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Capital One Quicksilver Was My First Card: Here's My Honest Review After A Few Years

Review Updated
Steven Porrello
Steven Porrello
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Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Fact checker

Nathan Alderman has been a full-time Motley Fool employee since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As Motley Fool Money's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

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Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) is good for earning a flat 1.5% back on everything with the option to redeem cash back shortly after purchases are approved. Although the flat rate isn't as high as other cash back credit cards, its simplicity, long intro 0% APR, and welcome bonus make it a favorite among consumers.

Whether you're looking for a catch-all card or your first credit card, keep reading to see if the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has a place in your wallet.

Ratings Methodology

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Apply Now for Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

On Capital One's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

On Capital One's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: 0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months (Balance Transfer Fee Applies)

Regular APR

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply.

1.5%-5% cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

$200 Cash Back

  • What really stands out is the incredibly easy-to-earn sign-up bonus. You can earn a $200 sign-up bonus after spending only $500 in your first 3 months (that's like earning 40% cash back on that spend!). If a straightforward cash back program & sign-up bonus with a low spending hurdle is most important to you, then this card is a very solid pick.

    • Competitive sign-up bonus
    • Solid cash back rate on purchases
    • No annual fee
    • Great intro APR
    • Card perks
    • Rewards do not expire for the life of the account
    • No bonus categories
    • Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
    • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
    • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
    • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
    • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
    • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Capital One Quicksilver benefits

Easy way to earn a quick $200 cash back welcome offer

New cardholders can earn a $200 Cash Back welcome offer once $500 is spent within 3 months of the account opening.

An unlimited 1.5% back on all purchases, from concert tickets to vintage clothes

Earn 1.5% on nearly every purchase and redeem cash back flexibly. The card's simplicity is one of its biggest selling points, with no rotating categories to keep track of, no points or miles systems to memorize, nothing but pure cash that you can apply against balances, deposit in your bank account, or redeem for travel and Amazon purchases.

5% cash back on select travel bookings (finally -- the wanderlust is paying off)

You can earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).

Zero annual fees means cash back automatically goes to your pocket

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card cardholders get a nice break from paying an annual fee.

Long 0% intro APR to save on interest for big purchases and balance transfers

There's no APR for new purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months with this card. Note, there is a balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time.

Cash back never expires -- even if the world ends

The clock is never ticking on cash back, since it is valid for redemption as long as the customer maintains their account.

Apply now for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

What could be improved

A card with one-rate-to-rule-them-all means you don't get bonus categories

Yes, the rewards program's across-the-board cash back is easy to understand and keep track of. However, the downside is that aside from hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, no product or service category earns additional cash back, as is the case with numerous rivals. Cardholders are missing out on good earning opportunities if this is their only cash back card.

The earn rate is a little meh

Earning 1.5% on every purchase is decent, but it's not the best base rate we've seen for a no fee card. Other cards, like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, earn unlimited 2% back on purchases (see rates and fees) (terms apply).

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5-3 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Is the Capital One Quicksilver worth it?

If you don't want to wait for your cash back or deal with complicated miles and points valuations, then, yes, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is well worth it. The card's flat 1.5% back beats the 1% that most other credit cards earn for everyday purchases.

Author's personal experience
Image of reviewer

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card was my first credit card, and, for years, I was a huge fan of it. I loved that I could redeem my cash back almost instantly, which helped me cover purchases before inflation could tamper with my rewards.

These days, I'm relying on this credit card less and less, as I have others that earn more cash back. I still use it every now and then for small purchases. It's an excellent credit card for beginners and introduces you to earning rewards without the complexity of rotating categories or points systems.

What everyone else is saying

Now that you know my personal experience with the card, let's take a look at what our competitors and social media has to say.

What other review sites say

Average review site rating: 4.18 / 5.0 stars

Four of the top review sites gave this card at least four stars, while one gave it slightly less at 3.8 out of 5 stars. Everyone applauds the card's simplicity, and, like me, call out how easy it is to redeem cash back. Nearly everyone agrees that the card's major weakness is its lack of bonus rates and the fact that other flat-rate cards earn 2% back.

Online consensus

Most online users agree that the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent beginner credit card. You can build credit, while earning a decent rate on your everyday purchases. However, as a credit card to keep using once you've built a solid credit score and gotten your feet wet -- that's where users become divided.

Those who support this card for the long term point out how easy it is to redeem cash back. They, like me, love how Capital One doesn't make you wait for your cash back, crediting it to your account as soon as purchases are approved.

Detractors mentioned that the card only earns 1.5% back as a flat rate, which isn't the strongest rate for everyday purchases. They also dislike that the card doesn't have bonus rates. Others also pointed out that Capital One's other credit cards have more earning potential for the right cardholder than this one.

Find the best credit card for your needs
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Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

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What to know before applying

Capital One Quicksilver credit score

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is best for those with good to excellent credit -- typically a FICO® Score of 670 or higher. Other criteria that Capital One stipulates upfront include:

  • Never declared bankruptcy.
  • Not defaulted on a loan.
  • Never paid a credit card statement, medical bill, or loan more than 60 days after it was due.
  • Held a credit card or loan at a limit (or amount) over $5,000, for at least three years.

To get the full scoop, check out our guide on how to apply for a Capital One credit card.

Pre-approval process

You can use Capital One's pre-approval tool to see which credit cards you might get approved for. The first part of the tool is a questionnaire that asks you basic questions, like your reason for getting a new credit card and your annual income. Without running a hard inquiry, Capital One will then tell you which cards might be right for your credit profile.

Of course, you're not guaranteed a credit card (Capital One will still run a hard inquiry to complete your application). But it's a harmless first step and could stop you from dinging your credit score with a hard inquiry.

Intro APR

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card comes with a long 0% intro APR of 15 months for new purchases and balance transfers. (See rates and fees.) What's more, it also comes with an introductory balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. Since other credit cards charge balance transfer fees of 5%, you might save money on upfront charges by choosing this as your balance transfer card.

Once the 0% intro APR period ends, the card's regular APR will kick in. Currently, the APR ranges from 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable). In our current high-rate environment, that range is pretty standard among cash back credit cards.

Fees

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Balance transfer fee: 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
  • Cash advance fee: 5% ($5 min.) of the cash advance amount
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Late payment fee: Up to $40

Credit limit

Cardholders report credit limits as low as $750 and as high as $10,000. That said, Capital One doesn't specify credit limits in the Quicksilver's terms and conditions, so your specific limits could fall outside these ranges.

Once you have your Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, you can request credit limit increases through its app or website. Although you can request an increase at any time, your chances of getting approved will be higher if you've had your Capital One credit card for several months, have made on-time payments, and have had an increase in your total annual income.

Should you apply for the Capital One Quicksilver?

The ideal Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card holder is someone who wants an easy, no annual fee credit card that they can use for (nearly) every purchase. They might like the card for its stripped-down cash back rewards program -- which requires very little maintenance -- or for the cash back they can redeem almost immediately. It might also work well as a catch-all for a multi-card wallet.

That said, if you want to maximize your cash back on every purchase and you're indifferent to how long it takes your rewards to credit to your account, you might be better served with another card. While the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card ranks high for simplicity, it isn't among the top earning credit cards.

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • No, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card isn't a metal credit card. It's made of plastic.

  • The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a Mastercard. Capital One previously issued this credit card as a Visa before switching to Mastercard. You can confirm which type of card it is on the top of the application page.

  • Most cardholders are eligible for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card with a FICO® Score between 670 and 850. If your credit score falls outside this range, you can use Capital One's pre-approval tool to see if you might qualify.