The Capital One Quicksilver earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, groceries and gas included, charges no annual fee and, for new cardholders, pays a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 in the first three months. That's the whole earning structure on everyday spending: one rate, no categories to track, no cap. If you came here looking for a 3% rate at grocery stores, that rate lives on a different Capital One card, the Savor, and I'll show you where it fits below. And on the network: Capital One owns Discover, issues cards on Discover, Visa and Mastercard, and says the logo on your card shows which one it runs on.
Here's what the Quicksilver pays today, straight from Capital One's Quicksilver page and its application terms, plus what the network on your card means when you travel.
What the Quicksilver Earns
The base rate is 1.5% cash back on all purchases. The terms say it applies to net purchases (purchases minus credits or returns), and there's no cap on what you can earn.
Two booking channels pay more:
- Capital One Travel: 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Hotel incidentals, upgrades and other charges made outside Capital One Travel earn the standard 1.5%.
- Capital One Entertainment: 5% cash back on tickets bought on the Capital One Entertainment ticketing platform. Cardholder presale tickets and tickets bought directly through the Capital One Hall or Capital One Arena ticketing services don't count.
Cash advances, balance transfers and convenience checks aren't purchases, so they earn nothing.
Say you put $2,000 a month of mixed spending on the card. At 1.5%, that's $30 back a month, with nothing to activate and no category calendar to remember. That simplicity is the point of this card.
The $200 Bonus and the Intro APR
The current new cardmember offer is a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 within three months of account opening. Capital One says it applies the bonus to your rewards balance within two billing cycles of qualifying. You're not eligible if you've received a new cardmember bonus for this product in the past 48 months, and the page notes the offer may not be available if you navigate away from it.
The intro rate is 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. After that, the terms set your APR at 18.74%, 24.74% or 28.74% variable, based on creditworthiness. Transfers that post in the first 15 months carry a 3% fee; transfers at a promotional APR offered later carry 4%. Balances from another Capital One card can't be transferred in.
Other fees from the terms: no annual fee, cash advances cost $5 or 5% (whichever is greater), and a late payment can cost up to $40. Capital One lists the card for excellent credit.
Discover, Visa or Mastercard: Check Your Card's Logo
Capital One owns Discover and issues credit cards on three networks: Discover, Visa and Mastercard. Its guidance is simple: check the network logo on your card to see which one processes your purchases.
Capital One also notes that unless you're traveling abroad, you may not notice a difference between payment networks. So if you carry the Quicksilver mainly for its no foreign transaction fee perk, look at the logo on your own card before a trip. Our Discover vs Capital One comparison covers how the two issuers' cards line up.
How Redemption Works
Quicksilver rewards don't expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem any amount. The options Capital One lists:
- A statement credit or a check, on request.
- Automatic redemption, either at a set time each calendar year or when your balance reaches a threshold you pick.
- Credits against recent purchases, gift cards, Amazon.com purchases and eligible PayPal purchases (Capital One says rates for these options may vary).
- New bookings on Capital One Travel, paid with your cash back.
One catch worth writing down: if your account is closed, you may lose any rewards you haven't redeemed. Cash it out before you close the card. If you plan to use that 5% on hotels and rental cars, our Capital One Travel portal guide walks through the portal, though it's written for the miles cards.
Benefits Beyond Cash Back
The Quicksilver page lists no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the U.S., extended warranty on eligible items, travel accident insurance when you buy your fare with the card, and 24-hour travel assistance if the card is lost or stolen. Capital One notes that benefits vary by product and that your Guide to Benefits has the terms and exclusions.
Travelers get two more. Capital One Travel will match a cheaper eligible flight, hotel or rental car price you find within 24 hours of booking, issued as a travel credit. And Quicksilver cardholders can enroll in Hertz Five Star status through the Benefits tab in their Capital One account; enrolling directly at Hertz.com won't trigger the upgrade.
Quicksilver or Savor for Groceries
This is where the 3% searchers land. The Capital One Savor earns 3% cash back at grocery stores, on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on everything else, also with a $0 annual fee and a $200 bonus after $500 in three months. Capital One's fine print limits the 3% grocery rate to grocery stores, excluding superstores like Walmart and Target.
So the decision comes down to where your money goes. If most of your spending is groceries, restaurants and streaming, the Savor earns more on it. If your spending is scattered across utilities, insurance, home repairs and everything else that never lands in a bonus category, the Quicksilver's flat 1.5% beats Savor's 1% there. You can hold both and use each where it wins; our Capital One Trifecta breakdown shows how the Quicksilver fits beside the Savor and Venture X, and the Savor review goes deeper on that card.
If Your Credit Isn't Excellent Yet
Capital One sells the same 1.5% earning rate in other versions. Quicksilver Rewards for Good Credit has a $0 annual fee. QuicksilverOne, listed for fair credit, charges $39 a year. Quicksilver Secured has a $0 annual fee and a $200 minimum refundable deposit. Quicksilver Rewards for Students has no annual fee and a $50 cash bonus after $100 in purchases in the first three months. On Capital One's cash back page, the intro APR and $200 bonus appear only on the standard Quicksilver.
Who Should Get the Quicksilver
Get the Capital One Quicksilver if you want one no-fee card that earns the same 1.5% on everything, or a catch-all to sit behind a category card. The 15-month 0% intro APR is a real bonus if you have a large purchase or a balance to move, as long as you budget for the 3% transfer fee. If groceries and dining are your biggest spend, start with the Savor instead, then add the Quicksilver later for everything the Savor pays only 1% on.
Sources
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