For anyone looking for a new cash back credit card then a breakdown of the matchup between the Capital One Quicksilver vs Discover it® Cash Back Card is a great place to start. Each of these cards are extremely popular and we think that you would agree that they both offer great cash back earning power and can help you get more out of your everyday spending.
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But in order to decide which one is best you have to break down all of the details involving how they earn cash back and what benefits are included with them. We will do just that so that you have all of the information that you need to make the right decision. No matter which card you choose you will be able to take advantage of one of the best cash back credit cards available today.
So let’s go ahead break each of these cards down and find out who comes out on top in the battle between the Capital One Quicksilver vs Discover it card.
By Matthew Coan
Capital One Quicksilver vs Discover it Cash Back Breakdown
The Capital One Quicksilver card is a simple, easy, and straightforward cash back credit card. You will earn 1.5% cash back rate on every purchase that you make. Which is well above other cards in the same category. There’s no need to worry about bonus categories or where you need to spend to get the most rewards.
This Discover it Card does have bonus categories that offer a cash back rate that is at the top of its game compared to other cards in the same field. These categories change every quarter and you have to actively go into your online account and select the cash back bonus categories you want.
Depending on your spending habits, you could earn major cash back if you take advantage of these quarterly bonus categories. Outside of the bonus categories you will earn a standard cash back rate. Making every purchase you make that much more rewarding.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
If it a no nonsense elevated rate cash back credit card that you are looking for the the Capital One Quicksilver Card might be a great option. You get a great cash back rewards rate on everything you buy. With no need to worry about what categories earn more, or how and where to spend to get the most out of it.
There is one exception though. You earn an even more cash back when you make certain travel purchases though the Capital One travel site. Something that is usually only available on high end travel credit cards. And you get all of this for no annual fee.
There is also a generous signup bonus available as well. Which can help get your cash back rewards off to a great start if you can meet the spending requirement in the given time frame.
All in all the Capital One Quicksilver is a great no frills cash back credit card that makes your everyday spending simple and rewarding. A great competitor in the matchup between the Capital One Quicksilver vs Discover it.
Key Takeaways
- $200 signup bonus when you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening your account
- 5% cash back on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
- 0% intro APR on new purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (after that 19.24% – 29.24% variable APR, 3% transfer fee on amounts transferred within the first 15 months)
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
- And more
Discover it Cash Back
There are actually a whole portfolio of Discover it cards, but for this matchup we are going to focus on the Discover it Cash Back card. You get a superior cash back rate on select bonus categories that change every quarter.
There is one kicker and that is that each quarter you need to go into your online Discover account and activate the bonus categories that you want. Not a big deal but just something to remember.
The cash back rewards that you earn in these bonus categories is leaps and bounds above what most other cards offer. So it is something to take advantage of. There is also a cap on the amount you can earn in bonus cash back. After that your cash back rewards will go down to the base rate, which is on par with other cards in this category.
Discover also takes the traditional signup bonus offer that most cards have and takes it to another level. At the end of your first year they will match all of the cash back that you have earned. So essentially you signup bonus is based on how much you maximize your spending. Which means that the bonus you earn can be well above what other cards offer.
And you get all of this for no annual fee. Something that Discover prides themselves on with all of the cards that they offer. Along with their customer service as well.
Key Takeaways
- 5% cash back on purchases made in select spend categories that change each quarter (up to quarterly maximum and offers must be activated)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cashback Match: Discover will automatically match all the cash back you have earned at the end of your first year
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers and new purchases for 15 months (then 16.49% – 27.49% standard variable purchase APR applies, based on creditworthiness)
- No annual fee
- Discover will help remove your personal information from select people search websites for free when activated through the mobile app
- And more
Capital One Quicksilver vs Discover it Cash Back Benefits
Signup Bonus
The signup, or welcome bonus, can be a big deal when it comes to cash back credit cards. That is because it can kickstart your cash back earnings off right because of how much they can be worth.
The Capital One Quicksilver Card has a great signup bonus offer that matches up with other cards in the same category. The spend requirement is not that high and the time length to get it is reasonable as well. And the best part is that you don’t have to wait too long after you meet the requirements to have it added to your account.
The Discover it Cash Back card takes a little bit of a different angle when it comes to their signup bonus. They basically take all of the cash back that you earn in your entire first year and match it. Essentially doubling the amount of cash back that you have.
So while you might have to wait a little longer to get it, it has the potential to be a lot larger than that of the other cards it is competing against.
Foreign Transaction Fees
If you are looking to travel overseas with either one of these cards then know that you are covered when it comes to foreign transaction fees. Both the Capital One Quicksilver and Discover it Cash Back do not charge foreign transaction fees of any kind. So you can use your card to pay, just like you would anywhere else, and they will convert the money to the local currency at no charge.
This is something that can have a lot of value if you plan to travel internationally. This is also a feature that most no annual fee cards do not have included either. So this comes out as a clear cut tie between these two cards. No matter which one you choose you have nothing to worry about when it comes to foreign transaction fees.
Balance Transfers
When choosing between these two cards many people will want to know about the balance transfer offers that come with them. When it comes to balance transfers the most important thing to consider is the length of the 0% intro apr rate that is included. Well, both of these cards offer balance transfers and both of them have comparable timeframes of 0 APR.
The next thing to consider is the balance transfer fee. Most credit cards that offer balance transfers have an intro balance transfer fee so this is something that you really can not avoid. Even when paying a balance transfer fee, as long as you have your balance paid off in time, it can be still worth with the amount of savings that you will get.
So yet again another tie between these two cards when it comes to the balance transfer offer availability.
Capital One vs Discover it: What Credit Score Is Needed?
Both of these cards are at the top of their game when it comes to cash back rewards. They also have a handful of included benefits as well. Even though neither of them charge an annual fee.
So if you thought that you would need a good to excellent credit score to qualify for both of them you would be right.
You will want to know your current credit score, and what’s in your credit report, before applying so that you give yourself the best chance of getting approved. Checking your credit history as well is another good idea. As there is a lot more that goes into your credit card application than just your credit score.
With a credit card issuer like Discover and Capital One and both of these cards being one of their main offerings this should be no surprise. If you want to get the best of the best then it usually requires a good to excellent credit score.
If you have fair to good credit then you may want to consider the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. It has a lower credit score requirement to qualify.
Annual Fee
For most people when it comes to selecting their next credit card it usually comes down to the annual fee. People want to maximize the cash back rewards that they get and they don’t want an annual fee eating away at it.
Fortunately neither of these cards charge an annual fee. Which is actually surprising based on their elevated cash back rewards and the benefits that they come with.
While there are some cash-back credit cards that do charge an annual fee and come with even better included benefits, it is up to you to find out the value in them. If you want to earn a great cash back rewards rate and keep all of it, then either the Capital One Quicksilver or the Discover it Cash Back are great options.
Cash Bonus Categories
If it is bonus cash back that you are looking for then there is one card in this matchup that offers more than the other. The Discover it Cash Back card has bonus categories that change every quarter. You can even check them out at the 1st of each quarter to see what the bonus categories will be included over the next 3 months.
And the cash back rewards that you will earn on these bonus categories is well above what other cards offer.
You do have to go into your Discover account each quarter and activate these offers, but that is a pretty simple and quick process. There is also a maximum amount of bonus cash back you can earn as well. But even if you hit the max each quarter you are still coming out well ahead.
As for the Capital One Quicksilver card the only cash back category you have is certain travel purchases you make through the Capital One travel website. The elevated cash back rate you earn is awesome, but other than that everything else you buy is at the already above par cash back rewards that come with this card.
So for cash back bonus categories the Discover it Cash Back Card comes out on top against the Capital One Quicksilver Card.
Grocery Stores
Many people looking for a cash back credit card want to know how it performs with grocery store purchases. As this is where a lot of people do most of their spending. Discover is known to include grocery stores into one of their quarterly cash back categories.
So during that quarter you will be earning a cash back rate that is leaps and bounds above other cash back credit cards. But after that you will be back to the base rate for grocery store purchases.
The Capital One Quicksilver card does not have any bonus cash back categories, so grocery stores would not be included. But the base cash back rate for the Quicksilver card is well above other cards. So throughout the whole year you will be earning an above normal rewards on your grocery store purchases.
If it is grocery store purchases that you are looking to maximize with a cash back credit card then there are better options available. Be sure to check out our Best Cash Back credit cards page for all of these options and what they have to offer.
Best Redemption Option: Statement Credit
With both of these cards offering cash back rewards you are probably wondering what the best way to use them. The most common way to redeem your rewards is with a statement credit. This is where you essentially take the cash back rewards you have and use them to erase any purchase you made.
Which means you can use your cash back rewards for whatever you want. Simple go out and purchase what you desire and then use your cash back rewards as a statement credit to erase the purchase.
It’s that simple and both of these cards have this option available. Which is why they are both at the top of many peoples list of the best cash back credit cards available.
