Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
vs. USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card

Both the Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® and the USAA® Preferred Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card offer enticing cash back rewards without annual fees, a common thread for savvy spenders. For frequent Walmart shoppers, the Walmart Card edges ahead with its higher cash back rates on Walmart.com purchases.

However, the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards card is also compelling, especially with its introductory APR offer and military-affiliated benefits.

While the Walmart Card may be more accessible with its lower credit score requirement, the USAA card's exclusive membership and travel protections are worth considering for those who qualify.

You might prefer the Walmart Card if you frequently shop at Walmart, especially online, and want to earn high cash back on those purchases. With its tiered rewards system, this card is tailored to maximize returns on everyday shopping at Walmart and affiliated stations, as well as dining and travel expenses.

You might prefer the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards if you value simplicity in your rewards and have a connection to the military that would allow for a USAA membership. This card offers a flat cash back rate on all purchases. It also offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 months, which can be particularly beneficial for large purchases or for those planning to carry a balance initially.

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and additional features will clarify which card aligns with your financial habits. For example, frequent Walmart shoppers may lean towards the Walmart Card for its higher cash back rates online, while those who value simplicity might prefer the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards' flat rate on all purchases.

The Walmart Card caters to frequent Walmart shoppers. It offers 5% cash back on Walmart.com, including pickup and delivery, and a temporary boost to 5% for in-store purchases when using Walmart Pay for the first 12 months. The Walmart Card also offers 2% cash back on dining and travel.

The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards offers a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, making it a solid choice for those who value simplicity and consistent rewards across all spending.

For Walmart loyalists, the Walmart Card's higher rewards rates for online and in-store purchases can add up quickly, especially with no annual fee. However, for those who prefer a straightforward rewards program without the need to track category bonuses, the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards provides an uncomplicated approach with its flat cash back rate on all purchases. The table below details the bonus categories for each card to help you compare their rewards programs at a glance.

The Walmart Card allows you to redeem your cash back rewards as statement credits and for purchases at Walmart.com. Rewards have no expiration date.

The USAA Preferred Cash Rewards also does not impose an expiration on rewards. You can redeem your cash back in $1 increments, but specific details on redemption methods are not available.

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards using a tailored scoring system for various use cases, such as cash back and balance transfers. The highest-scoring use case for the Walmart Card and the USAA Preferred Cash Rewards is cash back. The evaluation considers factors like the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers. For a detailed understanding of our scoring process, you can review our ranking methodology.