Compare Capital One credit cards

Whether you’re traveling or rebuilding your credit, this bank offers over a dozen cards in multiple categories.

You may have seen a few Capital One commercials on TV, only to be left wondering whether the bank’s cards were actually any good.

Luckily, Capital One has a strong collection of cards, and it may well be your next favorite provider. You’ll find products with great rewards, as well as robust student and secured cards.

Compare Capital One credit cards

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  Best credit cards
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  Card features and benefits
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  How to apply
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  Bottom line and FAQs

Best Capital One credit cards

Capital One offers over a dozen cards, including cashback, travel, secured and student products. Here are the top cards you can choose from.

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• Venture® from Capital One®: Best for travel
• Quicksilver® from Capital One®: Best for cash back
• Journey® Student Credit Card from Capital One®: Best for students
• Secured Mastercard® from Capital One®: Best for rebuilding credit
• Spark® Cash from Capital One® or Spark® Miles from Capital One®: Best for businesses

Best for travel: Venture® from Capital One®

Venture® from Capital One®

• $100 credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• Visa Signature benefits
• No foreign transaction fees

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The Venture® from Capital One® is a great travel card, even going toe to toe with the best-in-class Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®. You’ll earn a strong 2x miles on every purchase, which means you won’t have to fuss with tiered rewards.

You’ll also find a no-annual-fee option — the VentureOne® from Capital One®. It’s a good card, but it’s slightly outclassed by competitors like the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and Discover it® Miles Travel Credit Card.

• The perks

  • Annual fee: Waived for the first year.

    Enjoy a $0 annual fee for the first year. After that, you’ll pay a $95 annual fee to own the card.

  • Signup bonus: 50,000 bonus miles.

    You’ll earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. These miles are worth $500 toward travel.

  • Rewards: Flat rewards on every purchase.

    Earn 2x miles on all purchases.

  • More miles when you book eligible stays through Hotels.com.

    Earn 10x miles when you pay for an eligible hotel stay at Hotels.com with your Venture® from Capital One® card.

  • No foreign transaction fees.

    Pay no transaction fees when you use your card abroad or at a foreign website.

• What to watch out for

  • No intro APR.

    The Venture® from Capital One® doesn’t have an intro APR period. If that’s a feature you’re looking for, the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®, a close competitor, offers an intro APR for balance transfers

Compare Venture® from Capital One® vs. Quicksilver® from Capital One®

Best for cash back: Quicksilver® from Capital One®

Quicksilver® from Capital One®

• No annual fee
• Easy-to-earn signup bonus
• Unlimited cash back on all purchases
• Long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers

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Capital One offers a great cashback card with Quicksilver® from Capital One®. You’ll earn a simple 1.5% cash back on all purchases. You’ll also get a strong intro APR and a shot at a healthy signup bonus.

If you’re a foodie, look into the Savor® Rewards from Capital One®, which offers excellent cash back on dining.

• The perks

  • Annual fee: None.

  • Signup bonus: $150 cash bonus.

    To earn it, spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months after opening your account.

  • Rewards: Flat cash back on every purchase.

    Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

  • Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months after account opening.

    After that, your purchase and balance transfer APR will be 16.24%, 22.24% or 26.24% variable.

  • No foreign transaction fees.

    Pay no transaction fees when you use your card abroad or at a foreign website.

• What to watch out for

  • Fees apply to balance transfers made during intro APR period.

    You’ll pay 3% of the transaction in fees for each transfer you make during the first 15 months of account opening.

Compare the Quicksilver® from Capital One® and Platinum Credit Card from Capital One®

Best for students: Journey® Student Credit Card from Capital One®

Journey® Student Credit Card from Capital One®

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.

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If you’re a student, it’s hard to go wrong with the Journey® Student Credit Card from Capital One®. You’ll pay no annual fee, and you’ll earn cash back on all purchases. When you pay your card bill on time, you’ll earn cash back on the rewards you earned for that billing period.

Student cards aren’t known for their high credit limits, but luckily Capital One may raise your limit if you meet certain requirements. It’s a nice bonus that rewards responsible card use.

• The perks

  • Annual fee: None.

  • Rewards: Flat cash back on every purchase.

    Earn 1% cash back on all purchases. When you pay your card bill on time, you’ll earn an extra 0.25% on the cash back you’ve earned during that billing cycle.

  • Chance at a higher credit line.

    When you make your first five monthly payments on time, Capital One will give you a higher credit line.

  • No foreign transaction fees.

    Pay 0% transaction fees when you use your card abroad or at a foreign website. This makes the Journey® Student Credit Card from Capital One® a great choice if you’re studying abroad or taking a foreign trip.

• What to watch out for

  • High APR.

    Consider paying off your balance each month, as your purchase and balance transfer APR will be very high at 26.99% variable.

Best for rebuilding credit: Secured Mastercard® from Capital One®

Secured Mastercard® from Capital One®

Take control and build your credit with responsible use.

