Credit Cards » Compare Credit Cards » Capital One vs. Discover Credit Cards: How They Compare?

Capital One vs. Discover Credit Cards: How They Compare?

Capital One is the leader and offer more options for consumers than Bank Of America, especially when it comes to travel credit cards

Article update: November 29, 2024

Article update:November 29, 2024

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In February 2024, Capital One agreed to acquire Discover Financial Services for over $35 billion, bringing together two of the largest credit card companies in the U.S.

However, the deal doesn't include a credit card merger of both companies, so customers may still debate between both banks. Whether you're looking for a travel, cashback, or 0% intro card, here are the options for both offers, side by side.

Discover vs. Capital One: Which Offers Better Cashback Card?

When it comes to cashback cards, both Citi and Capital One offer more than a single option.

For those who are looking for a cashback card with no annual fee, Discover offers the Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurants as well as the Discover It Cash Back. All of them offer rewards and also 0% intro APR.

The Discover It Cash Back card is famous for its rotating quarterly categories, where cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter after activation. These categories change every three months and can include expenses like groceries, gas stations, restaurants, and Amazon.com.

The Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurants card is designed for individuals who spend primarily on gas and dining. Lastly, the Capital One Quicksilver Card provides a straightforward 1.5% cash back on every purchase (lower than Discover's cards, but there is no cap).

If you're willing to pay an annual fee, the Savor card may be the best option in terms of rewards, as it offers 1% – 4% , depending on the category – with no limit, and the highest welcome offers between all cards. However, it doesn't include 0% intro APR, similar to the no annual fee cashback cards.


	Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card	Capital One Savor	Discover It Cash Back	Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurants
Annual Fee	$0	$95	$0	$0
Rewards	1.5% – 5% 5% percent cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.5% cash back on all purchases everyday.	1% – 4% unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases.	1-5% 5% cashback on up to $1,500 in rotating category purchases each quarter when you activate the bonus category (then 1%), as well 1% percent cash back on all other purchases	1-2% 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and 1% cash back on all your other purchases
Welcome bonus	$200 $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening	$300 $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening	Cashback Match All cash back earned at the end of the first 12 months is matched.	Cashback Match Discover matches all cash back you earn at the end of your first year
0% Intro APR	15 months on balance transfers and purchases	None	15 months on purchases and balance transfers	15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Foreign Transaction Fee	$0	$0	$0	0%
Purchase APR	19.74% – 29.74% (Variable)	19.99% – 29.99% Variable	18.74% – 27.74% Variable APR	18.74% – 27.74% Variable APR
	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review

Which Bank Has the Edge in Travel Cards?

Discover offers a low-tier credit card, which is mainly relevant for those who travel rarely, while Capital One offers a mid-tier card as well as a luxury credit card, the Venture X card.

The main benefit of the Discover card is the 0% intro APR, which is not available through Capital One.

However, the Venture card may be the best card between them. It provides lounge access benefits (2 times a year), price drop protection through Capital One Travel, up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, and Hertz® Five Star status.

If you want to travel luxury, the Venture X card offers several benefits, including a $300 annual travel credit, a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus, and complimentary access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.


	Discover it Miles	Capital One Venture	Capital One Venture X
Annual Fee	$0	$95	$395
Rewards	1.5X unlimited 1.5x miles for every dollar spent on all purchases	2X – 5X 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, plus 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel	1X – 10X 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
Welcome bonus	Discover Match® Discover matches your first year miles automatically.	75,000 miles 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening	75,000 miles 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Membership Club	Redeem As Statement Credit	Capital One Travel	Capital One Travel
0% Intro APR	15 months on purchases and balance transfers	N/A	N/A
Foreign Transaction Fee	$0	$0	$0
Purchase APR	18.74% – 27.74% Variable APR	19.99% – 29.74% (Variable)	19.99% – 29.74% (Variable)
	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review

0% Intro APR: Capital One SavorOne or NHL Discover it?

When it comes to balance transfer cards with a 0% intro fee, both Discover and Capital One offer various cards that provide this.

Two main competitors are the Capital One SavorOne and the Discover NHL card. They have no significant difference, and both offer the same terms.

However, it is worth mentioning the SavorOne card carries a lower balance transfer fee, which makes it a bit more attractive.


	Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards	NHL Discover it
Annual Fee	$0	$0
Rewards	1% – 8% unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). You’ll also earn 1% on all other purchases. Plus, you get 10% cash back on purchases through Uber and Uber Eats, 8% on Capital One Entertainment purchases, and 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel	1% – 5% 5% cash back on spending in the quarterly bonus categories and 1% on all other purchases
0% Intro APR	15 months on purchases and balance transfers	15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Balance Transfer Fee	3%	5%
Foreign Transaction Fee	$0	$0
Purchase APR	19.74% – 29.74% (Variable)	18.74% – 27.74%
	Read Review	Read Review

What If I Need A Secured Card To Build Credit?

When comparing secured cards by both banks, the Discover it Secured card is our choice.

If earning rewards while building credit is important, Discover it® Secured has a clear advantage with its cash back program and first-year Cashback Match. This is what most users search for.

For those who prioritize flexibility in the security deposit and a straightforward path to increase their credit line, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is more suitable.


	Discover it® Secured	Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Annual Fee	$0	$0
Rewards	1-2% 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases	N/A
Welcome bonus	Cashback Match™ Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.	N/A
Security Deposit	Your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200	$49, $99 or $200 minimum refundable deposit
Purchase APR	28.24% Variable	29.99% (Variable)
	Read Review	Read Review

Additional Cards To Consider

Another teo cards worth mentioning is the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards card and the Discover it® Student Chrome card .

The Discover it® Student Chrome card is designed for students, offering rewards on gas and dining, a GPA-based statement credit, and no annual fee. Plus, its Cashback Match feature at the end of the first year can double the rewards for new cardholders, making it a great choice for students who want to build credit and earn rewards.

On the other hand, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards card offers a straightforward 1.5% cash back on all purchases, making it a good option for those who prefer a simple, consistent rewards structure. While it has an annual fee, it comes with credit monitoring tools and the possibility of a credit line increase after making timely payments.


	Discover it® Student Chrome	Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards
Annual Fee	$0	$39
Rewards	1-2% 2% cashback at gas and restaurants (up to $1,000 every quarter) and 1% on groceries and other student related products	1.5% – 5% Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
Welcome bonus	Match Bonus Discover will match all cash back earned at the end of your first year	N/A
Credit Score	Fair	Fair
Foreign Transaction Fee	$0	3%
Purchase APR	18.24% – 27.24% Variable	30.74% (Variable)
	Read Review	Read Review

Bottom Line

Both Capital One and Bank Of America offer a variety of cards for almost any purpose.

However, Capital One is the leader and offer more options for consumers, especially when it comes to travel credit cards as it offers premium and luxury travel cards with access to Capital One Travel.

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor. Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.

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Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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In order to determine the best possible credit cards, we look at things like fees, interest rates and rewards. We do this with companies that are associated with us as partners as well as other offerings. From there, we make a decision about what the best card is related to different categories and needs. We focus on interest rate cost & fees, especially the cost of carrying a balance, rewards – cards accumulate rewards in different currencies—points, miles, cash back—and their values vary widely usability – cards that accept a wide range of credit profiles and offer simple solutions for things like checking your credit score or contacting. We also consider customer reviews.

We look at cards related to good or excellent credit ratings that will then provide a range of different benefits and improvements for someone who has these scores. We also look at low fees when it comes to those who have lower credit scores.