10 Best Capital One Credit Cards of April 2024

Best Capital One Credit Cards of 2024

Best for Travel Rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Why we chose it: If you’re researching the best travel rewards credit cards, chances are you’ve come across the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. This card stands out in the world of travel rewards with its super-simple earning and redeeming process, offering a flat rate of rewards on all purchases and allowing you to redeem for past travel expenses made on your card. Read our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.

Best for Luxury Travel: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Why we chose it: Traditionally, Capital One wasn’t always involved in the luxury travel card conversation. The Venture X changed that, offering a suite of premium travel perks and rewards for an annual fee that feels quite reasonable compared with other premium travel cards. You earn 2X miles on all purchases, plus 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel and 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.

Best Travel Rewards With No Annual Fee: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Why we chose it: The Capital One VentureOne offers an unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase and doesn’t charge an annual fee, making it a solid entry-level travel card for those interested in earning Capital One miles without the fuss. Read our Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review.

Best for Business Travel: Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Why we chose it: Running a business is complex, and this small-business credit card doesn’t add another layer of complexity. Instead of bonus categories to keep up with, the Capital One Spark Miles for Business earns a flat 2X miles on all purchases, making it a low-maintenance card for racking up flexible Capital One miles. Read our Capital One Spark Miles for Business review.

Best Business Cash Back: Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Why we chose it: In the cash back credit card market, an unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases is the gold standard. The Capital One Spark Cash Plus takes that excellent rewards rate and adds a few business perks, making it a valuable tool for nearly any business owner. Read our Capital One Spark Cash Plus review.

Best for Building Credit: Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Why we chose it: Many fair credit cards won’t offer rewards and bonuses—and that’s okay. It’s much more important to steadily build your score and establish good financial habits, and the Capital One Platinum Credit Card can help you. With credit-building features and no annual fee, it’s a simple credit-building tool that will have you on to bigger and better cards with responsible use over time. Read our Capital One Platinum Credit Card review.

Best for Students: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we chose it: The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a fabulous cash back card that rewards both food and fun. Categories are highly applicable to the average student, and the card doesn’t charge an annual fee. It’s a great entry point into the world of credit card rewards, and with responsible use, it’ll help you build credit, too. Read our Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card review.

Best for Simple Rewards Structure: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we chose it: The Quicksilver’s value comes from its simplicity. There’s no annual fee and no bonus categories—all purchases earn 1.5% cash back. It also offers a cash back welcome bonus worth $200 when you spend $500 on purchases within three months from account opening.

Best Secured Card: Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we chose it: Secured cards are more accessible than traditional credit cards because they require a security deposit in order to use them. However, these cards often don’t come with the benefits of unsecured credit cards. The Quicksilver Secured is different, though, offering the same 1.5% cash back you’ll get with the unsecured version of this card. Read our Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card review.

Best Cash Back: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we chose it: Often, credit cards make you choose between earning rewards at the grocery store or at restaurants. In reality, though, most people spend a fair bit in both categories each month. For that reason, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has excellent everyday value. Earn an unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 3% back at grocery stores and 1% on everything else. Read our Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card review.

A Closer Look at the Best Capital One Cards

Best for Travel Rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: There’s a reason the Capital One Venture is constantly in the best travel credit cards conversation—especially for beginners who aren’t looking to spend $500+ on annual fees. The card’s simple rewards structure makes the process of earning and redeeming rewards remarkably thoughtless, which is a rarity in the world of travel rewards. You earn 2X miles on every purchase, plus 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Who should have this in their wallet: Few cards are as well-suited for travel rewards beginners as the Venture Rewards Card. The combination of high-value rewards and the simplicity of earning and redeeming them makes it an excellent choice for anyone interested in earning travel rewards, but especially those who need or want simplicity that can be hard to find with other travel cards. 

Other cards to consider: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is often referred to as the Venture Card’s rival. It’s also billed as one of the best travel credit cards and has a sub-$100 annual fee, though the earning and redeeming process is a bit more complex.

Best for Luxury Travel: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: The Venture X is a step up from the already-valuable Venture Rewards Card, offering additional travel benefits to those who are willing to pay a higher annual fee. The Venture X’s $395 annual fee is significant, but the card offers many of the same perks as cards with $500+ annual fees—including a $300 annual travel credit, 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, up to a $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and a 75,000-mile welcome bonus earned after spending $4,000 in your first three months. 

Who should have this in their wallet: Those who like the simplicity of the Venture Rewards Card but want to step it up in the benefits department will find this card useful. If perks like airport lounge access, an annual travel credit and anniversary points appeal to you, definitely consider this card. 

Other cards to consider: If you’re not quite ready for the commitment of a $395 annual fee, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers much of the same appeal in the way of simplicity and versatility. It’s just pared down in the rewards and perks department compared to the Venture X. On the other hand, if you want to take the travel perks up a notch, consider a card like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Best Travel Rewards With No Annual Fee: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: Some people want the peace of mind that comes with knowing you don’t need to get your money’s worth from a credit card. Since the VentureOne doesn’t charge an annual fee, you can keep it around and earn miles for years to come—regardless of how much you travel from year to year.

