Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Capital One Quicksilver: Choosing the Best Everyday Spending Card

• Written by Rebecca Lake
  

  Rebecca Lake

  Credit cards, debt, mortgages, investing, college planning, insurance, banking, small business, and entrepreneurship

  Rebecca Lake is a certified educator in personal finance (CEPF) and a freelance writer with over a decade of experience. Her interest in finance began when she found herself with nearly $100,000 in credit cards and student loans to repay on a minimum-wage income. While she initially began her writing career covering credit cards and debt, her expertise has expanded to include mortgages, investing, college planning, insurance, banking, small business, and entrepreneurship. She also writes about marketing, practice management, and business development for growth-focused financial advisors and financial planners. Her work has appeared online at SmartAsset, SoFi, LendEDU, Investopedia, Time, MyBankTracker, MoneyRates, CreditCards.com, Bankrate, NerdWallet, Forbes, and The Balance. She's also collaborated with major banking brands, including Citibank, Discover Bank, and First Horizon Bank, to create credit card and loan-focused content. In addition to freelance writing, she operates a personal finance blog for single parents and a successful Etsy shop that she runs with her teenage daughter. When she isn't writing about finance, Rebecca is busy homeschooling her two children, taking care of the family's five pets, and working on various creative side projects. She also enjoys reading history books and biographies, experimenting with new recipes, and traveling.

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• Edited by Jasmin Baron
  

  Jasmin Baron

  Credit Cards, Travel Rewards, Loyalty Programs, Family Travel, Credit Building, Credit Scores

  Jasmin Baron is CardCritics’ senior editor, responsible for editing and writing credit cards, travel rewards, loyalty program, and other credit-related content. She is passionate about personal finance education and enjoys sharing tips and tricks for making the most credit card points and miles with her readers. Her expertise in maximizing credit card travel rewards originated from over two decades of aviation industry experience, including 18 years working as a pilot and college professor/flight instructor in her native Canada. Her work has appeared on sites such as CNN Underscored Money, Business Insider, The Points Guy, and point.me. When she’s not planning her next trip with credit card rewards, you’ll probably find her tinkering around in the kitchen, hanging out with her three kids, or playing with her dog, Benji.

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• Last Updated Aug 18, 2025

Looking for a new cash-back credit card to add to your wallet? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card are two popular options to consider. 

Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits and Capital One Quicksilver Card benefits are fairly evenly matched. Both cards offer a competitive introductory bonus, unlimited rewards on everyday purchases and a low introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers. 

Here’s how to choose the card that’s right for you.

How the Cards Compare: Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Capital One Quicksilver Card

Side By Side Comparison

Welcome Bonuses

Many of the best cash-back credit cards offer a welcome bonus, which can put extra rewards in your account. Chase and Capital One have very similar offers on these cards.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Welcome Bonus

You can earn a $200 cash back bonus when you spend $500 on eligible purchases within the first three months of account opening with Chase Freedom Unlimited. Current cardholders and people who earned a new cardmember bonus for this card within the past 24 months don’t qualify.

Capital One Quicksilver Welcome Bonus

The Capital One Quicksilver Card also allows you to earn a welcome offer: For a limited time, earn $300 in welcome bonuses. Enjoy a $100 credit to use towards flights, stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel during your first cardholder year. Plus, earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. The bonus is available to people who have not received a new cardmember bonus for this card within the previous 48 months. 

CardCritics™ Opinion

It’s usually a tie for the welcome bonus amount and minimum spending requirement, but the limited-time offer on the Quicksilver Card gives it the advantage. Chase has a slight edge if you’re trying to qualify for the bonus a second time with a new account, since the waiting period is 24 months versus 48 months with Capital One.  

Earning Rewards

Whether you have the Chase Freedom Unlimited or Capital One Quicksilver Card, you can earn cash back virtually everywhere you spend. Both cards offer elevated rewards for travel purchases. 

How To Earn Rewards With the Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Freedom Unlimited offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on everyday spending. You can also earn:

• 5% cash back on purchases made through Chase Travel℠
• 3% cash back on purchases at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• 3% cash back on purchases at drugstores

Cash back is unlimited, and rewards don’t expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. 

How To Earn Rewards With Capital One Quicksilver 

The Capital One Quicksilver Card earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on everyday purchases, from groceries to gas to dining out.

You also have a chance to earn 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Other Capital One Travel purchases will earn the 1.5% everyday rewards rate. 

CardCritics™ Opinion

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is the winner since you have more opportunities to earn a higher rewards rate on different purchase categories. Having used both cards, I appreciate the simplicity of earning 1.5% back on everyday purchases, but I’ve gotten more mileage from Freedom Unlimited for travel and dining out. 

Redeeming Rewards

It’s important to know how to redeem cash back rewards with any card you’re considering, since some may offer better redemption options than others. The Chase Freedom Unlimited and Capital One Quicksilver Card give you multiple ways to put your rewards to good use. 

How To Redeem Rewards With Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Freedom Unlimited lets you use your rewards for travel, convert them to cash or use them for shopping and experiences. You can redeem for:

• Flights, hotels and other travel expenses through Chase Travel
• Statement credit
• Cash deposits to a bank account
• Gift cards to partner retailers and restaurants
• Amazon purchases
• PayPal purchases
• Apple products

I prefer statement credit redemptions to keep things simple, but the option to pay for Amazon or PayPal purchases at checkout is also great for people who shop online. If you want to make your rewards go even further, you can combine them across your other Chase accounts. 

