Capital One Credit Cards: Best of September 2024 (2024)

This content is created by AP Buyline in accordance with AP’s editorial guidelines and supervised and edited by AP staff. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about AP Buyline here.

Capital One is the 9th largest bank in the U.S., offering credit cards, bank accounts, loan products and more. Consumers and small business owners with rebuilding to excellent credit will find credit cards to match their needs.

Capital One has its own flexible rewards that can be redeemed for travel, cash back, gift cards and more or transferred to airline and hotel partners, but be aware that Capital One does not partner with major domestic airlines, so customers may not understand how to redeem miles for maximum value with international partners.

Our top recommendations from Capital One

card_name: Best for cash back

The card_name is a no-frills cash back credit card with no annual fee. It is the best Capital One credit card for cash back because it earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase without having to remember bonus categories or activate promotions. However, the card doesn’t provide opportunities to earn additional cash back unless you book hotels and rental cars through Capital One’s travel portal. Cash back rewards never expire as long as the account is open and can be redeemed for cash back, statement credits and gift cards.

New cardholders bonus_miles_full. Plus, they can also use the card’s intro APR offer to eliminate interest charges on purchases and balance transfers during the first 15 months, then reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR thereafter. If you’re interested take note: There is a 3% fee on amounts transferred during the promo period.

card_name: Best for travel

Travelers love the flexibility of the rewards earned with the card_name. It earns an unlimited 2x miles on every purchase and 5x miles when booking hotels and rental cars with Capital One Travel. Plus, bonus_miles_full.

The rewards can be used to book travel, cover travel purchases, buy gift cards and more. Venture card holders have more than 15 hotel and airline transfer partners to choose from for even higher value. This card has no foreign transaction fees. It offers rental car insurance but does not include trip cancellation or delay protections.

Related: Capital One Venure Rewards welcome offer

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for foodies

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Credit score

720

Annual fees

$95

Welcome bonus

Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

See Also

How Hard Is it to Get the Capital One Platinum?What Are the Different Credit Score Ranges? | Capital OneDownsides of Having a Capital One Credit Card

People who love to eat and have fun will earn maximum cash back with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. This is the best Capital One credit card for foodies because it earns up to 10% cash back on purchases with Uber Eats and 4% on bonus categories targeting dining and entertainment, and 3% on groceries. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees when traveling outside the U.S.

Cash back rewards never expire as long as the card is open, and they can be redeemed for cash back at any time and for any amount. Overall benefits are limited, but it offers several perks catering to foodies, such as complimentary concierge services, cardholder-only reservations at award-winning restaurants, access to tickets for culinary events and elevated cash back through Capital One Dining and Entertainment offers.

card_name: Best for luxury travel and lounge access

People looking for luxury when they travel will do well with the card_name. This premium travel rewards credit card includes complimentary airport lounge access, Hertz President's Circle elite status and extra perks when booking hotels through the Premier Collection or the Lifestyle Collection. Cardholders are also protected with primary rental car insurance, trip delay benefits, trip interruption or cancellation protection and other premium travel protections.

While it has a annual_fees annual fee, the card's annual benefits offset that cost. You get a $300 travel credit that can be used on any reservation made through Capital One Travel. Plus, you'll receive 10,000 bonus miles each year you renew the card. The card earns an unlimited 2x miles on every purchase and up to 10x miles when booking travel through Capital One. Rewards can be used to book travel, cover travel purchases, get cash back, buy gift cards and more. However, the highest value often comes when booking award travel after transferring to one of its 15+ airline and hotel partners.

card_name: Best for poor credit

The card_name is a no-frills credit card for people who want to build credit. It does not offer a welcome bonus, nor does it earn rewards. That's okay because the primary focus for its cardholders is building credit. Cardholders also receive free credit monitoring through Capital One’s credit monitoring tool, CreditWise, so they can track their progress toward improving their score.

With responsible use of this card, Capital One may automatically consider you for a credit line increase in as little as six months. Since credit utilization (balances divided by credit limit) makes up 30% of your FICO score, getting a higher credit limit is an excellent way to improve your credit score.