Who should have this in their wallet: The VentureOne is likely a good match for those who value simplicity and want to earn travel rewards without worrying about an annual fee. If you’re not traveling often or aren’t sure how your travel habits will change from year to year, you won’t have to worry about closing the account to avoid the annual fee.  

Other cards to consider: Other popular no-annual-fee travel cards include the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card and the Discover it® Miles. Also, many airlines and hotel chains feature no-annual-fee co-branded credit cards that are worth considering.

Best for Business Travel: Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Why we love this card: Small-business owners have a lot to keep track of, and many entrepreneurs don’t want to add “credit card bonus categories” to that list. The Spark Miles for Business offers a flat 2X miles on all purchases, and not only are these miles easy to earn, but they’re also easy to use. Miles can be redeemed for flights and hotels purchased on your card or through Capital One’s travel portal. You can also transfer miles to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners.

Who should have this in their wallet: As a miles-earning card, the Spark 2X Miles is ideal for business owners who plan to redeem rewards for travel. Beyond that, this card might be the perfect match if your business’s expenses are diverse enough to not fit into bonus categories, or if you just want a card that’s simple to use. 

Other cards to consider: If you’re not sure you can commit to this card’s ongoing annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95), consider a pared-down version like the Capital One Spark Miles Select. Or, if you think cash back might be a more valuable rewards currency for your business, consider the Capital One Spark Cash Plus.

Best Business Cash Back: Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Why we love this card: With an excellent earning rate on all purchases, a giant welcome offer and no preset spending limit, the Spark Cash Plus is a dream for big spenders who want to be rewarded with cash back. Just know that it’s a charge card, meaning your entire balance needs to be paid off every billing cycle. 

Who should have this in their wallet: Big spenders will see the cash back flowing in from this card in no time. And even better, those who spend $150,000 in a year will have the annual fee refunded.

Other cards to consider: Capital One offers a stripped-down (but still valuable) version of this card that better supports those with smaller spending habits. Instead of 2% back on all purchases, the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and its welcome bonus has a much lower spending threshold.

Best for Building Credit: Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Why we love this card: When you’re trying to build credit, sometimes rewards and traditional credit card perks are the least important card aspects. The no-annual-fee Capital One Platinum doesn’t offer rewards or a welcome bonus, but you may get approved with fair credit and enjoy an automatic credit line review.

Who should have this in their wallet: Those with average credit looking to boost their credit score will benefit from this card’s credit-building features, like free credit monitoring with CreditWise and an automatic consideration for a higher credit line in six months. 

Other cards to consider: One major thing lacking from the Capital One Platinum is rewards. If you definitely want to earn cash back, consider applying for a secured card like the Discover it® Secured Credit Card.

Best for Students: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: This card proves that credit card first-timers and students with fair credit don’t have to settle for a lackluster card with no rewards. With the cash back rates of a regular card, the SavorOne Student is a great choice that rewards the kinds of purchases that many college students make most often.

Who should have this in their wallet: Students looking to earn cash back everywhere from grocery stores to football games to restaurants will find this card appealing. Plus, college seniors don’t have to worry about only being able to use this card for a year. Once you graduate, you can keep the card and its cash back rates—or you can inquire about upgrading to the standard Capital One SavorOne.

Other cards to consider: If the card’s tiered bonus categories feel like they may be distracting to you or like it might encourage overspending, consider the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, which offers a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Best for Simple Rewards Structure: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: With an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, a decent ongoing cash back rate and no annual fee, this card is undeniably good. It may not have a bunch of elevated-rate bonus categories, but it’s a great general cash back card that earns unlimited flat-rate rewards on all purchases. 

Who should have this in their wallet: Everyone has a preference when it comes to credit card rewards, and this card is for those who value simplicity above all else. The 1.5% cash back you earn on all purchases can be redeemed as an ultra-convenient statement credit—and you never have to worry about earning enough to make up for an annual fee.

Other cards to consider: Due to its simplistic rewards rate, you might think this card is fair credit friendly, but that’s not the case. If you have less-than-excellent credit and are looking for a credit card that earns flat-rate cash back, consider the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. It’s available to those with fair credit and offers the same 1.5% cash back rate on all purchases for a $39 annual fee.

Best Secured Card: Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: This card keeps an eye on the future without sacrificing rewards in the meantime. With a refundable security deposit of as little as $200, you’ll earn cash back on all purchases and have the option to upgrade to the unsecured version of this card after using it responsibly for a while. When you do upgrade, you’ll get your security deposit back. 

Who should have this in their wallet: Credit builders who want to earn cash back will likely find this card to be the sweet spot. The only trade-off is the security deposit, but unlike an annual fee, it’s refundable. If you’re okay with locking away at least $200 until you’re eligible to upgrade, this is a great choice. 

Other cards to consider: The Capital One Platinum caters to similar credit ranges, but it’s an unsecured card. It doesn’t offer rewards, but maybe that’s a good thing if your primary focus is on building good credit habits and staying within your budget. The Capital One QuicksilverOne is another unsecured option that earns rewards, but it charges a $39 annual fee.

Best Cash Back: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: With its boosted rewards rates on common purchases like dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores), the Savor offers the practicality you want in an everyday card. But it goes the extra mile with the “entertainment” category, which can apply to everything from movie tickets to sporting events.

Who should have this in their wallet: Foodies who spend a significant amount on dining out or at grocery stores will enjoy the Savor’s elevated cash back rates in those categories. Plus, you’ll benefit from the entertainment category if you’re often purchasing tickets to events like movies, concerts, plays, theme parks, sporting events or museum exhibitions.

Other cards to consider: The $95 annual fee requires you to do enough spending in its bonus categories in order to get your money’s worth. If you’re not quite sold, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers similar rewards rates for no annual fee.

Who Should Get a Capital One Credit Card?

With the full range of credit card types, from credit-building cards to luxury travel rewards cards, Capital One likely has a credit card for your needs. As a whole, all credit cards from Capital One come with no foreign transaction fees, so Capital One cards are great for international travelers. Capital One also has fewer physical branches than other large financial institutions, so it’s a good option for those who are comfortable with a digital-first approach to their credit card.

What Credit Score Do You Need for a Capital One Credit Card?

People with a variety of credit scores can qualify for a Capital One card. Cards like the QuicksilverOne, the Platinum Mastercard and the SavorOne for Students are great options for those hovering in the “fair” credit range. If you don’t yet have a credit history, a secured card like the Quicksilver Secured is likely your best bet. 

On the flip side, those with good to excellent credit have a variety of options, from the luxury travel perks of the Venture X to the business cash back earnings of the Spark 2% Cash Plus.

Capital One Preapproval

If you’re hovering between credit ranges, you might want to try checking to see if you’re pre-approved for card offers before you actually apply. Capital One will ask you a few basic questions, like what’s most important to you (earning cash back, building credit, getting a card with no annual fee), your contact information and your Social Security number. They’ll use this information to run a soft credit check, which, unlike a true credit card application, won’t impact your credit score.

From there, you’ll get a list of pre-approved offers, which are credit cards that you’re likely to be approved for if you actually apply based on the information you shared.

How To Choose the Best Capital One Credit Card for You

With so many options, it can be hard to know which Capital One credit card to apply for. If you don’t already know the type of card you’re looking for, it helps to think about which perks you’re most interested in receiving from the card (like ongoing rewards, statement credits or credit-building perks). Then, you can narrow your options to a few Capital One credit card offers and decide from there.

Credit Range

Before comparing credit cards, start by checking your credit score. If your score is in the poor or fair ranges, your options are limited, and it doesn’t make sense to spend time looking into credit cards you probably won’t qualify for. You can check your score for free through Capital One CreditWise. 

If you do fall in that less-than-good credit range, focus your efforts on a credit-builder card, like the Capital One Platinum Mastercard or the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Rewards

Capital One has solid options in both the cash back and travel rewards spaces, so it’s up to you which type of Capital One credit card rewards to pursue. Capital One makes it pretty simple to redeem both types of rewards, also offering the ability to apply them as a statement credit to cover past purchases. Generally, though, cash back is a bit more straightforward. 

Aside from the types of rewards you want to earn, you need to think about the types of purchases you most often make. Or if your spending doesn’t fit neatly into a few bonus categories, you might go for a flat-rate rewards card, like the Venture or the Quicksilver.

Annual Fee

When deciding whether an annual fee is worth it, it pays to do the math. Capital One miles earned with Venture and Venture X are worth an average of 1.21 cents apiece toward travel (based on Newsweek’s valuation), and it’s fairly easy to know how much you’d have to spend to out-earn the Capital One Venture’s $95 annual fee. 

• $3,926 spent x 2 miles per dollar = 7,852 miles
• 7,852 miles x $0.0121 = approximately $95 

So, you’d have to spend $3,926 to earn back the value of the $95 annual fee. Some people may do this in a month or two, but others might find that they’d be better off with the no-annual-fee version of this card, the VentureOne.

What Are Capital One Rewards?

Capital One’s line of cash back cards earn standard-issue cash back that can be redeemed for statement credits, cash (via a check sent in the mail) and more. Capital One’s travel cards, including the Venture line of cards, earn bonus miles. Despite what the name “miles” suggests, you can use bonus miles for more than just flights.

How Do I Use My Capital One Rewards?

You can redeem Capital One Miles for flights, hotel stays and rental cars through Capital One’s travel portal, or you can get reimbursed for past travel purchases made elsewhere. When you do the latter, you’ll see the reimbursement as a statement credit on your credit card, which lowers your balance.

Cash back earned on a Capital One credit card can be redeemed for a statement credit, cash (via a check sent in the mail) and gift cards. You can also use your cash back to cover past purchases, shop at Amazon.com or pay via PayPal.