Capital One Quicksilver vs Amex Blue Cash Preferred
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Capital One Quicksilver wins 4-2. No-fee, no-thinking 1.5% on everything. Amex Blue Cash Preferred is still the right call if suburban families with kids — best us-supermarket card..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Capital One Quicksilver | Amex Blue Cash Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $95 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 1.5% (general) | 6% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 1.5% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | No FX fee | · 2.7% |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cashback after $500 in first 3 months | = $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 700 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Capital One Quicksilver
- 1.5% cashback on every purchase
- 5% on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- 6% cashback on US supermarkets (up to $6K/year, then 1%)
- 6% on streaming subscriptions
- 3% on US gas stations + transit
- 1% on everything else
- 0% intro APR for 12 months
FAQ
›Capital One Quicksilver vs Amex Blue Cash Preferred: which is better?
Capital One Quicksilver wins on more dimensions (4 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Capital One Quicksilver for its best categories, Amex Blue Cash Preferred for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Capital One Quicksilver: $200 cashback after $500 in first 3 months. Amex Blue Cash Preferred: $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months.