Capital One Platinum and Quicksilver cards comparison

The Platinum Mastercard® and Quicksilver credit cards both offer flexibility in everyday spending. And when you use them responsibly by doing things like making on-time payments each month, they can help you build and maintain healthy credit scores. But the cards have a few differences. 

What you’ll learn:

• The Platinum card is designed for those interested in building or establishing credit scores.

• The Quicksilver Rewards card is designed for cardholders with excellent credit.

• Quicksilver cardholders earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase and elevated rewards elsewhere. 

• Both cards have free account management tools, security protections and more.

When used responsibly, both the Platinum card and Quicksilver can be great tools to help build credit. And Quicksilver also lets cardholders earn cash back rewards. Here’s a quick overview of both:

The Platinum card is designed for people with no credit history or fair credit scores. If you’re doing things like staying within your credit limit and paying statements on time every month, you can use it to help build your credit. And in as few as six months, you may be considered for a credit limit increase.

Learn all about the Capital One Platinum Mastercard.

If you’re having trouble getting approved for a traditional card, a secured credit card could be a good option. Because secured cards require a refundable security deposit, they can be easier to qualify for. The Platinum Secured card is one example.

It has all the benefits of the unsecured Platinum card. But it requires a refundable deposit of $49, $99 or $200 to open an account with a credit line of at least $200. You can increase that credit limit by depositing more than the minimum.

If you have excellent credit and are interested in earning rewards on every purchase, Quicksilver may be the card for you. New cardholders can earn a $200 cash bonus by spending $500 on purchases within three months of opening an account.

Other benefits include:

• Unlimited 5% cash back at Capital One Entertainment: Earn elevated cash back on tickets to concerts, sporting events and more. Plus, enjoy exclusive access to events and other cardholder perks.

• Elevated cash back at Capital One Travel: Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars. You can use your rewards to book travel, too. 

• Rewards redemption: Whenever you’re ready to redeem your rewards, there are plenty of options:

  • Receive a statement credit or check.

  • Cover the cost of a recent purchase.

  • Get gift cards from retailers, restaurants and more. 

  • Use them to shop at Amazon.com.

Learn all about Capital One Quicksilver card benefits and features.

Every Quicksilver card offers 1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase. But bonuses, annual fees and APR vary. Here’s a quick look at four similar cards:

• Quicksilver for Good Credit card: If you have good but not excellent credit scores, the Quicksilver for Good Credit card is an option with no annual fee. But one major difference between it and the Quicksilver card is that there’s no bonus or introductory rate for new cardholders.

• QuicksilverOne card: With fair credit scores, you could qualify for a QuicksilverOne card. It has a $39 annual fee.

• Quicksilver Secured card: The Quicksilver Secured card requires a $200 minimum deposit that’s refundable and has no annual fee. This provides you with a $200 credit line. But like Platinum Secured cards, you can get a higher credit limit by depositing more than the minimum.

• Quicksilver Student card: If you’re a student, the Quicksilver Student card offers a one-time $50 cash bonus once you spend $100 on purchases within three months from account opening. And there’s no annual fee.

View important rates and disclosures.

Every Capital One credit card comes with access to tools that help you monitor your accounts and track your finances 24/7, including:

• Capital One Mobile app: The mobile app lets you manage your account anytime, anywhere. You can check your balance, view transactions, pay your bills and more.

• Eno, your Capital One assistant: You can also ask Eno questions about your accounts in the Capital One Mobile app, online or via text.

• Virtual cards: Shop online more securely with virtual cards. These randomly generated card numbers are linked to the account holder’s credit card so the actual card number isn’t shared with merchants.

• Security alerts: When you add your mobile phone number to your account, you’ll get notified if Capital One detects potentially suspicious activity.

• Card lock: With just a few taps, you can easily lock your card from being used to make most new purchases. And unlocking it is just as easy.

Here are answers to some common questions about the difference between the Platinum and Quicksilver cards:

If you’re wondering whether you’re better suited for a Platinum card or Quicksilver credit card, the decision will likely come down to your credit history and financial goals. 

If you’re new to credit or searching for your next credit card, Capital One can help: 

• See if you’re pre-approved for credit cards without harming your credit scores. 

• If you’re looking to build your credit with responsible use, explore cards for people with fair credit. 

• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day, with a cash back rewards card. 

• Monitor your credit report and score with CreditWise. It’s free for everyone, and using it won’t hurt your credit.