Best Capital One credit cards of November 2024
If you’re interested in transferable credit card miles and solid cash-back rewards, we recommend checking out TPG’s top picks for the best Capital One credit cards. Capital One offers cardholders many benefits, including several ways to earn cash back and miles across its credit card portfolio. You can even transfer miles from select cards to 15-plus transfer partners — most of which offer a 1:1 transfer ratio.
Because Capital One offers so many flexible options for cardholders — ranging from cards with no annual fee to premium cards for frequent jet-setters and ones that offer generous cash-back rewards in varying categories — you’re bound to find a solid option that suits your spending habits.
Below, review our curated selection of the best Capital One cards from our partners.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for travel rewards
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for premium travel
- Capital One Venture X Business: Best for businesses with high spending
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate cash back
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for travel rewards with no annual fee
- Capital One Spark Cash: Best for flat-rate business cash back rewards
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for entertainment
- Capital One Spark Cash Plus: Best for unlimited business cash back
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Best for business travel
- Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business: Best for business owners who want a flat-rate reward card
Best for travel rewards
5 Miles | 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
2 Miles | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
When it comes to simplicity and strong rewards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a solid choice for most travelers. You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase with no bonus categories to memorize, making it an ideal card for those with busy lives. Read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
- This flexible rewards card delivers a solid sign-up bonus of 75,000 miles
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories.
- Rewards earned are versatile as they can be redeemed for any hotel or airline purchase for a statement credit or transferred to 15+ travel partners.
Cons
- Transfer ratios to a couple of partners are mediocre at less than 1:1 ratio.
- Capital One airline partners do not include any large U.S. airlines.
- 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
Best for premium travel
10 Miles | 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
5 Miles | 5 Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel |
2 Miles | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
If you can maximize the $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, the Venture X’s annual fee effectively comes down to $95, the same annual fee pegged to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees). Add in a 10,000-mile bonus every account anniversary (worth $185, according to TPG valuations) and lounge access, and the card may become the strongest option out there for a lot of travelers. Read our full review of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
- 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
- 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary
Cons
- $395 annual fee
- A $300 credit annually only applicable for bookings made through Capital One Travel portal
- 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
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges 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®
Best for businesses with high spending
2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel |
10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
The Capital One Venture X business card has all the Capital One Venture X Reward Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit and lounge access. Read our full review of the Capital One Venture X Business card.
Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card offers the potential to earn a welcome offer of 150,000 bonus miles
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 travel credit and airport lounge access, at a reasonable annual fee of $395
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free
Cons
- The card requires a high spend of $30,000 in the first three months to earn the 150,000-mile welcome bonus
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- This card has no preset spending limit, so you get purchasing power that adapts to your spending needs. The annual fee on this card is $395
- Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get the best prices on thousands of options
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and membership to Priority Pass
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
Best for flat-rate cash back
5% | 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 |
1.5% | Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day |
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a decent option for those in need of a straightforward cash back card. However, there are other options that offer more flexibility to redeem your rewards. Read our full review of the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- No annual fee
- Cash back doesn't expire
Cons
- Limited card perks and benefits
- Other cards offer more potential and upside when it comes to redeeming cash back
- 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; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Best for travel rewards with no annual fee
5 Miles | 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
1.25 Miles | 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
If you feel like paying an annual fee negates your will to learn about travel rewards, the Capital One VentureOne is the perfect place to begin. With no annual fee and a simple 1.25 miles per dollar rate on all purchases, you’ll earn miles that can be used for travel purchases or transferred to Capital One’s 15+ airline and hotel partners. Read our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
- No annual fee means that beginners can ease into the world of travel rewards with little stress.
- Easy-to-remember 1.25 miles per dollar earning rate on all purchases.
Cons
- The sign-up bonus is outdone by most competing credit cards.
- No bonus categories means that you may not necessarily maximize all your purchases to the fullest.
