Best Capital One Credit Cards of April 2024

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.

Which Capital One credit card is right for you?

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.

How to get approved for a Capital One credit card

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. 

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 credit 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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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% intro 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. 

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