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Chase and Capital One are 2 of the largest banks in the U.S., and while they both have drastically different structures, products, and focuses, it is worthwhile to pit the 2 of them against each other and figure out which is best.
In the past, Chase has been an absolute powerhouse in credit cards, whether you were looking for cash-back, travel rewards, or business credit cards. However, Capital One has been playing catch-up in recent years, and this has ultimately resulted in comparisons being drawn between the two.
In this guide, we’ll be comparing the credit cards offered in each category by both banks and showing you the top (and runner-up) credit card choices between Chase and Capital One.
We’ll first discuss the differences between the 2 rewards programs and why it’s important to know the characteristics of each. Then we’ll break down the top credit card categories and determine which cards come out on top and in second place.
Let’s get started!
Comparing Capital One Miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards
Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards points can both be redeemed for Singapore Airlines First Class Suites. Image Credit: Alex Miller
Each credit card earns points or miles at different rates and on different categories, such as dining or travel.
Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards points can both be used for statement credits, gift cards, experiences, and more. In general, using your points in these ways will get you a value of 1 cent per point. For example, you can redeem 10,000 Capital One miles or Chase Ultimate Rewards points for $100 in statement credits or for a $100 gift card.
Capital One Miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards each have different transfer partners. Some transfer partners, such as Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Air France/KLM Flying Blue are part of both rewards systems, while others, such as United Airlines MileagePlus (with Chase) and Avianca LifeMiles (with Capital One) are only partners with 1 of the rewards systems.
Also, Chase maintains a 1:1 transfer ratio with all of the Chase transfer partners, while Capital One maintains a 1:1 transfer ratio with most of its partners.
Both of these rewards systems have excellent transfer partnerships, overall.
And if you’re not looking to redeem through transfer partners, you can redeem Capital One miles via Capital One Travel for 1 cent each or Chase Ultimate Rewards points through the Chase travel portal at up to 1.5 cents each, which is a 50% bonus compared to the normal redemption value.
On the other hand, Capital One maintains a pretty consistent value of 1 cent per mile when redeeming for anything besides transfer partners.
There are only a handful of credit cards that can earn Capital One miles, while there are many credit cards that can earn Ultimate Rewards points. In general, both issuers allow you to earn up to 10 miles or points per dollar spent.
Bottom Line: Chase Ultimate Rewards is the superior points currency, with a small caveat that Capital One has a few niche transfer partners, such as Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, that could be useful in some situations. And unless you never want to think about bonus categories and are willing to accept a lower earning structure, Chase Ultimate Rewards is the clear winner over Capital One Miles.
Best Overall Travel Rewards Credit Card
The best overall travel rewards credit cards offer exceptional rewards without a huge price tag. And luckily, both Chase and Capital One offer exceptional products in this arena.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cardson the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide
$50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
Excellent travel and car rental insurance
10% annual bonus points
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)
Cons
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of the most popular travel credit cards in the U.S. It also happens to be the best beginner rewards credit card available.
Even so, the most seasoned points enthusiasts love keeping this card in their arsenal.
One of the things that make this credit card exceptional is the fact that its welcome offer is consistently awesome — with a bit of monthly spending after opening the card, you’ll see a massive pop in your point balance.
But if you look past the introductory offer, you’ll find a very attractive earning rate of 5x points on travelpurchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), and select streaming services; 2x points on all other travel purchases; and 1x points on all other purchases. You can also earn 5x Ultimate Rewards points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025, which is stellar.
In addition, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card has an awesome 10% points bonus (calculated based on the total dollar amount spent after every card anniversary).
Remember, we value Ultimate Rewards points at around 2 cents each, which means that on your 2x travel and 3x dining purchases, you’d earn a 4.2% to 6.2% return on spending. On Lyft purchases and Chase Ultimate Rewards travel that earn 5x points, after the 10% anniversary bonus, you’d earn a whopping 10.2% return on your spending!
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card also offers a complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription. If activated by December 31, 2024, the subscription is active for at least 1 year up until December 31, 2025. If activated during the 2024 calendar year, the subscription will be valid for 1 year from the date of activation.
There are no foreign transaction fees, and you’ll have the ability to flexibly redeem your points with transfer partners like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt.
Lastly, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers essential purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and zero fraud liability to round out the main benefits.
Runner-up: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
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.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$95
21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)
As a frequent traveler with excellent credit, you’re always on the lookout for a credit card that comes with all the bells and whistles. And the easier it is to understand, the better!
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Cardis one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great sign-up bonus, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.
