This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.
The best Capital One cards provide an impressive array of rewards for both travel and everyday expenses. Additionally, these cards are often convenient to own due to their low or nonexistent annual fees and the simplicity of earning rewards in various categories.
One of the best Capital One cards is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. This card earns up to 10x miles, has airport lounge access, a fee credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, 10,000 bonus miles on your card anniversary, and more. Plus, new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles when they spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel, with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. It’s the premium version of the 75,000 bonus miles: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card basically.
Plus, did you know that none of the Capital One credit cards have a foreign transaction fee? These cards are not only great for international travel, but they also come with exclusive and valuable perks, like lounge access.
Let’s narrow down the best Capital One credit cards.
![best capital one cards](jpg/london-england-april-2016-024.jpg)
Best Capital One Credit Cards for Travel in 2023
- Best Capital One travel credit card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Premium Capital One reward card: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Lifestyle rewards: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Cash rewards: The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Business and Travel rewards: Capital One Spark Miles for Business
You will qualify for the best travel credit cards from Capital One if you have “excellent credit.” Capital One defines excellent credit as never declaring bankruptcy, not being at least 60 days late on any credit account in the past year, and having a loan or credit card with a minimum $5,000 limit for at least 5 years.
Your approval odds are best when you have a minimum 740 credit score, but others report getting approved with a low 700s credit score albeit with a lower credit limit. If you don’t have excellent credit yet, Capital One offers other instant approval credit cards, some of which don’t charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fee.
Best Capital One Travel Card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is Capital One’s flagship miles credit card. You earn 2x miles on every purchase. However, earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Let’s talk about that. Earning at least 2x miles on everything is an easy way to earn rewards. No matter what you get, you’ll earn double rewards, whether that is when you’re traveling or when you’re at home.
You can read more about this in our Capital One Venture Rewards review.
Redemption Options
Your point redemption options include travel statement credits and booking award travel. You will have a lot of flexibility when redeeming your points for travel statement credits due to no redemption minimum and being able to book award travel without blackout dates.
Cardholders can redeem miles via Capital One transfer partners including Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Air France/KLM as well as ALL and Wyndham Rewards hotels.
Most of the transfer partners have 2x Venture miles to 1.5 airline miles, which isn’t the best transfer ratio compared to Chase or American Express, but it can be a better redemption option when booking international flights.
Another travel benefit you might enjoy includes a fee credit of up to $100 for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application.
Signup Bonus Offer
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, with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
This is one of the best credit card offers.
Premium Rewards: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
If you want a premium travel card, this is for you. It comes with several premium perks that can help cardholders quickly earn rewards. For starters, with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, all purchases earn at least 2x miles per $1 spent. However, cardholders booking hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel earn 10x miles while flights booked through Capital One Travel earn 5x miles.
Additionally, cardholders can receive $300 back annually for bookings through Capital One Travel. Other airport perks include unlimited access to all-inclusive amenities at the Capital One Lounge and at over a thousand Priority Pass lounges worldwide.
Plus, get up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
This is one of the best credit cards for international travel.
Capital One Venture X Signup Bonus Offer
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, with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
You can use your miles for travel, including flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. Alternatively, you can transfer your miles to your choice of several travel loyalty programs.
The annual fee is $395, which is much lower than other competing premium travel credit cards.
Lifestyle Rewards: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
The information for the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
A newer trend for rewards credit cards is earning bonus points on lifestyle purchases. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited tiered rewards on the following purchases:
- 4% back on dining, entertainment, and select popular streaming services
- 3% back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
- 1% back on all non-bonus purchases
New card members can earn a $300 bonus cash after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. There is a $95 annual fee.
Cash Rewards: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
For flat-rate cash rewards, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the best cash back credit card options available. You earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on each purchase. However, earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. This is the standard rate for the best cash back credit cards. What helps distinguish the Quicksilver from other no-annual-fee credit cards is you won’t pay a foreign transaction fee.
New cardholders can earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Capital One lets you redeem your cash rewards in any award amount.
It’s possible to get more value from the Capital One Venture if you travel on a regular basis. But if you prefer the flexibility of cash rewards or want to avoid paying an annual fee, the Quicksilver makes it easy to maximize your spending power.
Learn more: Cash Back Credit Cards
Best Capital One Card for Building Credit: Capital One Platinum Credit Card
When you have a low credit score, it can seem like most cards charge an annual fee. The Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn’t.
Although you won’t earn purchase rewards by owning the Capital One Platinum, it’s a free way to build credit by paying your balance in full every month.
