Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Great for Family Adventures and Date Nights

The Capital One SavorCash Rewards credit card caters to families and foodies with its high cash back rates in grocery stores, dining and entertainment. With a robust rewards program offering 3% cash back on these categories, this card stands out for everyday spending. However, if your shopping often takes you to superstores, or you're looking for high rewards across all purchase categories, this card might not be your perfect match.

The Savor card offers a balanced mix of rewards and savings, making it a worthy contender for your wallet if your spending aligns with its cash back categories.

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards credit card is for those who frequently spend money on grocery stores, dining and entertainment. It offers unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services. This card also offers higher cash back rates on travel and entertainment purchases made via Capital One platforms.

Beyond the rewards, the card offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 29.74% after that, which can be a financial breather for new cardholders looking to make large purchases or move existing debt.

However, the card may not be the best fit for everyone. Shoppers who frequent superstores like Walmart and Target will find their purchases earn a lower 1% cash back rate. Additionally, consumers with diverse spending beyond the card's bonus categories may benefit less from the rewards program. A different card with broader high-earning categories might be more advantageous in such cases.

>> MORE: Best Cash Back Credit Cards

Cardholders earn rewards through a tiered cash back system. You earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery store purchases, excluding superstores like Walmart and Target. All other purchases earn 1% cash back. Additionally, users receive 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. This provides ample opportunities to accumulate rewards in various spending categories.

Redemption of rewards is user-friendly, offering options such as statement credits, checks or even travel bookings. Cardholders can request cash back at any time or set up automatic redemptions to occur annually or when a certain threshold is met. This flexibility ensures that rewards can be used in a way that best suits the cardholder's preferences.

The rewards earned with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards credit card do not expire for the life of the account, and there is no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn. This provides users peace of mind and simplicity, as they do not need to worry about losing their hard-earned rewards or tracking expiration dates.

Maximize your rewards without worrying about an annual fee cutting into your earnings, making every reward point count even more.

Unlimited 3% Cash Back Everyday Purchases: This card offers unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, streaming and grocery store purchases. There is no need to track shifting categories or spending caps, and the rewards never expire. Moreover, you can redeem your rewards at any amount.

0% Intro APR Period: The 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 29.74% after that, provides a breather from interest. It’s helpful if you want flexibility in paying off a recent purchase or plan to eliminate your existing balance from a non-Capital One card.

No Annual Fee: Capital One Savor simplifies earning rewards on dining by not charging an annual fee, meaning you don't have to worry about spending a lot just to justify the rewards.

Welcome Bonus: New cardholders can earn a one-time $250 cash bonus after spending $500 within the first three months.

There's not much to complain about the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card if you want cash back on dining and grocery stores. However, it may not work for people with different spending priorities.

1% Base Cash Back: Beyond dining, entertainment and grocery stores, the card offers only 1% cash back on other purchases. This could be a drawback if your spending is varied and not concentrated in the card's bonus categories. Depending on your spending habits, you may get more rewards from a flat-rate card like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® card or the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card.

3% Cash Back Doesn’t Cover Superstores Like Walmart and Target: Walmart, Target and other big box retailers are not included in the 3% cash back rate, which could be a dealbreaker for loyal superstore customers. A store-focused card may be ideal if you frequently shop from a specific store.

Higher Cash Back Exclusive Through Capital One Portals: The enticing 5%–8% cash back on entertainment hotels and rental cars is exclusive to bookings made through Capital One Travel and Capital One Entertainment. This may narrow your choices and lead to missing out on deals elsewhere.

To help you find the best cards for your needs, we’ve compared the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card with similar cash back cards.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash®

The Wells Fargo Active Cash card offers a flat 2% cash reward on all purchases, contrasting with Capital One Savor's higher rates in specific categories. While both cards have similar introductory cash bonuses and APR periods, the Wells Fargo card's 3% foreign transaction fee makes the Capital One Savor more appealing for international use. Choose the Wells Fargo card for simple, flat-rate rewards or the Capital One Savor for higher cash back on dining, entertainment and grocery stores.

>> MORE: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards vs. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card**

With its 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases, the Savor card is best paired with credit cards that offer a flat-rate cash back across all categories or higher cash back on different categories.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards and Citi Double Cash®

The Citi Double Cash® card offers a consistent 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% when you buy and another 1% as you pay off those purchases. While the Savor excludes superstores, the Double Cash doesn't. Moreover, the Double Cash card extends its 0% balance transfer offer for 18 months, which could be beneficial for those managing existing debt. Together, these cards could cover a broad spectrum of spending, maximizing your cash back potential.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card offers flexibility with 3% cash back in a category of your choice, such as online shopping or gas, which the Savor doesn't cover. And while the Savor excludes superstores from its grocery rewards, the Bank of America card may fill that gap, ensuring you earn cash back on all fronts. Together, these cards could form a robust rewards strategy for savvy spenders.

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a good choice for food enthusiasts and those who regularly spend money on entertainment and grocery stores. With 3% cash back in these categories and a $0 annual fee, it's a rewarding option if these are your main expenses.

The introductory 0% APR offer for 15 months, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 29.74% after that, can also be a financial breather for new purchases or balance transfers. However, if your shopping is concentrated at superstores or you have a varied spending pattern, the lower rewards rate on other purchases might dampen the card's appeal.

In evaluating the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, MoneyGeek considered a range of factors to determine its Cash Back Score. Here's how we weighted each aspect, with a total of 60 cards reviewed for comparison:

• Rating Effective Reward Rate (50%): This is the most heavily weighted factor, assessing the value of cash back earned per dollar spent. A score of 5 indicates the most rewarding cash back rate.
• Rating Annual Fee (10%): Evaluates the cost of owning the card, where a score of 5 means no annual fee.
• Rating Offer ROI (10%): Looks at the return on investment for introductory offers and bonuses, with a score of 5 representing the highest potential return.
• Rating Intro Purchase (5%): Assesses the value of the introductory 0% APR offer on purchases, with a score of 5 for the best offer.
• Rating Recommended Credit (5%): Indicates the card's accessibility, where a score of 5 suggests availability to a wide range of credit scores.
• Rating Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Based on JD Power issuer satisfaction studies, a score of 5 reflects the highest satisfaction.
• Rating Penalties (5%): Rates penalty fees and rates, with a score of 5 indicating no or minimal penalties.
• Rating Regular APR (5%): Considers the cost of carrying a balance after any introductory periods, with a score of 5 for the lowest APRs.
• Rating Foreign Transaction (5%): Evaluates fees for transactions made abroad, with a score of 5 for no foreign transaction fees.

Our approach ensures a comprehensive and balanced review, aligning with the pros and cons identified for the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.