Capital One vs. Chase Credit Cards
Key Takeaways
- In general, Chase has more high-end cards and perks than Capital One — making Chase better than Capital One for frequent travelers or heavy spenders.
- Chase also offers more valuable points than Capital One, and it has higher customer satisfaction rates.
- Capital One generally offers simpler cards with less complex rewards rates. This makes Capital One a good choice for people who prefer flat cash back rates and lower annual fees.
- Capital One is better than Chase for helping you build your credit since it offers secured credit cards. Chase does not.
Whether you’re looking to get a credit card that offers cash back, travel rewards or a balance transfer offer, Capital One and Chase offer a variety of cards to choose from, each with its own benefits to consider.
We compared the best credit cards from Capital One and the best credit cards from Chase so you can choose the best card for your needs.
Capital One vs. Chase at a glance
| Capital One | Chase | |
|---|---|---|
| Customer satisfaction* | 5th highest credit card issuer in the U.S. | 4th highest credit card issuer in the U.S. |
| Card offerings | Luxury travel cards, travel cards, cash back cards, 0% APR cards, student cards, business cards, cards for building credit | Luxury travel cards, travel cards, cash back cards, 0% APR cards, student cards, business cards |
| Added card perks | Better lounge access | Stronger travel protections, higher point value, more benefits from having multiple Chase cards |
| Free credit score | VantageScore 3.0 provided by TransUnion with CreditWise | VantageScore 3.0 provided by Experian with Credit Journey |
| Point value | Around 1 cent (when redeemed through Capital One Travel) | Around 1.25 to 1.5 cents (when redeemed through Chase TravelSM) |
| Point flexibility | 15 travel partners at a 1:1 transfer ratio (no domestic airlines); 1 travel partner at a 2:1.5 transfer ratio; 1 travel partner at a 2:1 transfer ratio | 14 travel partners at a 1:1 transfer ratio (including 3 domestic airlines) |
Cash back: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited®‘s elevated earning rates give it an edge over the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. Cardholders earn bonus rewards on travel, drugstore and restaurant purchases, in addition to 1.5% cash back on general purchases.
On the other hand, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is best for people who prefer a simple, flat cash back rewards rate on every purchase.
Both the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) and Chase Freedom Unlimited® have no annual fee and a long intro APR period.
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) | Chase Freedom Unlimited® | |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards rate | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) | Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases. |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. |
| Intro APR (purchases) | 0% intro on purchases for 15 months* | 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months |
| Regular APR | 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) | 19.99% - 28.74% Variable |
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Intro 0% APR: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card vs. Chase Slate Edge℠
If you’re looking for a long 0% intro APR credit card solely for a balance transfer, then the Chase Slate Edge℠ is a great no-frills option. It has a generous 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. Afterward, a 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) APR applies.
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) also has a long intro APR period on both purchases and balance transfers. It’s primarily a travel card, so it has a rewards program and welcome offer — both of which the Chase Slate Edge℠ lacks. If you’re looking for a card you can use even after your balance transfer is paid off, then Capital One might be better for you.
Both the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) and Chase Slate Edge℠ have no annual fee.
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) | Chase Slate Edge℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Intro APR (purchases) | 0% intro on purchases for 15 months | 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 18 months. |
| Intro APR (balance transfers) | 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months | 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. |
| Regular APR | 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) | 19.99% – 28.74% Variable |
| Balance transfer fee | Balance transfer fee applies. | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days. After, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Rewards rate | 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | N/A |
| Sign-up 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 | N/A |
Travel: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most valuable travel cards on the market. Compared to the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, it has a better earning rate and points that are more valuable and flexible.
If you prefer a credit card with a simpler rewards rate and don’t want to keep track of different bonus categories, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great alternative. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card both have similar annual fees, strong travel protections and no foreign transaction fees.
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards rate | Earn 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
| Sign-up bonus | Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. | Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year. |
| Annual fee | $95 | $95 |
| Travel credits | Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit | $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit |
| Travel protections | Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost/damaged luggage reimbursement, rental car insurance and 24-hour travel assistance services | Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement and travel/emergency assistance services |
| Foreign transaction fees | None | $0 |
Luxury travel: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
When it comes to luxury travel, both the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® are elite cards. But the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card card has a few more perks than the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) card has a simpler rewards rate and a lower annual fee and offers access to a lot more lounges than the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Both cards offer Priority Pass lounge access — but with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you also get to bring two guests for free and get access to Plaza Premium Group lounges, which are all over the world.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® has the upper hand in some other aspects. It has more valuable and flexible points plus better rewards on dining.
