Frugal Living, Saving Money & Life Hacks

Which Is Better For You?

If you’re trying to pick between Capital One Venture and Quicksilver, it all boils down to your spending habits and what you want from a credit card. Venture is perfect for travel lovers, while Quicksilver is the go-to for cashback fans. 

So, think about what matters to you—and let’s dive into the differences to help you decide.

This article will show you: 

  • Which one is better: Capital One Venture or Quicksilver.
  • Their fees, rewards, and credit scores. 
  • How other Capital One cards stack up. 

Read more:

Capital One Quicksilver vs. Venture

Let’s start with a brief overview of both:

 

Capital One Quicksilver

Capital One Venture

Best for 

Unlimited cashback of 1.5% on every purchase 

Unlimited 2 miles per $1 spent on anything

Required credit score

Good–excellent (690–850)

Good–excellent (690–850)

Intro offer 

One-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

APR 

19.74%–29.74% (variable)

20.74%–28.74% (variable)

Rewards 

1.5% on every purchase

5% for car rentals and hotels booked through Capital One Travel

2 miles per $1 on every purchase

5 miles per $1 for car rentals and hotels booked through Capital One Travel

Annual fee

$0

$95*

*Capital One Venture card annual fee is waived for eligible military members.

Capital One Quicksilver

Capital One Quicksilver is a simple and hassle-free cashback credit card

It lets you earn cash rewards on all your purchases, making it perfect for anyone who loves shopping and saving, without the hassle of managing different categories.

Pros

  • Unlimited cashback.
  • 0% intro on purchases 15 months.
  • Generous intro bonus.
  • No annual fee.
  • No foreign transaction fee.
  • Automatic credit line reviews.
  • Additional benefits.

Cons

  • High APR after the intro period.
  • Excellent credit score is required.
  • No extra cash back categories.
  • No points transfer capabilities.

Read more:

Capital One Venture

Capital One Venture is a fun and easy-to-use travel rewards credit card.

It lets you earn miles on everything you buy, making it perfect for those who love to explore the world.

Pros

  •   Solid sign-up bonus.
  •   Flat rate earning on all purchases (2x miles per $1 spent).
  •   Flexible redemption options (travel, statement credits, gift cards, etc.).
  •   No foreign transaction fees.
  •   Travel-related perks (Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit).
  •   Access to Visa Signature benefits.
  •   Transfer miles to airline and hotel partners.

Cons

  • $95 annual fee.
  • Limited transfer partner options compared to other cards.
  • No bonus categories for higher earning potential.
  • Not ideal for those seeking luxury travel perks.

Read more:

Capital One Quicksilver vs. Venture: How Do They Compare?

Let’s look closely at how the cards stack up: Which one is cheaper, has more rewards, redemption options, or benefits? 

Capital One Quicksilver vs. Venture: fees & rates

Let’s get those pesky fees out of the way—

 

Quicksilver

Venture

Annual fee

$0

$95*

APR

0% for the first 15 months, 19.74%–29.74% variable APR after the intro period

20.74%, 25.74%, or 28.74% (variable)

Balance transfer fee

3%

$0 at this transfer APR

Cash advance fee

$3 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance (whichever is greater)

3% of the amount of the cash advance (but not less than $3)

Foreign transaction fee

None

None

Late fee

Up to $40

Up to $40

Returned payment fee

None

None

Over limit fee

None

None

*Capital One Venture card annual fee is waived for eligible military members.

Capital One Venture vs. Quicksilver: rewards

Now on to the fun part—

Both cards have straightforward reward programs: Quicksilver is focused on cashback and Venture on travel rewards.

 

Quicksilver Rewards

Venture Rewards

Rewards rate

1.5% cashback on every purchase

5% cashback on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel

2 miles per $1 on every purchase

5 miles per $1 on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel

Redemption

Redeem for:

  • Cash
  • Statement credit
  • Gift cards
  • Recent purchase coverage

Use with:

Minimum to redeem:

Redeem for:

  • Cash
  • Booking a trip on Capital One Travel
  • Gift cards
  • Recent travel purchase coverage
  • Transfer them to a partner airline

Use with:

Minimum to redeem:

Expiration

  • Cashback doesn’t expire until you close the account
  • Miles don’t expire until you close the account

Cap

Unlimited

Unlimited

How much are Capital One miles worth? 

Redemption value for Venture card differs depending on the category:

Redemption option

Mile value

Travel purchases (Purchase Eraser/booking)

1 mile = 1 cent

Transfer to airline/hotel partners

0.5 to 1.4 cents*

Statement credit (non-travel)

1 mile = 0.5 cents

Gift cards

1 mile = 1 cent**

Amazon/Paypal

1 mile = 0.8 cents

Charity donations

Variable***

*Value depends on the specific partner and redemption 

**May vary for certain gift cards 

***Based on the specific charity

You might be wondering: Which card would give me more money in the end? 

Let’s do the math for both, assuming spending of $1,000 on each.

With the Quicksilver card, you’ll earn 1.5%—which equates to $15 in rewards.

