The Best Capital One Credit Cards for 2016

Capital One credit cards have been around since the early 1990s, and they are among the most popular credit cards in the world. Capital One is one of the pioneers of the credit card market so much so that it is quickly became a Fortune 500 company, and Capital One credit cards have helped solidify the company’s position as the fourth largest customer of the US Postal Service. Located all over the world, Capital One credit card customers have the ability to bank at more than 960 branch locations, and they also have access to more than 2000 ATMS worldwide. As a top 10 US bank, the Capital One credit card is one of the most popular credit cards in the world.

Capital One offers credit cards to any person with acceptable credit and a valid Social Security Number, and there is a Capital One credit card for everyone. Whether you are in the market for a Capital One credit card that offers cash back, travel rewards or shopping rewards, you’re going to find that Capital One offers just the credit card you want and/or need to make the most of your spending and your rewards. With so many Capital One credit cards to chose from, however, it sometimes proves challenging for consumers to choose the card that is right for them. So many available Capital One credit cards with so many beneficial features and so many rewards sometimes causes confusion among consumers because they are not completely aware of how best to use each card to make the most of it.

Some Capital One credit cards are better for certain consumers than others. It is difficult to pinpoint precisely which Capital One credit card is the best in the market since consumers have such different needs, such different spending habits and such different financial situations to work with. What we’ve done is take the best of the best that Capital One has to offer in terms of credit cards and made them available to you in an easy-to-read format that breaks down the rewards, the benefits, the downfalls and the fine print. We also have a few suggestions on how you can make the most of each of the Capital One credit cards on our list of the best cards for 2016 so that you can stay out of debt, earn the most in terms of rewards and see your credit score rise or stay just as high as ever.

Who Benefits from a Capital One Credit Card?

Not everyone will benefit as much as others with the Capital One credit card. If you are not a frequent traveler, you might find that these cards are not the best credit cards for you since Capital One is big on travel rewards. With a Capital One credit card, you can rest assured that you will receive some of the best travel rewards in the business, and that is one of the number one reasons so many people prefer the Capital One credit cards.

The person that benefits most from the Capital One credit card is the one that travels often and wants to use points to redeem free travel and upgrades through any travel partner or company. Additionally, those who pay their balances in full each month benefit far more than those who do not pay their balance in full. Leaving a balance on your Capital One credit card does not allow you to take full advantage of the rewards available.

Others who are going to make the most of Capital One credit cards are those that spend a bit more significantly than others. For example, spending $500 per month is never going to earn you much when you use your Capital One credit card. The Venture card, for example, allows you to earn 2 points per every dollar spent. You need 100 points to earn $1 in travel rewards. This means at double the points, you earn only $10 in free travel per month. That’s $120 per year, which is not even a free hotel night. It’s better to use these Capital One credit cards if you spend a bit more.

Spending $1000 per month on the card is going to earn you $240 per year in free travel, which is better. More is even better. Pay your monthly expenses with the card and pay them off at the end of the month and you will earn the most. This is the person that will benefit most from having this particular Capital One credit card in his or her wallet.

Using Your Capital One Credit Card

One of the most important aspects of any great Capital One credit card, or any credit card for that matter, is knowing how to use it the right way. Applying for a Capital One credit card is not going to do you any good if you do not understand the basic concept of using a card in a way that allows you to make the most of the rewards offered. The most important step to remember when using your Capital One credit card is not to spend money you cannot afford to pay back. Getting yourself into debt with this card is not going to earn you any rewards; it will only make your life more complicated and stressful.

It’s important to remember, too, that earning rewards and points and cash back with any Capital One credit card is easy for those with a significant amount of disposable income and those who live on a tight budget. The trick is to pay the card balance off in full at the end of each month when the bill is due. You can do this even if you don’t have much money to spend on extras throughout the month thanks to a tight budget. All you have to do is use the card to pay for the things you normally buy throughout the month. Can you pay your mortgage or utilities with your Capital One credit card? What about your other monthly expenses? You can use the card to pay for your gas and groceries throughout the month, too, so that you can earn the points that you deserve all while never spending more than you can afford.

The only issue here is that you have to be very careful to use the cash you would have otherwise designated toward those expenses throughout the month to pay your Capital One credit card balance in full each month. Carrying a balance does not allow you to maximize your earnings ability. Pay the card in full each month so that you earn points and allow yourself the ability to continue earning the following month.

Remember that paying late is not an option and you should be good to go. Even Capital One credit card holders with the tightest budget can use their monthly spending to earn free travel, cash back and rewards to use on vacations they might not otherwise be able to afford or even to build their savings account with cash back. It’s simple, it’s easy and it’s worthwhile.

Now, it’s time to discuss which Capital One credit card is right for you. What’s right for all cardholders might not be right for you, so take your time to go through our comprehensive list and choose the card that works the best with your budget, with your needs and with your spending habits. Some might appear better than others but not be better in reality thanks to certain features that don’t work well with your personal habits, so consider all cards before you make a decision to apply for any particular Capital One credit card.

Capital One Credit Card Benefits

Not all Capital One credit cards are the same, but they do have one thing in common; Capital One offers serious benefits to all their credit card holders no matter which card you have. These features are available to all consumers with a Capital One credit card, and they are some of the most valuable aspects of all the cards in the Capital One credit card lineup. You’ll get these benefits across the board, and they are a big part of the reason Capital one is such a popular choice for credit cards in the United States.

1. Travel Benefits – all Capital One credit cards come with travel benefits that make travel safer, easier and more relaxing for cardholders. Read on to find out what your Capital One credit card has to offer frequent travelers to see if the benefits work for you
   1. 24-hour travel assistance is available to all Capital One credit card holders any time of the year – no exceptions
   2. Emergency card replacement and cash to all cardholders
   3. Rental car insurance that covers any and all collision, theft or damage to the rental vehicle
   4. No foreign transactions fees anywhere in the world
   5. Accident insurance is provided automatically to all Capital One credit card holders who are killed or lose a limb when traveling anywhere in the world when the card is used to pay for the trip
2. Accessibility – all Capital One credit cards come with the benefit of easy access in terms of communication with the company, bill payment, tracking your usage an so much more
   1. Mobile apps make keeping track of your spending, payments and Capital One credit cards a breeze
   2. 24 hour customer service anytime you have a question or issue
   3. Alerts on your account that remind you of payment due dates, balances and even purchases if you choose that route
   4. Online banking for every need – pay your bill online, check your balance, order a Capital One credit card for an authorized user, etc.
3. Security – Capital One wants all credit card holders to be as safe as possible from fraud and other issues, and that is why the company offers such great security and protection to all Capital One credit card holders at no extra charge
   1. 24/7 account monitoring that alerts you if there is any activity on your account that seems questionable
   2. Fraud coverage
   3. Interactive alerts – you will receive a text or email automatically when a purchase is made that is deemed questionable, such as one out of the state or in a location far away from where you were when you just made a purchase a few moments ago
   4. Security alert – never worry that someone else is using your card without your permission or knowledge
4. Additional Benefits – these are benefits that might or might not be offered by other credit card companies, and many people are unaware that their Capital One credit card comes with these benefits
   1. Extended warranties on all items purchased using your Capital One credit card
   2. Track authorized user spending
   3. Annual account summaries
   4. Balance transfers with special APR
   5. Financial education site access to help you make the most of your Capital One credit card, spending habits and personal finance
5. Customized Payment Options – no matter what, all Capital One credit card holders have the ability to customize their payment options in a number of ways, from the way you pay for the things you want to purchase to the way you pay your bill each month
   1. Online payments
   2. Mail payments
   3. Recurring payments
   4. Over-the-phone payments
   5. In person payments
   6. Automatic payments
   7. Choose your own monthly due date and your payment method
   8. Apple Pay with your Capital One credit card
6. Exclusive Cardholder Benefits – Capital One credit card holders are offered special benefits just for being a Capital One credit card user. These benefits are only for Capital One customers, and they include some very intriguing offers
   1. Capital One Wallet allows you to see your charges immediately through the use of personalized notifications and it allows Capital One credit card holders to see their balance and their payments, due dates and all other pertinent account information
   2. Credit tracker makes it easy for you to see your credit score, your history and even a simulator that allows you to see what would happen to your credit in any given situation
   3. Second look makes it possible for you to handle duplicate charges and other issues you might encounter when you use your Capital One credit card to make purchases

