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Credit One and Capital One are two financial services companies with similar names and logos. To make things more confusing, both offer credit cards as their main service.
But they’re not the same company and their offered products are quite different.
Capital One offers a much wider range of credit cards that typically provide better rewards and benefits compared to Credit One. Check out our Credit One vs. Capital One review to see highlights of both companies to help you decide which one might suit you best.
Credit One vs. Capital One
Quickly compare Credit One vs. Capital One using the table below. Note the number of customers and products offered to get a feel for the size of each company.
| Credit One | Capital One | |
| Founded | 1984 | 1994 |
| Number of customers | Over 10 million | Over 100 million |
| Locations | Online-only | Online and in-person |
| Products offered | Consumer credit cards, certificates of deposit (CDs) | Consumer credit cards, business credit cards, checking accounts, savings accounts, loans, and more |
| Number of credit cards | 11 | 30 |
| Types of credit cards | Cash back, travel | Cash back, travel, business, secured, student |
| Credit score focus | Bad, Poor, Fair, Good | Bad, Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent |
| Card networks | Visa, American Express | Visa, Mastercard |
| BBB rating | B+ | A- |
| J.D. Power ranking | 11th | 3rd |
Capital One is the larger of the two companies with around 90 million more customers. It’s likely also the more well-known company.
This could be due to its ad campaigns, including those with the “What’s in your wallet?” slogan. But it’s also possible to see Capital One locations such as bank branches and cafes in certain U.S. states. Credit One doesn’t have any in-person locations.
Both companies focus on consumer credit cards, but Capital One also offers business credit cards, checking accounts, savings accounts, and loans. Credit One offers credit cards and CDs, with its cards often designed for consumers with bad, poor, or fair credit scores.
Capital One credit cards are often designed for a wide variety of consumers, including consumers with bad, poor, fair, good, or excellent credit scores.
What is Credit One?
Credit One, or Credit One Bank, is a financial services company founded in 1984 and currently headquartered in Las Vegas. It has more than 10 million customers and offers over a dozen credit cards as well as some CDs.
It doesn’t have any in-person branches, but you could take advantage of its credit card and CD products online through a web browser or mobile app.
Credit One credit cards are typically best if you have a bad, poor, or fair credit score. This often means you’re working on building or rebuilding your credit and you might not qualify for credit cards from major card issuers such as Capital One, Chase, and American Express.
Credit One has a B+ BBB rating, which generally means Credit One is above average with answering and resolving complaints. Credit One was ranked 11th in a J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study, and well below companies such as American Express, Discover, and Capital One.
Best Credit One cards
Credit One offers over a dozen credit cards, but here are some of its top card options.
| Card | Welcome offer | Reward rate | Annual fee |
| Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® For Rebuilding Credit | None | 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services (terms apply) | $75 ($75 for the first year, $99 after that, billed at $8.25 per month) |
| Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa® |
None | 5% cash back on gas, groceries, cell phone services, internet, cable, and satellite TV (on the first $5,000 in purchases, then 1%); and 1% on all other purchases | $95 |
| Credit One Bank Wander® American Express® Card | 10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars booked through Credit One Bank travel site; 5X points on eligible travel, dining, and gas; and 1X points on all other purchases | $95 |
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® For Rebuilding Credit
The Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® For Rebuilding Credit is a beginner rewards card that comes with an annual fee of $75 for the first year, $99 after that, billed at $8.25 per month and this relatively low rewards rate: 1% for all eligible purchases.
While the rewards rate could be nice, you might not be able to earn enough cash back to offset the tiered annual fee. It is an unsecured card, however, which means you don’t have to make a security deposit to obtain the card.
Another option for rebuilding your credit could be the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card. This card requires a refundable security deposit rather than an annual fee, which could make more sense for your wallet.
Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa®
The Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa® has no sign-up bonus and a $95 annual fee. It offers 5% cash back on gas, groceries, cell phone services, internet, cable, and satellite TV (on the first $5,000 in purchases, then 1%); and 1% on all other purchases.
The 5% rewards rate on this card is elevated, but limited. For unlimited cash back that doesn’t change depending on your purchases, you might prefer a card such as the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. It has a welcome offer, possibly higher earning potential, and a $0 annual fee.
