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Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card
vs. Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Updated: December 5, 2024
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MoneyGeek breaks down the difference between the Chase Freedom® Student credit card and the Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards card based on their respective fees and benefits. Between these two student credit cards, there’s a clear winner. But it may still depend on what you’re looking for in a card. The combination of low interest charges and a sweet welcome offer from the Chase Freedom® Student credit card might convince you to choose this card over the other. However, if you’re someone who considers higher cash back rates and travel perks, you might find the Quicksilver Student Rewards card a more ideal choice.
Both of these cards have high APR fees by MoneyGeek standards. When you’re just starting to build your credit, you want to avoid credit card mistakes such as carrying your balances on your card as it can hurt your credit score.
Comparison Overview: Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card vs. Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Chase Freedom® Student Credit CardCapital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card At a Glance
Chase Freedom® Student credit card is best suited for college students who want a no-fuss card that earns decent rewards. The flat 1% cash back rate gives an opportunity to earn on every purchase. Simply using the card at least once during the first three months after activation earns them an instant $50 as a welcome offer. They can earn $20 yearly for the first five years just for being a loyal customer in good standing.
- Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card
A solid card with rewards students are sure to appreciate
- 1-5% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 19.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Small, but attainable welcome offer
- Simple rewards structure with no cap
- Anniversary bonuses for good standing
- No annual fee
Cons
- Low rewards rate
- No intro APR
Rewards
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases.
- Get 5% cash back on Lyft rides until March 31, 2025.
Introductory Offers
- Earn a $50 bonus after making your first purchase within the first three months.
Perks & Benefits
- Receive a $20 Good Standing Reward after each account anniversary, up to 5 years.
- Enjoy a complimentary three-month DashPass membership.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- No annual fee.
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card At a Glance
The Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards has a higher unlimited cash back rate of 1.5% on all purchases. It’s a great card for international travel as it has no foreign transaction fees. The cash back earned can be redeemed for statement credits, direct deposit or gift cards. The purchase protection benefit is useful when shopping with this card as it reimburses the discounted amount if card members can find a cheaper price for the same product within 120 days of purchase. Virtual card numbers are useful against fraud on online purchases.
- 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
Introductory Offers
- Earn a $50 bonus when you spend $100 in the first three months.
Rewards
- Get unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, every day.
- Earn up to $500 annually by referring friends and family who are approved for a Capital One credit card.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees.
Perks & Benefits
- Benefit from $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges.
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost, or stolen.
- Build your credit with responsible card use.
- Suitable for students at 4-year universities, community colleges, or other higher education institutions.
Comparison Summary
Find out the differences between the Chase Freedom® Student credit card and the Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards card as we break down the fees, charges and rewards from each card.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection | The Chase Freedom® Student credit card has trip cancellation and interruption insurance. While Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards has more offers such as complimentary concierge services, 24-hour travel assistance and travel accident insurance. Both cards provide purchase protection. Winner: Depends on which you value more |
Welcome Bonus | The Chase Freedom® Student credit card has a welcome bonus offer of $50 after your first purchase within the first three months of account opening. The Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards card doesn’t have a welcome bonus. Winner: Chase Freedom® Student credit card |
Rewards | The Chase Freedom® Student credit card earns 1% cash back on all purchases, while the Quicksilver Student Rewards card earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Rewards earned from both cards can be redeemed through statement credit, gift cards or through Amazon checkout. Winner: Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards |
Annual Fee | Both cards don’t charge an annual fee. Winner: Tie |
APR Fees | Freedom Student has a variable APR fee of 14.99%. This is significantly lower than the Quicksilver Student Rewards APR of 26.99% Winner: Chase Freedom® Student credit card |
International Transaction Fees | Freedom Student charges 3% on all international transactions, while Quicksilver Student Rewards doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees. Winner: Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards |
Loyalty Programs | Chase Freedom® Student credit card rewards credit card holders $20 of good standing rewards every account anniversary for up to five years, while the Capital One Quicksilver doesn’t have a loyalty program. Winner: Chase Freedom® Student credit card |
Which Card Should You Get?
MoneyGeek helps you decide which card is best for you by giving you scenarios on how you can best take advantage of each card's offers.
Who Should Consider the Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card?
The Chase Freedom® Student credit card has a welcome offer, no annual fee and lower interest charges along with helping you build a strong credit history. If you fall in one of these categories, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card may be a solid fit for you:
Students who plan to use it long term to take advantage of its loyalty program.
Students who use Doordash and Lyft can earn 3% up to 4% cash back when they book these services through the card.
If your eyes are on a consumer Chase credit card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, qualifying for their starter credit cards should give you an advantage, as long as you are a responsible card user.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card?
The Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards earns a higher cash back rate, no annual fees and a list of useful travel coverages. So if you fall into one of these categories, the Quicksilver Student Rewards may be a good fit for you.
Students who would enjoy premium experiences such as music and sporting events as perks on the card.
Students that frequently shop online. It has protection features like a virtual card number that protects against fraud, security alerts, card lock feature and fraud liability protection.
Students that travel internationally as the card has no international fees.
EXPERT OPINION
As a student, you need to be able to save as much money as possible, and likely quickly as well. While the Quicksilver has a higher cash back rate by 0.5%, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card gives you a quick $50 rebate. SO unless you plan on spending significantly, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card will give you a more immediate return on your spending.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
MoneyGeek answers the most common questions that might further help you decide which card to get.
Is the Chase Freedom® Student credit card better than the Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards card?
The Freedom Student is better than Quicksilver Student Rewards when you look at the card as a whole. However, when looking at cashback rates, the Quicksilver offers a better 1.5% unlimited cash back offer.
Can you get the Chase Freedom® Student credit card if you have the Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards card?
Since these are different issuers, you can apply for both cards. Though this will require separate applications.
Can you transfer points from Chase Freedom® Student credit card to Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards?
You can't transfer points between different issuers.
Can you switch from the Chase Freedom® Student credit card to the Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards card?
As long as your card remains in good standing, you may be able to switch between these cards. But again, these are different issuers that require separate applications.
What’s harder to get, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card or the Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards card?
It’s fairly easy to apply for both these cards, even qualifying those with limited credit history.
How much do you have to spend for Chase Freedom® Student credit card vs Capital One Quicksilver Student Rewards to get the welcome bonus?
Quicksilver Student Rewards doesn’t have a welcome offer. But for Freedom Student, cardholders will earn the $50 welcome offer just by using the card on one purchase during the first three months of card membership.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
It can be overwhelming to choose a credit card for you, especially if it’s your first time getting one. However, know that different credit cards are built for different purposes. Cash back credit cards provide rewards that match your spending habits. Reward credit cards, on the other hand, earn you points or miles which you can redeem for travel.
Learn more about credit cards in general
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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. "Quicksilver Rewards for Students." Accessed December 5, 2024.
- Chase. "Freedom Student Credit Card." Accessed December 5, 2024.
*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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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.