Introduction to the Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card
The Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card does double-duty as one of the best cash back credit cards around that's also one of our top picks for a no-annual-fee credit card.
Capital One Quicksilver Overview
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the easiest cards to use because you don't have to worry about tracking bonus reward categories.
What is the Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card?
This card's key features and benefits include its simple rewards scheme and lack of annual fee.
There are four main types of cash-back credit cards, and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card falls into the flat-rate rewards category. This means you earn the same amount of cash back — 1.5% in this case — on most purchases.
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 5% cash back on one specific bonus category: hotel and car rental bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal. You'll also get a handful of travel and shopping benefits, including no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
Capital One Quicksilver Rewards
Welcome Offer
New cardholders can earn a generous welcome offer: one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within three months of account opening.
Earning Rewards With the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards
You'll earn a straightforward 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus 5% back on hotel and car rental bookings through Capital One Travel.
How to Redeem Rewards From the Quicksilver Cash Rewards
You can redeem your rewards from the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card for a check in the mail or a statement credit. It's also possible to redeem rewards for gift cards, and your rewards will never expire as long as your account is open.
Comparison with Other Cash Back Cards
Unlike some other cash-back credit cards, there's no minimum redemption amount with the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. You can also set up automatic redemptions, either at a set time each calendar year or when your rewards reach certain thresholds: $25, $50, $100, $200, $500, or $1,500.
Capital One Quicksilver Key Benefits and Features
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card doesn't come with a ton of benefits, but there are a handful that could save you money if you make use of them.
Introductory 0% APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers
One of the biggest benefits of the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is the 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (3% fee for the first 15 months, then 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time), then 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR.
The card's zero-interest introductory period makes it easy to pay off big purchases over time without incurring huge interest charges. Just be sure you set aside money to pay off your balance before the introductory APR period expires. And check out our list of the best balance transfer credit cards for more options.
Extended warranty
When you use your Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card to pay for eligible items that come with a manufacturer's warranty, Capital One will provide extended warranty protection at no charge.
Travel Accident Insurance
When you use your Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card to purchase the fare for your trip, you'll be eligible for automatic travel accident insurance for covered losses.
24-hour Travel Assistance Service
If you're traveling and your card is lost or stolen, you can get an emergency replacement, as well as a cash advance, to help you on your way.
Concierge Service
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card cardholders can access a concierge service 24 hours a day to help with things like dining reservations, event tickets, and travel bookings. The concierge service itself is free, but any third-party costs are your responsibility.
Event Access
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card gets you access to VIP experiences like curated dinners and chef collaborations, discounts, and on-site perks at sports and concert events. To take advantage of this benefit, you'll need to use your card to purchase your tickets.
Account and Security Alerts
Cardholders receive alerts via text, email, or phone call if Capital One detects suspicious transactions or unexpected charges on the card, and can help you quickly unauthorized card use.
$0 Fraud Liability for Unauthorized Charges
If your card is lost or stolen, you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made to your account.
Virtual Card Numbers
If you want to pay for purchases online without revealing your actual card number, you can generate a virtual card number for more security.
Card Lock
Cardholders can easily and instantly lock their account if their card is lost, stolen, or temporarily misplaced to prevent unauthorized charges.
Credit Report Alerts
You can receive alerts when information on your Experian or TransUnion credit report changes, like new account inquiries, credit score updates, or address changes.
Capital One Quicksilver Fees
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card does not charge an annual fee and doesn't add foreign transaction fees, so it's a good pick to use for travel abroad.
As with most cards, there may be fees for late payments, balance transfers (3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time), and cash advances.
Capital One Quicksilver Comparison
There are other cash-back cards that offer a similar intro bonus and potentially greater rewards on everyday spending, if you're willing to keep track of bonus categories. They may also offer a higher rate of cash back, but with some/ tradeoffs, such as foregoing a welcome bonus offer or keeping track of bonus categories that earn more rewards.