Pros
5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
2 complimentary visits to a Capital One Lounge or Plaza Premium Lounges each year
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Capital One transfer partners
Cons
$95 annual fee
Limited elite benefits
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 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 $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase – or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Capital One’s well-known travel rewards credit card, the Capital One Venture card, draws plenty of comparisons to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. But in reality, the 2 cards vary significantly.
The Capital One Venture card is similar to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card in the sense that it also offers a generous welcome offer and a low annual fee. Both cards also have access to transferable rewards, albeit with 2 different rewards systems.
That’s where the similarities end, so let’s get into the Capital One Venture card’s selling points. First of all, the biggest reason why you’d want to have this card is that you don’t need to worry about bonus categories like dining or travel to earn an unlimited 2x Capital One miles on every purchase, every day. Beyond that, earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
That means all of your spending on the Capital One Venture card will consistently return around 3.6% and up to 9%.
Also, this credit card offers an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. So if getting these memberships was on your to-do list, the Capital One Venture card can help you get it for free. Note that this card also offers 2 free visits per year to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges. You’ll also enjoy Hertz Five Star status with this card.
As with almost all of Capital One’s credit cards, this product doesn’t have foreign transaction fees.
You’ll find numerous travel insurance benefits available, including secondary car rental coverage, travel assistance, lost luggage coverage, roadside dispatch, and more.
The extended warranty, purchase security, and zero fraud liability are standard perks that many credit cards have, but are still worth pointing out as benefits.
Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers better bonus categories, transfer partnerships, more value in statement credits, and superior travel perks like primary rental car coverage. The Capital One Venture card offers straightforward rewards earning on all purchases, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $100, and decent travel insurance. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the clear winner in this showdown. Check out our detailed comparison for more insight.
Best Overall Business Credit Card
You could be earning up to 3x points for your small business’s shipping expenses. Image Credit: Sushiman via Shutterstock
Credit cards for small businesses are almost in a different realm compared to consumer credit cards.
This shouldn’t be surprising because a business often spends a lot more money on a lot of other expenses than a consumer probably would.
With business expenses, you may make a lot of purchases on advertising, office supplies, and more.
So in this next section, we’ll show you the 2 best business credit cards available.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash-back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
100,000 points
$2,000
$95
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.
Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.
Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.
Pros
3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
Cell phone protection
Purchase protection
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Rental car insurance
Extended warranty coverage
Cons
No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
The Ink Business Preferred card is colloquially known as the king of business credit cards. And it’s easy to see why: the bonus categories, sign-up bonus, and other perks are top-notch.
The Ink Business Preferred card offers a generous welcome offer, worth upwards of around $2,000! And once you’ve pocketed this bonus, you’ll pivot your focus to the bonus categories (there are many).
You can earn up to 3x Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases made each account anniversary year on the following categories:
Internet, cable, and phone services
Shipping expenses
Travel
Ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
You can also earn 5x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025.
One of the exceptional benefits of this card worth pointing out is its cell phone insurance. If you charge your (and your employees’) cell phone bills to this card, you and your employees are eligible for coverage if you break or damage your cell phone or if it’s stolen.
This insurance covers $1,000 per claim with a $100 deductible and a maximum of 3 claims per 12-month period, meaning up to $2,700 in value every year.
The benefits don’t end there because you get access to superb travel protections (similar to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card), including trip interruption and cancellation insurance, trip delay insurance, baggage insurance, baggage delay protection, travel accident insurance, and primary rental car coverage when renting for business.
There are no foreign transaction fees, and this card affords you purchase protection, extended warranty protection, zero liability, fraud protection, and more.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
$900
$900
$0
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.
If so, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.
Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Pros
1.5% cash-back on all purchases
No annual fee
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Employee cards at no additional cost
Earn flexible rewards
Cons
3% foreign transaction fee
Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
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 purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Specifically, the Ink Business Unlimited card offers a generous welcome offer, which is unusual for a card without an annual fee.
After that, you’ll earn 1.5% cash backon all your purchases which is convertible to Ultimate Rewards points if you have a credit card like the Ink Business Preferred card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Plus, earn 5% cash back on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025.
If you convert your Ultimate Rewards points, your 1.5% or 5% cash-back is equal to 1.5x or 5x Ultimate Rewards points, respectively.
Additionally, you’ll enjoy a 0% introductory APR benefit as shown in the table above that could be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars in saved interest fees.
All employee cards have no additional fees, and you’ll enjoy primary rental car coverage, travel and emergency assistance services, roadside dispatch, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, zero liability fraud protection, and more.
To be clear, the Capital One Spark Miles card has access to transfer partners by itself, while the Ink Business Unlimited card requires an Ultimate Rewards credit card to transfer points to travel partners. Also, the Capital One Spark Miles card has no foreign transaction fees, while the Ink Business Unlimited’s foreign transaction fee is 3%.
