No welcome bonus
People with fair credit who want to earn cash back while rebuilding or establishing credit.
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card occupies a smart niche: it is one of the very few cash back cards that accepts fair-credit applicants (FICO scores around 580 to 669) and still earns a competitive 1.5% back on all purchases. Most rewards cards at this credit tier come with inflated annual fees or weak earning rates. QuicksilverOne threads that needle with a modest $39 annual fee and a simple, flat rewards rate that never requires you to think about categories.
You should get this card if your credit score is in the fair range and you are ready to start earning rewards while continuing to build your profile. The break-even point is $2,600 in annual spending — around $217 per month. At that pace you earn $39 in cash back, which exactly offsets the fee. Spend more and you come out ahead. You also get 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, which is an excellent perk for a card at this credit level. Like the Platinum, Capital One reviews your account for a credit line increase in as little as six months, and the upgrade path to the regular Quicksilver (no annual fee) is available once your score improves.
You should skip this card if your credit score is already 670 or above. In that case you qualify for the standard Quicksilver, which earns the same 1.5% back with no annual fee and a $200 welcome bonus. Paying $39 a year for the same rewards rate is unnecessary once you cross that threshold. You should also skip it if you barely use credit cards — the $39 fee will erode or eliminate your cash back if you spend less than $2,600 per year.
The closest alternative is the Capital One Platinum, which serves the same fair-credit audience for no annual fee but earns zero rewards. If you can reliably spend more than $217 per month and pay your balance in full, QuicksilverOne is the better card. If you are on an extremely tight budget and worry about even a $39 yearly charge, the no-fee Platinum is the safer starting point.
The APR on this card is 28.99% variable — high enough that carrying a balance even for one month will cost you more than the entire year's worth of cash back on typical spending. This card rewards disciplined full-payment behavior, not revolving balances. Use it like a debit card: spend what you have, pay it off, and watch both your rewards and credit score grow.
No welcome bonus exists on this card. There is no introductory offer or sign-up bonus. The $39 annual fee is charged each year. To break even vs. a no-rewards card, you need to spend at least $2,600 per year (earning $39 in 1.5% cash back covers the fee).
Cashback Match — all cash back doubled at end of year 1
Annual Fee: $0
175,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $895
150,000 bonus points (limited time)
Annual Fee: $795
Cashback Match end of first year
Annual Fee: $0
$150 cash back (15,000 points)
Annual Fee: $0
No welcome bonus
Annual Fee: $0 first year, then $99
Miles Match — all miles doubled at end of year 1
Annual Fee: $0
100,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $325
80,000 bonus miles
Annual Fee: $0 intro first year, then $150
70,000 bonus miles
Annual Fee: $0 intro first year, then $150
75,000 American Airlines miles
Annual Fee: $0 intro first year, then $99
80,000 Hilton Honors points
Annual Fee: $0
130,000 Hilton Honors points
Annual Fee: $150
175,000 IHG One Rewards points
Annual Fee: $99
200,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $375
Cashback Match at end of first year
Annual Fee: $0
300,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $895