Whether you’re a foodie, traveler, business owner or someone just starting on your credit journey, Capital One likely has a credit card to fit your needs. As one of the largest banks in the US, Capital One is a well-known name in the credit card space for good reason. It offers a wider range of credit card offerings than many other issuers, both in terms of rewards categories as well as credit profile. There are also different levels of the same card -- such as premium, no-annual-fee or student versions.
Notably, Capital One has a strong line of credit-building cards geared toward those with limited or less-than-perfect credit, such as the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card or the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card. On the other side of the spectrum, it also offers premium travel cards, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which extends luxury perks and lucrative rewards to consumers with good credit and the willingness to shell out a high annual fee.
Here are our favorite picks among Capital One’s extensive card lineup, and what you should know to pick the right one for you.
Read more: Best Credit Cards for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
Check out our full review of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Check out our full review of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
See our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
See our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- None for balances transferred at the Transfer APR.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- None for balances transferred at the Transfer APR.
Check out our full review of the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
Check out our full review of the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Check out our full review of the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
Check out our full review of the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Check out our full review of the Capital One Platinum Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Check out our full review of the Capital One Platinum Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Check out our full review of the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Check out our full review of the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- N/A
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- N/A
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 26.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at this Transfer APR
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 26.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at this Transfer APR
Who should get a Capital One credit card?
Capital One offers an impressive array of different credit cards for business, travel and general spending -- none of which charge foreign transaction fees. If you travel internationally, using a credit card that doesn’t charge you for purchases made in a foreign currency can help limit your travel expenses.
Capital One also provides good travel perks within its Venture card family, all with varying annual fees. Choose the credit card that best matches your spending habits and preferred rewards system.
How does Capital One compare to other issuers?
Capital One offers both strong rewards cards for general spenders and for frequent travelers. Its travel credit cards come with useful perks including travel insurance*, no foreign transaction fees and -- in some cases -- a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Compared to Bank of America, Capital One offers a stronger selection of travel cards, but it lacks Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program, which provides higher rewards based on your Bank of America or Merrill investing account balance. However, Capital One does offer its CreditWise tool, which lets you track and monitor your credit to help improve your credit score and protect yourself from identity theft.
Chase also provides an impressive selection of travel credit cards to choose from, with stronger options for business owners than Capital One, thanks to its Chase Ink family of credit cards. Its premium travel credit card -- the Chase Sapphire Reserve® -- also gives Capital One’s Venture X a run for its money, albeit with a higher annual fee.
One issuer that isn’t comparable to Capital One is Credit One Bank. It’s easy to confuse the two due to their similar names and logos, but Credit One can’t compete with Capital One’s card offerings. Though certain Credit One cards are decent in niche situations -- such as the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit -- most of the issuer’s offerings come with high punitive fees with few benefits to make them worthwhile.
How to choose the right Capital One credit card
Choosing the right credit card comes down to figuring out which aspects of your financial life you’re looking to improve or earn rewards on.
To find the right Capital One card for your finances, review your spending habits to find out if there are any categories where you spend more money than others. Then, compare Capital One cards to find one with the highest rewards for that category, while also weighing the card’s annual fee.
If no categories stand out to you, a general rewards card might be a better fit. Be sure to also look at additional credits and benefits, like travel credits, which may make up for the annual fee.
Spending habits
If you don’t have a credit card that provides rewards for purchases you make often -- whether it’s for gas, groceries or dining out -- consider a card that will provide a return for those expenses. Capital One offers credit cards that provide a flat cash-back rate no matter where you’re shopping, as well as cards that offer higher rewards for specific purchase types.
If you travel often, consider one of the Venture cards. Capital One offers a no-annual-fee VentureOne card, a mid-tier $95 annual fee Venture card and a high-end $395 annual fee Venture X card.
Reward type
Rewards cards can earn you points or cash back. Cash-back rewards generally have fewer redemption options than points and can usually only be redeemed for statement credits, deposited directly into your bank account or used with specific merchants at check out. Points can also typically be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards or in some cases, donated to charity or used for certain experiences.
Which type of rewards your card earns will also affect what they’re worth. Typically, 1% cash back will equate to 1 cent per dollar spent on purchases, while points and miles could be worth more or less depending on how they’re redeemed.
Travel cards typically earn rewards as points or miles, which can then be redeemed for travel including airfare, car rentals or hotel stays. Consider whether you’d like to turn rewards into trips or use them to lower your general expenses.
APR
A credit card’s annual percentage rate, or APR, is the percentage at which your credit card balance accrues interest. If you pay your entire account balance each month, you won’t have to worry about interest charges.
However, if you’re unable to pay off your balance in full, you will be responsible for interest charges, which can add up quickly. If you do need to carry a balance from month to month, try to pay more than just the minimum amount due. While you won’t avoid interest entirely with this strategy, it can lower your interest charges.
If you think you’ll need to revolve a balance, consider choosing a credit card that has a lower interest rate. Some of your card terms – like your card’s APR – are impacted by your credit score. Typically, the better your credit, the more favorable some of your terms will be.
There are a handful of credit cards from Capital One that offer lower APRs than most, including credit cards that feature 0% introductory periods for a specified amount of time.
Annual fee
Whether you should apply for a credit card with an annual fee depends on your budget, the card’s rewards rate and its additional benefits. If you can’t use enough of the card’s benefits or generate enough rewards through your normal spending habits to cover the annual fee, consider a card without this fee.
Generally, credit cards with annual fees offer better rewards, perks and higher welcome bonuses. Some cards -- usually travel credit cards -- will offer annual credits, which can help mitigate its annual fee. Additionally, a credit card’s welcome bonus could help cover the annual fee, at least for the first year. Just be sure you’re not overspending just to obtain the welcome bonus or earn enough rewards to pay your annual fee.
Eligibility/credit score
Your credit score will typically determine whether you’re able to qualify for a specific credit card. A higher credit score usually means you have a greater chance at being approved. Typically, if a credit card requires a higher credit score, it offers better features.
If you’re unsure whether you’ll qualify for the card you’re interested in, Capital One has preapproval options. Preapproval allows you to gauge the likelihood of your approval without damaging your credit score, as it won’t result in a hard pull. Just keep in mind that even if you are preapproved for a credit card, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed acceptance.
Other benefits
Be sure you’re able to use most of the benefits and perks a card offers, especially if it carries an annual fee. If you can’t take advantage of annual credits or other perks, consider a lower-tier credit card.
How to maximize your Capital One credit card
Maximizing your credit card will come down to using your rewards strategically to generate the highest return for your spending. Earning the welcome bonus without overspending is another way to get the most out of your Capital One card, as is utilizing all the perks that come with your card.
Depending on the specific Capital One card you have, you’ll have different options to redeem your rewards. Cash-back cards like those in the Savor series are best redeemed for direct cash back, while miles-earning cards like the Venture cards offer the option to transfer your miles to Capital One’s hotel and airline transfer partners for potentially more lucrative deals. And don’t forget to use any annual statement credits your card offers.
Lastly, you should try to avoid overspending. It’s a good rule of thumb to treat a credit card like cash, meaning not spending money you don’t have, and paying off your balance at the end of each billing cycle.
How to apply for a Capital One credit card
Once you’ve found a Capital One card that matches your needs, follow these steps:
- Follow one of the links above to securely apply on Capital One’s website.
- Provide all of the necessary financial and personal information. You’ll typically need to provide your income and employment information, Social Security number, date of birth and other personally identifying information. You’ll also need to consent to a hard credit pull so Capital One can check your credit score.
- Wait for a decision from Capital One. If you apply online or over the phone, you could get an instant response. If you submit a paper application or if Capital One needs to verify your information, you might have to wait a bit longer. You’ll typically get a written notification within seven to 10 days of applying, informing you whether your application was approved or denied.
- Use your card responsibly by paying your bill in full and on time each month. We recommend setting up automatic payments to avoid accidentally missing a payment.
FAQs
The best Capital One credit card won’t be the same for everyone. You’ll need to examine your budget and personal situation and consider your spending habits, needs and credit profile.
In general, Capital One’s Savor cards are good for maximizing food- and entertainment-related expenses, the Venture line is good for travelers, and the Platinum and Quicksilver cards are good for those with fair or imperfect credit looking to improve their credit score.
While Capital One doesn’t explicitly say how many of its cards you can hold, many consumers have reported that they’re only able to hold two personal Capital One credit cards at a time -- meaning that if they already have two personal Capital One cards, they’re unlikely to be approved for a third. Note that Capital One’s business credit cards and co-branded credit cards are generally excluded from this rule.
That said, the number of credit cards, Capital One or otherwise, you should have depends on how well you can manage debt and monthly payments. Holding multiple credit cards with different rewards categories is a great way to maximize your rewards, but not if it comes at the risk of overextending yourself and falling into debt.
If you’ve recently increased your income or credit score, and your account is in good standing, you can contact Capital One to request an upgrade. Or, the card issuer may reach out to you with an offer if you’ve used your card regularly and made on-time payments.
The easiest Capital One credit card to get would be either of its secured card offerings, as they don’t require any credit check -- though you may have to meet other income and debt qualifications to qualify. You’ll need to pay a one-time, refundable security deposit upon approval. Capital One offers the Capital One Platinum Secured card and the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card.
All information about the Capital One Venture X Credit Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit, Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit, Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit, Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards, Capital One Platinum Credit Card, Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Spark Cash Plus, Capital One Spark Miles for Business and Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
*Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
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