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Best for flat-rate business cash back rewards
5% | 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
2% | 2% cash back on every purchase |
The Capital One Spark Cash credit card is a solid small business card that offers 2% cash back on all purchases and a generous welcome offer. This card features an annual fee of $95 that has a $0 intro annual fee in the first year of membership and also provides business owners with additional perks like itemized reports and no foreign transaction fees when purchasing abroad.
Pros
- Generous welcome offer
- No foreign transaction fees
- Unlimited 2% cash back
Cons
- Charges an annual fee after the first year of card membership
- For businesses that want to earn 2% cash back on all purchases with the stability that comes with a traditional credit line
- Earn a one-time $750 cash bonus once you spend $7,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions
- Free employee cards, which also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
- Rewards won’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
Best for entertainment
8% | 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases |
5% | 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) |
3% | 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services |
1% | 1% Cash Back on all other purchases |
The Capital One Savor is a great cash back credit card for beginners looking for a solid rewards structure and no annual fee. Dining, entertainment and groceries are high-value bonus categories, and it’s rare for a card to hit all three. Read our full review of the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
- This card is great for beginners.
Cons
- If you spend a lot on dining and entertainment each year, there are cards that provide better value with higher rewards potential.
- The sign-up bonus isn’t anything to write home about (though it is easy to earn)
- For a limited time, earn a $250 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; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- No foreign transaction fee
- No annual fee
Best for unlimited business cash back
5% | Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
2% | Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions |
The Capital Spark Cash Plus is a great cash back card for larger businesses with high spending. It allows business owners to earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, and Capital One will refund the card’s annual fee if the business meets a minimum spend of $150,000 annually. Read our full review of the Capital One Spark Cash Plus credit card.
Pros
- The card features unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase
- This card offers a large welcome bonus
- Hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel are eligible for 5% cash back
Cons
- The card has a $150 annual fee
- The required spend to waive the annual fee is very high
- The card’s balance must be paid in full every month
- Earn a one-time cash bonus of $2,000 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year. You can earn this bonus multiple times over the course of year 1!
- Earn unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Enjoy purchasing power that adapts to your business. The Spark Cash Plus card has no preset spending limit, so it can adapt to your needs based on your spending behavior, payment history, credit profile and other factors
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while you earn rewards from their transactions with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- $150 annual fee - Spend $150,000 annually and Capital One will refund this fee every year
- Spark Cash Plus has no APR because your balance is due in full every month
- For businesses that need large spending capacity and want to maximize cash back
Best for business travel
5 Miles | 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
2 Miles | 2 Miles per $1 on every purchase, everywhere |
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business offers a simple way to earn rewards on every business purchase, no matter the category. Those miles can then be easily redeemed for travel purchases or by transferring to partners. Read our full review of the Capital One Spark Miles for Business.
Pros
- You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you don’t have to juggle different bonus categories.
- Employee cards are free and also earn 2x on all spending.
- It’s an affordable card that only charges $95 in annual fees, and that fee is waived the first year.
Cons
- The sign-up bonus is only worth $925 according to TPG valuations, which falls short against some of the top business travel cards.
- The card comes with minimal perks if you’re wanting additional benefits for when you travel.
- Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
Best for business owners who want a flat-rate reward card
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
1.5X | Earn unlimited 1.5X miles on every purchase for your business. |
5X | Earn unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. |
Pros
- No caps on how many miles you can earn
- No annual fee
- This card offers features useful for businesses (year-end summaries, purchase records, etc.)
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Other cards feature better reward-earning rates
The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business* is a great flat-rate earner for business owners seeking to earn rewards with every purchase. With no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees and an elevated 5 miles per dollar spent on rental cars and hotels booked within the Capital One Travel portal, this card is also great for when business takes you abroad.
Comparing the best Capital One credit cards
Credit card | Best for | Intro offer | Earning rate | Annual fee |
---|---|---|---|---|
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Capital One's secure site | travel rewards | 75,000 miles Open Intro bonus 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 2 - 5X miles | $95 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Capital One's secure site | premium travel | Earn 75,000 miles Open Intro bonus 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 | 2 - 10X miles | $395 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Capital One's secure site | businesses with high spending | 150,000 miles Open Intro bonus 150,000 miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening | 2 - 10X miles | $395 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Capital One's secure site | flat-rate cash back | $200 Open Intro bonus Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 1.5 - 5% cash-back | $0 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Capital One's secure site | travel rewards with no annual fee | 20,000 miles Open Intro bonus Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel | 1.25 - 5X miles | $0 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Capital One's secure site | flat-rate business cash back rewards | $750 Cash Back Open Intro bonus Earn $750 cash back once you spend $7,500 in the first 3 months from account opening | 2 - 5% cash-back | $0 intro for first year; $95 after that |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Capital One's secure site | entertainment | $250 Cash Back Open Intro bonus $250 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 1 - 8% cash-back | $0 |
Earn $4,000 or more in cash bonuses Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Capital One's secure site | unlimited business cash back | $2,000+ cash back Open Intro bonus $2,000 cash back once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months. Earn an additional $2,000 cash bonus for every $500K spent during the first year | 2 - 5% cash-back | $150 |
Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. at Capital One's secure site | business travel | 50,000 miles Open Intro bonus Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening | 2 - 5X miles | $0 intro for first year; $95 after that |
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business * *The information about the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business has been collected independently by ThePointsGuy.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer. Open Editors rating Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Information updated as of 09/24/2024 | business owners who want a flat-rate reward card | 50,000 miles Open Intro bonus Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. | 1.5 - 5X miles | $0 |
More details on the best Capital One cards
When it comes to simplicity and strong rewards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a solid choice for most travelers. You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase with no bonus categories to memorize.
Whether you’re a frequent traveler or someone who takes just a few trips a year, this card is ideal for anyone who wants to easily earn miles on every purchase, which can then be redeemed for travel rewards.
“The Capital One Venture is a great card that can add value to pretty much anyone's wallet. I use it to earn 2 miles per dollar on the purchases that fall outside of my other cards' bonus categories. The annual fee is low, Capital One miles are easy to redeem, and the card does come with a few nice perks — including TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee reimbursement.” — Madison Blancaflor, senior content operations editor
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card lets you earn bonus points in multiple categories, including 2 points per dollar on travel purchases and 3 points on dining. Plus, the Chase Sapphire Preferred also has the same $95 annual fee as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees).
As one of the best premium travel rewards cards on the market, the Capital One Venture X Credit Card offers valuable benefits such as lounge access, a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases.
This rewards card offers lucrative travel benefits and high earning rates of 10 Capital One miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles on flights booked through the portal. Since this card rewards travelers, frequent jet-setters will benefit the most from using this credit card.
“With an annual fee that is less than other premium cards (see rates and fees), the Capital One Venture X card is my favorite travel credit card. The card comes with an annual $300 Capital One Travel portal credit, which I use to book flights. That effectively brings the annual fee down to $95 per year. Cardholders enjoy a Priority Pass Select membership. Authorized users — you get several at no cost — enjoy their own Priority Pass Select membership and Hertz President's Circle status. I use my Venture X card to earn 2 miles per dollar in spending categories where most cards would only accrue 1 mile (e.g., auto maintenance, pharmacies, medical bills).” — Kyle Olsen, former points and miles reporter
Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
Though the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a higher annual fee, this credit card offers cardholders a chance to earn bonus points on travel and dining purchases. Plus, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth a bit more than Capital One miles, according to TPG’s valuations.
Capital One's Venture X Business credit card offers a ton of earning potential for a modest annual fee when it comes to premium cards. Airport lounge access, an annual travel credit, 10,000 bonus miles each cardmember anniversary and the ability to add authorized users at no added cost to the main cardholder are just a few reasons we love the Venture X Business.
The Venture X Business card is great for businesses that have higher operating costs. Additionally, this card is also solid for business owners and employees who travel frequently thanks to an earning structure that features 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars and 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals when any of these four are booked via Capital One Travel.
The Venture X Business card features 15-plus hotel and airline partners, meaning cardholders have several options when it comes to choosing who they want to travel with. Plus, with the Venture X Business, you can opt to redeem earned miles for statement credits, gift cards or cash back (but you will typically find that transferring miles offers the most value).
If you're in the market for a premium travel credit card but do not want a business card, consider the Capital One Venture X personal card, as it features many of the same benefits as the Venture X Business but requires a lower spend to earn the welcome bonus.
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and no limit on how much cash back you can earn. This is a good card for those wanting to immediately benefit from cash-back rewards, which will never expire.
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a decent option for those in need of a straightforward cash-back card for everyday purchases. With no bonus categories, it’s a great beginner-friendly credit card.
Cardholders will earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. With no annual fee and a one-time $200 cash bonus — after you spend $500 on purchases within three months from account opening — this card can be beneficial for those looking for a rewards credit card and who value earning cash back over Capital One miles.
The Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) offers more cash-back rewards with an earning rate of 2% on every purchase (1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off). This card also has no annual fee, which makes it a great alternative to the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.
If paying an annual fee and keeping track of bonus category spending negate your will to learn more about travel rewards, the Capital One VentureOne is the perfect place to begin. With no annual fee (see rates and fees) and a simple rate of 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases, you’ll earn miles that can be used for travel purchases or transferred to Capital One’s 15-plus travel partners.
Since this card offers an earning rate of 1.25 miles on every dollar, this is a solid credit card option for beginners who want to ease into the world of travel rewards. You can earn bonus miles with each purchase and don’t have to worry about paying a high annual fee.
“I wanted a credit card that earns Capital One miles without an annual fee, and this is a winner. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of some other cards, but I’m happy earning 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases without paying a fee to keep this card year after year. I’ll never cancel this card.” — Ryan Smith, former credit cards writer
If you value cash back over reward points, the Chase Freedom Flex® card offers 5% cash back on select bonus categories and travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Cardholders will also receive a nice sign-up bonus and pay no annual fee.
This card offers uncapped cash back earning potential, which business owners can then pour back into their enterprises.
This is a good option for business owners who prioritize earning cash back rewards over points and miles and who don’t want to deal with the hassle of tracking bonus spend categories.
If you’re looking for a simple business card that earns unlimited cash back and offers some business perks, consider adding the Capital One Spark Cash card to your wallet.
If your small business would be better off with a no annual fee, consider the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. It features a lower cash back reward rate but also comes with a decent welcome bonus.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers bonus cash-back rewards on everyday purchases, such as dining, entertainment and groceries. With no annual fee, it’s a great beginner cash-back card (see rates and fees).
The Capital One Savor is a good option for beginners because it offers a solid rewards structure with no annual fee.
If you love going out to eat or find yourself buying weekly groceries, this rewards card will allow you to earn unlimited 3% cash back on those purchases. With a $0 annual fee, this is a great everyday card for everyone to have in their wallets.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a great option for people who want to earn cash-back rewards on popular categories, including U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. Plus, this cash-back card has no annual fee (see rates and fees).
The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a business cash-back card that offers 2% on all purchases with no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees). Additionally, you can add employee cards for free and earn 2% cash back from their purchases as well.
If your business spends more than $7,500 annually and you don’t want to keep up with multiple bonus categories, this is the perfect card for you.
If you are a business owner, this card will earn you unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase — with no limits or category restrictions.
With the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business. Similarly to the Spark Cash Plus card, you can earn rewards through employee cards at no additional cost. Plus, this card gives you the ability to set individual spending limits on each card.
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business offers a simple way to earn rewards on every business purchase, no matter the category. Those miles can then be easily redeemed for travel purchases or by transferring to partners.
Since you’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, this is a great business card to earn rewards without having to juggle multiple bonus categories. Plus, employee cards are free, and they’ll also earn 2 miles on all spending.
With a high earning rate of 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, plus the ability to earn rewards on employee cards — which are free — this card makes it easy to stack up miles on every purchase made.
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express will allow you to earn 2 points on everyday purchases, but only on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar after. Since you earn bonus points on all purchases (up to the yearly spending cap), it is a great business card option.