How To Redeem Rewards With Capital One Quicksilver 

Capital One is flexible with rewards redemption, since there’s no minimum amount of cash back you need to have. You can redeem rewards for:

• Cash
• Statement credit
• Reimbursement for recent purchases
• Gift cards to partner merchants
• Amazon purchases
• PayPal purchases
• Flights, hotels and other travel purchases through Capital One Travel
• Exclusive experiences through Capital One Entertainment

The only real requirement for redemptions is that your account be in good standing. Rewards won’t expire as long as your account is open. 

CardCritics™ Opinion

If you typically redeem rewards for statement credit or cash, either card can serve you well. There’s no minimum to redeem with either card, and I’ve always found redemptions to be a breeze with both. 

Capital One offers a slightly longer list of transfer partners if you plan to redeem for travel, and you can combine your Quicksilver Card cash rewards with Capital One miles if you have eligible cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. You also get Capital One’s price drop protection and a price match guarantee. Both allow you to recoup travel credits if you book through Capital One Travel and your fare changes, or you find the same booking elsewhere for less. Chase doesn’t offer that benefit.

Card Benefits

Aside from cash back, you might be interested in what else Chase Freedom Unlimited and Capital One Quicksilver Card bring to the table. Both cards come with a range of benefits that increase their value to cardholders. 

Chase Freedom Unlimited Benefits

The Freedom Unlimited comes with a suite of security and travel protections, along with a few convenience features. Here are the highlights.

• Zero liability protection
• 24/7 fraud monitoring
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection
• Auto rental coverage
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Travel and emergency assistance
• Tap to pay 
• Digital card access
• Credit Journey credit monitoring with VantageScore access
• Pay over time

From time to time, Chase also offers special promotional benefits. For example, Freedom Unlimited cardholders earn 2% cash back on Lyft rides through September 2027, and six months of complimentary access to DashPass (activation required by Dec. 31, 2027).. 

Capital One Quicksilver Benefits

The Capital One Quicksilver Card boasts some useful benefits and perks. Here’s what you get with this card.

• Extended warranty protection
• Travel accident insurance
• Complimentary concierge service
• 24-hour travel assistance services
• $0 fraud liability for unauthorized transactions
• Security alerts
• Virtual numbers and account alerts through Eno
• CreditWise credit monitoring with FICO score access
• 24/7 customer service

As an added security measure, you can lock and unlock your card at any time through the Capital One mobile app. 

CardCritics™ Opinion

Chase comes out ahead if you’re planning to use your card for trips, since the travel insurance benefits are more expansive. If you’re looking for a card that offers FICO score access, on the other hand, Capital One wins in that regard. 

Fees and Costs

Fees can eat into the value of the rewards you earn. The Chase Freedom Unlimited and Capital One Quicksilver Card both have no annual fee, but only one has no foreign transaction fee. Both cards offer promotional APRs for purchases and balance transfers, though the terms are different. 

Chase Freedom Unlimited Fees and Costs

The Freedom Unlimited’s fees are aligned with other top rewards credit cards. Here’s what you’ll pay.

• Annual fee: $0
• Intro balance transfer fee: Intro fee of $5 or 3% of the transaction amount, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening 
• Regular balance transfer fee: $5 or 5% of the transaction amount, whichever is greater
• Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% of the transaction amount, whichever is greater 
• Foreign translation fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction in US dollars
• Late payment fee: Up to $40
• Return payment fee: Up to $40

If you plan to use your card for international purchases, the foreign transaction fee adds to the cost. 

New cardholders can take advantage of a 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, then 18.99% - 28.49% Variable APR. 

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Back Fees and Costs

Capital One’s fee schedule for the Quicksilver Card is similar to what you’ll pay with Chase. Here’s how the cost adds up. 

• Annual fee: $0
• Balance transfer fee: 3% of the transaction amount for the first 15 months; 4% thereafter (for promotional APRs, none for transferred balances at the purchase APR)
• Cash advance fee: $5 or 5% of the transaction amount, whichever is greater.
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• Late payment fee: Up to $40

There’s also a 0% intro on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable) APR for new cardholders.

CardCritics™ Opinion

Capital One wins if you’re looking for a credit card with no foreign transaction fee. However, if you plan to make a large purchase or transfer a balance, the cards are closely matched.

How To Choose Between the Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Capital One Quicksilver Card

Is Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Capital One Quicksilver Card better for you? The answer hinges on your spending habits and how you plan to use the card. 

You might choose Chase Freedom Unlimited if you:

• Frequently charge dining and drugstore purchases
• Would like to combine Chase Ultimate Rewards® points across multiple cards
• Plan to make a large purchase or balance transfer

On the other hand, you may lean toward Capital One Quicksilver Card if you:

• Travel outside the US
• Occasionally charge international purchases
• Prefer access to a wider range of travel transfer partners

Ultimately, the best cash back cards make it easy to earn the most rewards while paying the fewest fees. 

When To Consider an Alternative Card

The Freedom Unlimited and Quicksilver Card are popular cards, but they aren’t right for everyone. You may choose to look elsewhere if you:

• Prefer to earn points or miles for travel
• Want a card with premium travel benefits
• Are interested in earning higher rewards rates on groceries or gas
• Would like a higher cash back rewards rate on everyday spending

Check out the best Chase credit cards and the best Capital One credit cards to find your perfect match. 

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.