan Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Wyndham Rewards.
How do I see my Capital One rewards?
Keep track of and redeem your credit card rewards online through your Capital One portal or mobile banking app.
How many Capital One credit cards can I have?
Capital One has an unconfirmed rule that you can only be the primary cardholder on two credits cards from the issuer. This rule reportedly doesn’t apply to business cards or cards on which you’re an authorized user.
Methodology
EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE
As with all of our credit card reviews, our analysis is not influenced by any partnerships or advertising relationships.
To determine our picks for the best Capital One credit cards, we consider each card currently available from the issuer, basing our picks on those we believe will be most beneficial to a broad range of consumers. We evaluate factors like annual fee, rewards structures, sign up bonus, and additional card benefits to make our decision.
*All information about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit, Capital One Spark Cash Plus and Capital One Walmart Rewards Mastercard has been collected independently by NextAdvisor and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
