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Compare Capital One credit cards with no annual fee
Earn rewards on your purchases or build your credit.
Capital One offers a variety of no-annual-fee credit cards, including cashback cards, credit-building cards and a travel card. Note that Capital One credit cards that do have an annual fee offer a slightly higher rewards rate on purchases.
Our pick for a no-annual-fee Capital One card
Compare Capital One credit cards with no annual fee
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How to compare Capital One cards with no annual fee
When looking for a no-annual-fee Capital One card, ask yourself:
- Do you want to earn cash back?
Capital One offers three cashback cards: a student cashback card, a card with unlimited cash back on all purchases or a card with accelerated cash back on dining and entertainment. - Do you travel often?
The Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card is the only no-annual-fee Capital One card that lets you earn unlimited miles on purchases and 10x miles at hotels.com/venture bookings until January 31, 2020. This is one of the highest travel rewards rates you can earn with a no-annual-fee card. - Do you want a student card?
Capital One offers only one student card, which comes with a flat cash back rate on all purchases. Note that some competitors offer a higher rewards rate for students. - Do you want to build credit?
You can get the Capital One® Platinum Credit Card, an unsecured credit-building card, or the Capital One® Secured Mastercard®, a secured credit-building card. - Do you want to earn rewards toward a new GM car?
Capital One has two GM cobranded cards where you earn a percentage of the money you spend, which you can use toward a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle. - Do you want a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers?
You can enjoy a long intro APR period on balance transfers with two cashback credit cards: Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card. - Do you want a 0% intro APR period on purchases?
You’ll get a 0% intro APR period on purchases with three cards: the Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card.
Will I earn more rewards if I pay an annual fee?
Well, yes and no. Capital One offers three cards with an annual fee that have a no-annual-fee counterpart. Here’s a breakdown of how they compare:
| Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card | Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 for the first year, after that, your fee will revert to $95 |
| Miles | 1.25x miles on all purchases, and 10x miles at hotels.com /venture until January 2020 | 2x miles on all purchases, and 10x miles at hotels.com /venture until January 2020 |
| Signup bonus | 20,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months | 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months |
| Intro APR period | 0% intro APR period on purchases for the first 12 months, a variable APR of 13.74% to 23.74% thereafter | N/A |
| Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card | Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 for the first year, after that, your fee will revert to $95 |
| Cash back | 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on everything else you buy | 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on everything else you buy |
| Signup bonus | $150 cash bonus after spending $500 in your first 3 months | $300 cash bonus after spending $3,000 in your first 3 months |
| Intro APR period | 0% intro APR period on purchases for the first 15 months, a variable APR of 15.74% to 25.74% thereafter | N/A |
| Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card | Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $39 |
| Cash back | 1.5% cash back on all purchases | 1.5% cash back on all purchases |
| Signup bonus | $150 cash bonus after spending $500 in your first 3 months | N/A |
| Intro APR period | 0% intro APR period on purchases for the first 15 months, a variable APR of 15.74% to 25.74% thereafter | N/A |
As you can see, paying an annual fee for a Capital One card doesn’t necessarily mean you will get a better card. Weigh your options before choosing a card.
Bottom line
Your Capital One no-annual-fee options include cashback cards, credit-building cards and a travel card. If you’re looking to make interest-free balance transfers, the cashback cards are your only option. You can also get a card with an annual fee, but you’ll only get a slight boost in your rewards rate.
If these cards don’t fit your financial needs, compare other credit cards to see your options.
Frequently asked questions
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