Both the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) and Chase Sapphire Reserve® have no foreign transaction fees and solid travel protections.
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards rate | 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10X Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5X Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel | Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
| Sign-up 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 | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
| Annual fee | $395 | $550 |
| Travel credits | $300 annual travel credit, up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every 4 years, anniversary bonus equal to $100 toward travel | $300 annual travel credit, $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit every 4 years |
| Travel protections | Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver | Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement and emergency evacuation/transportation |
| Lounge access | Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Lounge unlimited access | Priority Pass™ Select unlimited lounge access |
| Foreign transaction fees | None | $0 |
Building credit: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Chase doesn’t offer secured credit cards — or any other cards to help you build credit (besides student credit cards), making Capital One the way to go for cardholders with lower credit scores. The best option for building credit from Capital One is the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card.
Since it’s a secured credit card, you’ll have to pay an upfront deposit, which will serve as your credit line. Also, it doesn’t offer rewards or a sign-up bonus. But it does come with a $0 annual fee, and if you use it responsibly, it can help you qualify for better rewards credit cards later on (see rates & fees).
| Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card (see rates & fees) |
|
|---|---|
| Rewards rate | Non-rewards Card |
| Sign-up bonus | N/A |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Security deposit | $49, $99 or $200 minimum refundable deposit |
Student: Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card vs. Chase Freedom® Student credit card
Between Capital One and Chase student credit cards, the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best student credit card because it’s the most rewarding option. It offers elevated cash back rewards on common spending categories for students, including dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores. It also has a larger sign-up bonus.
On the other hand, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card is a flat-rate cash back card, which makes it a simple and easy card to use and build credit with.
Both the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) and Chase Freedom® Student credit card have no annual fee.
| Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) | Chase Freedom® Student credit card | |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards rate | 3% Cash Back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply), 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 1% Cash Back on all other purchases | Earn 1% cash back on all purchases plus $20 Good Standing Rewards after each account anniversary for up to 5 years |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | Earn $50 Cash Back when you spend $100 in the first three months | $50 bonus after first purchase made within the first 3 months from account opening |
Business: Capital One Spark Cash Plus vs. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is the better choice for business owners because it offers a high earning rate on common business purchases — and you won’t have to pay the Capital One Spark Cash Plus‘s $150 annual fee (see rates & fees). The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card offers a bonus on business expenses like supply store purchases and internet, cable and phone services. Although these categories have earning caps, they’re still valuable. The bonus categories alone are worth $1,750 in cash back.
On the other hand, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers a flat cash back rate, making it a better choice for busy business owners. It also has a higher sign-up bonus with a lower spending requirement. It’s a charge card, which means you have to pay off your balance every month and there’s no preset spending limit. This may not be a good fit for you if you’re not able to pay your business card’s balance every month.
Both cards offer free employee cards.
| Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards rate | Earn 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. | Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn. |
| Annual fee | $150 (see rates & fees) | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | Earn $2000 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. | Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. |
| Intro APR (purchases) | N/A (see rates & fees) | 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months |
| Regular APR | N/A (see rates & fees) | 17.99% - 25.99% Variable |
| Employee cards | Free | Free |
Frequently asked questions
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card are both solid credit cards for luxury travel rewards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers more valuable points and better dining rewards, but the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers better lounge access. If you’re looking for a more well-rounded card and don’t mind more limited airport lounge options, then the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a better card.
No, Capital One rewards are available as long as your account is open. So if you close your Capital One account, you’ll lose your rewards.
No, Chase does not offer secured credit cards. It doesn’t offer any credit cards geared toward people with anything lower than a fair credit score. So if you’re looking for a credit card to build credit from either Chase or Capital One, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is your best bet.
By most standards, Chase is a better credit card issuer than Capital One overall. Chase offers more valuable and flexible rewards points and more high-end credit cards than Capital One does. Chase also has a higher customer satisfaction rating. But depending on your spending habits, travel preferences, credit score and more, a Capital One credit card may be a better fit for you.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by third parties such as Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.
The information related to the Chase Slate Edge℠ and Chase Freedom® Student credit card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.