For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex® earn up to 5% back in certain categories, so depending on your spending habits, one of these cards could be a better fit for you.
And if you're looking for a no-annual-fee card that has a higher rate of return on purchases, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is hard to beat. You'll earn 2% cash rewards on purchases with no limit to what you can earn, along with a welcome bonus of $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening.
If you want to stay in the Capital One ecosystem, we have a full comparison of the Capital One Quicksilver versus the Capital One Platinum. However, note that the Platinum card does not earn cash back, and is best suited for people who are prioritizing building credit.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a $0 annual fee, just like the $0-annual-fee Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns rewards at the following rates:
- 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% cash back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases
- 1.5% cash back (1.5x points) on everything else
In contrast, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card only earns 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, then 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
New Chase Freedom Unlimited® cardholders can earn a good welcome bonus: $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. They can also take advantage of a 0% intro APR period: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 18.99% - 28.49% Variable APR.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® does charge foreign transaction fees though, so this card isn't one to take on international trips.
Soft benefits include:
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty
- Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise)
- Trip interruption/cancellation insurance
- Travel and emergency assistance services
Read more in our Chase Freedom Unlimited card review.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers one of the simplest earning structures across any credit card, earning a flat rate of 2% cash rewards on purchases.
New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. They can also utilize a zero-interest period: 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 12 months from account opening, then a 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR.
Additional benefits include:
- Cell phone protection
- Visa Signature® Concierge
- Roadside dispatch
- Travel and emergency assistance services
- Emergency cash disbursement and card replacement
- Access to the Visa Signature Hotel Collection
Read more in our Wells Fargo Active Cash card review.
Capital One Quicksilver Card Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main benefits of the Capital One Quicksilver Credit Card?
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns unlimited 1.5% cash back with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. The card also has an initial sign-up bonus of one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within three months of account opening. Additional benefits include fraud coverage, extended warranty on eligible purchases, and travel accident insurance.
How does the Capital One Quicksilver Credit Card compare to other cash back cards?
Many no-annual-fee credit cards on the market match the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card's 1.5% flat-rate reward earning rate. If you want to earn a little bit more per dollar spent, consider an option from our list of the best 2% cash back credit cards, many without annual fees as well. If you don't mind a little extra work in return for higher rewards, the best 5% cash back credit cards earn bonus returns on specific categories of spend.
Are there any downsides to the Capital One Quicksilver Credit Card?
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card doesn't have an annual fee, so some of its benefits are limited compared against premium credit cards with annual fees. Some other credit cards also offer higher cash-back rates in specific categories such as groceries or travel, which may be more beneficial for those with focused spending habits.
How can I maximize the benefits of the Capital One Quicksilver Credit Card?
To maximize benefits, pay for all expenses with your Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card to earn the unlimited 1.5% cash back. Pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges. Take advantage of the welcome offer by meeting the minimum spending requirement within the first few months, and utilize your card benefits whenever applicable.
What is the current introductory offer for the Capital One Quicksilver Credit Card?
The current welcome offer or sign-up bonus on Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within three months of account opening.
Is the Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card worth it?
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is worth it for earning 1.5% cash back on most purchases with no annual fee, or if you frequently spend on car rentals or hotels and you don't mind booking through Capital One Travel. However, there are other cash-back credit cards that earn more rewards, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited or the Chase Freedom Flex, so explore all your options before applying.
What credit score do you need to qualify for the Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card?
Most applicants who qualify for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card have a good to excellent credit score (FICO score of at least 670).
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Capital One Quicksilver Card
We rate credit cards by weighing five factors equally, and comparing them against other, similar credit cards currently available:
- Welcome bonus offer
- Annual fee
- Rewards rates
- Using rewards
- Benefits
Read more about how we rate credit cards at Business Insider.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
**Enrollment required.
***Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details. Travel Accident Insurance is not guaranteed, it depends on the level of benefits you get at application.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
