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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.
Our pick for a Capital One credit card
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Earn $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 16.24%-26.24% variable APR after that. Pay just 3% fee on balances transferred within the first 15 months
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is a great travel card. You’ll earn a strong 2x miles on every purchase, which means you won’t have to fuss with tiered rewards.
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 Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card card.
No foreign transaction fees.
Pay no transaction fees when you use your card abroad or at a foreign website.
No intro APR.
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card doesn’t have an intro APR period.
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Earn $150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 16.24%-26.24% variable APR after that. Pay just 3% fee on balances transferred within the first 15 months
Capital One offers a great cashback card with Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card. 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 student, it’s hard to go wrong with the Journey® Student Rewards 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.
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 Rewards from Capital One® a great choice if you’re studying abroad or taking a foreign trip.
High APR.
Consider paying off your balance each month, as your purchase and balance transfer APR will be very high at 26.96% variable.
Get this card if: You’re a student.
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
No annual fee
Reports to all three major credit bureaus
Enjoy a $200 credit line after making a security deposit of $49, $99, or $200
After making your first 5 monthly payments on time, Capital One may increase your credit line
The Capital One® Secured Mastercard® doesn’t offer rewards, but the Capital One® Secured Mastercard® 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.
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.
High APR.
You’ll receive a high purchase, balance transfer and cash advance APR of 26.99% variable.
Get this card if: You’re new to or building credit
Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business or Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business (tie)
Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business
Earn 2% cash back on all purchases
Earn a $500 cash sign up bonus after you spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
$0 annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
Fraud coverage if your card is lost or stolen
Free employee cards. Employee cards also earn 2% cash back on all purchases
Cash back has no expiration date and no redemption requirement
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 after spending $4,500 in the first 3 months.
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.
No intro APR.
Other strong business cards offer intro APRs.
Get one of these cards if: You own a business
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 Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card charges no foreign transaction fees, while similar cards usually do.
Signup bonus. Capital One signup bonuses generally have relatively low spending requirements.
Wide range of ongoing variable APRs. 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.
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.
Eligibility criteria
You’re at least 18 years old.
You have a Social Security number or tax identification number.
You live in the United States or a US military location.
Your monthly income exceeds your monthly rent or mortgage payment by at least $425.
Information you’ll need
To complete the application, you’ll need to provide information that includes:
Your name and residential address.
Your Social Security number.
Your email address, phone number and date of birth.
Financial information like your annual income and income source.
How does Capital One keep my credit card information secure?
Capital One encrypts your data with 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL), which hides your information from unauthorized third parties. When you’re on the Capital One website, you’ll see a lock symbol next to your browser’s address bar. This indicates you have a secure connection with the provider’s website.
If you like viewing your credit card account on your mobile phone, you can use Capital One’s mobile app. Use it to pay your bills, monitor your account activity, redeem rewards, or send money to friends and family.
Capital One will send you email or text alerts if it detects unusual transactions. And through the Capital One Wallet app, you can opt to receive real-time notifications when your card is used.
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.
Call Capital One at 1-800-227-4825 if you find an unauthorized transaction on your card account.
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.
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.
Kevin Joey Chen is a credit cards writer at finder.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order and travel the world like a pro. He's taken an extended trip around Europe as a digital nomad, gaining firsthand experience with exchange rates, ideal (and not-so-ideal) credit and debit cards, foreign transactions and budgeting strategies. He earned his BA from UC Davis and has written across many niches at Finder, including cryptocurrency, personal loans, car insurance, real estate and money transfers.
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