The Platinum is a bare-bones card that helps people build credit, and that’s about it. If you’ve graduated beyond the credit-building stage, choose the Quicksilver for its handsome rewards.
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A head-to-head battle between the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Platinum Credit Card really isn’t a fair fight. The Quicksilver has rewards, a sign-up bonus and an intro annual percentage rate (APR) period on purchases and balance transfers, all for a $0 annual fee. The Platinum doesn’t have any of those perks.
Of course, the Quicksilver’s rich benefits come at a price: your credit score. Only consumers with good to excellent credit, meaning a credit score of 690 or higher, can qualify for the Quicksilver. The Platinum has a lower barrier to entry, requiring only average credit.
Credit score requirement: According to Capital One, youll need excellent credit to qualify for the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. Typically, excellent credit means a credit score of at least 720. However, note that applicants with less-than-excellent credit may be approved for a different version of this card — one that earns the same ongoing rewards, but doesnt offer the upfront incentives of a sign-up bonus or intro APR period.
If you’re looking for a new credit card, you may be trying to decide between the Capital One Platinum and Quicksilver cards. Both are popular options with no annual fee, but they have some key differences in terms of rewards, benefits, and eligibility. This article will compare the two cards across several categories to help you determine which one is the better choice for your needs.
Rewards
The biggest difference between the two cards is in the rewards they offer The Capital One Quicksilver card earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. The Platinum card does not earn any rewards
The Quicksilver also offers 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. There are no limits on the amount of cash back you can earn.
The Platinum card does not offer any rewards, so the Quicksilver is the clear winner if you want to earn cash back on your spending. Just keep in mind that you need excellent credit to qualify for the Quicksilver card.
Welcome Bonus
When you open the Quicksilver card, you can earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months. The Platinum card does not offer any welcome bonus.
Again, the Quicksilver comes out ahead if you want to earn a signup bonus. However, to earn the bonus you’ll need to spend $500 within the first 3 months, which may be difficult for some new cardholders.
Benefits
The Quicksilver and Platinum cards offer similar benefits beyond rewards:
- No foreign transaction fees: There are no extra fees for using either card internationally
- Credit monitoring: Both cards include access to CreditWise, Capital One’s free credit monitoring service
- Travel protections: Quicksilver offers some travel insurance benefits that the Platinum lacks
- Purchase protections: Both cards provide some protections for items purchased with the card
The Quicksilver has an edge in terms of the extra travel protections, but otherwise the core benefits of the two cards are similar. The Platinum card still competes reasonably well considering it has no annual fee.
Fees and APR
One area where the Platinum and Quicksilver cards are identical is fees and APR:
- $0 annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Variable APR of 26.99%
The most important thing to note is that both cards have a very high variable APR. If you carry a balance month-to-month, interest charges can add up quickly. The Platinum and Quicksilver cards are best suited for those who pay balances in full each month.
Eligibility
Here is where we see a major difference between the two cards. The Quicksilver card requires excellent credit, usually a credit score of 690 or higher. The Platinum card is accessible with fair credit, or scores as low as 300.
So while the Quicksilver clearly provides better rewards and benefits, many people will not qualify for it. The Platinum card is intended for those who are new to credit or rebuilding credit.
If your credit is fair or average, the Platinum card may be your only option. If you have good credit, you may qualify for the QuicksilverOne card which has similar benefits to the Quicksilver with a lower barrier to approval.
Verdict: Quicksilver Is Better for Those With Excellent Credit
Overall, the Capital One Quicksilver card beats out the Platinum version across most categories. It offers cash back rewards, a signup bonus, travel protections, and other valuable perks.
However, the barrier to approval is high. You need excellent credit to qualify for the Quicksilver card. If your credit is fair or average, the Platinum card is likely your best choice from Capital One.
Here is a quick summary comparing the two cards:
| Capital One Platinum | Capital One Quicksilver | |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards | None | Unlimited 1.5% cash back + 5% back on hotels/cars booked via Capital One Travel |
| Welcome Bonus | None | $200 cash bonus |
| Benefits | Free credit monitoring, no foreign transaction fees | Free credit monitoring, no foreign transaction fees, travel protections |
| Fees | $0 annual fee, no foreign transaction fees | $0 annual fee, no foreign transaction fees |
| APR | 26.99% variable | 26.99% variable |
| Credit Needed | Fair | Excellent |
In conclusion, the Capital One Quicksilver card is the superior option if you have excellent credit. It offers generous rewards and benefits with no annual fee. But if your credit is fair or average, the Platinum card is a decent alternative for rebuilding credit without any fees. Analyze your credit situation and financial habits to decide which of these two popular Capital One cards is the better fit.
Intro APR and balance transfer period
Unlike the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, the Quicksilver boasts an intro APR period for new cardholders: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.24%-29.24% Variable APR. Paired with the card’s sign-up bonus and rewards, the intro APR period makes the Quicksilver an excellent card for those who need to finance large purchases.
Say your AC unit needs to be replaced at a cost of $5,000. By paying for the installation with your new Quicksilver card, you’ll immediately cash in on the sign-up bonus — and earn an additional $75 in rewards. Plus, for the next year or so, you won’t have to worry about paying interest on that sizable balance thanks to the card’s intro APR period.
Balance transfers to the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card are subject to the same APR grace period as new purchases, but you will have to pay a balance transfer fee. Capital One allows cardholders to move balances from other credit cards, personal loans, student loans and auto loans.
Sign-up bonus
New Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card holders will want to cash in on the card’s sign-up bonus: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. The Quicksilver’s bonus is equal to those offered by other highly rated cash-back cards, but the spend threshold to receive it is substantially lower than some other cards’. Many people will have no trouble spending the required $500 within three months to get the bonus.
Typical of cards for people with fair credit, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn’t have a sign-up bonus.
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FAQ
What is the highest credit limit for Capital One Quicksilver?
Is it hard to get Capital One Platinum?
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is available to people with fair or average credit, while the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card — the …Jun 10, 2025
Which Capital One card is better than Quicksilver?
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is better than the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. Capital One Venture gives 2 – 5 miles per $1 spent on purchases, which is more than Capital One Quicksilver.