Best Capital One Credit Cards of December 2023

Capital One offers a wide range of credit cards, from popular travel rewards cards to everyday cash back cards. With so many options, finding the best card isn't easy. That's why we’ve vetted Capital One's lineup of credit cards to bring you our top picks.

Capital One is making huge strides in the travel rewards space, diversifying its premium card offerings and even opening its own branded airport lounges. Even if you’re not the traveling type, Capital One offers solid credit cards for cash back, businesses, and even credit building. With so many options, it can be hard to choose. This guide explains everything you need to know about the best Capital One credit cards.

You can find a Capital One card designed to meet just about any need, whether you’re looking to rack up travel points, save money on dining, get a credit card for your new business, pay off debt, or even build credit.

Travel rewards credit cards

Capital One’s Venture cards have consistently been ranked as the best travel rewards credit cards on the market for years now. These cards are designed to help you earn rewards that can be applied to travel expenses, helping you potentially save thousands on your dream vacation. They also tend to offer bonus points for travel spending and perks that are particularly useful for frequent travelers.

LEARN MORE: Best travel rewards credit cards

Cash back credit cards

Cash back credit cards instead offer to give you back a percentage of each purchase you make. If you're looking for an unlimited cash back card, Capital One has some great options -- especially for grocery, entertainment, and travel expenses.

Flat rate cash back credit cards offer the same flat rate back on purchases -- usually 1.5% or 2% -- regardless of category. Other Capital One cash back cards have bonus categories that offer a higher percentage back -- such as 3% cash back on travel purchases or 4% cash back on dining and entertainment -- but only offer 1% back on other purchases.

LEARN MORE: Best cash back credit cards

Secured credit cards

Secured credit cards are specifically designed to help people with low credit scores or no credit history build credit. Typically, just about anyone can qualify for them. These credit cards require a refundable cash deposit, which "secures" the credit card. Unlike some cards, Capital One's secured credit cards can help you build credit without requiring an oversized security deposit or hefty annual fee.?

LEARN MORE: Best secured credit cards

Business credit cards

Business credit cards are a great way to separate your personal and business finances. Capital One even offers an entry-level business card ideal for owners with fair personal credit. Unlike most other issuers, Capital One reports business credit card activity to both commercial and consumer credit bureaus, so keep this in mind when considering its business cards.

LEARN MORE: Best business credit cards

0% intro APR credit cards

A few of Capital One's credit cards come with introductory 0% intro APR offers. These interest rate deals give you an effective 0% APR on new purchases for a set period. Some deals also apply to balance transfers (just watch out for balance transfer fees).

Having a 0% intro APR on new purchases can be useful, but do your best to pay it off before the regular APR kicks in. Any balance left at the end of the intro offer will start to accrue interest at the go-to APR.?

LEARN MORE: Best 0% intro APR credit cards

Getting approved for a Capital One card isn't difficult if you pick the right card. And that has a lot to do with your credit score.?

Most Capital One credit cards require a good to excellent credit score, which translates to a FICO? Score of at least 670. If you need to build your credit, you should look at its student or secured cards, which will be easier to get.?

LEARN MORE: FICO? Score Guide

Once you choose a card, you can apply easily online. Most applicants will get a decision within minutes, though occasionally Capital One will need more information. That can take a few days, and you may need to call Capital One to provide additional details.

Application restrictions

You can only get approved for one new Capital One credit card every six months. So, if you've recently opened an account, you may need to wait. Additionally, Capital One typically limits cardholders to two personal Capital One credit cards at a time. (Business and cobranded cards are said to be excluded from this limit.)

It’s also worth noting that Capital One will pull your credit report from all three bureaus when you apply for a credit card. If you regularly freeze your credit reports, be sure to unlock all three reports before applying for a new Capital One card.

LEARN MORE: The 3 Credit Bureaus

Some Capital One rewards credit cards offer cash back rewards, which are the simplest to use. Capital One's travel credit cards earn more flexible rewards points, called Venture Miles. These can be redeemed for free travel in a few different ways.

Cash back via statement credit or check

Cash back earned with a Capital One rewards card can be redeemed as statement credit toward your card balance. You can also request a check in the mail. Your cash back rewards are worth $0.01 each when redeemed this way.

Similar to their regular cash back rewards, Venture Miles can be redeemed for a general statement credit or a check. Unlike regular cash back, however, your Venture Miles are only worth $0.005 each when you redeem them this way -- with one exception: travel.

For retailer gift cards

You can redeem your cash back or your Venture Miles for gift cards from popular retailers. The value you get will typically range from $0.008 to $0.01 per point, depending on the specific gift card.

Statement credit to cover travel purchases

You can get twice the value ($0.01 per point) out of your Venture Miles by using them for statement credit toward travel-related purchases you've already made with your card. This includes the usual expenses, such as airfare and hotels, as well as travel-related expenses like taxis and travel agents.

