SoFi vs. Capital One
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Best for | Member benefits and one-stop solution for your finances | Kids and teens accounts and in-person banking options |
Number of branches | 0 | 265 |
Number of fee-free ATMs | 55,000+3 <p>We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.</p> | 70,000+ |
Mobile app rating | 4.8 | 4.9 |
Products offered |
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Read our SoFi review | Read our Capital One review |
SoFi is an online-only institution that offers a wide range of financial products. Capital One provides both online and in-person banking options. Both SoFi and Capital One are Member FDIC institutions,5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p> ensuring your deposits are federally insured.
Checking accounts
Monthly fee | Minimum opening deposit | |
SoFi | $06 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p> | None |
Capital One 360 | $0 | None |
Capital One MONEY Teen Checking | $0 | None |
Capital One and SoFi have many similarities. Capital One 360 and SoFi Checking and Savings are ranked as top checking accounts. Neither has any minimum deposit requirements, and neither charges monthly fees or overdraft fees.7 <p>Overdraft Coverage is limited to $50 on debit card purchases only and is an account benefit available to customers with Eligible Direct Deposits of $1,000 or more during the current 30-day Evaluation Period as determined by SoFi Bank, N.A. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the "Start Date" and "End Date" set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the "30-Day Evaluation Period"). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Members with a prior history of non-repayment of negative balances are ineligible for Overdraft Coverage.</p> Early pay is available with both SoFi and Capital One checking accounts, and both offer access to Zelle, making sending money a simple process.8 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
However, there are also some important differences between them.
SoFi offers member benefits to accountholders that Capital One can't match, including member rewards that you can earn and deposit into savings, home loan discounts up to $500, savings on travel, and more.
If you meet direct deposit requirements, SoFi earns a higher annual percentage yield (APY) on checking balances: 0.50% APY9 <p>SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus with Eligible Direct Deposit or by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days or SoFi members with $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either SoFi Plus or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. If you have satisfied Eligible Direct Deposit requirements for our highest APY but do not see 3.80% APY on your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives, please contact us at 855-456-7634. Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet">http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>. See the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus">https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus</a>.</p> to Capital One's 0.10% (as of 09/15/25) APY.
While you can't typically deposit cash with SoFi unless you pay a fee to do so with Green Dot, Capital One has more free options for making deposits, including the ability to add cash to your account at no cost at Walgreens.
When it comes to international transactions, Capital One does not charge foreign transaction fees for its 360 Checking and MONEY Checking accounts, while SoFi may pass on a small fee charged by Mastercard.
Lastly, Capital One has more accounts focused towards kids as young as eight, while SoFi offers a student bank account but nothing specifically geared towards younger kids getting started with money management.
Savings accounts
Monthly fee | APY | |
SoFi | $0 | Up to 3.80% with eligible direct deposit |
Capital One 360 | $0 | 3.40% |
Capital One Kids Savings | $0 | 2.50% (as of 10/14/25)13 <p class="">The APY of 2.50% (as of 10/14/25) is accurate as of 05/02/25. Rates are subject to change and may vary by account type and financial institution. </p> |
SoFi and Capital One both offer high-yield savings accounts with no monthly fees or minimum balances. SoFi offers the option to round up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and automatically transfer the funds to savings, while Capital One does not.
SoFi's standard APY is also a bit higher than Capital One's, but SoFi requires an eligible direct deposit or a $5,000 balance to qualify for the best rate, while Capital One pays the same rate for all account balances without this added requirement. Capital One also offers a specialized kids' savings account, which SoFi lacks.
SoFi Plus members can unlock a higher APY by paying the SoFi Plus subscription fee. SoFi Plus membership is $10 per month. A SoFi Plus membership also includes higher cash back rewards with SoFi credit cards, unlimited financial planning with SoFi Wealth, and a 1% match on recurring deposits to SoFi Invest, paid in rewards points.
Both accounts make saving for separate goals simple. Capital One does so by allowing you to open multiple savings accounts, while SoFi uses vaults so you can save for multiple goals within one savings account. Some people find that easier.
Other products
SoFi and Capital One both offer other products beyond just savings and checking accounts.
However, SoFi's offerings are more comprehensive. Its member benefits include discounts or boosted rates across product lines, so customers who are loyal to SoFi are more richly rewarded than dedicated Capital One customers.
SoFi
Here are some of the other financial products offered by SoFi:
- Credit cards
- Investments
- Student loan refinancing
- Personal loans
- Mortgages
- Private student loans
- Auto loan refinancing
Notably, SoFi does not have CDs or money market accounts on offer for its customers.
Capital One
Capital One doesn't provide all of the same financial products as SoFi, but there are still plenty of options, including:
- Credit cards
- CDs
- Auto loans
- Auto loan refinance loans
ATM and branch access
Capital One has a larger ATM network than SoFi with 70,000 ATMs for Capital One compared to 55,000+ for SoFi. Capital One also offers in-person branches and cafes, while SoFi lacks any options to get support in person.
Customer service and support
SoFi
SoFi does not offer in-person support, but there are plenty of options to get help online or via phone. You can:
- Chat with SoFi, but you must log into your account first to do so (or create an account). A virtual assistant is available 24/7 to help with some problems, or you can be connected to a live person during working hours.
- Call 1-855-456-SOFI (7634) to talk with SoFi support.
While the hours vary by department, you can typically call between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. However, some products, such as home loans, have shorter hours, and representatives are available only from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Capital One
Capital One offers automated service any time, but live support is available Sunday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST.
You can reach customer service for the bank at 1-800-655-BANK (2265), or you can navigate to the company's website to find a different phone number for questions related to credit cards, auto financing, and business transactions.
Capital One also offers local support at branches and Capital One Cafes.
FAQs
Can I open both SoFi and Capital One accounts?
You can open both SoFi and Capital One accounts, and there are good reasons to. For example, you may want to open an account with SoFi for member benefits and a Capital One account for your kids. Both come with no monthly fees and plenty of perks, including automated savings options, so there's little downside to opening either or both accounts.
Are my deposits safe at both SoFi and Capital One?
Deposits are safe with both SoFi and Capital One. Both are FDIC-insured.
Does SoFi or Capital One have better budgeting tools?
SoFi offers Relay, which is an app that allows you to view all of your financial accounts in one place and set a budget. The Capital One Mobile app offers some budgeting tools that allow you to monitor where your funds are going, including by monitoring upcoming bills and subscriptions. While Relay is more comprehensive, both can be helpful in taking more control of your finances.
Bottom line
SoFi and Capital One both have some great features with no monthly fees, so it's just a matter of picking which is right for you. If your kids want an account or if you want to visit in-person branches or Capital One Cafes, then Capital One is the obvious choice. If member benefits, like discounted rates on other loans, are more important than in-person support, SoFi is your best bet.
You can't really go wrong with either, so check out our SoFi review or Capital One review to learn more and decide which is right for you.