Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card vs. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Make the Choice Between Travel or Cash

VentureOne vs. Quicksilver

The Capital One VentureOne focuses on earning and redeeming travel rewards, whereas the Capital One Quicksilver focuses on earning and redeeming cash back.

Both credit cards have similar card benefits and perks. However, there are a few noticeable differences between their earning rates and redemption options.

	Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card	Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
FinanceBuzz star ratings	4.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	4.5 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
FinanceBuzz value calculation1	Year 1: $731 Year 2: $531	Year 1: $763 Year 2: $563
Annual fee	$0	$0
Early spend bonus	Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 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
Earning rate	1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel	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)
Redemption methods	Statement credits Cover recent travel purchases Mailed checks Gift cards Capital One Travel purchases Amazon.com purchases PayPal purchases Transfers to travel partners	Statement credits Cover recent purchases Mailed checks Gift cards Capital One Travel purchases Amazon.com purchases PayPal purchases
Intro APR	0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable); Balance transfer fee applies	0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable); Balance transfer fee applies
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Credit needed	Excellent, Good	Excellent, Good
	Learn more	Learn more

What both cards excel at

The Capital One VentureOne and Quicksilver share several benefits, including:

• Early spend bonus: The Capital One VentureOne and Quicksilver both offer one-time early spend bonuses. These bonuses offer a quick way to earn loads of rewards within a few months of account opening, and they work out to be roughly equal in terms of monetary value.
• Annual fee: The Capital One VentureOne has a $0 annual fee. The Capital One Quicksilver also has a $0 annual fee. On this front, you can’t go wrong either way.
• No foreign transaction fees: The Capital One VentureOne and Quicksilver both make it easy to avoid foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad. This is something I always look for when shopping for a new credit card, especially a travel card.
• Introductory APR offers on purchases: The Capital One VentureOne offers 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) APR. The Capital One Quicksilver has 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) APR.
• Introductory APR offers on balance transfers: The Capital One VentureOne offers 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) APR. Balance transfer fee applies. The Capital One Quicksilver offers 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, then 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) APR. Balance transfer fee applies.
• World Elite Mastercard benefits: Certain Capital One credit cards qualify for different types of Visa or Mastercard benefits, depending on your creditworthiness and other factors. If you qualify for a World Elite Mastercard, you get benefits such as purchase protection, price protection, and extended warranty coverage. You also receive travel benefits such as concierge services, car rental insurance, travel accident insurance, and trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

Important differences

There are three ways that the Capital One VentureOne and Quicksilver essentially differ. Understanding these three differences can help you decide which card is better for you.

Reward type

The Capital One VentureOne enables you to earn Capital One miles, whereas the Capital One Quicksilver can give you cash back.

One reward type isn’t necessarily better than the other. It simply depends on your preferences. For me, travel rewards are often more valuable, as I travel frequently and am always looking for good deals. Therefore, if I were choosing between these two cards, I would likely choose the VentureOne. But if you prefer earning cash back on purchases, the Quicksilver makes more sense.

Winner: Tie. It depends on the type of rewards you want to earn.

Earning rates

The Capital One VentureOne offers 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. The Capital One 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).

Based on their earning rates, the Quicksilver is the better choice. This is also a good reminder that you should always run the numbers on travel cards. What sounds like a lot of miles could equate to significantly less money than you think.

Check out our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards review for more information.

Winner: Capital One Quicksilver, because it has a higher rewards rate and comes out on top in a simple earnings comparison.

Redemption options

The redemption options between the Capital One VentureOne and Quicksilver are nearly identical. They include:

• Statement credits
• Mailed checks
• Gift cards
• Capital One Travel purchases
• Amazon.com purchases

But one redemption option you’ll find with the VentureOne that’s not available with the Quicksilver is the opportunity to transfer rewards to more than a dozen travel partners. Capital One transfer partners include loyalty programs from major airlines and hotels such as British Airways Executive Club, Virgin Red, and Wyndham Rewards. This is another feature that I often look for when reviewing a travel card.

Transfer partners can be useful if you have specific redemptions in mind with an airline or hotel.

For example, you may find a great deal on a flight with Singapore Airlines that you can’t find on the Capital One Travel portal. Or you may have elite status with a hotel loyalty program, and you know third-party bookings don’t typically honor it.

A quick transfer of rewards from your Capital One VentureOne account to an applicable loyalty program account can help solve these and other issues.

Check out our Capital One VentureOne review for more details.

Winner: Capital One VentureOne, because it offers access to transfer partners.

Which card should you choose?

When to go with the VentureOne: You should choose the Capital One VentureOne if, like me, you prefer a travel rewards card rather than a cashback credit card. You can always get a different cashback card that offers rewards in particular spending categories to use in conjunction with the VentureOne.

This card has lower earning potential versus the Quicksilver, but it can be more convenient to earn miles over cash back if you’re a frequent or occasional traveler. And you can transfer your miles to several travel partners, which is a big perk to me.

When to go with the Quicksilver card: You should choose the Capital One Quicksilver if you want to increase your earning potential. The Quicksilver offers a higher rewards rate compared with the Capital One VentureOne, and you can use cashback rewards for just about anything, including travel.

Both cards have general earning rates for most spending categories. You can use them on various purchases and still expect to earn the same rewards rate. This can help when you don’t want to carry a different card for every bonus category or if you frequently shift between different types of expenses.

FAQs

Extra Long Intro APR on Purchases & Qualifying Balance Transfers

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Benefit from a long introductory APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Annual Fee

$0

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, then 17.49%, 23.99%, or 29.24% Variable APR
• Up to $600 Cell phone protection when you pay for the cell phone with your card (subject to a $25 deductible)
• $0 annual fee
• The ongoing APR may still be competitive compared to other cards

Drawbacks

• No rewards for spending
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• 5%, min: $5 balance transfer fee
• Limited list of card perks

Card Details

• Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.49%, 23.99%, or 29.24% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
• $0 Annual Fee.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.