For the Venture card, you get a minimum of 2 miles per dollar spent (so, if you spend $1,000: 2 miles/dollar x $1,000 = 2,000 miles).

What are these 2,000 miles worth? 

As the table above shows, it depends how you redeem them:

Redemption option

Value of 2,000 miles (Venture card)

Travel purchases (Purchase Eraser/booking)

$20

Transfer to airline/hotel partners

$10 to $28 (depending on the partner)

Statement credit (non-travel)

$10

Gift cards

$20 (depending on the store)

Amazon/Paypal

$16

Charity donations

Variable***

With the Venture card, you can likely earn $20 of rewards with $1,000 of spending—so Venture provides better value when redeeming rewards for travel expenses

Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Quicksilver: benefits

Capital One isn’t stingy with benefits, either:

Categories

Quicksilver benefits

Venture benefits

Travel

Travel accident insurance if you buy the fare with a Quicksilver Rewards card and Capital One Quicksilver rental car insurance

Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

A 24/7 complimentary concierge service

Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or 100+ locations through our Partner Lounge Network

An emergency replacement card and a cash advance if the card is lost or stolen during travel

Transfer miles to one of 15+ travel loyalty programs for more flexibility

Uber One membership for 6 months

There’s Capital One Venture rental car insurance and travel accident insurance if you buy the fare with a Venture Rewards card 

A 24/7 complimentary concierge service

If the card is lost or stolen during your travel, you’ll get an emergency replacement card and a cash advance 

Dining

Capital One Dining

Capital One Dining

Protection

  • $0 fraud liability protection
  • Security alerts via text, email, or phone
  • Virtual card numbers and account alerts from Eno
  • Alerts about TransUnion® or Experian® credit report changes
  • If you lose your card, quickly lock it in the Capital One mobile app
  • $0 fraud liability protection
  • Security alerts via text, email, or phone
  • Virtual card numbers and account alerts from Eno
  • Alerts about TransUnion® or Experian® credit report changes
  • If you lose your card, quickly lock it in the Capital One mobile app

Other

  • Extended warranty on eligible stuff you buy using the card
  • Capital One Shopping
  • Instant Purchase Notifications
  • Capital One Entertainment
  • Extended warranty on eligible stuff you buy using the card
  • Capital One Shopping
  • Instant Purchase Notifications
  • Capital One Entertainment

Capital One Quicksilver vs. Venture: approval odds

Both Quicksilver and Venture require good to excellent credit scores

Factors affecting approval odds include:

  1. Credit score: Aim for 670+ for higher chances.
  2. Income: Higher income may boost your odds.
  3. Debt-to-Income ratio: Lower ratio is favorable.
  4. Credit utilization: Keep it below 30%.
  5. Recent credit inquiries: Fewer is better.

Each application is evaluated individually, considering these factors for approval.

Quicksilver vs. Venture card: credit limit

Credit limits for Quicksilver and Venture cards depend on your creditworthiness, income, and credit history. In general, the better your financial profile, the higher your credit limit.

Quicksilver: This card’s credit limits can start as low as $1,000—but some people might get a limit of $10,000 or more, depending on their financial situation.

Venture: As a travel rewards card for those with strong credit profiles, Venture might offer higher limits than Quicksilver. But the exact limit will still depend on your financial background.

Keep in mind that credit limits can change over time based on how you use your payment history and handle your finances.

Should you upgrade from Quicksilver to Venture?

If you already have a Quicksilver card and are here trying to decide whether to upgrade to the Venture, you can do so by asking yourself a few questions:

  1. Do you travel often? Venture is geared towards frequent travelers.
  2. Seeking cashback or travel rewards? Quicksilver is a cashback queen, while Venture is travel-oriented.
  3. Willing to pay an annual fee? Venture has one after the first year—unlike Quicksilver, where you’ll never pay an annual fee.

Consider your preferences and financial goals to make your choice. 

Last but not least—why not go for both?

Consider the sheer variety of credit cards we have at our disposal today. Some offer tempting rewards for travel, while others give cash back on groceries or gas. If your spending patterns are as varied as mine, a single card is unlikely to yield maximum rewards on every front. Now, imagine we’ve got a card tailor-made for each of our major spending categories. Our potential rewards take a sharp hike, don’t they?

Andrew GosselinMoney Inc

Venture vs. Quicksilver: How Do They Compare to Other Capital One Cards?

Let’s start with some of the most popular Capital One cards:

Capital One Platinum vs. Venture vs. Quicksilver

 

Platinum

Quicksilver

Venture

Annual fee

$0

$0

$95

Intro offer

None

$200

75,000 bonus miles

Rewards

None

1.5% cashback on every purchase

5% cashback on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel

2 miles per $1 on every purchase

5 miles per $1 on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel

Read more:

Capital One Quicksilver vs. Capital One Venture vs. Discover card

Now, let’s venture out of the Capital One world and compare Quicksilver and Venture cards with the Discover It card:

 

Discover It

Quicksilver

Venture

Annual fee

$0

$0

$95

Intro offer

Discover will match all the cashback you’ve earned at the end of your first year

$200

75,000 bonus miles

Rewards

1% cashback on every purchase

5% cashback on different categories each quarter

1.5% cashback on every purchase

5% cashback on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel

2 miles per $1 on every purchase

5 miles per $1 on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel

Back to comparing Capital One cards—

Capital One Venture vs. Quicksilver vs. VentureOne

 

VentureOne

Quicksilver

Venture

Annual fee

$0

$0

$95

Intro offer

20,000 bonus miles

$200

75,000 bonus miles

Rewards

1.25 miles per $1 on every purchase

5 miles per $1 on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel

1.5% cashback on every purchase

5% cashback on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel

2 miles per $1 on every purchase

5 miles per $1 on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel

Anything jump out at you? If not, below we have a few alternatives outside the Capital One fam.