The card_name does not charge an annual fee. Plus, if you're traveling outside the U.S., you won't get hit with foreign transaction fees on your purchases. This can save you up to 3%.

card_name: Best for high-spending businesses

Businesses with large spending capabilities can earn huge rewards with the card_name. It earns an unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases, and you'll need to spend $100,000 within six months to earn the full welcome bonus. The welcome bonus is split into two stages: Earn bonus_miles_full. Plus, you'll be reimbursed the annual_fees annual fee after spending $150,000 each year.

To help you reach these lofty spending totals, the card_name offers free employee cards. You can set individual spending limits for each employee and track their purchases as they post. Business owners can assign account managers within their organization to make purchases and payments, review transaction details and get a list of recurring transactions. There are no foreign transaction fees, which is ideal for international businesses or when you travel.

card_name: Best for business cash back

Small business owners will find excellent value with the card_name, one of the best Capital One credit cards for business. It offers an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, so your business can boost its bottom line. Employees can be added at no extra charge, so you can earn cash back rewards on their purchases as well. Paying expenses with a credit card also gives businesses almost one month to pay off charges before incurring interest charges.

The card has limited benefits, but it does offer free virtual card numbers, no foreign transaction fees and extended warranty coverage on eligible items. Additionally, you can download transaction history into multiple formats to analyze data or upload it to your accounting software.

card_name: Best for students

While students are working toward their degrees, they can also build their credit by using credit cards responsibly. The card_name is exclusively available to students and earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back. While it has a small welcome bonus offer, you can bonus_miles_full. This low spending requirement avoids encouraging higher spending that some credit cards do when a student may not have the income to pay it off without incurring interest charges.

This card includes a free Uber One membership through November 14, 2024, which saves $9.99 per month in fees and provides additional savings and benefits. Additionally, the card includes an extended warranty on eligible items and does not charge foreign transaction fees if you're traveling outside the U.S. Your rewards never expire, and you can redeem them for cash back, statement credits, gift cards and more.

card_name: Best for rebuilding credit

Knowing the right steps to rebuild credit can be a challenge for consumers. The card_name is one of the best Capital One credit cards because it has no annual fee and helps consumers improve their finances quickly. It starts off with a minimum $200 credit limit with a security deposit as low as $49. Customers who have more money to deposit can get a credit limit as high as $1,000.

In as little as six months, you can qualify for automatic credit line reviews by Capital One. The card_name reports your activity to all three major credit bureaus to help you build a solid credit score. As you use the card responsibly, you may qualify for an upgrade to an unsecured card and get your security deposit back. The card doesn't earn rewards or offer a welcome bonus, but there are no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.

Best capital one credit cards 2024: Comparison

How we chose the best Capital One credit cards

We compared card offers based on the following criteria: Rewards rates (when applicable), welcome offers (when applicable), rewards flexibility; introductory APR offers, variable APRs, annual fees, included consumer protections included, travel benefits and perks, travel insurance benefits and required credit rating.

Ultimately, we looked for credit cards that offer the most lucrative reward structures and welcome offers, as well as flexibility within their designated rewards programs. Some cards that don't offer rewards were evaluated based on other factors, including their fee structure, introductory interest rates, and regular variable APR. In all cases, benefits such as consumer protections and travel insurance perks were taken into account.

Choosing the best Capital One credit card: Where to begin

Capital One offers numerous credit cards with a variety of rewards, benefits, annual fees and other features. If you want to select the best Capital One credit card for your lifestyle and spending habits, follow these steps to narrow down the choices.

Are you willing to pay an annual fee?

Paying an annual fee often unlocks larger welcome bonuses, higher earning rates and additional perks. However, you need to make sure that the benefits are worth the cost. In some cases, customers don’t spend enough on the card to out-earn the annual fee and justify spending the money. Think about your budget, how much you’ll realistically spend on the card, and what type of rewards that translates into.

For example, the Capital One Savor Card earns 4% on dining and entertainment compared to 3% for the Capital One SavorOne. With that 1% difference in rewards, you’d need to spend $9,500 per year (almost $800 per month as opposed to $200 per month for the Savor Card) in those categories just to break even.

What type of rewards do you want to earn?

The best Capital One credit cards typically earn cash back or miles. Cash back rewards can be used for anything once you deposit the money into your account. Venture Miles have several redemption options, but the highest value tends to come from booking travel. Transferring miles to airline and hotel partners can unlock higher values when booking award flights and hotel stays.

In some cases, rewards are not your highest priority as you work to build your credit score or pay off your debt. While earning rewards is a nice bonus, you’re better off focusing on those financial goals.

Does the card offer an intro APR promotion?

Intro APR promotions are limited-time offers that reduce or eliminate interest for a certain amount of time. These promotions may apply to purchases, balance transfers or both. Purchase APR promotions provide extra time to pay off your purchases at a lower rate. Balance transfers help you eliminate high-interest debt with more of your monthly payments going toward reducing the balance instead of paying interest to the bank.

When completing a balance transfer, you’ll typically pay 3% to 5% of the amount transferred. While this fee adds to your balance owed, the interest saved during the promotional period can be worthwhile. With purchase and balance transfer APR offers, if you have an unpaid balance when the promotion expires, the standard APR rate applies from that point forward.

What categories get the most spending?

If you’re interested in a rewards credit card, you’ll maximize your rewards by selecting one whose bonus categories align with where you spend the most money. Common bonus categories include travel, dining, gas and groceries. Review your monthly spending to determine which categories are the highest. If you’re unsure or don’t want to have to remember bonus categories, cards like the Capital One Venture or Capital One Quicksilver that offer flat rewards on every purchase are a smart choice.

Can you meet the minimum spend requirements?

The best Capital One credit cards offer a welcome bonus to earn rewards quickly. You’ll qualify for the welcome bonus when you spend a set amount before the deadline. The minimum spend requirement varies by card and generally increases with larger bonus opportunities. In some cases, there’s a two-stage welcome bonus that requires meeting two minimum spending requirements over two different timeframes. Depending on your spending totals, it is possible that you may only earn one of the bonuses.

When evaluating welcome bonus offers, make sure that you can realistically meet the minimum spending requirement without overspending. If you spend too much, you could get into debt that takes months or years to repay with interest. The rewards you’ll earn are not worth enough to offset the interest charges by the bank. The overspending could also tap into your savings, which affects your ability to meet other goals, like saving for a house down payment, a family vacation or college tuition.

Do you meet the card's credit score requirements?

Most credit cards require a minimum credit score to get approved, so it makes sense to avoid unnecessary inquiries by limiting your applications to credit cards that match your credit score. Before applying for a card, check your credit score to see if you qualify. Many banks, websites and mobile apps provide free credit scores to users.

Alternatively, you can use the Capital One pre-approval tool to see which credit cards you're eligible for without a hard inquiry. If you're pre-approved for one of the cards you like, you can complete the application to get your new card.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How many Capital One credit cards can you have?

Customers can have a maximum of two cards open at a time that are directly issued by the bank. Other cards offered by banks that it has acquired, small business cards and co-branded cards with retail partners do not count toward this total. Additionally, you must wait at least six months between applications, whether it is for a personal or small business credit card.

Does Capital One have a pre-approval process for its credit cards?

Yes, you can check for pre-approved credit card offers from Capital One without hurting your credit. After submitting basic information, like date of birth and income, you’ll see which cards you’re pre-approved for. Select a card from the results, then answer the remaining questions to complete your application.

Can you combine points on Capital One credit cards?

Capital One miles earned from different cards can be combined. Additionally, cash back rewards can be converted into miles, but miles cannot be converted into cash back. Customers can also transfer miles to family, friends or anyone else that has an eligible Capital One card.

^{AP Buyline has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. AP Buyline and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.}

This content is created by AP Buyline in accordance with AP’s editorial guidelines and supervised and edited by AP staff. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about AP Buyline here.