Capital One Quicksilver vs Discover It Cash Back Winner
It can be agreed that not all credit cards are the same, just as not all consumers are the same either. When it comes to best credit card for you, it is essentially up to you.
If you want simple and easy along with a great cash back rate on everything you buy then the Capital One Quicksilver Card is for you. If you know that you can maximize the quarterly cash back categories that come with the Discover it card then you are truly earning one of the best cash back rewards rates available.
Both of these cards come with no annual fee so no matter which you choose you are getting the most out of them. Neither of them come with foreign transaction fees and both have balance transfer offers available if you are interested.
So it basically comes down to where you do most of your everyday purchases. You want bonus cash back then go with the Discover it Cash Back. You want simple and easy rewards on everything then go with the Capital One Quicksilver. Either way you are getting one of the best cash back rewards credit cards on the market. which can make it a tough decision when analyzing the Capital One Quicksilver vs Discover it Cash Back.
Other Options To Consider
Citi® Double Cash Card
Keeping up with simple and easy cash back rewards you have the Citi Double Cash Card as an option. You earn a great cash back rate on everything you buy and then you earn even more cash back as you pay it offer. There is no annual fee and no maximum on the amount of cash back that you can earn. There is also a balance transfer offer available if that is something that you are interested in.
Check out the Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Citi Double Cash Matchup
Key Features
- Well above industry standard cash back rate on everything you purchase and everything you pay off
- Balance transfer offer available
- No annual fee
- And more
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
If it is bonus categories you are looking for then the Chase Freedom Unlimited card has you covered. You get a great cash back rate on a handful of cash back categories along with an excellent signup bonus opportunity. Which basically equates to adding even more cash back to all the including cash back categories for the first year of account opening.
All this from a no annual-fee card and you have anther great cash back credit card option.
Check out the Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Wells Fargo Active Cash matchup
Key Takeaways
- Awesome signup bonus opportunity
- Handful of bonus cash back categories
- No annual fee
- And more
Upgrade to great bonus categories and travel rewards with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Capital One SavorOne
If dining out, ordering delivery, or attending entertainment events is what you do a lot of spending on then the Capital One SavorOne is an excellent choice. It offers an exceptionally high bonus cash back rate on these categories along with coming with a ton of benefits and features as well.
You even get the same ability to earn bonus cash back through the Capital One travel website, just like the Quicksilver card. And, as with most of the options featured here, it comes with no annual fee.
Key Features
- Great signup bonus offer
- Bonus cash back on dining, take out, entertainment, and more
- Balance transfer offer
- No annual fee
- And more
Check out the full slate of Capital One SavorOne benefits and rewards
Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express
There are sometimes cash back credit cards that come with an annual fee that are worth taking a look at. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is one of those. This is because of the exceptional cash back rewards it has for its bonus categories.
Which include select U.S. supermarkets, select U.S. gas stations, streaming subscriptions, and more. You also get statement credits included for certain purchases as well. Even with an annual fee you can find great value if you maximize everything that it comes with.
Key Features
- Great welcome bonus offer
- Huge cash back rewards for bonus category purchases
- Statement credit for certain purchases
- Annual fee
- And more
Step down to no annual fee with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Capital One Quicksilver vs Discover it Cash Back Conclusion
You now know everything there is to know about the Capital One Quicksilver and Discover it Cash Back credit cards. They are both at the top of their game but for different reasons. Each of which will appeal to different people and for different reasons.
If you want a great cash back rewards rate on everything that you buy then the Capital One Quicksilver card is right up your alley. It offers cash back rewards above industry standard on everything that you buy. With no bonus categories to worry about.
Except for the great benefits of having bonus cash back on certain travel purchases made through the Capital One travel website. And all with no annual fee.
If bonus cash back is what you are looking for then the Discover it Cash Back has you covered with its bonus rewards categories that change every quarter. And with a cash back rewards rate that blows other cash back cards out of the water. You also get the opportunity to take them up on their unlimited Cashback Match and have all of the cash back that you earn within your first year doubled. Taking your rewards that much further.
And of course you get this with no annual fee as well.
So now the decision is up to you on which card will suit you best between the Capital One Quicksilver vs Discover it Cash Back. You have done the research so go ahead and get ready to start earning cash back on everything you buy. And join the tons of other people who found their clear winner and are doing the same with one of these two credit cards.
About the author: Matthew Coan is the founder of Casavvy and a credit card expert. He has appeared in various media outlets including Yahoo, Credit Karma, Market Watch, Mens Journal, and more. Continue reading
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