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Best Capital One Credit Cards in 2024

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card tops our list of best Capital One travel cards because of the bounty of rewards and perks it offers — not to mention being one of the most affordable cards for lounge access.

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is our pick for the best Capital One credit card.
Capital One offers a broad range of credit cards, including cash back, travel, secured, student and business.
You can get the best earnings with Capital One by booking through its travel portal. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers 10x points on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Capital One offers credit cards tailored for every type of consumer — whether you’re looking for travel perks, cash back or business benefits. They also offer credit-building cards that let you earn rewards, which other issuers often don’t. Regardless of the best Capital One card for you, you won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees with any of the cards below.

8 Top Capital One credit cards

(Winner) Best Capital One credit card for travel: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Best Capital One travel + low annual fee credit card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best Capital One rewards card: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best Capital One business credit card: Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Best Capital One secured credit card: Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best Capital One credit card for students: Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best Capital One cash back card: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best Capital One card for building credit: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Find your perfect card in 30 seconds. Check your approval odds so you can shop smarter.

Winner (Best Capital One card for travel)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.9

LendingTree's Review

4.9

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

Rewards rate: 2-10x miles

Earn 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

Excellent earning rates
Premium travel perks
$300 annual travel credit
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credit
Airport lounge access
Miles transfer to 15+ loyalty programs
Foreign transaction fees: None

$395 annual fee
High credit score is recommended for approval
Limited bonus earning categories

For frequent travelers, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card may be the most valuable of Capital One’s rewards cards. It offers great rewards on travel purchases, flexible miles that transfer to a variety of hotel and airline programs and a $300 annual credit for booking through Capital One Travel that can cover most of the $395 annual fee each year. Plus, it also gets you into Capital One lounges and is one of the most affordable options for Priority Pass lounge access.

With the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn 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 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®
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

Best Capital One credit card for travel and low annual fee

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.7

LendingTree's Review

4.7

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

Rewards rate: 2x-5x miles

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

Solid earning rate on all purchases
Flexible travel rewards
Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credit
Foreign transaction fees: None

Recommended for consumers with good / excellent credit
$95 annual fee
No bonus categories

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great option if you’re looking for a simple travel rewards card. It earns a flat rewards rate and a generous sign-up bonus: 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. You can use those miles directly towards travel or transfer them to more than 15 airline and hotel transfer partners.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card charges a $95 annual fee. However, keep in mind the card has a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® worth up to $120 every four years that can help you recoup the annual fee.

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
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

Best Capital One credit card for simple rewards

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.4

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.4

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

Rewards rate: 1.5%-5% cash back

Earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)

Cash back on all purchases
Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases
$0 annual fee
Foreign transaction fee: None

Recommended for consumers with good / excellent credit
A fee applies for balance transfers
No bonus rewards categories

If you’re looking for a simple cash back card that gives the same rewards rate on all purchases, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card might be for you. With this card, you can enjoy a the simplicity of flat rewards rate and also and also get an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers*, with a $0 annual fee.

*A balance transfer fee applies.

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
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

Best Capital One business card

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

LendingTree's Review

4.7

LendingTree's Review

4.7

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

Rewards rate: 2%-5% cash back

Earn 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

Unlimited 2% cash back
Earn a massive welcome offer
No preset spending limit
Get your $150 annual fee refunded every year you spend at least $150,000
Free employee cards
Foreign transaction fees: None

$150 annual fee
Limited rewards categories
Balance must be paid in full each month

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is an excellent choice for business owners looking for a simple cash back card. Earn 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. And while it does have a $150 annual fee, you can get it refunded every year you spend at least $150,000.

Of note, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a charge card that comes with no preset spending limit. Because it’s a charge card, you’ll need to pay the balance in full each and every month or be subject to a late fee. However, the rewards and flexibility of this card can be valuable — especially if you spend enough to make up for the annual fee.

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 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
For businesses that need large spending capacity and want to maximize cash back

Best Capital One secured credit card

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.1

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.1

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

Rewards rate: 1.5%-5% cash back

Earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)

Available to consumers with limited / poor credit
Earn unlimited cash back
$0 annual fee
Foreign transaction fees: None

Requires a security deposit
No bonus spending categories
Relatively high APR

The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is the most rewarding of Capital One’s secured credit card options. You can earn cash back on all purchases, which many secured don’t offer.

You do have to put down a minimum $200 security deposit that will act as your credit limit. With responsible usage, you can be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months. If you use your Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card responsibly, it can help you build your credit.

No annual or hidden fees, and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. See if you're approved in seconds
Put down a refundable $200 security deposit to get a $200 initial credit line
Building your credit? Using a card like this responsibly could help
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
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
Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
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

Student credit card

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.5

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.5

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

Rewards rate: 1.5%-5% cash back

Earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)

$0 annual fee
Cash back on all purchases
Earn a modest welcome offer
Foreign transaction fees: None

Must be a student to be approved
Other student cards may have better welcome offers

For students enrolled at or planning to attend college, the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card can be a great start to your credit journey. It lets you earn a welcome offer, has a solid rewards rate for all purchases and a $0 annual fee.

Note that Capital One does require applicants to be students to be approved for the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card. In other words, you’ll need to be currently enrolled, or admitted and planning to enroll, at an accredited higher education institution in the next three months.

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
Build your credit with responsible card use
Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
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

Best Capital One cash back credit card

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.6

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.6

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

Rewards rate: 1%-8% cash back

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 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

3% cash back in popular categories
$0 annual fee
Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases
No foreign transaction fees

Recommended for consumers with good / excellent credit
Low rewards rate on other categories
A fee applies for balance transfers

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great option if you’re looking to maximize your cash back rewards. You can earn a large amount of cash back in lucrative categories, including dining, entertainment and grocery stores. There’s also a sign-up bonus offering excellent value for a relatively low spending requirement: Earn $250 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

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
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

Best Capital One credit card to build credit

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.4

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

LendingTree's Review

4.4

Apply Now

on Capital One's secure site

Rates & Fees

Rewards rate: 1.5%-5% cash back

Earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)

Open to consumers with limited / fair credit
1.5% cash back on all purchases
No deposit required
Foreign transaction fees: None

High regular APR
$39 annual fee
No welcome offer

If your credit is less-than-perfect, you might consider the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. It offers solid rewards for cardholders with limited / fair credit, as well as the ability to be considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months. Keep in mind, though, that it does have a relatively high APR and a $39 annual fee. Still, as long as you pay the card on time every month and don’t max it out, it can help you improve your credit standing.

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
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
Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
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

Compare best Capital One cards

Credit Cards	Our Ratings	Welcome Offer	Rewards Rate	Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees	4.9 Overall + travel	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	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	Excellent	Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees	4.7 Travel + low annual fee	75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening	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	Good / Excellent	Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees	4.4 Simple rewards	N/A	1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)	Limited / Fair	Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees	4.7 Business	$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 2% Cash Back on every purchase; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel	Excellent	Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees	4.1 Secured card	N/A	1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)	Limited / Poor	Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees	4.5 Student	Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months	1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)	Limited / Fair	Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees	4.6 Cash back	$250 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening	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	Good / Excellent	Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees	4.4 Build credit	N/A	1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)	Limited / Fair	Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees

How to choose a Capital One credit card

Capital One offers many different credit cards, and it may feel overwhelming to decide which Capital One card might be right for you. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you choose a Capital One credit card.

Determine which cards you can qualify for

You need to make sure your credit score falls within a card’s credit range before you apply. It doesn’t make sense to apply for a card that requires excellent credit if your credit is still rebuilding. Capital One makes it very clear on their website the range of credit that you’ll likely need.

Don’t know your credit score? Sign up for an account at LendingTree to get your free credit score and recommendations to boost your score.

FICO Score	Vantage Score
300-579 is poor credit 580-669 is fair credit 670-739 is good credit 740-799 is very good credit 800-850 is exceptional credit	300-499 is very poor credit 500-600 is poor credit 601-660 is fair credit 661-780 is good credit 781-850 is excellent credit

Decide what type of credit card you want

The wide array of credit cards offered by Capital One means that no matter what kind of credit card you’re interested in, it’s likely that Capital One has an offering that might appeal to you.

