Capital One Venture vs. Quicksilver: Which Is Better For You?

If you’re trying to pick between Capital One Venture and Quicksilver, it all boils down to your spending habits and what you want from a credit card. Venture is perfect for travel lovers, while Quicksilver is the go-to for cashback fans. 

So, think about what matters to you—and let’s dive into the differences to help you decide.

Read more:

• Capital One Quicksilver Review
• Capital One Venture Rewards Review
• Capital One Venture X Credit Card
• Capital One Venture vs. Venture X
• Capital One SavorOne Credit Card Review
• Synchrony Premier World Mastercard® Review

Capital One Quicksilver vs. Venture

Let’s start with a brief overview of both:

*Capital One Venture card annual fee is waived for eligible military members.

Capital One Quicksilver

Capital One Quicksilver is a simple and hassle-free cashback credit card. 

It lets you earn cash rewards on all your purchases, making it perfect for anyone who loves shopping and saving, without the hassle of managing different categories.

Pros

Cons

Read more:

• 22 Best Cashback Credit Cards (6% Back on Groceries)

Capital One Venture

Capital One Venture is a fun and easy-to-use travel rewards credit card.

It lets you earn miles on everything you buy, making it perfect for those who love to explore the world.

Pros

Cons

Read more:

• 20 Top Travel Credit Cards (With No Annual Fee Options)

Capital One Quicksilver vs. Venture: How Do They Compare?

Let’s look closely at how the cards stack up: Which one is cheaper, has more rewards, redemption options, or benefits? 

Capital One Quicksilver vs. Venture: fees & rates

Let’s get those pesky fees out of the way—

*Capital One Venture card annual fee is waived for eligible military members.

Capital One Venture vs. Quicksilver: rewards

Now on to the fun part—

Both cards have straightforward reward programs: Quicksilver is focused on cashback and Venture on travel rewards.

How much are Capital One miles worth? 

Redemption value for Venture card differs depending on the category:

*Value depends on the specific partner and redemption 

**May vary for certain gift cards 

***Based on the specific charity

You might be wondering: Which card would give me more money in the end? 

Let’s do the math for both, assuming spending of $1,000 on each.

With the Quicksilver card, you’ll earn 1.5%—which equates to $15 in rewards.

For the Venture card, you get a minimum of 2 miles per dollar spent (so, if you spend $1,000: 2 miles/dollar x $1,000 = 2,000 miles).

What are these 2,000 miles worth? 

As the table above shows, it depends how you redeem them:

With the Venture card, you can likely earn $20 of rewards with $1,000 of spending—so Venture provides better value when redeeming rewards for travel expenses. 

Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Quicksilver: benefits

Capital One isn’t stingy with benefits, either:

Capital One Quicksilver vs. Venture: approval odds

Both Quicksilver and Venture require good to excellent credit scores. 

Factors affecting approval odds include:

1. Credit score: Aim for 670+ for higher chances.
2. Income: Higher income may boost your odds.
3. Debt-to-Income ratio: Lower ratio is favorable.
4. Credit utilization: Keep it below 30%.
5. Recent credit inquiries: Fewer is better.

Each application is evaluated individually, considering these factors for approval.

Quicksilver vs. Venture card: credit limit

Credit limits for Quicksilver and Venture cards depend on your creditworthiness, income, and credit history. In general, the better your financial profile, the higher your credit limit.

Quicksilver: This card’s credit limits can start as low as $1,000—but some people might get a limit of $10,000 or more, depending on their financial situation.

Venture: As a travel rewards card for those with strong credit profiles, Venture might offer higher limits than Quicksilver. But the exact limit will still depend on your financial background.

Keep in mind that credit limits can change over time based on how you use your payment history and handle your finances.

Should you upgrade from Quicksilver to Venture?

If you already have a Quicksilver card and are here trying to decide whether to upgrade to the Venture, you can do so by asking yourself a few questions:

1. Do you travel often? Venture is geared towards frequent travelers.
2. Seeking cashback or travel rewards? Quicksilver is a cashback queen, while Venture is travel-oriented.
3. Willing to pay an annual fee? Venture has one after the first year—unlike Quicksilver, where you’ll never pay an annual fee.

Consider your preferences and financial goals to make your choice. 

Last but not least—why not go for both?

Venture vs. Quicksilver: How Do They Compare to Other Capital One Cards?

Let’s start with some of the most popular Capital One cards:

Capital One Platinum vs. Venture vs. Quicksilver

Read more:

• Capital One Platinum Review
• Capital One Quicksilver Review
• Capital One Venture Review

Capital One Quicksilver vs. Capital One Venture vs. Discover card

Now, let’s venture out of the Capital One world and compare Quicksilver and Venture cards with the Discover It card:

Back to comparing Capital One cards—

Capital One Venture vs. Quicksilver vs. VentureOne

Anything jump out at you? If not, below we have a few alternatives outside the Capital One fam.

Capital One Cards and Alternatives

For travelers

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase Sapphire Preferred offers valuable travel rewards and perks for frequent travelers. 

It has a $95 annual fee, but it can score you $750 toward travel in the first three months and many rewards categories (like five points per dollar for travel-related purchases made at Chase, three points for select streaming services, and three points for groceries).

American Express Gold Card

Amex Gold card is ideal for dining and travel rewards, with enhanced earning rates and additional travel perks.

Read more:

• Venture X vs. Amex Gold
• Top Travel Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards

For cashback enthusiasts

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Chase Freedom Unlimited offers generous cashback rates on everyday spending and an additional bonus for travel purchases. 

It kind of merges the pros of Venture and Quicksilver cards. And there’s no annual fee, of course.

Citi Double Cash Card

Citi Double Cash Card gives you a 2% cashback rate on all purchases (no caps or the need to manage different categories). 

You can use the card to get out of debt, as it offers 0% APR for the first eighteen months.

Read more:

• Best Cashback Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards
• Chase Freedom Unlimited Review vs. Capital One Quicksilver
• Citi Double Cash Card Review

Capital One Venture vs. Quicksilver: Which Card Should You Choose?

Which of the two Capital One credit cards would be a better option for you? 

Let’s see.

Are you a frequent traveler? Venture offers travel rewards, while Quicksilver focuses on cashback.

Do you prefer cashback or travel rewards? If cashback is your priority, Quicksilver is the better option—but if you’re after travel benefits, consider the Venture card.

How much do you spend annually? Venture offers higher rewards rates for higher spenders, while Quicksilver offers a flat cashback rate.

Are you willing to pay an annual fee? If you want to avoid annual fees, Quicksilver would be the better option as Venture has an annual fee after the first year.

Are you seeking a sign-up bonus? Compare the current sign-up bonuses for both cards to see which one offers the better incentive for you.

How important are travel perks and protection? Venture offers travel benefits like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, which Quicksilver doesn’t have.

Are you looking to transfer balances or finance a large purchase? Look at the intro APR offers for both cards to see which one meets your needs better.