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The Secured Mastercard® from Capital One® doesn’t offer rewards like the fantastic Discover it® Secured does. But the Secured Mastercard® from Capital One® is a great option for different reasons. You may get a $200 credit line without having to put down a security deposit of the same amount. Additionally, if you make enough qualifying monthly payments, Capital One will raise your credit limit. These two benefits create a top-tier secured product.

• The perks

  • Annual fee: None.

  • Security deposit: $49, $99 or $200 based on your creditworthiness.

    You may receive a $200 credit line without having to put down a security deposit of the same amount.

  • Chance at a higher credit line.

    When you make your first five monthly payments on time, Capital One will give you a higher credit line.

  • No foreign transaction fees.

    You won’t pay any transaction fees when you use your card abroad or at a foreign website.

• What to watch out for

  • High APR.

    You’ll receive a high purchase, balance transfer and cash advance APR of 26.99% variable.

Best for businesses: Spark® Cash from Capital One® or Spark® Miles from Capital One® (tie)

Spark® Cash from Capital One®

Unlimited 2% cash back from Spark Cash could mean thousands of dollars each year going back into your business. No minimum to redeem.

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Spark® Miles from Capital One®

Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase for your business, with no blackouts or seat restrictions, and no minimum to redeem.

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If you’re a business owner with excellent credit, Capital One has great options for you. For cash back, look into the Spark® Cash from Capital One®. For travel rewards, try the Spark® Miles from Capital One®. Both are impressive cards that offer strong flat rewards.

If you don’t want to pay an annual fee, you’re in luck: The Spark® Cash Select from Capital One® and Spark® Miles Select from Capital One® offer solid rewards without the yearly cost.

• The perks

  • Annual fee: Waived for the first year.

    Both cards feature a $0 annual fee for the first year. After that, each card comes with a $95 annual fee.

  • Signup bonus: Worth $500.

    Earn a cash or miles bonus valued at $500 once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

  • Rewards: Flat rewards on every purchase.

    Earn 2% cash back or 2x miles on all purchases.

  • No foreign transaction fees.

    Pay 0% transaction fees when you use your card abroad or at a foreign website.

• What to watch out for

  • No intro APR.

    Other strong business cards offer intro APRs.

Capital One rewards program

Capital One rewards cards offer either cash back or miles.

If you earn cash back, you can redeem it for rewards that include:

• Statement credit.
• Cash rewards in the form of a check.
• Gift cards.

If you earn miles, you can redeem them for rewards that include:

• Statement credit for travel purchases.
• Cash rewards in the form of a check.
• Account credit.
• Gift cards.

How can you redeem rewards?

To redeem rewards, log in to your credit card account on the Capital One website. Then navigate to the Redeem Rewards page.

How much are rewards worth?

Capital One miles are worth 1 cent apiece, which is standard across the industry.

Typical features and benefits of a Capital One card

• No annual fee or first-year fee waived. Capital One’s cards are split between no-annual-fee products and cards that have a $95 annual fee that’s waived for the first year.
• Rewards. Choose between cards that offer either cash back or miles. The only exception is the secured card, which doesn’t offer any rewards.
• No foreign transaction fees. Capital One doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, even for non-travel cards. You might be surprised to find no foreign transaction fees for certain cards. For example, the Quicksilver® from Capital One® charges no foreign transaction fees, while similar cards usually do.
• Signup bonus. Capital One signup bonuses generally have relatively low spending requirements.
• Ongoing APRs between 13% and 24% variable. Before applying for a Capital One card, look closely at its purchase and balance transfer APRs. Interest rates vary widely between this provider’s products.
• Excellent credit required for some cards. Many providers accept cardholders with good credit. For several of its cards, Capital One recommends applying with excellent credit.

Do Capital One credit cards have travel insurance?

How to apply for a Capital One card

Visit the Capital One website and click Apply Now on the credit card page. Before you apply, check that you meet the eligibility requirements and have the required information on hand.

How to prequalify for a Capital One card

Bottom line

Capital One has an impressive stable of cards, including annual-fee and no-annual-fee options. Whether you’re looking to rebuild your credit, earn flat cash back or rack up travel rewards, it likely has a card to fit your unique situation.

If you’re not sure whether a Capital One product is right for you, check out other credit card providers to compare more options.

Frequently asked questions

• Which number do I call to report a fraudulent transaction?

  Call Capital One at 1-800-227-4825 if you find an unauthorized transaction on your card account.

• Why should I get a secured credit card?

  You might apply for a secured card if you’re having trouble getting approved for traditional credit cards due to a low credit score. Because you need to put down a security deposit to get a secured card, more providers will be willing to take you on as a customer. By consistently paying your card bill on time, you’ll slowly improve your credit.

• Why should I get a student credit card?

  If you’re in college, you might not have any credit. This makes it difficult to get a traditional credit card. Student cards are good options, as providers offer these specifically to customers new to credit. Though your credit limit will likely be low and your interest rate high, you’ll get the chance to build your credit history.