But unless you’re planning on making a lot of foreign purchases, the Ink Business Unlimited card is the better choice, even compared to the Capital One Spark Miles card.
So if you’re a frequent traveler and have enough expenses to make the most of the rewards overall, you should be looking for the highest-tier credit card.
You might be charged a larger annual fee up-front, but by making the most of the enhanced bonus categories, you’ll end up ahead in terms of value earned from credit card spending.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 points
$1,200
$550
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-850)
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros
10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit
Priority Pass airport lounge access
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
Rental car elite status with National and Avis
Cons
$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 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
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
The card comes with a sizable welcome offer, but the real selling points come from the accrual structure and the stellar travel benefits. This credit card also comes with $300 annual travel credit (renewed after each card anniversary).
You’ll earn:
10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards (after the $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
5x points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards (after the $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
You’ll get rental car benefits, including elite status with National (Emerald Club Executive Level) and Avis (Preferred), discounts, and more.
But the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers the best travel coverage of any credit card out there, including primary rental car insurance for up to $75,000 for car rentals 31 days or shorter, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay and lost luggage insurance, and roadside assistance.
To round out the major benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and zero fraud liability protection.
Runner-up: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
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.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
22.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-840)
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.
Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.
Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.
Pros
10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Add authorized users for no additional annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Cons
$395 annual fee
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
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 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
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Capital One’s new high-end credit card is the Capital One Venture X card. It currently has an elevated welcome offer and earns up to 10x miles as follows:
10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles on all other purchases
The card has an annual travel credit of $300 on bookings through Capital One Travel, plus an anniversary bonus of 10,000 miles every year, starting on your first anniversary.
Also, cardholders with the Capital One Venture X card enjoy lounge access, including unlimited free visits to Capital One Lounges, and Plaza Premium Lounges, which is a huge plus. Of course, you’re entitled to a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, too. The Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $100 is a given, as well.
Ultimately, you’ll also be entitled to cell phone protection insurance, no foreign transaction fees, up to 4 authorized users for no additional annual fee, and access to insider experiences through Capital One Premier Access.
If you’re looking for the best cash-back credit card, perhaps because you don’t travel all that often or if you just believe “cash is king,” then don’t worry!
In this next section, we’ll identify the best cash-back credit cards that Capital One and Chase offer.
Winner: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
An excellent cash-back card that offers rewards for categories like dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
An excellent cash-back card that offers rewards for categories like dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
$300
$95
20.74%-28.74% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-850)
When it comes to rewards credit cards, you can break up most savvy consumers into 2 camps: those who prefer travel rewards and those who prefer cash-back.
Both options can be very lucrative to you and your wallet, especially if you’re using the right card. For those who fall in the “cash is king” camp, you’ll likely find the Capital One Savor card quite compelling.
Pros
10% cash-back on Uber and Uber Eats
8% cash-back on Capital One Entertainment
5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
4% cash-back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services
3% cash-back at grocery stores
1% cash-back on all other purchases
Complimentary Uber One membership through November 14, 2024
This is strictly a cash-back card, so it features no travel rewards like other cards offer
Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases.
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment.
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.
The Capital One Savor card is one of the most tempting cash-back credit cards out there. While there are many cash-back credit cards that have come and gone, this awesome product offers up to 8% cash-back with no caps.
You’ll start off with a 1-time cash bonus. Then, you will earn according to the following structure:
8% cash-back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
4% cash-back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services
3% cash-back at grocery stores
1% cash-back on all other purchases
Impressively, this credit card has no rewards caps. Other perks include roadside assistance, secondary car rental coverage, roadside assistance, purchase protection, price protection, extended warranty, and zero liability fraud protection.
There are no foreign transaction fees and no authorized user fees.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!
This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back.
Additional 1.5% cash-back
$0
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.
Don’t forget too, there’s 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
Pros
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
1.5% back on all other purchases
No annual fee
Earn big on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Everyday bonus on dining and drugstores
Straightforward cash-back on all other purchases
Ability to pool points
Cons
3% foreign transaction fee
INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
The Freedom Unlimited card is one of the most popular credit cards from Chase. This cash-back credit card easily becomes the runner-up in this category, with the potential to earn you some lucrative rewards.
When you apply for this card, you’ll usually spot a decent welcome offer. Plus, enjoy a 0% introductory APR as detailed in the table above.
As an introductory offer, you’ll earn an additional 1.5% cash-back on everything you buy on up to $20,000 spent in the first year.
This means you’ll earn 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 6.5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025), 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service), and 3% on all other purchases — again, on up to $20,000 spent in the first year.
After your first year or $20,000 spent, you earn 5% cash-back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards, 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025), 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
If you hold this card and an Ultimate Rewards credit card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you can convert your cash-back to Ultimate Rewards points.
Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card
Chase and Capital One compete fiercely for various credit card types, and no-annual-fee credit cards are no exception. Indeed, there’s a very clear winner for the best no-annual-fee credit card.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.
The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
$200
$0
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.
The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.
Pros
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
No annual fee
Excellent cell phone insurance
Ability to pool points
Mastercard World Elite benefits
Cons
3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 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 unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
A new entrant to the credit card scene, the Freedom Flex card is making quite a splash and is our winner for the best no-annual-fee credit card by quite a wide margin.
Why? The card features a great welcome offer, ongoing earning categories up to 5% cash-back, and excellent travel benefits.
This credit card starts with a nice welcome offer for newly-approved cardholders meeting certain requirements within their first 3 months.
Here’s how the Freedom Flex card earns cash back:
5% cash-back on quarterly rotating bonus categories on up to $1,500 in spending (past categories include gas, groceries, warehouse clubs, Amazon, and PayPal)
5% cash-back on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
5% cash-back on purchases made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal
3% cash-back on all dining purchases, including takeout and eligible delivery services
3% cash-back at drugstores
1% cash-back everywhere else
If you pay attention to these quarterly rotating bonus categories or spend a lot of money on travel, dining, or drugstores, you’ll come out way ahead!
If you like ordering food delivery, this card offers a complimentary 3-month subscription to DoorDash DashPass (when activated by December 31, 2024), and the ability to renew it at 50% off for another 9 months after the initial 3-month period.
The Freedom Flex card also has an introductory 0% APR benefit, cell phone protection ($800 per claim and $1,000 per year with a maximum of 2 claims in a 12-month period and a $50 deductible per claim), secondary rental car insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and more.
Runner-up: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
20,000 miles
$360
$0
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, the no-annual-fee version of the more popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.
But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?
Pros
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Ability to use transfer partners
Access to Capital One Dining
Cons
Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
No luxury travel or elite benefits
$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; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
Financial Snapshot
APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Our runner-up credit card is the Capital One VentureOne card because of its simple, straightforward earning structure.
As the no-annual-fee version of the Capital One Venture card, when you consider the benefits you get and the ability to access Capital One Miles without paying an annual fee, you’ll quickly notice that it’s a worthwhile option you should look at.
When you sign up for the card, you can earn a modest welcome offer. You’ll also enjoy a great 0% intro APR perk on purchases.
Beyond that, this card earns an unlimited 1.25x Capital One miles on every purchase, every day. No need to worry about rotating or bonus categories!
The miles you earn never expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem them for travel when you want (with no blackout dates) and fly any airline or stay at any hotel, anytime.
The Capital One VentureOne card offers secondary car rental coverage, lost luggage coverage, roadside assistance, travel assistance services, purchase security, and extended warranty.
This card has no foreign transaction fees and no fees for authorized users.
Final Thoughts
We are huge fans of Capital One and Chase credit cards. Whether you’re looking for cash-back or luxury travel rewards, both of these banks have products that can fit your needs.
In general, Chase focuses on those who want to really maximize rewards, whether it’s with its Ultimate Rewards program or with cash-back on specific categories that may rotate over time.
On the other hand, Capital One loves offering extra miles on all purchases without too many bonus categories. Capital One also focuses on low-annual-fee credit cards and cash-back rewards, but it does have a great transferable rewards program in Capital One Miles.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Enrollment required through Capital One website or mobile app. Upon enrollment, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. 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.
The information regarding the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Featured Image Credit: Andrey_Popov via Shutterstock
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2 credit cards are completely different, but the Freedom card is probably better because you can earn anywhere from 1% to 5% cash-back, whereas the Quicksilver card earns a flat 1.5% cash-back on all purchases. So if you maximize the Freedom card, you’ll come out ahead compared to the Quicksilver card. Plus, with the Freedom card, you have the ability to convert your rewards to Ultimate Rewards points, which will double the value you earn on your purchases.
The Freedom card is no longer available for new applicants, so consider the similar Freedom Flex card instead.
Yes! While Capital One is mostly online, there are many Capital One branch locations in a number of states. You can find physical branches, ATMs, and cafes across the U.S.
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for straightforward cash-back or don’t want to think about bonus categories, you could consider getting a Capital One credit card.
However, if you care about bonus categories such as dining and travel, then Chase credit cards are almost always superior to Capital One credit cards. Also, Chase points are generally more valuable than Capital One miles.
Chase has the most valuable points and the best credit cards to earn rewards for travel. Capital One focuses on low annual fee products and rewards without bonus categories. It depends on what you’re looking for, but we are generally huge fans of Chase credit cards.
Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
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