Best Capital One card for bad credit
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card can help you build, or rebuild, your credit because you can be approved with no credit or bad credit.
- No annual fee
- $49, $99 or $200 refundable deposit
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
- Flexibility to change your payment due date
- High variable APR
- No rewards program
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you’re approved in seconds
- Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
- Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One’s mobile app
Balance transfer fee
- $0Â 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
Best no-annual-fee Capital One card
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee, cash-back rewards and a generous intro-APR offer, which make it a great option for saving on interest while earning rewards.
- No annual fee
- Low spending requirement for the welcome bonus
- Redeem cash back for any amount at any time
- No foreign transaction fee
- 3% balance transfer fee during the first 15 months your account is open
- No bonus rewards categories
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- 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
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months;19.24% – 29.24% ( variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Best luxury Capital One card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
- Large welcome bonus
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $120 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- High annual fee
- No introductory 0% APR period
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more. You can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
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
Standout benefits: The card is loaded with benefits, including a $300 Capital One Travel credit to use toward Capital One Travel bookings and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary. These benefits can easily make the card worth keeping, even though it has a $395 annual fee.
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Best travel Capital One card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
- Valuable welcome offer worth at least $750 in travel
- You can transfer miles to over 15 Capital One partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lacks ongoing travel benefits such as statement credits or lounge access
- Limited bonus spending category that only applies to certain Capital One Travel bookings
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Balance transfer fee
$0Â 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
Foreign transaction fee
Best student Capital One card
The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a card designed for students with rewards rates that match many of the top cash-back credit cards.
- Excellent cash back categories on broad spending categories
- Exclusive access to curated experiences in sports, dining and entertainment
- Unlimited cash back that doesn’t expire for the life of the account
- Pick the monthly due date that works best for you
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- 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 up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they’re approved for a Capital One credit card
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you’re at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
Balance transfer fee
4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Best cash-back Capital One card
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the most rewarding options for earning cash back in categories such as entertainment and dining without paying an annual fee.
- One of the most rewarding cash-back cards for entertainment and streaming services
- No annual fee
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- High APR
- Requires a good to excellent credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 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
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% – 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
Balance transfer fee
3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
Best business Capital One card
The Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus is especially rewarding for businesses with a lot of credit card spending. It offers an additional bonus the first year and an ongoing annual fee refund, but both benefits have six-figure spending requirements.
- High flat-rate rewards
- Valuable welcome offer
- Has an annual fee
- High spending requirement to earn the welcome offer and qualify for the annual fee refund
More info on our top Capital One credit cards
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Best Capital One card with luxury perks
Rewards:
- 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel portal
- 5X miles per dollar on flights booked through the Capital One Travel portal
- 2X miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $395
Notable perks:
In addition to the annual travel credit and bonus miles, the Capital One Venture X card offers unlimited access to Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges. You can also receive a statement credit of up to $120 for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Its shopping and travel insurance perks include:
- Rental car collision damage waiver
- Travel accident insurance
- Trip cancellation/interruption reimbursement
- Roadside dispatch
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Extended warranty protection
- Purchase security
- Return protection
Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best Capital One card for travel
Rewards:
- 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One travel
- 2X miles on all other purchases
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95
Notable perks:
*Benefits available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard product, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions in the World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits. See Account Terms or Application Terms for more details. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.
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Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best Capital One card for cash back
Rewards:
- 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 3% cash back on dining
- 3% cash back on entertainment
- 2% cash back on eligible streaming services
- 3% cash back at grocery stores
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus: Earn a one-time $200 bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Notable perks:
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Capital One Spark Cash Plus*
Best Capital One card for businesses
Rewards:
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2% cash back on every purchase
Welcome bonus: Earn a $2,000 cash bonus after spending $30,000 in the first three months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500,000 you spend in the first year.
Annual fee: $150
Notable perks:
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FAQs
What Capital One credit card is easiest to get?
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is easier to qualify for because it’s a secured card, meaning you’ll need a security deposit to open the card. Although the card doesn’t come with any rewards, you’ll have an easier time getting approved even if you have a weaker credit score.
What is the top-tier Capital One credit card?
The Capital One Venture X is Capital One’s most premium travel rewards credit card. It offers perks like airport lounge access, travel insurance, travel credits and earns transferrable Capital One miles.
How many Capital One credit cards can you have?
Capital One doesn’t have an official limit to how many cards you can have, though it typically limits members to holding two personal credit cards at a time. Co-branded Capital One cards may not count toward this two-card limit.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card story is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best Capital One credit cards.
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Our methodology
To determine which Capital One cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed Capital One credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).Â
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We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools. Â
For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back.Â
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*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.
* Information about the Capital One Spark Cash Plus has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