Booking travel through Capital One Travel

Capital One has its own travel booking portal where you can book flights, hotels, and rental cars. You can use your Venture Miles as currency through the travel portal. You'll get the same $0.01 per point rate you would using your miles for travel credit.

While this method may seem convenient, consider the opportunity cost. You’ll receive the same $0.01 per Venture Mile value in the travel portal as you would if you used your rewards to "erase" the travel purchases after the fact.?

However, if you use your Capital One card to make the booking directly with your travel providers, you'll earn Venture Miles on the purchases (and get whatever extra benefits you receive by booking directly). Then, you can "erase" those purchases with your Miles after the charges post. This way, you earn extra rewards on your purchase you wouldn't have earned by using Venture Miles to pay in the first place.

Transferring to a partner hotel or airline program?

You can turn your Venture Miles into airline frequent flyer points or hotel loyalty points by transferring them to a partner airline or hotel brand. Transfers are at a 1:1 rate, unless otherwise noted. Eligible partners include:?

• Aeromexico Club Premier
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• Asia Miles
• ALL Accor Live Limitless (2:1)
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Choice Privileges
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• EVA Air Infinity MileageLands (2:1.5)
• Finnair Plus
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• TAP Portugal Miles&Go
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Virgin Red

The value you get from your miles with this redemption method will then depend on how you use them in your loyalty account. An international business class flight, for instance, could easily generate $0.03 per point or more in value.

Capital One's Venture Miles can have a range of values depending on how they're redeemed:

• As cash back statement credit (non-travel): $0.005 per Venture Mile
• As statement credit to cover travel purchases: $0.01 per Venture Mile
• To book travel via Capital One Travel: $0.01 per Venture Mile
• Transferred to a hotel or airline partner: $0.01 to $0.03+ per Venture Mile

Redeeming Capital One Venture Miles is fairly straightforward once you know how you want to use them.

How to redeem Venture Miles for travel credit

The Capital One Travel Eraser allows you to use your miles to “erase” a travel purchase you’ve made in the last 90 days. Here's how to do it:

1. Log into your account
2. Select the card with the Venture Miles you want to use
3. Click "View Rewards"
4. On the Rewards page, click "Cover travel purchases"
5. Select the eligible purchases you want to use Venture Miles on
6. Decide how many points to use, then submit the request

You get $0.01 per point with this method. For example, let’s say you recently stayed in a hotel and your final bill was $678. You charged it to your Capital One credit card, and you have 50,000 miles in your account. You can apply those 50,000 miles to your $678 hotel charge, and it will be reduced by $500.

How to redeem Venture Miles in the travel portal

You can also use your points to book travel through the Capital One Travel portal. Simply sign into your Capital One Travel account (capitalonetravel.com) and plan your itinerary. When you're ready to book, you'll see the option to use your Venture Miles to cover all or part of your booking costs.?

How to transfer Venture Miles

The very best value for your Venture Miles will probably be from transferring them to a partner hotel or airline program. From there, you can use your rewards to book free flights or hotel stays. Here's how:

1. Log into your account
2. Select the card with the Venture Miles you want to use
3. Click "View Rewards"
4. On the Rewards page, click "Convert rewards"
5. Choose the partner program you want to transfer to and select "Transfer Miles"
6. Enter your loyalty program number
7. Select how many Venture Miles you want to transfer (minimum 1,000)
8. Complete your transfer

A lot of transfers will happen nearly instantly. Others may take a few days.

Be sure you take note of the transfer rate. Most Capital One partners transfer at a 1:1 rate, meaning you'll get one airline mile (or hotel point) per Venture Mile. However, some have lower rates, so double check before submitting your transfer.

Transfers are one-way transactions. Once you complete a transfer, you can't move your Venture Miles back.?

It’s important to select a credit card that will maximize your rewards while minimizing your fees. To do that, you’ll need to consider your credit score, spending habits, rewards preferences, and financial goals.

If you have poor or fair credit

You should consider the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card or the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card.

If you want to maximize your travel rewards

You should consider the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card if you like airport lounges and travel frequently. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is good for travelers who'd rather not pay a big annual fee. And the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is best if you only travel a couple times per year or less.

If you want a flat-rate cash back credit card

You should consider the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.?

If you’re looking for a business credit card

You should consider the Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select if you want cash back and no fee. The Capital One Venture X Business Credit Card is good for frequent business travelers. And the Capital One Spark 1.5X Miles Select is a no-fee option for sporadic travelers.

If you spend a lot on dining or entertainment

You should consider the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card if you spend a lot on eating out, or the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card if you’d prefer to avoid an annual fee.

In the end, choosing a credit card that’s right for you isn’t just about the rewards. It’s about the fees and perks, as well. Balance all of a card's features with its annual fee to ensure you're getting the most out of your credit cards.