Capital One Savor card basics
| Card type | Cash Back |
| Card issuer | Capital One |
| Credit card network | Mastercard |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Early spend bonus | Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening |
| Reward rate | 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 5% back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; and 1% cash back on all other purchases |
| Recommended credit score | Excellent, Good |
| Intro APR | 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, then 18.49% - 28.49% (variable) APR
0% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers, then 18.49% - 28.49% (variable) APR; Balance transfer fee applies |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
Is Capital One Savor a good card for me?
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees) is an impressive cash back card with unique earning rates that will be a good match for a lot of people, particularly if you tend to spend a lot on food and groceries. It's an incredibly low-maintenance card with cash back categories that make sense all year.
We'd most recommend the Capital One Savor to you if:
- You tend to have high grocery bills (or just lack a card with this as a bonus category in your arsenal).
- You like to eat at restaurants and order takeout.
- You're open to booking travel through Capital One.
- You often splurge on entertainment, concerts, and sporting events.
If even just two of these things are true, this no-annual-fee card could be worth considering. Many credit card aficionados consider the Capital One Savor to be a must for long-term cash back earning because of the valuable coverage it offers for food- and entertainment-related spending, with the added bonus of boosted rates on Capital One Travel purchases and no foreign transaction fees.
Capital One Savor card benefits
Unique bonus categories that stay the same without earning caps
It's fairly unusual for a cash back card like the Capital One Savor, without an annual fee, to offer high cash back rates on so many bonus categories without capping how much you can earn. Other cards earn boosted cash back on grocery spending, for example, but often have restrictions on how much you can earn each quarter or year. It's also common for the highest-earning categories to change or at least require activation.
Take the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, for example. It earns 3% on U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on eligible purchases in each category, then 1%), whereas the Capital One Savor earns 3% on grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services without a cap.
Solid early-spend offer
Many credit cards offer a welcome offer within a few months of opening an account if you meet certain requirements, and this card is no exception. With the Capital One Savor, you could earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
That's an achievable bonus and comparable to other cards. For example, the Chase Freedom Flex® has a welcome offer where you can earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Intro APR periods
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees) provides these 0% intro APR offers.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, then 18.49% - 28.49% (variable) APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers, then 18.49% - 28.49% (variable) APR. A balance transfer fee applies.
Intro APR offers could be valuable for multiple reasons. You might consider an intro APR offer on purchases if you have upcoming large expenses that you want to pay for over time. For intro APR offers on balance transfers, you might want to turn high-interest debt into no-interest debt for a certain amount of time.
There are cards with significantly longer intro APR periods available on balance transfers, though. The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, then 17.49%, 23.99%, or 28.24% Variable. There's a balance transfer fee of 5%, min: $5.
That said, most balance transfer cards like the Reflect don't have ongoing rewards, so if you're confident you can get your purchase or balance transfer paid off within the intro period, it could be the best of both worlds if you go with the Savor card. You can manage a purchase or balance transfer and then enjoy ongoing rewards.
Earning & redeeming cash back
Potential earnings in years one and two
Here's a look how your cash back can add up with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of 1 cent.
Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.
Year one earnings: $925
Year two earnings: $725
These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model which takes a look at points earned via spending, the early spend bonus, and the annual fee.
Best ways to earn
| Category | Rewards rate |
| Capital One Entertainment purchases |
8% |
| Hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
5% |
| Grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services |
3% |
| All other purchases |
1% |
You can earn the maximum with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card by shopping for purchases classified as dining or entertainment or by using it at grocery stores.
Cash back on dining can be earned at bars, restaurants, cafes, fast-food chains, bakeries, and lounges. So, whether you like to dine in or eat takeout, this card can benefit you.
And there's a long list of entertainment purchases you can earn cash back on, including purchases at record stores, bowling alleys, and dance halls as well as on tickets for amusement parks, live sporting events, and tourist attractions, such as zoos and aquariums. You can't earn bonus cash back on college sports events, unless they're booked through Capital One Entertainment.
Since purchases at grocery stores also give you bonus cash back, making grocery store purchases with your card makes sense. Be aware, though, that big-box stores, such as Walmart and Target, aren't classified as grocery store spending by most of the best credit cards for groceries. Avoid doing your grocery store shopping at those places if you want to earn the most possible rewards with your Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card.
Maximizing your redemptions
Redeeming your cash back with the Savor is very flexible. You can opt to get your cash back as a statement credit, can request a check, or can use cash back to purchase gift cards.
You also have the option to set up automatic redemptions on a specific date or when your cash back reaches a certain dollar amount. You don't have to worry about redeeming by a certain time as cashback rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
You can also redeem your cash back for travel with Capital One Travel. I've had good experiences doing just that. I've booked hotel rooms through there for a Vegas trip. I had to move my reservation and switch hotels, and I was able to do all of that seamlessly through the travel portal.
FAQs
Is the Capital One Savor card metal?
No, the Capital One Savor card is not metal. It's a standard plastic credit card. Capital One cards that currently come in metal include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Is the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards or the Chase Freedom Flex® a better card?
Which card is better for you will depend on your personal budget and spending habits. You should pick the card that rewards you best for the spending you do or the spending you have planned. The main difference between the two cards is that the Chase Freedom Flex has rotating categories, while the Savor has fixed categories.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees) earns you 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 5% back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; and 1% cash back on all other purchases. It also has an early spend bonus where you can earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
The Chase Freedom Flex® earns you 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. And it has a comparable welcome bonus: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
What credit score do you need for the Capital One Savor Rewards?
You'll likely need a good or excellent credit score to get approved for the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card. Keep in mind that your credit score is only one factor that card issuers consider, and that having a certain credit score doesn't guarantee approval.
Bottom line
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees) is a $0-annual-fee card with useful reward categories and redemptions. If you're a foodie, value entertainment, or are a bit overwhelmed with grocery store prices these days, it could be a valuable addition to your wallet.
If you like the idea of cashback but you aren't sure this card is a match, check out our list of other top cash back credit cards.