Credit Cards Credit Card Rewards

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card vs. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: How To Decide

The Venture Rewards is the pick for travelers, while the Quicksilver offers better benefits for the budget-minded.

By Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®
and Mary Beth Eastman

Edited by Jess Ullrich

Updated Dec. 18, 2024

4.7

Has a generous welcome offer
Offers up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® statement credit
Has an easy rewards program and highly flexible travel redemptions
Doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees
Offers valuable travel protections

4.5

Has a $0 annual fee
Has an easy-to-earn welcome offer
Offers a simple rewards program and flexible redemption methods
Comes with intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers
Doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees

Our view

Choosing between the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card vs. the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a matter of priorities: Are you focused on earning miles for travel, or do you want cash back?

Both of these Capital One credit cards offer lucrative rewards and plenty of value, so the better fit for you will depend on whether you prefer travel benefits, or flat-rate cash back and an introductory APR offer. I recommend the Venture card for those who love to travel, while the Quicksilver is my pick for more flexible cash back rewards.

How we evaluate products

Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Quicksilver Cash Rewards

Here’s a quick rundown of the basic differences between each card. Both cards require good or excellent credit to qualify, and neither charges a fee on foreign transactions.

	Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee	$95	$0
FinanceBuzz value calculation¹ <p class="">These values are based on the <a href="https://financebuzz.com/financebuzz-credit-card-valuation">FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model</a>, which takes a look at rewards earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee. We used a valuation of 1 cent/point unless otherwise stated above. These are estimated values - your actual earnings will depend on how much you spend and in what categories.<br></p>	Year one earnings: $1,521 Year two earnings: $771	Year one earnings: $763 Year two earnings: $563
Rewards rate	2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25	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)
Early spend bonus	Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening	Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Travel benefits	Up to $120 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Status with Hertz $50 experience credit on select hotel bookings Earn extra miles on travel Flight price prediction Car rental insurance² <p class="">For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above 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.<br></p> Travel accident insurance 24-hour travel assistance services	Travel accident insurance 24-hour travel assistance services
Introductory APR	None	0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months, then 19.49% - 29.49% (variable) APR 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months, then 19.49% - 29.49% (variable) APR; Balance transfer fee applies
	Learn more	Learn more

When to go with the Venture Rewards

Here is when the Venture Rewards card makes the most sense:

You want to earn miles
You want extra travel benefits
You want more redemption options

Earn miles for travel

The Capital One Venture Rewards offers 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25, which is ideal if you plan to redeem your rewards for travel. According to our Finance Buzz Credit Card Valuations Model, you’ll get twice as much value from Capital One Miles when redeeming them for travel than you would if redeemed for cash back or statement credit. Our valuations place the value of a Capital One mile at 1 cent each, which is very competitive with other travel rewards cards.

For example, 75,000 Capital One Miles are worth about $750 when redeemed for travel in the Capital One Travel portal. You could get even more value by transferring your miles to one of Capital One’s travel partners (there are 16 that accept 1:1 rewards transfers).

Excellent travel perks and benefits

While both cards offer travel accident insurance and will replace a lost card during travel emergencies, the Venture card offers many more travel perks. One perk I used as soon as I got my Venture Rewards card was the statement credit toward up to $120 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees. PreCheck was a game changer when it came to navigating airport lines, and I’m pleased I could have my fees covered with my Venture Card benefits.

My other favorite travel benefit is the ability to use my rewards to cover past travel purchases, which is useful for bookings without loyalty programs, such as VRBO rentals. I was able to apply a huge chunk of rewards to my family’s vacation rental when we traveled to Arizona, cutting the price to nearly nothing. Other travel perks include credit card rental car insurance.

More redemption options

Though both cards let you redeem rewards for statement credits, checks, gift cards, travel bookings, and shopping with Amazon or Paypal, the Venture Rewards card gives you additional options. Most valuable in my opinion is transferring to Capital One transfer partners, but you can also apply them toward previous travel purchases or use them to book travel on the Capital One travel portal.

