Updated: June 24, 2024
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Both the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and the USAA® Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Card offer enticing cash back rewards without annual fees. However, the Quicksilver card edges ahead with its lower required credit score, making it more accessible, and its straightforward unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Still a strong contender, the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus offers a higher cash back rate of up to 5% in specific categories.
You might prefer the Quicksilver card if you value simplicity and consistent rewards across all your spending. With its flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase and an introductory 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, it's a straightforward option for everyday use.
You might prefer the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus if your spending is heavily concentrated on gas and military base purchases, where you can earn up to 5% cash back. While it lacks a 0% introductory APR on purchases, it offers significant rewards in these categories.
Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards, introductory offers and other features will explain the differences between Quicksilver and USAA Cashback Rewards Plus. Align card benefits with your financial habits, such as preferring flat-rate rewards with Quicksilver or maximizing category-specific cash back with USAA Cashback Rewards Plus.
Regular APR: USAA Cashback Rewards Plus
For those prioritizing a lower regular APR, the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus may be the better option, with its APR starting at 17.15% compared to the Quicksilver's 19.99%.
Annual Fee: Tie
Both the Quicksilver and the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus have no annual fee, making them equally appealing for those looking to avoid extra costs.
Introductory 0% APRs: Quicksilver
The Quicksilver card offers a more comprehensive introductory 0% APR deal, covering both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, with a lower balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months. In contrast, the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus does not offer an introductory APR for purchases and has a higher balance transfer fee of 5%.
Rewards: Quicksilver
The Quicksilver card is better for rewards, offering unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% on travel booked through Capital One, compared to the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus' 5% and 2% in specific categories with caps.
Welcome Offers: Quicksilver
The Quicksilver card is better for welcome offers, offering a one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 within three months from account opening. It has an introductory offer return on investment of 40%.
Recommended Credit Score: Quicksilver
The Quicksilver is more accessible, catering to individuals with credit scores ranging from 670 to 850 (good to excellent), compared to the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus, which requires an excellent credit score.
Penalties and Fees: USAA Cashback Rewards Plus
The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus is better for penalties and fees, as it does not charge a late fee, whereas the Quicksilver card charges up to $40. Both cards have a cash advance fee of 5% and do not have foreign transaction fees.
Issuer Satisfaction: USAA Cashback Rewards Plus
The Cashback Rewards Plus card is issued by USAA, which has a higher issuer satisfaction rating of 4.8 compared to Capital One's 4.2.
Other Features & Perks: Tie
Both cards offer unique perks that cater to different needs. Quicksilver provides up to six months of complimentary Uber One membership. USAA Cashback Rewards Plus offers a suite of insurance protections, access to concierge services and identity theft resolution, making it a strong contender for those valuing security and convenience. Choosing the right card depends on which perks align best with your lifestyle.
The Quicksilver card offers a simple yet effective rewards structure: unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. This straightforward approach may appeal to those who prefer a consistent reward rate across all spending without having to track category bonuses.
On the other hand, the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card shines for military personnel and their families. It offers a robust 5% cash back on gas stations and military base purchases, capped at $3,000 annually. While its rewards are more niche, they are highly valuable in their respective categories, surpassing Quicksilver in these areas.
The table below outlines bonus categories to help you compare the rewards programs of both cards at a glance.
Category | Quicksilver | USAA Cashback Rewards Plus |
|---|---|---|
Gas Stations | 1.5% | 5% for the first $3,000 annually/1% thereafter |
Military Bases | 1.5% | 5% for the first $3,000 annually/1% thereafter |
Grocery Stores | 1.5% | 2% for the first $3,000 annually/1% thereafter |
Hotels | 5% if booked through Capital One Travel | 1% |
Rental Cars | 5% if booked through Capital One Travel | 1% |
All Other Purchases | 1.5% | 1% |
Both the Quicksilver and the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus offer cash back without expiration, provided accounts remain open.
The Quicksilver card allows for redemption through statement credits, checks and gift cards, among other options. It even offers automatic redemption features.
The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus card permits redemption in $1 increments, though it lacks detailed redemption options.
MoneyGeek's ranking process evaluates credit cards across various use cases, such as balance transfers and cash back, assigning multiple scores to each card. The Quicksilver and USAA Cashback Rewards Plus cards both score the highest for cash back rewards. The most significant factors influencing their scores include the effective reward rate and the return on investment for the offer. For a deeper understanding of our scoring system, you can explore our ranking methodology.
Earning rewards can vary. Quicksilver offers 1.5% on all purchases, while USAA Cashback Rewards Plus offers up to 5% on gas and military bases and 2% on groceries.
No, both cards come with no annual fee.
Quicksilver offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 months, while USAA Cashback Rewards Plus does not offer an introductory APR.
Both cards have no foreign transaction fees.
Both cards require excellent credit. Understanding recommended credit scores can help you apply.
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.
