Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Unlimited 1.5% Cash Back

Rewards cards don’t get much simpler than the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. It’s a great starter credit card that has no annual fee and earns flat-rate cash back on every purchase. You can even use Capital One’s preapproval tool to decide whether or not you should apply.

The card lets you earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Plus, there’s a generous sign-up bonus with a low spend requirement and an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.

Still, its rewards are a bit underwhelming. There are many other cards that offer 2% cash rewards on purchases, including the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card — unless you’re worried about approval odds, you may be better off with these cards.

Annual fee: $0

Regular purchase APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Foreign transaction fee: None

Sign-up bonus: Earn $300 in welcome bonuses with a limited-time $100 Capital One Travel credit, plus earn $200 cash bonus with $500 spend within 3 months from account opening.

Rewards: 1.5% - 5% Cash Back

• Earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Other benefits:

• Extended warranty
• Travel accident insurance
• 24/7 travel assistance services
• Hertz Five Star® status

Recommended credit: Good / Excellent

• Good starter credit card

  If you are applying for your first credit card and you’re concerned about your approval odds with issuers like Chase, you may find that Capital One is very beginner friendly. According to LendingTree data, Capital One is a leading issuer of credit cards for people with lower credit scores.

  The table below shows that 48% of Capital One credit cards are issued to individuals with credit scores under 600, which falls within the fair credit range.

  Card Issuer	760 and Up	720 - 749	680 -719	640 - 679	600 - 639	560 - 599	520 - 559	Under 520
  BANK OF AMERICA	34.9%	21.5%	15.8%	13.7%	8.1%	3.5%	1.7%	0.8%
  JPMORGAN CHASE	19.0%	22.3%	19.7%	19.2%	11.7%	5.0%	2.1%	1.0%
  U.S. BANK	14.6%	17.7%	16.9%	17.8%	14.6%	9.7%	5.3%	3.4%
  CAPITAL ONE	3.1%	4.4%	7.7%	14.7%	21.7%	22.3%	16.6%	9.5%
  WELLS FARGO	32.2%	28.4%	18.1%	12.5%	5.8%	1.8%	0.8%	0.4%
  AMERICAN EXPRESS	32.3%	19.3%	15.6%	14.1%	9.4%	5.1%	2.6%	1.7%
  BARCLAYS	25.6%	18.3%	15.6%	17.9%	12.7%	6.7%	2.4%	0.9%
  CITI	20.0%	22.1%	19.7%	19.4%	12.0%	4.6%	1.4%	0.7%
  NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION	3.6%	7.1%	10.6%	15.9%	20.0%	18.1%	14.3%	10.4%
  DISCOVER	12.7%	21.5%	20.7%	17.7%	11.7%	7.7%	5.4%	2.5%
  USAA	4.0%	7.7%	12.5%	22.6%	23.5%	16.9%	8.5%	4.3%
  All Issuers	17.1%	15.6%	14.3%	16.0%	14.5%	11.0%	7.4%	4.2%

  Cardholders report on Reddit that they were able to get Capital One credit cards as college students or with no preexisting credit history.

• Simple cash back rewards

  If you want a simple approach to earning rewards, you’ll be happy to know that this card doesn’t have rotating categories or spending caps to keep track of. Instead, you’ll earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

  Cash back rewards never expire and can be used to cover a recent purchase or redeemed in a variety of ways, including for statement credits, gift cards, on Amazon or with PayPal.

• $0 annual fee

  The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card doesn’t have an annual fee, so you can keep hundreds of dollars in your pocket that could be better spent on paying down debt or saving up for your next home. While many no-annual-fee cards skimp on the perks, this one is generous with the sign-up bonus, cash back, intro APR and protections that it offers.

  → See our top picks for credit cards with no annual fee

• Low spend for sign-up bonus

  With the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn $300 in welcome bonuses with a limited-time $100 Capital One Travel credit, plus earn $200 cash bonus with $500 spend within 3 months from account opening. The average credit card sign-up bonus in a recent LendingTree study was $161 — making this a competitive bonus for a $0-annual-fee card.

  Plus, the card only requires you to spend approximately $167 per month for three months to earn that sign-up bonus.

  Don’t confuse the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card with the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card — it has the same rewards rate but doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus and comes with a $39 annual fee.

• Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers

  If you need to finance a large purchase or transfer a balance, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an intro APR for more than a year.

  	Purchases	Balance transfers
  Intro APR	0% intro on purchases for 15 months	0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months (Balance transfer fee applies)
  Regular APR	19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR	19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) APR
  Estimated savings	$1,260	$1,080

  See our value methodology.

  Our estimates show that you could save $1,080 by taking advantage of this balance transfer offer.

  According to a LendingTree study, 15 months is the most common duration of a 0% APR balance transfer offer, so this card is right on par. But if you want an even longer balance transfer offer, consider the U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card — it offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 24 billing cycles after card opening, then a 17.74% - 28.74% variable APR applies.

  → Learn how to do a balance transfer with Capital One

• No foreign transaction fee

  You won’t be charged additional fees when you use the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card outside of the U.S. In comparison, many cards charge fees ranging from 3% to 5% on purchases abroad. You could save $30 to $50 for every $1,000 you spend on an international trip.

