The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees) is an excellent option for foodies who enjoy dining out or anyone who enjoys spending on fun purchases, like tickets to special events.
It has a $0 annual fee, making it an excellent frugal cashback choice, and offers 3% unlimited bonus cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), popular streaming services, and entertainment.
Key takeaways
- We recommend the Capital One SavorOne Card if your spending habits align with its 3% cashback categories, including dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), popular streaming services, and entertainment.
- In addition to its elevated earning potential, the SavorOne also provides solid intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers. Note that there’s a 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months (or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time; No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR).
- The Capital One SavorOne has a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
Who should get the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card?
If you’re looking for a generous cashback card that rewards dining and entertainment purchases, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card is an ideal choice. Since the card also offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases for the first 15 months (then 19.99% - 29.99% (variable) APR), it’s also a good option for people who want to avoid paying interest, even without paying their balance in full.
That being said, if you spend enough on dining, entertainment, and select streaming services purchases, it could make sense to go with a different rewards card.
SavorOne 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 after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening |
Reward rate | 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), popular streaming services, and entertainment; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats (through 11/14/2024); and 1% cash back on all other purchases |
Recommended credit score | Excellent, Good |
Intro APR | 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, then 19.99% - 29.99% (variable) APR 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then 19.99% - 29.99% (variable) APR; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months (or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time; No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR) |
Foreign transaction fee | None |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card benefits and perks
Generous rewards program
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees) provides excellent earning potential in many common categories, including 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), popular streaming services, and entertainment; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats (through 11/14/2024); and 1% cash back on all other purchases
Note that there are some details to be aware of with these spending categories. For example, gas stations aren’t included, but you can expect increased earnings at supermarkets. Also, Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ count as qualifying streaming services for additional cash back, but Amazon Prime Video doesn’t.
And for cash back on entertainment, qualifying purchases include movie theater tickets, amusement parks, tourist attractions, aquariums, zoos, and more.
Redemption options include:
- Statement credits
- Mailed checks
- Covering previous purchases
- Gift cards
- Capital One Travel bookings
- Amazon.com purchases
- Eligible purchases with PayPal
We tried it
My spending habits align really well with the SavorOne Cash Rewards categories, so I get a lot of value out of the card, especially for dining out and grocery shopping.
I also used the cash rewards we earned toward travel, and I was impressed with how easy it was to use the Capital One travel portal. When my plans changed and I needed to update my hotel booking, I could easily get my cash rewards refunded and apply them toward a new booking.
Solid early-spend bonus offer
Many credit cards offer a welcome offer within a few months of opening an account if you meet certain requirements. With the Capital One SavorOne, you could earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Long intro APR periods
The Capital One SavorOne provides these 0% intro APR offers.
- Intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable))
- Intro APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)) with a balance transfer fee of 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months (or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time; No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR)
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.
$0 annual fee
The Capital One SavorOne has a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. That means there’s no annual cost to worry about, and you have an excellent card option for international travel.
Drawbacks to this card
Mastercard network
The Capital One SavorOne uses the Mastercard network for its credit card transactions. In general, this is a top network that’s accepted nearly everywhere credit cards are accepted, including over 210 countries and territories worldwide.
But you might find a few specific retailers that don’t accept Mastercard credit cards. For example, you can’t directly make in-store purchases at Costco with a Mastercard credit card, but a Visa card would work.
Recommended credit
You typically need a good or excellent credit score to qualify for the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards. That means you need at least a score of 670 on the FICO scoring model. Note that credit score requirements are guidelines and not guarantees of approval.
If you’re building or rebuilding your credit history, having a good credit score might be out of reach for you at the moment, making it difficult to qualify for the Capital One SavorOne.
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 SavorOne 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: $913
Year two earnings: $713
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 |
Purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats (through 11/14/2024) | 10% |
Capital One Entertainment purchases | 8% |
Hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | 5% |
Dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), popular streaming services, and entertainment | 3% |
All other purchases | 1% |
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card makes it easy for cardholders to earn cash back because it has no rotating categories to keep track of. It does provide several bonus rewards categories as well as a base level of cash back on all other purchases.
There are no limits to the total cash back you can earn or the bonus cash back you’re eligible for — and cash back never expires as long as your account remains open.
Maximizing your redemptions
You can earn the maximum with the Capital One SavorOne 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 be of benefit.
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 SavorOne Cash Rewards card.
FAQs
How do I redeem my Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards cash back?
Cash back can be redeemed by logging into your account. 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, which is advisable. You do not have to worry about redeeming by a certain time as cashback rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
Is the Capital One SavorOne 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 Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card earns you 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), popular streaming services, and entertainment; 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats (through 11/14/2024); 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 after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns you 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service); and 1% cash back 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 SavorOne Cash Rewards?
Credit card issuers typically run a hard inquiry to your credit report when you apply for a new card. With that in mind, you’ll likely need a good or excellent credit score to get approved for the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card.
Other cards to consider
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card is among the best credit cards if you want a no-annual-fee card that also gets you great rewards on entertainment or dining. But if these bonus categories don't sound like the best fit for you, there are other credit card offers to consider.
If you prefer to earn flexible travel rewards, then you might check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. With this card, you earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and eligible online grocery purchases; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases. Plus, you get a variety of travel benefits and extended warranty protection. You can also earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after meeting the spending requirement of making $4,000 in new purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.
If you prefer a card with a simple earnings rate, then you might like the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card(Rates and fees). This card earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day; and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). With this simple earning rate, it's easy to rack up cash back on all your spending. This card also has a 0% intro APR offer on purchases for 15 months, then 19.99% - 29.99% (variable) APR after that.