Capital One Venture Card

This Capital One credit card is among the best credit cards for 2016 because of all that it has to offer. Available only to those cardholders who have excellent credit, this is an exclusive card that really does offer the best that any Capital One credit card has to offer. From bonus points when you sign up for the card to competitive interest rates and all the benefits that come along with being a Capital One credit card holder, consumers who are looking for excellent rewards will find that this card is the best of the best in the Capital One market.

Who This Card is For

This Capital One credit card is for someone who spends frequently and excessively, and someone who knows that it’s imperative to pay the balance of the card in full every month. This is a card for someone who wants to earn free travel on a regular basis and free points to use to travel with when the opportunity arises. This Capital One credit card will most benefit the person who spends regularly and redeems miles for free nights, free airfare and free travel rewards. It’s also for the person willing to redeem their rewards points as a statement credit rather than booking travel with the points. This allows cardholders to earn more points on purchases and then redeem points for a credit so no points are lost.

This is also a card for those with excellent credit. Anyone without an excellent credit score is not going to qualify for this card as it is reserved for the most financially responsible card users. With no balance transfer fees, this Capital One credit card is good for anyone who has a balance on a card that has a higher interest rate. Transferring that balance gives you the chance to pay it off without paying more than you owe to get that done.

Perks

1. Spend $3,000 in three months and earn 40,000 bonus points (the equivalent of $400 in travel)
2. Rewards do not expire
3. There is no limit to reward points available
4. Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on every single purchase you make with this Capital One credit card
5. Use rewards to book any travel from airline to cruises to rental cars to hotels and even entertainment
6. No balance transfer fees
7. No annual fee for one year
8. Visa Signature Card benefits come with this Capital One credit card

Cons

1. $59 annual fee after the first year
2. Not available to anyone with good or average credit
3. Higher interest rates for some consumers
4. 9% cash advance APR
5. No special APR rewards or offers available

Capital One Quicksilver Card

Created for those with excellent credit, this Capital One credit card is great for those who want to earn cash back on all their purchases. What makes this card stand out more so than the rest is that it offers a higher rate of earnings on cash back, making it a more profitable card to have in your wallet. This Capital One credit card is good for those who want to earn money back on a regular basis on every single purchase and not just on certain purchases made in specific categories.

Who This Card is For

This Capital One credit card is for the cardholder that wants to earn cash back. It’s a more rewarding system than travel rewards for some. However, those who love to travel will find that some of the other credit cards that Capital One has to offer are a bit more beneficial. This card is going to give you the chance to earn cash back in the form of a check or a statement credit – either of which work just fine for cardholders.

The most beneficial way to use this card is to spend as much as possible on the card and then pay it off in full. It is, essentially, a way of paying yourself for paying your typical monthly expenses. Let’s say that your household bills, your expenses, cost you approximately $3500 per month every month. Now you have the opportunity to use your Capital One credit card to pay those bills and then send your designated cash to the card company at the end of the month to pay the balance. Earning 1.5% cash back is going to earn you $630 per year in cash back. That is a lot of money, and it makes sense to use this card as often as possible to earn this kind of cash back.

This is also a card for people with excellent credit. It’s not going to anyone with less than excellent credit because it’s not a Capital One credit card for anyone who is not a proven financially savvy spender.