When to go with the Quicksilver

The Quicksilver Cash Rewards might be better for you if:

You’d prefer cash back
You want to avoid an annual fee
You could use an intro APR offer

Earn cash back instead of miles

Instead of miles, the Quicksilver offers 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). This might be preferable if you want more flexibility with your rewards and you’re not a frequent traveler. You can use your cash back rewards to cover almost any recent past purchase, not just travel, or you can receive it as a direct statement credit.

No annual fee

If you want to avoid an annual fee, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards is one of the best no-annual-fee credit cards around. It has a $0 annual fee, while the Venture Rewards has a $95 annual fee. Keep in mind, though, that cards with annual fees usually also include plenty of perks that offset the cost.

Better intro APR offer

This card is also the better choice if you’re planning a major purchase or have some credit card debt you’d like to transfer, since the Quicksilver offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, with a 19.49% - 29.49% (Variable) APR after that. Balance transfer fee applies.

Which card should you choose?

Both the Capital One Venture Rewards and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards can provide amazing value for different circumstances. Since the earning structure on the Capital One Venture is as simple as the Capital One Quicksilver, it’s just a matter of preference when it comes to redemption options. Are you looking to travel more or get cash back on every purchase?

If you like to travel: The Capital One Venture is likely the better option. Because there’s a $95 annual fee, you have to make sure you’re getting enough value out of the card each year for it to be worth it, but that shouldn’t be too difficult with benefits like reimbursement for known-traveler programs, rental car insurance, purchase assurance, and experience credits.

If you’re budget-conscious: Consider the Capital One Quicksilver. This powerful cashback card has a $0 annual fee, and you earn the same unlimited cash back rate on every purchase. In addition, if you're looking for an intro APR that gives you lower interest rates, this would be the card for you.

FAQs

Which is better: Capital One Venture Rewards or Quicksilver Cash Rewards?

If you’re interested in traveling more with fewer travel expenses, the Capital One Venture Rewards could be an ideal choice for you. You can earn valuable miles on every purchase and then redeem them toward future trips. If you’re more interested in earning a solid rate for cash back on every purchase, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards is the better option.

Is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards a good card?

With 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards is one of the best cashback credit cards available. Because you earn cash back on every purchase, you can use this card for everything. It’s straightforward and low-stress, which makes it easy to manage your rewards.

Is the Capital One Venture Rewards card worth it?

The Capital One Venture Rewards card is definitely worth it if you like to travel and find enough value to offset the $95 annual fee. With this card, you can also earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. Benefits include travel insurance, rental car insurance, extended warranty coverage, and TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee reimbursement.

For many of the same benefits without the annual fee, there’s the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card. With this card, you earn Venture miles at a lower rate, but there’s a $0 annual fee and an intro APR offer, too. Plus, you still get benefits like travel insurance and extended warranty coverage. Read our Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review.

What credit score do you need for the Capital One Venture Rewards card?

You would likely need a good or excellent credit score to qualify for the Capital One Venture Rewards card. A FICO score in this range would typically fall between 670 to 850. However, a certain score doesn’t guarantee approval, and Capital One will look at a variety of factors in determining your chances of approval and your credit line.

What credit score do you need for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards?

You typically need a good or excellent credit score to qualify for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards, which typically means a credit score of at least 670. Capital One still has the final say on who qualifies, though, and having a certain credit score doesn’t guarantee you’ll be approved.

Bottom line

As two of Capital One’s most popular credit card offerings, both the Quicksilver Cash Rewards and the Venture Rewards cards offer lucrative earning potential and plenty of benefits.

The right card for you from any issuer depends on your spending habits and lifestyle. If you want a travel rewards card to earn miles toward future vacations, the Capital One Venture is a prime candidate for you. But for straight cash back on every purchase, the Capital One Quicksilver could be the better pick for infrequent travelers.

Benefits

Card Details

$0 annual fee
Simple, flat-rate rewards
Flexible redemption options
Up to 75% preferred Rewards bonus potential
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Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.49% - 28.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Bank of <span class='whitespace-nowrap'>America<sup>®</sup></span> Travel Rewards credit card

4.1

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Intro Offer

Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

Annual Fee

Why we like it