Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
vs. Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express

Updated: June 25, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Shield Insurance

MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.

Both the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express are strong contenders in the cash back category, offering no annual fees and enticing introductory APR offers. But the Quicksilver edges ahead with its higher cash back score and the simplicity of its rewards program, offering unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Although the Blue Cash Everyday offers a higher cash back rate in specific categories like supermarkets and gas stations, the Quicksilver's flat-rate reward structure may be more beneficial for those who value simplicity and consistent rewards across all spending. Nonetheless, the Blue Cash Everyday card remains a competitive option, especially if you spend heavily in its bonus categories.

Credit Card logo for Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Credit Card logo for Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ of 5

  • Regular APR
    19.99% - 29.99% variable
    19.24–29.99% variable
    0% APR Offer
    0% for 15 months on purchases
    0% for 15 months on purchases
    Intro Offer
    Earn $200 Cash Back
    Earn $200
    Rewards Summary
    Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back
    Earn 1–3% cash back
    Balance Transfer Offer
    0% for 15 months on balance transfers
    0% for 15 months on balance transfers
    Balance Transfer Fee
    3% for the first 15 months
    Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
    Annual Fee
    $0
    $0
    Recommended Credit
    670-850 (Good to Excellent)
    670–850 (Good to Excellent)
    Penalty APR
    None
    29.99% variable, can last over six months
    Not sure?

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Blue Cash Everyday if you spend significantly at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations and online retail purchases. With higher cash back rates in these categories and a welcome offer that rewards initial spending, this card maximizes returns for targeted spending habits.

You might prefer the Quicksilver if you value simplicity and flexibility in earning rewards. The flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, coupled with a low spending threshold for the welcome bonus, makes it a straightforward choice for everyday use without tracking bonus 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. For instance, if you frequently shop at U.S. supermarkets, the Blue Cash Everyday's higher cash back rate in that category might appeal to you, whereas the Quicksilver offers a flat cash back rate on all purchases, which could be more beneficial for varied spending.

    discount icon

    Regular APR: Blue Cash Everyday

    The Blue Cash Everyday is slightly better, offering a lower starting APR of 19.24% compared with the Quicksilver's 19.99%.

    annualFee icon

    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Quicksilver and the Blue Cash Everydayhave no annual fee.

    lowInterestAPR icon

    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Both the Quicksilver and the Blue Cash Everydayoffer identical introductory 0% APR periods for both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.

    But the Quicksilver has a flat 3% fee on balance transfers made within the first 15 months, while the Blue Cash Everyday's balance transfer fee is either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

    coins icon

    Rewards: Quicksilver

    The Quicksilver card is generally better due to its unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% on travel booked through Capital One. The Blue Cash Everyday offers 3% back in specific categories like U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases, and gas stations, up to $6,000 per year, then 1%, and 1% on other purchases.

    rewards icon

    Welcome Offers: Quicksilver

    The Quicksilver offers a better welcome offer, with a higher return on investment (ROI) of 0.4 compared with the Blue Cash Everyday's 0.13, and easier spending requirements to earn the $200 cash bonus.

    creditApproved icon

    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Quicksilver and the Blue Cash Everyday cater to people with credit scores ranging from 670 to 850, indicating a requirement for good to excellent credit.

    autopay icon

    Penalties and Fees: Quicksilver

    The Quicksilver is better for penalties and fees, lacking a penalty APR and foreign transaction fees. Both cards have a late fee up to $40, but the Quicksilver's absence of additional penalties makes it more favorable.

    points icon

    Issuer Satisfaction: Blue Cash Everyday

    American Express outperforms with an issuer satisfaction rating of 5.0, compared with the Quicksilver’s rating of 4.2.

    airplane icon

    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both cards offer unique perks depending on your lifestyle preferences. The Blue Cash Everyday provides up to $15 monthly on Home Chef and a $7 credit for The Disney Bundle. The Quicksilver offers six months of Uber One and 5% back on travel booked through Capital One.

Rewards Comparison

The Blue Cash Everyday may be more appealing if your expenses align with its bonus categories. With higher cash back rates at U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases and gas stations, it caters to specific spending habits.

On the other hand, the Quicksilver card is a solid choice for simplicity and flexibility, offering a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases. It stands out with 5% cash back on travel booked through Capital One, appealing to frequent travelers.

If you value straightforward rewards without tracking categories, the Quicksilver's uniform cash back rate is appealing. But if your spending is concentrated in the areas where Blue Cash Everyday offers higher cash back, it could be the more rewarding option.

The table of bonus categories helps you compare the rewards programs at a glance.

Category
Quicksilver
Blue Cash Everyday

U.S. Supermarkets

1.5%

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

U.S. Online Retail Purchases

1.5%

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

U.S. Gas Stations

1.5%

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

Hotels and Rental Cars Booked Through Portal

5%/1.5% if not booked through portal

N/A

All Other Purchases

1.5%

1%

Redeeming Rewards

Both the Blue Cash Everyday and Quicksilver cards offer user-friendly redemption processes. With the Blue Cash Everyday, you can redeem your cash back directly at Amazon.com or as a statement credit, with no minimum amount required and no worry about expiration.

The Quicksilver also provides flexibility, allowing redemptions for statement credits, checks, gift cards, and more, at any amount and any time. Additionally, the Quicksilver offers automatic redemption either at a set time each year or when a certain threshold is met, ensuring rewards are never forgotten or wasted.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like Quicksilver and Blue Cash Everyday using a tailored scoring system for various use cases. In this comparison, both cards are assessed for their cash back potential, which is their strongest performance area. The most significant factors in determining their scores are the cash back value of the rewards program and the return on investment for the card's offers. For a deeper understanding of our scoring process, you can review our ranking methodology. This approach ensures that you have a clear picture of which card may best suit your financial habits and goals.

FAQ: Quicksilver vs. Blue Cash Everyday

What are the cash back rewards for each card?
Do either of the cards have an annual fee?
What are the introductory offers for these cards?
How do the APRs compare after the introductory period?
What credit score is needed for each 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.