Credit One Bank Wander® American Express® Card
The Credit One Bank Wander® American Express® Card has a $95 annual fee and offers 10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars booked through Credit One Bank travel site; 5X points on eligible travel, dining, and gas; and 1X points on all other purchases.
This is a decent travel card, but the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is likely much better for frequent travelers. The Venture X has a $395 annual fee, but this cost could be easily offset with premium benefits such as travel credit, anniversary miles, and airport lounge access.
What is Capital One?
Capital One is a financial institution that was founded in 1994 and has quickly grown to become a popular and major U.S bank. It has more than 100 million customers and offers credit cards, bank accounts, loans, and other services such as Capital One Shopping.
Capital One has hundreds of in-person branches and cafes you can visit around the U.S., though it also offers online banking services through a web browser or mobile app.
Capital One offers a variety of credit cards for many different types of consumers. Credit score requirements vary by credit card, but range from bad, poor, and fair to good and excellent. Capital One credit cards typically compete with cards from other major card issuers such as Chase, American Express, and Citi.
It’s not always easy to qualify for a Capital One credit card, as it depends on your credit score and other creditworthiness factors. But Capital One offers tools to see whether you pre-qualify for a card (this doesn’t necessarily guarantee an approval). Capital One also offers automatic credit limit reviews in as few as six months after account opening.
Capital One has an A- Better Business Bureau rating, which is higher than Credit One’s B+ rating and generally means Capital One does a good job of answering and resolving complaints. Capital One was ranked third in a J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study, well above the 11th ranking of Credit One.
Best Capital One cards
Capital One offers dozens of credit cards, but here are a few top recommendations.
| Card | Welcome offer | Reward rate | Annual fee |
| Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card | None | None | $0 |
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 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) | $0 |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 | $395 |
| Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months | Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | $0 |
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
The Capital One Platinum Secured is typically best if you have no credit or want to rebuild your credit because of a bad credit history. It has a $0 annual fee but requires a minimum security deposit — which acts as your available credit — of $49, $99, or $200.
Your deposit could be refunded and your credit card upgraded to an unsecured version (where you receive an actual credit line from Capital One) with responsible card use. Your card activity reports to all three major credit bureaus.
Check out our Capital One Platinum Secured review for more details.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards could be an excellent everyday rewards card because of its $0 annual fee and earning rate of 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).
New cardholders could also earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Read our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards review to learn more.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X is a premium travel rewards credit card with excellent benefits and perks. This includes a $300 annual travel credit, 10,000 anniversary bonus miles (equal to $100 toward travel), and airport lounge access with Capital One and Priority Pass lounges.
The Venture X has a $395 annual fee that the above benefits could cover and more. It offers 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25.
You could also earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Check out our Capital One Venture X review for more information.
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Credit One doesn’t offer a specific credit card for students while Capital One has multiple student credit cards, including the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card.
This card has a $0 annual fee and offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Read our Capital One Quicksilver Student Card review for more details.
FAQs
Are Capital One and Credit One the same thing?
No, Capital One and Credit One aren’t the same thing. They’re both credit card issuers, but they’re separate companies. Credit One offers credit cards and focuses on consumers with bad, poor, and fair credit scores. Capital One is a much larger company that offers credit cards and focuses on consumers with bad, poor, fair, good, and excellent credit scores.
Is Capital One or Credit One better?
Capital One is likely better than Credit One for many types of situations. Both companies offer credit card products, but Credit One focuses primarily on consumers with bad, poor, or fair credit scores. Capital One offers credit cards for the same types of consumers, but also provides cards for people with good or excellent credit scores.
Is Credit One a legitimate credit card company?
Yes, Credit One is a legitimate credit card company. It’s based out of Las Vegas and has more than 10 million customers with about a dozen credit card offerings. This includes cashback and travel credit cards. Credit One typically focuses on offering credit cards to consumers with bad, poor, or fair credit scores.
Bottom line
Credit One and Capital One aren’t the same company, though their names, branding, and industry are similar. Credit One is solely a credit card issuer that primarily focuses on cards for consumers with bad, poor, fair, or good credit scores.
On the other hand, Capital One is a financial services company that offers credit cards, bank accounts, loans, and more. It has credit cards for consumers with bad, poor, or fair credit scores, but it also offers cards for people with good or excellent credit scores.
You might find the right credit card for your wallet from either of these companies. But for top credit card offers, use our dedicated page to compare credit cards.
Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
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Current Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases