Credit One vs. Capital One: Which is the Difference?

It is easy to mistake Credit One as Capital One and vice versa. Both names sound very similar and the logos of both could be considered fraternal twins. Both Capital One and Credit One offer credit cards and other financial products.

However, Capital One and Credit One are not part of the same company and there is a large gap in the quality and reliability of each bank’s credit card. Capital One cards have fewer fees and better perks than Credit One cards. Credit One cards are often easier to obtain, however.

Apply for Capital One credit cards (or Credit One, if you prefer) before you submit your application. Double-check the name and address of the bank issuing the card. These extra seconds can make sure that you get the card that you want.

These are the main differences between Capital One and Credit One.

Credit One offers credit cards and jumbo certificates for deposit. Credit One is a small bank in terms assets. Credit One ranks 695th on the Federal Reserve’s 2022 List of large commercial banks in America. Credit One’s credit card portfolio reflects its smaller size relative the top-tier American banks. Credit One currently issues 11 credit cards to customers with varying credit scores.

According to the Federal Reserve, Capital One is America’s ninth-largest bank. This is evident in the variety of its financial products as well as the celebrities Capital One hires to promote them. Capital One offers checking and savings accounts, loans, and nearly three times as many credit cards than Credit One. Capital One’s credit cards cater to a wide range of customers. This portfolio includes secured cards to rebuild credit, luxurious travel cards with annual fees, business cards, and store cards.

Capital One offers more credit cards and they are generally better products than Credit One’s. Capital One credit cards offer more value than Credit One cards, even if the annual fees are more costly.

Both Capital One and Credit One offer rewards credit cards. Capital One cards have higher credit requirements, but the rewards structure on Capital One cards can generate more value. This is illustrated by a comparison of Credit One’s Platinum Rewards Visa with the Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card.

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  The Credit One Platinum Rewards Visa with no annual fee earns unlimited 2% cash back on eligible purchases of gas, grocery, and internet/cable/satellite TV/mobile phone services. To get it, you will need to have at least average credit (credit scores at least 630).
  

• Capital One SavorOne cash rewards credit card — also $0 annual fee — offers a higher 3% rate for some similar categories, including entertainment, dining, and grocery shopping, as well as 1% on all purchases. To get the card, you will need to have good credit (credit scores at least 690).

The Credit One Bank American Express Card is also less than a Capital One card. Credit One’s card earns unlimited 1% cashback on all purchases while the Capital One QuicksilverOne Rewards Credit Card offers 1.5%. Each card is available to people with average credit and both have the same $39 annual fees.

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  Credit One’s card earns 5% back on gas, grocery, and internet/cable/satellite TV/mobile phone services each year on up to $5,000 in combined spending. These categories earn 1% after you reach the cap. To be eligible for the card, you will need to have at least average credit.
  

• Capital One Savor Cash rewards Credit Card offers a 4% cashback on entertainment, dining and streaming services. It also earns 3% at grocery shops and 1% for all other purchases. However, it requires exceptional credit scores (credit scores of at minimum 720).

A card with a top rate of 5.5% may seem like a better deal than a card with a 4% back. But, unlike the Credit One card the Capital One card does not have a spending limit on its bonus rewards. The amount you can earn in these categories is unlimited. The Credit One card’s 5% categories allow you to earn $250 per year.

Capital One credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees.

A Capital One card will offer a sign up bonus that is far more common than any other credit card.

Only Credit One’s Wander card comes with a sign up bonus. A $200 sign-up bonus for a Capital One card that costs $0-per-annum is more common.

The Capital One card’s sign-up bonus can be quite easy to obtain because the threshold for earning it is low. You can earn the bonus by spending $500 within three months of opening an account with Capital One.