Perks

1. Earn $100 cash bonus when you spend $500 in 90 days
2. Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases – not just purchases made in special categories
3. No limit to amount of cash back you can earn
4. No APR until July 2016
5. Low 3% fee on all balance transfers through July 2016
6. No annual fee – ever
7. Redeem cash back points at any time
8. Visa Signature Benefits
9. 20% statement credit on all Uber rides through April 2016

Cons

1. Variable interest rate not beneficial for customers with lower credit scores
2. Not available for anyone with good to average credit
3. No ability to earn additional points with special offers or special categories

Capital One QuicksilverOne Rewards Card

This particular Capital One credit card is among the most popular of the cards offered by this company, and there are a number of pros and cons associated with this card. If you love to earn cash back, you will love this card and it will work for you. Unlike the other Quicksilver card offered by the same company, this Capital One credit card is for those who have average or better credit, making it more easily accessible to those who need a card and want to choose a Capital One credit card.

Who This Card is For

Capital One credit cards are for everyone, and this is a card that is a prime example of that. This is a card for those who have average to good credit, which means it’s available to more consumers. This Capital One credit card allows cardholders to earn money back on every purchase, so it is for those who want to get paid to spend money. It’s for cardholders that are able to spend money throughout the month and then pay the balance in full at the end of the month. It’s not for those who like to carry a balance and not pay their balance in full.

Without transfer fees, it is also a great Capital One credit card for those who have to transfer a balance from a card with a higher rate so that they can pay it off without having to pay any interest in a specific amount of time.

Perks

1. Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases
2. No APR until July 2016
3. No APR on balance transfers through July 2016
4. No transfer fees
5. Available for cardholders with less than excellent credit

Cons

1. Annual fee of $39 per year
2. No sign up bonus for additional reward points
3. 9 percent variable APR on balance transfers and purchases after July 2016

Capital One Spark Cash for Business

There are dozens of credit card review sites out there, but many of them forget to review the cards that are most beneficial to those who own a business and are looking for a Capital One credit card to use for business purposes rather than personal purposes. Since we are reviewing the best Capital One credit cards available for 2016, it does not make sense for us to offer you advice and reviews without offering it on all the cards that are available in each category. If you’re looking for a Capital One credit card for your business, we urge you to consider this Capital One credit card for businesses. It comes with all that Capital One has to offer cardholders, plus the added bonus of some of the best rewards in the business credit card market.

Who is This Card For

This is a Capital One credit card that is for business owners. This is not a personal card, so without a business you will not qualify for this card. With so many rewards and great features, it’s the credit card that makes the most sense for business owners with large and small businesses. The cash bonus is a big one and it can be used to pay your balance or to give a bonus to an employee that does a great job. You can even designate it to the annual Christmas party at the office or something of that nature.

Business owners have to be financially savvy, especially around tax time. This card is going to provide you with the opportunity to itemize and organize your expenses throughout the year so that you have them all in one place and already organized for you. That’s what makes this Capital One credit card one of the best cards for business owners. The detail work is handled and organized for you, so all you have to do is use the card and let someone else do all the hard work. It saves you not only money by offering cash back, but also time organizing your business expenses at the end of the fiscal year.

Perks

1. $500 bonus when you spend $4,500 in 3 months
2. Itemized expense summary for annual income taxes
3. Free employee cards
4. Visa Signature benefits
5. No foreign transaction fees
6. No annual fee for one year

Cons

1. Annual fee of $59 after the first year
2. No APR offers
3. High interest rate of 29.4% for penalties

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card

This Capital One credit card offers something that few other cards offer, which is a chance for consumers to apply for this card and get accepted with less than excellent credit. Many of the best rewards cards from Capital One are reserved only for those with the best credit, and that means many consumers are left without the ability to apply for certain cards. This card, however, is for those with average to good credit, which makes it more accessible for those who want to apply for a new card.

