Capital One Platinum Credit Card vs. Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: Which Is Best for You?

Using the Capital One Platinum Credit Card or Capital One Platinum Secured card is an excellent way to build your credit on a budget. MoneyGeek evaluates these two cards to help you choose the best for your situation.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 11/6/2022
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The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

People looking to build limited to fair credit ought to consider the Capital One Platinum Credit Card and Capital One Platinum Secured as solid options for their wallet. Both Capital One cards feature no annual fee, $0 fraud liability, virtual card numbers and 24/7 customer support.

However, there are some key differences between the Capital One Platinum Credit Card and Capital One Platinum Secured card. The former is available for people with fair credit, whereas the latter is for those with bad credit and requires a security deposit. MoneyGeek’s detailed comparison of the Platinum and Secured Mastercard below can help you determine which is best for you.

OUR COMPARISON AT A GLANCE

Comparison Overview: Capital One Platinum Credit Card vs. Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

  • Capital One Platinum Credit Card
    Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
  • Has Annual Fee
  • Has Balance Transfer Offer
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  • Has APR Offer
  • Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
  • Recommended Credit
    Fair – Good
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Capital One Platinum Credit Card At a Glance

The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is an attractive option for people with fair credit since it comes with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Capital One also offers credit line reviews in as early as six months, making this card excellent for users building their credit score.


  • Capital One Platinum Credit Card

    A great card for fair credit with no annual fees

    • Fair – GoodRecommended Credit
    • $0Annual Fee
    • 3# of Reporting Bureaus
    • 29.74% VariableAPR
    Capital One Platinum Credit Card

    Terms, rates and fees apply

    Compare this credit card with other cards selected for people with average credit at CardRatings.com.

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card At a Glance

If you have bad credit, using the Capital One Platinum Secured can help you rebuild your credit on a budget. It carries no annual, monthly or foreign transaction fees, plus a 25-day grace period if you forget to pay your bill on time. A refundable security deposit of $49, $99 or $200 is required to open a starting credit line of $200. Over time, responsible users can upgrade to a standard, unsecured card.


  • Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

    Best secured card for building credit on a budget

    • Limited – BadRecommended Credit
    • $0Annual Fee
    • $49Min. Security Deposit
    • 3# of Reporting Bureaus
    • 29.74% VariableAPR
    Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

    Terms, rates and fees apply

    Compare this credit card with other top-rated secure cards from our partners.

Comparison Summary

MoneyGeek’s detailed comparison of the Capital One Platinum Credit Card and Capital One Platinum Secured helps you determine which is more suitable for your needs.

  • Card Detail
    Comparison Summary

  • Fees

    Both the Capital One Platinum Credit Card and Capital One Platinum Secured are low-budget cards with no annual or foreign transaction fees. Both also carry a late payment fee of up to $40, which is avoidable by paying bills on time.

    Winner: Tie

  • Credit Required

    Fair credit is required to qualify for the Capital One Platinum Credit Card.

    On the other hand, people with limited or bad credit can get the Capital One Platinum Secured. Capital One offers a risk-free pre-approval process on their website, which doesn’t impact your credit score.

    Winner: Capital One Platinum Secured

  • Security Deposit

    Capital One Platinum Secured is a secured credit card that requires a security deposit of $49 to $200 to open an account. No security deposit is needed for the Capital One Platinum Credit Card.

    Winner: Capital One Platinum Credit Card

  • Tap To Pay

    Capital One Platinum Credit Card allows cardholders to pay by hovering their cards over a contactless card reader. Capital One Platinum Secured does not have this Tap To Pay feature.

    Winner: Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Which Card Should You Get?

Although both the Capital One Platinum Credit Card and Capital One Platinum Secured have a $0 annual fee, the latter requires a security deposit. As such, your credit rating will likely be the determining factor in choosing between the two.

Who Should Consider the Capital One Platinum Credit Card?

Capital One Platinum Credit Card is perfect if you’re looking to improve your credit score with a straightforward, no annual fee credit card.

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    Individuals with fair credit can use Capital One’s risk-free online pre-approval process to see if they’re qualified.

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    Responsible card-users can enjoy an increased credit line and improved credit rating in as early as six months.

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    ≫ More: Read Our Full Review

Who Should Consider the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card?

Capital One Platinum Secured is a low-cost option for folks with bad credit. Outside of the refundable security deposit, there are no additional fees to use this card, and it doesn’t require opening a bank account.

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    Those for whom remembering to pay bills on time is a challenge can take advantage of this card’s autopay and 25-day grace period offerings.

  • teen icon

    People looking to rebuild credit by paying bills on time and using the card responsibly can qualify for a credit line increase in as little as six months.

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    ≫ More: Read Our Full Review
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EXPERT OPINION

Neither one of these cards is better than the other as they both target different audiences. However, if your credit isn’t great and you need to go with the Capital One Secured Mastercard for the time being, make it a goal to improve your credit to be able to move on to a unsecured card. The sooner you move on from your secured card, the sooner your credit will continue to go up and you can begin qualifying for high-value rewards credit cards.

Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs

Despite knowing the difference between the Capital One Platinum Credit Card and Capital One Platinum Secured, you may be undecided about which one to go with. MoneyGeek has answered some questions that may help you make an informed decision.

Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options

If you have limited, bad or fair credit, Capital One’s Platinum Credit Card and Secured Mastercard are great ways to improve your credit as they both lack annual fees. However, if you’re looking to get more from using your credit card, consider getting a cash back or rewards card.

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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.