What type of user are you?	Choose a …
You want to earn points that you can use with any hotel or airline.	General travel card (Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card) Check out the best travel credit cards
You want the simplest, most flexible rewards possible.	Cash back credit card (Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card) Check out the best cash back credit cards
You're trying to pay down a balance on another credit card.	Balance transfer credit card (Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, balance transfer fee applies) Check out the best balance transfer credit cards
You want to finance a large purchase.	Intro APR credit card (Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees) Check out the best 0% intro APR credit cards
You need a card to make purchases for your small business.	Business credit card (Capital One Spark Cash Plus) Check out the best business credit cards
You're new to credit or trying to rebuild your credit history	Credit card for building credit (Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card) Check out the best credit cards for building credit

Find rewards that match your spending patterns

Different Capital One credit cards offer bonus spending in different categories. You should pick a card that offers a bonus on categories where you spend the most. Many Capital One cards offer the same rate on every purchase — these are better options if you don’t spend heavily on dining and travel, or you don’t want to keep track of categories.

Popular bonus categories	Best cards
Dining	Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Travel	Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card Capital One Spark Miles for Business Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business*
Same rate on every purchase	Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One Spark Cash Plus Capital One Spark Cash Select Capital One Spark Classic for Business*

Decide if you want to pay an annual fee

Some Capital One cards come with no annual fee, while others charge a fee that you have to pay each year. While it is possible that the value of the rewards and benefits will outweigh the annual fee, you should do the math to decide if you’ll get enough value out of the card before you apply. If you’re set against paying an annual fee, Capital One has many excellent no-annual-fee credit cards, including the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates & fees).
Consider other Capital One credit card benefits

Don’t overlook the value of the remaining benefits on the card. Some Capital One cards offer travel credits that can cover the cost of the annual fee. In addition, most Capital One cards come with purchase and travel protections — such as trip cancellation insurance and extended warranty protection — that can secure your purchases and save you from having to purchase insurance.
- No foreign transaction fees: Capital One credit cards come with no foreign transaction fees, which makes them a great choice to use while traveling abroad.
- Rental car insurance: Most Capital One cards come with rental car insurance, covering you for theft or damage to a vehicle rented with your card, including the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
- Lounge access: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes with a Priority Pass™ Select Membership, as well as access to Capital One airport lounges.
- Travel credits: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, as well as up to a $120 reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. These credits combined can cover your annual fee in the first year.
- Travel protections: Several Capital One credit cards offer various travel protections, including insurance against delayed trips or lost baggage.
- Purchase protection: Many Capital One credit cards also offer protection for purchases made with the card, including extended warranty and purchase protection.

How to apply for a Capital One credit card

If you’re looking to apply for a Capital One credit card, here are a few tips for how to get ready and increase your odds of being approved:

Know your credit score — Be realistic about your credit score and what cards you might likely be approved for. It wouldn’t make sense to apply for a Capital One credit card recommended for excellent credit if your credit’s not in great shape.
Improve your credit, if necessary — If you have your eye on a card that has a credit requirement that’s a bit above where you’re at, it may make sense to spend some time improving your credit before you apply.
Collect relevant information — Spend some time gathering your personal information as well as any relevant financial information, like your income and details about your employer.
Check for preapproval — Capital One has a form on its website allowing you to check if you’re preapproved for a particular card without impacting your credit score. Use this tool to give yourself an idea of which cards you are likely to be approved for.
Fill out the application — Once you have all of your relevant information and know you’ve been preapproved, fill out the application — if you’re approved, your card should arrive in the mail within a few days.

How do Capital One miles work?

The Capital One rewards program is called Venture Miles, and there are several different credit cards that can earn Venture miles. One of the best things about the Venture Miles program is that the miles you earn are quite flexible. You can redeem them to book travel through the Capital One travel portal or cover select travel purchases, at a rate of 1 cent per mile. You can also transfer your Venture miles to a variety of different hotel or airline travel partners, possibly getting even more value from your miles.

Capital One miles cards

The Venture Miles collection includes several personal credit cards and several cards for small business owners. You can transfer miles to Capital One hotel and airline partners with any of these cards:

Capital One travel partners

Capital One’s travel partners include more than 15 hotel and airline loyalty programs. You may be able to get outsized value by transferring your miles to some of these programs. Most partners transfer at a ratio of 1:1.