Who This Card is For

This Capital One credit card is for those who want to carry a Capital One card but don’t have excellent credit. It’s for those who want to earn travel rewards by charging purchases to their credit card and then pay it off at the end of the month. The rewards rate is not as good as it is with other cards that Capital One offers to those with even better credit, but it is higher than the rates that are earned with many other credit cards. Many offer only 1 mile per dollar spent, with more offered in certain categories (often categories that revolve throughout the year) so you are guaranteed more miles for every dollar spent no matter where you go.

This particular Capital One credit card is also beneficial to those who like to travel throughout the year and not when a card company tells them that they can travel. There are no blackout dates associated with travel, so you can go anytime you want whether you plan a year in advance or you decide Friday morning to take off on a flight for the weekend somewhere a little warmer and more exiting. With no foreign transaction fees, it’s a great card for anyone who wants to travel internationally on a regular basis, and it is not a card with an annual fee, which makes it a little bit more affordable for everyone.

Perks

1. 20,000 bonus miles when you spend $1000 in 3 months ($200 worth of travel)
2. Earn 1.25 miles on every purchase, which is higher than the standard 1 mile available with most other credit cards
3. No APR on all purchases made until October 2016
4. No travel blackout dates
5. Travel with any airline, stay at any hotel, etc.
6. Miles do not expire
7. No limit to the number of miles you can earn
8. No foreign transaction fees
9. No annual fee

Cons

1. Rewards are not as high as other Capital One credit cards

Capital One Journey Student Rewards Card

We cannot forget those of you who are just starting out with a Capital One credit card. Perhaps this is your first credit card all together, or your first major card. Either way, this is a great card – one of the best – for students who are looking to build their credit history responsibly. This particular Capital One credit card offers rewards for students that typically are not available to many students. This card is good for those with a limited credit history, too, and that is what makes it one of the best in this particular category.

Who This Card is For

If you are not a student, you need not apply for this Capital One credit card. This is a card for students only. This card is beneficial only for those who can prove that they are enrolled in some sort of higher learning educational facility, and it’s good for those who want to earn cash back. Since most college students aren’t doing much in the way of traveling, this card is beneficial because it offers cash back. All college students could use a little cash back. And with a 1% rate of return on every purchase, it’s a good card for those who do charge their classes, their books and their other expenses to this card.

If you are a college student who likes to take that yearly trip for Spring Break somewhere tropical, you will be able to enjoy your trip without worrying about trivial things such as foreign transaction fees, either. With no annual fee and the potential to earn just a little bit more cash back when you pay your balance on time every month, this is a beneficial card for all college students. Additionally, if you want a Capital One credit card in your wallet, this is a good one because it is good for those who have little to no credit. It’s not always easy to get a card when you haven’t credit in the first place, but this card makes it more likely that you will be able to get the kind of card you want so that you can begin building your credit.

With the added bonus you can earn an additional .25% cash back when you pay your balance on time, this Capital One credit card helps you learn to prioritize paying your bills. That small added incentive is often all it takes to help college students with very little experience in paying their expenses and bills on time. What we love about this card is that it promotes good credit and responsible spending for those who are just starting out, and it rewards those students for being responsible. It’s a very simple, yet very effective concept in any way, shape or form.

Perks

1. No annual fee
2. Earn 1% cash back on all purchases
3. Earn .25% cash back on every dollar spent when the bill is paid on time
4. No annual fee
5. No foreign transaction fees
6. Great for students
7. Average credit is acceptable

Cons

1. High APR (19.8% variable)
2. No APR offers
3. No bonus offers

Each of these Capital One credit cards has a lot to offer those who want to apply. Take a few moments to go over the pros and cons of each card, what they each have to offer and then consider your lifestyle. Sure, one card might look better than another but if you don’t travel, what good is a Capital One credit card that provides you with miles over a card that provides you with cash back? Everyone could use a little cash back, but only those who love to travel will find that Capital One travel credit cards beneficial. The same goes for students and business owners, and that’s why we took the time to go through each of the best Capital One credit cards in every category. We want you to have options and know which cards are the best of the best.