Capital One Savor credit card review: A no-annual-fee card for food and entertainment
Editor's Note
Capital One Savor Card overview
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a solid card with no annual fee that is great for those who regularly spend on dining and entertainment. It offers bonus rewards on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores, making it a good starter product for foodies and regular concertgoers. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Capital One has a nuanced system of card names and products which can be confusing for many people. In July 2024, Capital One discontinued the Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card (which incurred a $95 annual fee).
In October 2024, Capital One rebranded the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card into the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. The "new" Savor card will retain all of its perks and earning structure, with modifications to its welcome offer and a refreshed card design.
If you don't want to pay an annual fee but want to earn a solid cash-back return on meals, groceries and entertainment, the Savor is a great choice.
Before we dig in, it's worth mentioning that applicants will want good to excellent credit, and TPG recommends a credit score of 670 to 850 for the best chance at approval. Now, let's see if this is the card for you.
The information for the Savor Rewards (with a $95 annual fee) has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Capital One Savor pros and cons
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Capital One Savor Card welcome offer
The Savor card currently offers a sign-up bonus of $250 after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months. This is the highest offer we have seen on the card, even when it was referred to as the SavorOne.
However, Capital One has some interesting application rules to be aware of that might restrict your eligibility for this card, so keep these restrictions in mind to maximize your chances of approval.
Related: How bad is it to get denied for a credit card?
Capital One Savor Card benefits
The Savor is a card with no annual fee that comes with some nice perks. For starters, it can be used abroad, as there are no foreign transaction fees.
Essentially, this means that you should continue to earn 3% cash back on international dining, so long as the merchant codes as dining. Cardholders also enjoy MasterRental Coverage, Master RoadAssist Service and extended warranty protection.
If you need help making a restaurant reservation, buying concert tickets or planning travel, you can call the card's concierge service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It's certainly not the norm for a no-annual-fee card to have a concierge service, so this is a nice little perk if you can take advantage of it.
Related: The best cards for entertainment
Earning cash back on the Capital One Savor Card
The Capital One Savor offers generous bonus categories when compared to other no-annual-fee cash-back cards and even some cards that do have annual fees. The real highlight is the higher cash back in the dining and entertainment categories, though you can also get some value with extra cash back at grocery stores.
- 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked with Capital One Travel
- 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
- 1% on all other purchases
Although the definition of dining and entertainment is broad, as previously noted, don't forget to read the card's fine print. The Savor excludes Target and Walmart purchases, even if you're just buying groceries from these stores. Likewise, certain streaming services are excluded.
Related: How credit card issuers classify travel and dining purchases
Redeeming cash back on the Capital One Savor Card
Redeeming cash back with this card is simple. You can request options such as a statement credit or gift card, or you can redeem your cash back directly at Amazon.com.
Furthermore, if you have a credit card that earns Capital One miles, such as the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you also have the option to convert the cash back you earn into Capital One miles and transfer them to the program's various airline and hotel partners, such as Air Canada Aeroplan and Wyndham Rewards. This represents a huge potential value if travel is the reward you're after.
Given the Savor's bonus earning rates, this can be a good rewards route to take, especially if you can leverage any of Capital One's transfer sweet spots.
Related: How to redeem Capital One miles for maximum value
Which cards compete with the Capital One Savor Card?
If you're debating whether this card is worth adding to your wallet, consider these other options that might also be a good fit for your needs:
- If you want a simpler earnings rate: The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee — like the Savor Cash Rewards card — and earns 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases, making it great if you have expenses outside of the Savor's bonus categories. For more information, read our full review of the Quicksilver.
- If you prefer to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 2 points per dollar spent on travel and 3 points per dollar spent on dining. It does charge a $95 annual fee but also offers a much more valuable sign-up bonus. For more information, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
- If you prefer to earn American Express Membership Rewards points: If you spend the most on grocery and dining purchases, you might be better off opting for the American Express® Gold Card instead. It has an annual fee of $325 (see rates and fees) but earns more valuable rewards in popular bonus categories. For more information, read our full review of the Amex Gold.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best cash-back credit cards and the best credit cards for dining.
Related: Cash back vs. travel rewards: How to choose a credit card
Is the Capital One Savor Card worth it?
This is a great card to have if dining and entertainment are major spending categories for you. You can maximize your earnings if you also have a card that earns Capital One miles. However, if you'd rather have a flat earning rate on all spending without having to keep track of bonus opportunities, then other cash-back cards might be better suited for you.
Related: How to maximize cash back with your credit card
Bottom line
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a strong option in the world of cash-back cards. Sure, you could get more value playing with points. But what you gain in value, you lose in simplicity. If you spend a lot each year on dining, entertainment and groceries and you're interested in a simple cash-back card, the Savor card deserves a spot on your consideration list.
Learn more: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards
For rates and fees of the American Express Gold, click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.