Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
vs. Credit One Bank American Express® Card

Updated: October 7, 2024

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The Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card and the \Credit One Bank American Express® Card both offer cash back rewards and come with annual fees, making them contenders for those who value straightforward rewards.

The Savor, with its high cash back on everyday categories, is the superior choice for those who can utilize its generous rewards structure effectively. Bu the Credit One Amex's accessibility to people with fair credit should not be overlooked because it provides an opportunity to earn rewards while potentially building credit.

Credit Card logo for Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Credit Card logo for Credit One Bank American Express® Card
Credit One Bank American Express® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
2.7/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Savor if you frequently spend on dining, entertainment and streaming services. With its higher cash back rates in these categories, it can be a lucrative option if you have good to excellent credit and don't mind paying a higher annual fee to maximize your rewards.

You might prefer the Credit One Amex if you're looking for a straightforward cash back card with a lower annual fee. It's a solid choice if you have fair to good credit who want to earn consistent rewards on all purchases without the need to track spending categories.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating features like APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and introductory offers will clarify which card is for you. This section offers a direct comparison, such as between the Savor's higher cash back rates and the Credit One Amex's lower annual fee, to guide your decision based.

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    Regular APR: Savor

    The Savor is better, offering a variable APR starting at 19.99%, compared with the Credit One Amex's higher variable APR of 29.74%.

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    Annual Fee: Credit One Amex

    The Credit One Amex is better for minimizing annual fees, charging $39 compared to the Savor's $95.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Neither the Savor nor the Credit One Amex offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers. For options that do, consider exploring the best zero interest credit cards.

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    Rewards: Savor

    The Savor is better for rewards, offering unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 3% at grocery stores, and 1% on all other purchases. By contrast, Credit One Amex offers a flat 1% cash back on all purchases.

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    Welcome Offers: Savor

    The Savor is better for welcome offers, offering a $300 cash bonus after spending $3,000 within three months. The Credit One Amex does not currently offer any welcome bonuses.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Credit One Amex

    The Credit One Amex is more accessible, requiring a lower credit score range of 580 to 740, with to the Savor’s requirement of 670 to 850.

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    Penalties and Fees: Savor

    The Savor is better for penalties and fees, offering lower cash advance fees and no foreign transaction fees compared with the Credit One Amex. Additionally, its late fee is slightly higher by $1, but it compensates with a more favorable overall penalty rating.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Savor

    Capital One outperforms Credit One in issuer satisfaction, with a rating of 4.2 compared with 2.0.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both cards offer unique perks. The Savor provides access to exclusive services and portals, while the Credit One Amex offers cash back, protection services and exclusive event access. Both have $0 fraud liability.

Rewards Comparison

The Savor stands out with its generous cash back rates, particularly if you dine out frequently or spend on entertainment and groceries. With 4% cash back in these categories, it's a strong contender if your spending aligns with these bonuses. The $95 annual fee is a consideration, but the rewards potential can offset this cost for many users.

Credit One Amex offers a flat 1% cash back on all purchases. While it doesn't compete with the Savor Card's higher rates, it's a straightforward rewards card that could appeal if you’re looking for simplicity. The annual fee is lower at $39, which may be attractive to some users.

The table details the bonus categories for each card to help you compare at a glance.

Category
Capital One Savor
Credit One Amex

Dining

4%

1%

Entertainment

4%

1%

Streaming Services

4%

1%

Grocery Stores

3%

1%

All Other Purchases

1%

1%

Redeeming Rewards

Both cards offer cash back but with different redemption processes. The Savor allows for cash back via check or statement credit, with the added benefit that rewards do not expire for the life of the account.

The Credit One Amex simplifies the process by automatically applying cash back as a statement credit, and while no expiration policy is specified, it suggests that rewards may also have no expiration date.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like the Capital One Savor and the Credit One Amex for various use cases. This approach ensures that the score reflects the card's performance in the scenario where it provides the most value.

For cash back cards, the primary factors we consider are the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers. These elements — along with annual fees, introductory purchase rates and issuer satisfaction — contribute to a card's overall score. For a detailed understanding of our process, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Savor vs. Credit One Amex

What are the annual fees for each card?
How do the cash back rewards compare between the two cards?
Is there a sign-up bonus for either card?
What is the recommended credit score for each card?
Are there foreign transaction fees for either card?

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

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.


*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.
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