One important thing to note, however, is that Capital One currently does not have a major U.S. airline partner, which may make it harder to transfer your miles to book a domestic flight.

Aeromexico Club Premier (1:1)
Aeroplan® (1:1)
Asia Miles (1:1)
Avianca LifeMiles (1:1)
British Airways Executive Club (1:1)
Choice Privileges® (1:1)
Emirates Skywards (1:1)
Etihad Guest (1:1)
Finnair Plus (1:1)

Flying Blue (1:1)
Qantas Frequent Flyer (1:1)
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1)
TAP Miles&Go (1:1)
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles (1:1)
Virgin Red (1:1)
Accor Live Limitless (ALL) (2:1)
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands (2:1.5)

Frequently asked questions

Most people would likely consider the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to be the highest-tier Capital One credit card. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a Visa Infinite card that comes with an array of premium benefits and an annual fee of $395 (see rates & fees).

Capital One offers a form on its site to see if you’re preapproved for the card without affecting your credit score. Simply go to the landing page of any Capital One credit card and click the “See If I’m Pre-Approved” button. Once you’ve answered a few basic questions, you’ll then be presented with a list of the credit cards you’re preapproved for. Keep in mind preapproval does not guarantee you’ll be approved.

You have a few different options for when you’re looking to activate your Capital One credit card. You can call the customer service number on the back of your card and activate your card over the phone. Another option is to log on to your Capital One account online and confirm receipt and activate your card through your online account.

Some Capital One credit cards allow you to request a cash advance from your credit card. You may be able to do this either from an ATM (if you’ve set up a PIN in advance) or at a Capital One branch. Just be aware that there may be fees and additional interest charged for a cash advance.

Capital One uses a variety of different criteria to determine whether or not to approve a credit card application. This criteria may include the total number of Capital One credit cards you currently have. Some cardholders have reported a maximum limit of two or five total Capital One credit cards, depending on the card. Make sure to read the terms and conditions of any card you’re planning to apply for, so you can understand if you may run into such a cap.

Capital One issues cards on both the Visa and Mastercard processing networks. That means your Capital One card will be accepted anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted, depending on the card. Make sure you check which type of card you have before you use it, so you’ll know where it’ll be accepted.

Capital One has several different credit cards, and each of them come with their own benefits. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a Visa Infinite card, which means that it does come with car rental insurance. You’ll want to make sure that you read and understand the terms and limitations of the policy that comes with your card.

Methodology: How we chose the best Capital One credit cards

In selecting the best Capital One credit cards, we considered factors like rewards rates, sign-up bonuses and how good your credit score needs to be for you to be considered for each card.

Many of the cards we selected for the best Capital One cards charge no annual fee. If a card does charge an annual fee, it also offers enough value through rewards, sign-up bonuses, and perhaps statement credits that the annual fee is worth it for consumers with specific needs and spending habits.

Finally, if a card offers helpful features, that weighed in its favor of being included. For example, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is a charge card with no preset spending limit, which might be helpful for business owners who often find themselves needing to make big purchases.

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 Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business and Chase Freedom Flex℠ 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.

Kristen Grau

Kristen Grau is a staff writer at LendingTree, where she writes and edits credit card content, including reviews, comparisons and guides. She loves breaking down travel credit card benefits and rewards programs to help credit card novices save on travel.

Kristen has been covering personal finance content since 2018, where she wrote for Debt.com about strategies for debt relief and management. Kristen also wrote articles about tax and accounting for a small business tax firm before coming to LendingTree.

Before that, she wrote for other publications in the hospitality and education industries.

Specialties

Credit card product reviews
Credit card rewards programs
Debt relief and management
Small business taxes and accounting

Achievements

6+ years of finance writing experience
70+ articles written for LendingTree
2+ years at LendingTree

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Florida Atlantic University

Kristen’s favorite credit cards

“I love the simplicity of the Chase trifecta: the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited^®. I’m not loyal to any particular brands, so I love being able to take my pick of Chase transfer partners. I’m an occasional traveler — mostly road-tripping to compete in dog sports events throughout the Pacific Northwest. I can earn back my annual fee and more with this setup each year.”

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