Journey Student Rewards from Capital One vs. Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Which Is Best for You?

Name: Journey Student Rewards vs. Capital One Quicksilver Student
Item: Journey Student Rewards vs. Capital One Quicksilver Student
Author: Doug Milnes, CFA

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

vs. Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One card and Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards card are both designed for those with fair credit and those who are just getting started with credit building. A student card introduces you to managing your finances early on while earning cash back rewards and enjoying other benefits in the process.

ByDoug Milnes, CFA

Reviewed byBrett Holzhauer

ByDoug Milnes, CFA

Reviewed byBrett Holzhauer

Updated: March 19, 2024

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Capital One’s student credit cards allow new cardholders to experience the benefits of using a credit card by charging no annual fee, and offering a solid and straightforward rewards earning structure.

MoneyGeek helps compare Journey Student Rewards from Capital One and Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards based on their associated fees, benefits and rewards earning rate. For example, both require no annual fees, and have the same APR purchase rate. The Journey Student Rewards, however, has a separate cash back welcome offer for those who plan to use the card on select streaming services. The Quicksilver Student Rewards, on the other hand, has a higher cash back rate which may suit those who have a high monthly spending.

OUR COMPARISON AT A GLANCE

Comparison Overview
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One at a Glance
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card at a Glance
Comparison Summary
Which Card Should You Get?

Comparison Overview: Journey Student Rewards from Capital One vs. Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Has Annual Fee
Has Balance Transfer Offer
Has APR Offer
Cash Back Rewards
Travel Rewards
Hotel Benefits
Airline Benefits
Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
Has Foreign Transaction Fee
Recommended Credit
Limited–Fair
Limited–Fair

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One At a Glance

The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is a solid card of choice for those with fair credit or are just starting their credit building journey. Along with benefits that come with a Capital One credit card, the card earns unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases, and charges no annual fee. You can also boost your cash back earnings to 1.25% by making minimum payments on time. Card members can monitor their credit profile, and with responsible use of the card, can apply for a higher credit limit in as fast as six months. Since it has no international transaction fees, international students or those who plan to travel may benefit from this card.

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Best student credit card with up to 1.25% cash back
- up to 1.25% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Limited–FairRecommended Credit
Pros
Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases, with a jump to 1.25% cash back when you pay your bills on time.
There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fee.
After six months, Capital One will reexamine your credit profile to see if you are eligible for a higher credit line. This can give students more purchasing power and flexibility without opening another card.

Cons
High APR on purchases
Lack of robust benefits
Cardholders receive 1% cash back on all purchases.
Pay your bill on time and receive a 0.25% cash back bonus on top of that.
$0 fraud liability policy provides peace of mind.
There are no foreign transaction fees, which is great for travelers.
You have unlimited access to CreditWise from Capital One so you can check in on your credit profile at any time.
There’s no cosigner required, although one may be helpful.
When making purchases online, you can generate virtual card numbers so that your actual card number is kept private.
Disclaimer: We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but card offers are always changing, and in some cases, the offer listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated student credit cards.

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card At a Glance

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards is a student credit card version of Capital One’s flagship credit card, the Quicksilver Rewards. It has an unlimited cashback rate of 1.5% on every purchase which you can redeem through either a statement credit or check. It has no annual fee and the same APR rate of 26.99% like the Journey Student Reward card. The Quicksilver Student Rewards has a solid list of benefits that might be useful to a student such as travel insurance and a complimentary concierge service.

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
A practical no-annual-fee student credit card with cash back
- 1.5%–5% cash backRewards Rate
- 19.99%–29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Limited–FairRecommended Credit
Pros
No annual fee
Cash back on all purchases
Offers welcome bonus
Comes with security protections

Cons
Potentially high APR
No bonus categories
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
Build your credit with responsible card use
Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Comparison Summary

MoneyGeek breaks down the difference between Capital One's Journey Student Rewards and Quicksilver Rewards to help you decide whether it’s the student credit card that best matches your needs.

Card Detail	Comparison Summary
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection	Both cards offer almost the same travel coverage benefits including the 0% foreign transaction fees, cardmember lounge access and emergency card replacement. However, the Quicksilver Student Rewards has complimentary concierge services and travel insurance which can be useful when traveling. Winner: Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards
Welcome Bonus	Neither card has a sign up bonus. However, the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One card, gives you a $5 monthly streaming service credits for the first 12 months. Winner: Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Rewards	With Journey Student Rewards, you can earn 1% cash back. Pay your bills on time and you can boost the cash back rewards rate to 1.25% With Quicksilver Student Rewards, you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on everyday purchases. Winner: Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards

Which Card Should You Get?

Whether you choose the Journey Student Rewards or Quicksilver Student Rewards, the decision boils down to your financial needs.

Who Should Consider the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One?

The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is best for people who are beginning to build their credit and want to earn unlimited cash back on any purchases. And any student who fits into these categories:

For people who manage their bills better and pay on time, the Journey Student Rewards incentivizes cardmembers and boosts the cash back rewards from 1% to 1.25%.

For people who already use streaming services, they can benefit from the $5 credit each month for the first 12 months.

For people looking to establish a strong credit history and plan to apply for a higher credit line, or a better card with a lot more benefits.

As it comes with a 0% foreign transaction fee, cardmembers who plan to study or travel abroad can benefit from this card.

≫ More: Read Our Full Review

Who Should Consider the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card?

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards is designed for students with little to no credit history and could benefit from a higher cash back rate.

For students with high annual spending, they could benefit from earning higher cash back from the card's 1.5% flat-rate rewards structure.

For those who enjoy attending events, the card provides access to premium experiences like sporting events and concerts.

For those who want a solid list of benefits like travel accident insurance, the Quicksilver Student Rewards card may be a better option.

EXPERT OPINION

The clear winner here is the Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards card for its higher cash-back rate, as well as its benefits. However, if you’re looking to fully maximize your spending for even higher value rewards, you may consider getting a different card once your credit is up to speed.

Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs

Getting a student credit card and working your way towards a good credit score is a great financial move. But as you’re exploring the differences between Journey Student Rewards from Capital One and Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards, the following questions may come up.

It all comes down to your needs as a credit card holder. If you want to take advantage of the streaming credit, you may want to select the Journey Student Rewards card. If you want to maximize your cash back earning potential, the Quicksilver Student Rewards might be the better choice.

Note that there are pros and cons of having multiple credit cards as a student. Capital One limits cardholders from owning up to two starter cards. That means, if you already have a Journey Student Rewards from Capital One, you may still be able to apply for a Quicksilver Student Rewards.

Neither of these cards earn points. If you have both cards and earn cash back, they will each have their own individual cash back amounts.

Capital One is lenient when it comes to upgrading or downgrading your card to another one of their products. They even send you notifications of possible upgrades that you qualify for. You can simply request for a product change over the phone or online.

Both cards are equally difficult, but their requirements are modest as most students have limited to no credit.

Neither card has a welcome bonus.

Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options

If you are looking for a card that helps you build your credit history and eventually help you qualify for better terms, both the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One or Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards are great starter cards to consider. However, with the same high APR rate, it’s not recommended to carry your balances on both of these cards. You may want to explore other reward credit cards or cash back credit cards that could offer higher rewards rate and lower APR.

Learn more about credit cards in general

About Doug Milnes, CFA

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.

sources

Capital One. "Journey Student Credit Card." Accessed January 4, 2022.
Capital One. "Journey Card Benefits." Accessed January 4, 2022.
Capital One. "Quicksilver Rewards for Students." Accessed January 4, 2022.
Capital One. "Student Rewards." Accessed January 4, 2022.

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