If you have “average credit” with a credit score in the 600s or less than 3 years of credit history, you can pursue the unsecured Capital One Platinum. With an unsecured card, you won’t have a security deposit that secured credit cards require. In as little as 6 months, Capital One will review your account and consider increasing your credit line. This can make it easier to improve your credit score by reducing your credit utilization ratio.
Cardholders can also enjoy perks like fraud coverage if the card is lost or stolen, online and mobile banking, 24/7 account access, and contactless card technology.
Learn more: Credit Cards for Fair Credit
Best for Bad Credit: The Secured Mastercard from Capital One
When you have no credit, need to rebuild your credit, or have a credit score below 600, the Secured Mastercard® from Capital One is a better fit.
This version of the Platinum Mastercard requires access to an authorized bank to make a refundable security deposit of $49, $99, and $200. If you can make the minimum required security deposit, you will get you an initial $200 credit line. If you can deposit more money before your account opens, you’ll get a higher credit line.
In as little as 6 months of timely payments, Capital One will consider increasing your credit line with no additional deposit needed. Capital One will monitor the account, so doing things like making on-time payments may earn you back your deposit as a statement credit. And unlike a prepaid card, Capital One regularly reports to the 3 major credit bureaus. Plus, you can easily keep track of your account 24/7 by using their mobile app.
Learn more: Credit Cards for Bad Credit
Best Capital One Card for Business: Spark Business Cards Lineup
If you’re in the market for a small business credit card, the Spark Business lineup lets you earn up to 2x miles per $1 spent. You will need to decide whether you want to earn travel rewards (Spark Miles) or cash rewards (Spark Cash).
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business has similar travel redemption options as the personal Venture Miles card for travel statement credits, award flights, and point transfers. You’ll also receive up to $100 credit to use towards one Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.
If you don’t want to pay an annual fee, you can get the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business or Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business.
Related: How to Share Capital One Miles With Another Account
Capital One Spark Cash for Business
The information for the Capital One Spark Cash for Business has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
With the Capital One Spark Cash for Business, your rewards won’t expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem your cash back for any amount. Cardholders earn an unlimited 2% cash back for their business on every purchase, everywhere, with no limits or category restrictions. Employee cards are free and also earn unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. There are no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee for the first year; $95 after that.
New cardholders can earn a one-time $500 cash bonus once they spend $4,500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
The best Capital One card that earns miles is the Capital One Spark Miles for Business. Cardholders earn an unlimited 2x miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, with no limits or category restrictions. Cardholders that book through Capital One Travel earn 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings. Miles can also be transferred to 10+ travel partners and miles won’t expire for the life of the account.
Cardholders can redeem miles instantly for travel-related purchases. They also get a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee statement credit, up to $100. Employee cards are free and also earn 2x miles on purchases.
The introductory annual fee is $0 during the first year then $95 each following year.
New cardholders can earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once they spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Learn more: Business Credit Cards
Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business
The Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, with no limits or category restrictions.
There are free employee cards available, which also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Rewards don’t expire and can be redeemed for cash back for any amount.
There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fee. There is also $0 fraud liability if the card gets lost or is stolen.
New cardholders earn a one-time $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
The information for the Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The best Capital One card that earns miles but doesn’t have an annual fee is the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business. Cardholders earn an unlimited 1.5x miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, with no limits or category restrictions. Miles won’t expire for the life of the account.
If they use their card to book a hotel and rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal, they’ll earn 5x miles per $1 spent. They can also transfer miles to Capital One’s transfer partners.
Miles can be redeemed for travel-related purchases like hotels, flights, and even ride-shares. Employee cards are free and also earn an unlimited 1.5x miles on purchases.
New cardholders can earn a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles – equal to $200 in travel – once they spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Capital One Spark Classic for Business
The information for the Capital One Spark Classic for Business has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Even if you only have average credit, the Capital One Spark Classic for Business lets you earn 1% cash back for your business on every purchase, with no limits or restrictions, and doesn’t charge an annual fee. There are also free employee cards that earn an unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases. Rewards don’t expire and can be redeemed for any amount.
This can be a great card to build business credit. Plus, you can develop a relationship with Capital One so you may eventually upgrade your card.
Like the personal Capital One credit cards, none of the Spark business credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee.
Summary of Best Capital One Credit Cards
In conclusion, the best Capital One cards can be a great fit if you prefer flat-rate rewards that don’t have spending categories to activate. Plus, you never have to worry about paying a foreign transaction fee. However, before applying, you will need to decide if you want to receive travel rewards or cash rewards. After that, you can effortlessly earn and redeem rewards by using your card on your daily spending.
Related Articles:
Thanks for the tips. Sheds a bit of light on me. Keep it up.