Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Unlimited 1.5% Cash Back
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a solid beginner card if you have good / excellent credit and want simple cash back on every purchase — but there are other no-annual-fee cards with higher cash back rates.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Good starter credit card
- Simple cash back rewards on every purchase
- $0 annual fee
- Low spend for sign-up bonus
- Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Useful travel benefits and consumer protections
- Foreign transaction fee: None
Cons
- Low cash-back rate
- Balance transfer fee applies
Is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card a good card?
Rewards cards don't get much simpler than the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. It's a great starter credit card that has no annual fee and earns flat-rate cash back on every purchase. You can even use Capital One's preapproval tool to decide whether or not you should apply.
The card lets you earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Plus, there’s a generous sign-up bonus with a low spend requirement and an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Still, its rewards are a bit underwhelming. There are many other cards that offer 2% cash rewards on purchases, including the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card — unless you're worried about approval odds, you may be better off with these cards.
Quick facts
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | |
|---|---|
| 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
| Good / Excellent |
| Rewards Rate | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| Welcome offer | Earn $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening |
Rates |
|
| Intro purchase APR | 0% intro on purchases for 15 months |
| Regular purchase APR | 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable) |
| Intro balance transfer APR | 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months (Balance transfer fee applies) |
| Regular balance transfer APR | 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable) |
| Regular cash advance APR | 28.49% (Variable) |
| Penalty APR | None |
Fees |
|
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Balance transfer fee | Balance transfer fee applies |
| Cash advance fee | 28.49% (Variable) |
| Foreign exchange fee | None |
| Late fee | Up to $40 |
Other benefits |
|
|
|
Compare the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card to similar cards
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | Citi Double Cash® Card | Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card The information related to the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards? Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. | |||
| 4.4/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Annual Fee | |||
| Annual fee: $0 | Annual fee: $0 | Annual fee: $0 | Annual fee: $0 |
| Rewards Rate | |||
1.5% - 5% Cash Back
| 1% - 8% cash back
| 2% - 5% cash back
| 2% cash rewards on purchases |
| Welcome Offer | |||
| Welcome offer: $200 Cash Back Earn $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | Welcome offer: $200 Cash Back Earn $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | Welcome offer: $200 cash back Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | Welcome offer: $200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months |
| Recommended Credit | |||
Good / Excellent | Good / Excellent | Good / Excellent | Good / Excellent |
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card benefits
Good starter credit card
If you are applying for your first credit card and you’re concerned about your approval odds with issuers like Chase, you may find that Capital One is very beginner-friendly. According to LendingTree data, 48% of Capital One credit cards were issued to people with credit scores under 600, which is within the fair credit range. That's more than double the average of the other 10 banks and credit unions that were included in the study.
New credit cards issued by Capital One by credit score range
[table “13923” not found /]Cardholders report on Reddit that they were able to get Capital One credit cards as college students or with no preexisting credit history.
Simple cash back rewards
If you want a simple approach to earning rewards, you’ll be happy to know that this card doesn’t have rotating categories or spending caps to keep track of. Instead, you’ll earn 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Cash back rewards never expire and can be used to cover a recent purchase or redeemed in a variety of ways, including for statement credits, gift cards, on Amazon or with PayPal.
$0 annual fee
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card doesn't have an annual fee, so you can keep hundreds of dollars in your pocket that could be better spent on paying down debt or saving up for your next home. While many no-annual-fee cards skimp on the perks, this one is generous with the sign-up bonus, cash back, intro APR and protections that it offers.
See our top picks for credit cards with no annual fee
Low spend for sign-up bonus
With the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. The average credit card sign-up bonus in a recent LendingTree study was $161 — making this a competitive bonus for a $0-annual-fee card.
Plus, the card only requires you to spend approximately $167 per month for three months to earn that sign-up bonus.
Don't confuse the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card with the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card — it has the same rewards rate but doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus and comes with a $39 annual fee.
Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
If you need to finance a large purchase or transfer a balance, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an intro APR for more than a year.
[table “13606” not found /]No foreign transaction fee
You won’t be charged additional fees when you use the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card outside of the U.S. In comparison, many cards charge fees ranging from 3% to 5% on purchases abroad. You could save $30 to $50 for every $1,000 you spend on an international trip.
Find more credit cards with no foreign transaction fee
Travel benefits and consumer protections
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card comes with several additional perks that offer added protection, or save time or money.
- Hertz Five® Star status lets you skip the counter at select locations, choose from a larger selection of rentals and get a free status upgrade.
- Capital One Travel gives you access to the best prices on trips and offers flexibility to pay with your rewards.
- Travel accident insurance gives you automatic coverage when you use your card to purchase your fare.
- 24-hour travel assistance helps you get an emergency replacement and a cash advance if your credit card is lost or stolen.
- $0 fraud liability releases you of responsibility for unauthorized charges if your card is lost or stolen.
- Card lock lets you easily lock and unlock your card if it's lost or stolen.
- Capital One Dining lets you make reservations at award-winning restaurants and curated culinary events.
- Capital One Entertainment gives you access to music, sports, theater and dining experiences.
- Extended warranty protection gives you additional warranty protection on eligible items that you purchase with your card.
- Mobile app lets you check your balance, make payments, create purchase notifications, access Capital One offers and even request a credit limit increase or card upgrade.
Why it's in my wallet
"The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card was my second credit card, and I loved that it gave me flat-rate cash back at a slightly higher rate than my Discover credit card that I got in college. I used it as a catch-all card until recently, when I upgraded my Capital One card to a Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, which now lets me earn more when we dine out or go to the movies."
LendingTree staff writer
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card drawbacks
Low cash back rewards rate
Although this card offers an elevated rewards rate on every purchase, there are cards available that offer an even higher cash back rate on general purchases, like the Citi Double Cash® Card or Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.
[table “13607” not found /]If you're using your credit card for $20,000 in annual spending, the above table shows that you could get up to $140 more by using a card with a higher cash back value.
Note, however, that since the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earn different amounts of cash back for different purchases, your actual numbers may be different depending on your spending habits.
Balance transfer fee
If you transfer a balance to the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, a balance transfer fee applies. While balance transfer fees are common and can be offset by the savings of not paying interest, you should know that there are credit cards with no balance transfer fees.
The drawback is that no-fee balance transfer cards usually have shorter 0% intro periods. Plus, they’re often issued by credit unions, with some open nationwide and others limited by location or employer.
Compare it to other Quicksilver cards
Capital One has several cards in the Quicksilver family, and each one is best suited for a different demographic. Here's an overview of how the cards compare to one another by key features.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card | Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards? Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. | |||
| 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Annual Fee | |||
| Annual fee: $0 | Annual fee: $39 | Annual fee: $0 | Annual fee: $0 |
| Rewards Rate | |||
1.5% - 5% Cash Back
| 1.5% - 5% Cash Back
| 1.5% - 5% Cash Back
| 1.5% - 5% Cash Back
|
| Regular Purchase APR | |||
| Regular purchase APR: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable) | Regular purchase APR: 28.99% (Variable) | Regular purchase APR: 28.99% (Variable) | Regular purchase APR: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable) |
| Recommended Credit | |||
Good / Excellent | Limited / Fair | Limited / Poor | Limited / Fair |
Alternate cash back cards
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a better overall cash back credit card, thanks to its higher rewards rate on groceries, dining and entertainment.
You can 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, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases.
It offers many of the same benefits as the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, including a sign-up bonus that lets new cardholders earn $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
If you want a higher-earning flat-rate card with an even longer interest-free period on balance transfers, the Citi Double Cash® Card may be a better choice. You’ll get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on Balance Transfers. After that, a 17.49% - 27.49% (Variable) APR applies.
You'll also earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
Unfortunately, though, there’s no intro APR for regular purchases, so it wouldn’t be a good choice for financing a new purchase.
Rewards are earned as Citi ThankYou® Points — they can be redeemed for a wide variety of options, including cash back, statement credits and travel.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is another card that offers a higher cash rewards rate than the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and is good if you want a simple cash back card. It lets you earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. without any earning restrictions, unlike the Citi Double Cash® Card.
You'll get introductory APR offers on both purchases and balance transfers as well. However, the term is shorter than the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card — so if you need to finance a purchase or pay off debt, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card would be better for you.
You can pair the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card with a category card to earn more than the standard 1% on non-category purchases. For example, you could use the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card to earn elevated rewards on entertainment and food purchases and charge everything else to the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. This way, you'll earn at least 1.5% cash back on all your purchases.
Is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card right for you?
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good choice for some. It may be right for you if you are:
- An everyday spender who wants simple cash back
- A student transitioning to their first unsecured credit card
- A consumer who wants a flat-rate, catch-all card
- A frequent traveler who wants a backup card
If maximizing cash back with a card that gives the highest amount of cash rewards, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card or Citi Double Cash® Card.
How we rate cash back cards
We take a comprehensive, data-driven approach to identify the best cash back credit cards. We use an objective rating and ranking system that evaluates over 200 credit cards from more than 50 issuers. All recommendations are made by LendingTree’s editorial team, completely independent of affiliate partnerships or compensation. Every card is selected based on its merit and ability to help people achieve their financial goals. We use the following criteria to make our picks:
We calculate the cash back earned for the average cardholder using Bureau of Labor Statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes sign-up and annual bonuses. We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
We consider how easy the rewards are to use, looking at factors like expiration dates and minimum thresholds to redeem.
We also compare a card’s benefits, such as purchase and travel protections, against benefits from other cards.
Frequently asked questions
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is recommended for good / excellent credit. You can use the preapproval tool on the Capital One website or see if you're matched through LendingTree's Treequal tool.
Starting credit limits for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card can vary drastically from $300 to $10,000, according to cardholder reports. However, requesting a credit limit increase on your Capital One credit card is simple and quick.
The grace period is at least 21 days, as long as your previous month's statement balance was paid. You can check your credit card statement through your online account or the mobile app for more information on your card's grace period.
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