Capital One Vs. Chase Credit Cards
This article was last updated Mar 26, 2019. Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
Whether you’re looking to get a credit card that offers cash back, travel rewards, or a balance transfer offer, Capital One and Chase offer a variety of cards to choose from, each with their own benefits to consider. No need to spend your time hunting down all the information — we’ve done the work for you.
Below you’ll find detailed information on the credit cards Capital One and Chase have to offer, so you can choose the best card for your needs. Here’s an overview of the two credit card issuers and what they offer.
At a glance: Capital One vs. Chase
- Customer satisfaction. The J.D. Power 2018 Credit Card Satisfaction StudySM ranked Chase as the fourth highest-performing credit card issuer for interaction, credit card terms, communication, benefits and services, rewards, and key moments. Capital One came in fifth place.
- Card offerings. Chase offers more high-end cards for people with good or excellent credit. Capital One offers more options for people with average credit and for people trying to rebuild their credit.
- Added card perks. The Chase Ultimate Rewards® Program offers more options for redeeming points and maximizing value, as well as synergies for people who hold multiple Chase rewards credit cards. Capital One doesn’t offer these benefits.
- Free credit score. Both cards offer your free VantageScore 3.0 provided by TransUnion.
Credit card comparisons
Capital One and Chase both provide several credit cards that offer different benefits depending on what type of perks you’re looking for. We organized our recommendations based upon how you plan on using the card. Note: Each issuer has multiple cards in the following categories; we listed our top picks.
| Capital One | Chase | |
| Cash back | Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card | Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
| Intro 0% APR options | Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card | Chase Slate® |
| Travel | Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
| New to credit / rebuilding | Capital One® Secured Mastercard® | N/A |
| Student | Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® | N/A |
| Small business | Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business | Ink Business Cash℠ Credit Card |
Cards with cashback rewards
Capital One offers two cards geared towards foodies
Chase offers a 5% bonus cashback card
Cards with intro 0% APR offers
If you’re looking to complete a balance transfer or want to finance new purchases, it’s a good idea to use a card offering an introductory 0% APR period. Capital One and Chase both offer cards with intro 0% APR periods on purchases and balance transfers. Chase has a balance transfer offer with the Chase Slate®, which has a coveted Intro $0 on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that: Either $5 or 5%, whichever is greater. The Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card comes with 0% intro on purchases for 12 months and after that 13.74% - 23.74% (Variable).
Cards with travel rewards
Chase outshines Capital One with its travel rewards cards — Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®. These cards offer 25% and 50% more value for your points, respectively, when points are redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards. They also both come with a variety of travel insurances. However, these cards both have annual fees: $95 for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and $450 for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Capital One also offers two travel-centric cards — Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card and Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card — but they lack the unique perks of Chase cards. While these cards don’t allow you to maximize points redeemed for travel, they can be more beneficial for consumers who don’t want to pay a hefty annual fee and look for simple, streamlined rewards redemption. The Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card has a $0 annual fee, while the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card’s annual fee is $0 intro for first year; $95 after that – see how our staff compensates for these.
Cards for building or rebuilding credit
Capital One offers a secured card, the Capital One® Secured Mastercard®, that can help you build or rebuild credit. This $0 annual fee card can be a great stepping stone for achieving a good credit score. Plus, the minimum security deposit can be lower than the typical $200, the deposit will be $49, $99 or $200. Unfortunately, Chase does not offer a secured card.
Cards for students
Another area where Capital One has a card and Chase does not is student cards. The Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® card offers students the chance to establish credit while in college in addition to earning rewards. Cardholders earn 1% cash back on all purchases; 0.25% cash back bonus on the cash back you earn each month you pay on time. This ability to earn a 25% bonus is a great incentive for students to practice the important behavior of paying bills on time.
Cards for small businesses
Capital One carries five small business cards, compared to Chase, which has two cards. Business owners with less than stellar credit may have better chances of qualifying for a Capital One business card, versus one from Chase, since the credit requirements are more lenient. For example, the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business requires average/fair/limited, while both Chase cards require excellent credit.
Here are the Chase business cards available:
Here are the Capital One business cards available:
Bottom line
Chase and Capital One have a variety of cards for consumers to consider. While there is no straightforward answer to which card issuer is better, there are certain gaps in each issuer’s card offerings. If you want a student card or secured card, you’ll need to look at Capital One. If you’re looking for a luxury travel card, Chase will have offers that Capital One lacks. When deciding between a Capital One card or a Chase card, focus less on the issuer and more on the perks the card offers. Make sure the card has benefits that can provide long-term value.