Flat-rate reward earning means no bonus spend categories to track. Running a business takes a ton of work, and earning a flat 1.5 miles per dollar spent means there’s one less thing to worry about.
*The information for the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Small business owners who travel for work will enjoy a healthy welcome bonus in the form of transferable Capital One miles.
If you travel for work and want to earn transferable miles to get you abroad, the Spark Miles Select for Business* is a great way to do that.
Those seeking a travel rewards business card that earns a flat 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, and offers a $300 annual travel credit when booked through Capital One Travel. Plus 10,000 bonus miles every cardmember anniversary — starting on your first anniversary — consider the Capital One Venture X Business.
How we rate cards
A solid portion of TPG readers hold a Capital One card with transferable rewards
A TPG survey has shown that Capital One is quickly gaining ground on other popular card issuers as 39% of our readers chose to add a consumer Capital One card with transferable rewards to their wallets.
What TPG readers have to say about their favorite Capital One credit cards
Credit cards can make or break your travel experience which is why choosing the best card for your travel style is a very important but personal decision. Our readers share the card that has made the biggest impact on their travel and dining experience below.
Note: Reader-submitted responses have not been edited, reviewed or approved by the issuers nor reflect TPG’s opinions of these cards.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
“Been to 85 countries and 50 states. I’ve tried about every card along the way. My favorite… Capital One Venture X. Terrific for earning miles… and (by far) the best and most flexible options for redeeming miles.” - Brad Ball via a TPG Social Media post
“Capital One Venture X. Benefits that will truly be used. Just spent 3 weeks in Europe. Used priority pass for lounge access in about 6 locations. The Europe lounges were great. Also, the Hertz President’s Circle upgrade is fantastic. Booked a small compact car and used my upgrade for an Audi SUV. We received about $700-$800 worth of value in just a few weeks.” - Ed Burke via a TPG Social Media post
*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
How to choose the best Capital One credit card
- Earning a sign-up bonus is a great way to take advantage of boosting the number of points, miles or cash back you’ve got saved up. Choose a Capital One card that features a decent bonus you can utilize for travel, as a statement credit or as a cash deposit into your bank account. Just make sure you opt for a sign-up bonus that fits your spending habits and budget.1Sign-up bonus
- Depending on what you plan to use your Capital One card for, you may want to consider a no annual fee option or a premium card with a more expensive annual fee that offers premium earning rates and benefits.2Annual fee
- The best Capital One credit cards offer popular bonus categories in which you can maximize your spending and reward earnings. Opt for the card that best matches the areas in which you spend the most money.3Bonus categories
Pros + cons of Capital One credit cards
Pros
- Capital One credit cards earn valuable cash back or miles that can be redeemed for a variety of rewards
- Many Capital One cards provide travel and shopping protections to grant you peace of mind on your purchases
- Capital One offers some cards with lucrative perks — including travel credits, lounge access and reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Cons
- Capital One’s list of transfer partners for Venture and Spark miles includes mostly non-U.S. airlines
- You may not travel enough to be able to justify the annual fee on higher-end Capital One cards
Frequently asked questions
Capital One has focused on providing customers a good value in terms of earning and redeeming miles or cash-back rewards. Capital One cards are versatile and flexible. Therefore, whether you’re an individual or a business or looking to earn miles or cash back, Capital One has a card that can help you achieve your travel goals.
While some Capital One credit cards, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Card, may require an “excellent” (700 or above) credit score, other cards, like the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, may require a “fair” (580-669) credit score. Luckily, Capital One offers an online preapproval tool — with no harm to your credit — to let you find out which cards you are approved for.
There is a limit of two Capital One credit cards per person. However, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card and Capital One’s cobranded cards are not included in the limit.
First, closing a credit card may negatively affect your credit score. However, if you wish to proceed with canceling your Capital One credit card because you either are no longer using the card or the rewards are not beneficial to your lifestyle, Capital One recommends doing the following:
- Pay off your card balance
- Redeem your credit card rewards
- Contact Capital One
- Check your credit report
- Destroy the card