Capital One Cards and Alternatives

For travelers

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase Sapphire Preferred offers valuable travel rewards and perks for frequent travelers. 

It has a $95 annual fee, but it can score you $750 toward travel in the first three months and many rewards categories (like five points per dollar for travel-related purchases made at Chase, three points for select streaming services, and three points for groceries).

American Express Gold Card

Amex Gold card is ideal for dining and travel rewards, with enhanced earning rates and additional travel perks.

Read more:

For cashback enthusiasts

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Chase Freedom Unlimited offers generous cashback rates on everyday spending and an additional bonus for travel purchases. 

It kind of merges the pros of Venture and Quicksilver cards. And there’s no annual fee, of course.

Citi Double Cash Card

Citi Double Cash Card gives you a 2% cashback rate on all purchases (no caps or the need to manage different categories). 

You can use the card to get out of debt, as it offers 0% APR for the first eighteen months.

Read more:

Capital One Venture vs. Quicksilver: Which Card Should You Choose?

Which of the two Capital One credit cards would be a better option for you? 

Let’s see.

Are you a frequent traveler? Venture offers travel rewards, while Quicksilver focuses on cashback.

Do you prefer cashback or travel rewards? If cashback is your priority, Quicksilver is the better option—but if you’re after travel benefits, consider the Venture card.

How much do you spend annually? Venture offers higher rewards rates for higher spenders, while Quicksilver offers a flat cashback rate.

Are you willing to pay an annual fee? If you want to avoid annual fees, Quicksilver would be the better option as Venture has an annual fee after the first year.

Are you seeking a sign-up bonus? Compare the current sign-up bonuses for both cards to see which one offers the better incentive for you.

How important are travel perks and protection? Venture offers travel benefits like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, which Quicksilver doesn’t have.

Are you looking to transfer balances or finance a large purchase? Look at the intro APR offers for both cards to see which one meets your needs better.

FAQ

Can I have both the Quicksilver and Venture card?

Yes, you can have both Quicksilver and Venture cards. This allows you to benefit from Quicksilver’s cashback and Venture’s travel rewards at the same time.

You’d have to use them both when doing everyday shopping, though. To earn a lot of rewards, you’d have to spend a lot, too.

If you’re unsure of which one to choose, read detailed reviews of the Capital One Quicksilver and the Capital One Venture. 

Or, consider choosing one card that could get all the jobs done for you—look through the best credit cards for 2023, the best travel cards, and the best cash back cards.

What is the difference between Capital One Quicksilver and Venture?

Quicksilver is a cashback card with no annual fee, while Venture is a travel rewards card with an annual fee of $95.

Also, Quicksilver offers a flat 1.5% cashback on all purchases whereas Venture earns 2x miles on every purchase, and up to 10x miles on certain hotel bookings through the Capital One travel platform.

Quicksilver lets you redeem cashback at any time and for any amount. Venture miles can be redeemed for travel expenses, like airlines, hotels and car rentals, or transferred to over fifteen travel loyalty programs.

Check out:

Is Capital One Quicksilver a card for bad credit?

Quicksilver isn’t specifically for bad credit, as it requires at least a good credit score (670+) for approval.

If you’re still in the bad to fair range, check out what is a good credit score and how to increase your score fast.

If you’re looking for a card and don’t yet have a good or excellent credit, check out the Capital One Platinum card or Capital One QuicksilverOne card.

Is Capital One Quicksilver hard to get?

Getting Quicksilver depends on your credit score, income, and credit history. Aim for a score above 670 for better odds.

Not there yet? Learn how to increase your score fast or how to build your credit with a credit card.

Is Capital One Venture hard to get?

Like Quicksilver, Venture requires at least a good credit score (670+) and a solid financial background, making difficulty subjective.

Is a Capital One Quicksilver card worth it?

Quicksilver is worth it if you prefer cashback, no annual fee, and simplicity in earning and redeeming rewards.

If you’re not convinced, check out more cashback credit cards.

Does Capital One Quicksilver pay for global entry?

No, Capital One Quicksilver doesn’t offer Global Entry fee credit—Venture card does.

How many credit cards should you have?

The ideal number of credit cards depends on your ability to manage them responsibly. Aim for a mix that meets your needs without hurting your credit score.

To figure out the number, read our detailed guide on how many credit cards should you have (with the good and the bad of owning multiple cards).



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