If you’re looking for a cash-back credit card you can use at home and overseas, either of the Capital One Quicksilver cards could be a good fit. Both the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card* and the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card* offer the same flat rewards rate of 1.5% cash back on everything you buy, and neither one charges foreign transaction fees.
However, the two cards differ when it comes to their credit requirements and perks. The Capital One Quicksilver, geared toward people with good to excellent credit, offers a welcome bonus and a handful of benefits. The Capital One QuicksilverOne, which is for people with fair credit, charges an annual fee and has less generous benefits.
Which Capital One Quicksilver card is right for you?
Comparing annual fees
Winner: Capital One Quicksilver
- $0
- $39
Credit card annual fees can eat away at your rewards year after year. They may not be worth it unless you’re earning a lot in rewards or using other perks your card offers.
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is the clear winner in this category, with its $0 annual fee compared to the Capital One QuicksilverOne, which requires a $39 annual fee. Since both cards offer the same rewards rate of 1.5% cash back for regular spending, it doesn’t make sense to pay an annual fee if you don’t have to. Even if you have fair credit, there are credit-building credit cards that don’t charge an annual fee.
Welcome offer
Winner: Capital One Quicksilver
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- The Capital One QuicksilverOne doesn’t have a welcome offer.
The Capital One Quicksilver also comes out ahead when comparing welcome offers. This card gives you a $200 cash bonus when you spend $500 on purchases within three months of account opening, whereas the Capital One QuicksilverOne doesn’t have a welcome bonus of any kind.
Introductory APR
Winner: Capital One Quicksilver
- An introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (then 19.99% to 29.99% variable APR)
- The Capital One QuicksilverOne doesn’t have an introductory APR.
The Capital One Quicksilver also comes with an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (followed by a variable APR of 19.99% to 29.99%). This perk can be incredibly useful if you have high-interest debt to consolidate, or if you want to make a large purchase and pay it down interest-free over time. Just remember that a 3% balance transfer fee applies if you transfer debt to this card from another during the introductory APR period.
Meanwhile, the Capital One QuicksilverOne doesn’t have an introductory APR. The card also has an incredibly high variable interest rate (currently 30.49%) that can make carrying a balance very costly.
Rewards and redemption
Winner: Capital One Quicksilver
- 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
- 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
Both the Capital One Quicksilver and the Capital One QuicksilverOne offer the same rewards rate and the same general redemption options. You can redeem cash back from either card for a check in the mail, a statement credit or gift cards to retailers and restaurants of your choosing.
That said, the $39 annual fee on the Capital One QuicksilverOne makes the rewards less lucrative over the course of a year. In fact, with the card’s 1.5% cash-back rate, you would need to spend $2,600 on the card to break even with rewards.
Card perks
Winner: Capital One Quicksilver
- Six months of complimentary UberOne membership through Nov. 14, 2024
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Capital One Entertainment
- Access to Capital One Dining
- Extended warranty protection**
- Travel accident insurance**
- 24-hour travel assistance services**
- Complimentary concierge services**
- Six months of complimentary UberOne membership through Nov.14, 2024
- No foreign transaction fees
- Automatic credit line reviews after six months
While both of these cash-back credit cards are fairly light on perks, the Capital One Quicksilver comes with a range of travel benefits, plus extended warranty protection and access to Capital One Entertainment and Capital One Dining, making it the clear winner in this category.
The bottom line
It’s easy to see how and why the Capital One Quicksilver is the better card to pick. It has better features because it’s recommended for people with good to excellent credit.
The Capital One QuicksilverOne exists for those who can’t qualify for the Quicksilver. While it comes with a $39 annual fee, no intro APR offer and fewer benefits overall, this card is available to people with fair credit, or FICO scores from 580 to 669. It’s a fine starting point if you’re still working on boosting your credit.
FAQs
Paying an annual fee can sometimes translate to better rewards, a higher welcome bonus or more lucrative card perks. In other cases, it’s added to cards with lower credit requirements because the card issuer is taking on a riskier borrower. In the latter case, it’s usually better to look into secured credit cards.
You may be able to upgrade from the Capital One QuicksilverOne to the Capital One Quicksilver if you improve your credit score during your time as a cardholder. Once you’re ready, you can call the phone number on the back of your card to inquire.
*All information about the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
**For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
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