  → Find more credit cards with no foreign transaction fee

• Travel benefits and consumer protections

  The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card comes with several additional perks that offer added protection, or save time or money.

  • Hertz Five® Star status lets you skip the counter at select locations, choose from a larger selection of rentals and get a free status upgrade.
  • Capital One Travel gives you access to the best prices on trips and offers flexibility to pay with your rewards.
  • Travel accident insurance gives you automatic coverage when you use your card to purchase your fare.
  • 24-hour travel assistance helps you get an emergency replacement and a cash advance if your credit card is lost or stolen.
  • $0 fraud liability releases you of responsibility for unauthorized charges if your card is lost or stolen.
  • Card lock lets you easily lock and unlock your card if it’s lost or stolen.
  • Capital One Dining lets you make reservations at award-winning restaurants and curated culinary events.
  • Capital One Entertainment gives you access to music, sports, theater and dining experiences.
  • Extended warranty protection gives you additional warranty protection on eligible items that you purchase with your card.
  • Mobile app lets you check your balance, make payments, create purchase notifications, access Capital One offers and even request a credit limit increase or card upgrade.

  Why it’s in my wallet

  “The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card was my second credit card, and I loved that it gave me flat-rate cash back at a slightly higher rate than my Discover credit card that I got in college. I used it as a catch-all card until recently, when I upgraded my Capital One card to a Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, which now lets me earn more when we dine out or go to the movies.”
  
  – Charlotte Zhang, credit cards writer at LendingTree

• Low cash back rewards rate

  Although this card offers an elevated rewards rate on every purchase, there are cards available that offer an even higher cash back rate on general purchases, like the Citi Double Cash^® Card or Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card.

  	Rewards earned per $1 spent*	Average rewards earned on $20,000 annual spending
  Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card	$0.023	$460
  Citi Double Cash® Card	$0.020	$400
  Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card	$0.020	$400
  Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card	$0.016	$320

  *Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

  If you’re using your credit card for $20,000 in annual spending, the above table shows that you could get up to $140 more by using a card with a higher cash back value.

  Note, however, that since the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earn different amounts of cash back for different purchases, your actual numbers may be different depending on your spending habits.

• Balance transfer fee

  If you transfer a balance to the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, a balance transfer fee applies. While balance transfer fees are common and can be offset by the savings of not paying interest, you should know that there are credit cards with no balance transfer fees.

  The drawback is that no-fee balance transfer cards usually have shorter 0% intro periods. Plus, they’re often issued by credit unions, with some open nationwide and others limited by location or employer.

Capital One has several cards in the Quicksilver family, and each one is best suited for a different demographic. Here’s an overview of how the cards compare to one another by key features.

	Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card	Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card	Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for	Good / Excellent credit	Limited / Fair credit	Limited / Poor credit	Students
Annual fee	$0	$39	$0	$0
Rewards rate	1.5% - 5% Cash Back 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel	1.5% - 5% Cash Back 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel	1.5% - 5% Cash Back 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel	1.5% - 5% Cash Back 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Security deposit	None	None	$200	None
Sign-up bonus	$300 welcome bonuses Earn $300 in welcome bonuses with a limited-time $100 Capital One Travel credit, plus earn $200 cash bonus with $500 spend within 3 months from account opening	N/A N/A	N/A N/A	$50 Cash Back Earn $50 Cash Back when you spend $100 in the first three months
Intro APR offers	Yes	No	No	No

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card vs. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a better overall cash back credit card, thanks to its higher rewards rate on groceries, dining and entertainment.

You can earn 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases.

It offers many of the same benefits as the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, including a sign-up bonus that lets new cardholders earn $300 in welcome bonuses with a limited-time $100 Capital One Travel credit, plus earn $200 cash bonus with $500 spend within 3 months from account opening.

---

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card vs. Citi Double Cash^® Card

If you want a higher-earning flat-rate card with an even longer interest-free period on balance transfers, the Citi Double Cash^® Card may be a better choice. You’ll get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on Balance Transfers. After that, a 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) APR applies.

You’ll also earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.

Unfortunately, though, there’s no intro APR for regular purchases, so it wouldn’t be a good choice for financing a new purchase.

Rewards are earned as Citi ThankYou^® Points — they can be redeemed for a wide variety of options, including cash back, statement credits and travel.

---

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card is another card that offers a higher cash rewards rate than the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and is good if you want a simple cash back card. It lets you earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases without any earning restrictions, unlike the Citi Double Cash^® Card.

You’ll get introductory APR offers on both purchases and balance transfers as well. However, the term is shorter than the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card — so if you need to finance a purchase or pay off debt, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card would be better for you.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good choice for some. It may be right for you if you are:

• An everyday spender who wants simple cash back
• A student transitioning to their first unsecured credit card
• A consumer who wants a flat-rate, catch-all card
• A frequent traveler who wants a backup card

If maximizing cash back with a card that gives the highest amount of cash rewards, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card or Citi Double Cash^® Card.