Our review
Is the Savor Cash Rewards Card worth it?
The Capital One Savor card is probably worth it if you’re on a budget and mainly spend on dining, groceries, shows, streaming, travel, and days out. While it doesn’t have the best rewards rate in any bonus category, it spans an impressive range of habits and interests.
The biggest benefits of the Capital One Savor only come if you use the Capital One Travel and Capital One Entertainment portals. The grocery stores and streaming services you can earn elevated rewards on are limited.
Although this card does not have an annual fee, it is worth keeping in mind that it has a higher regular APR than some other cards and that you will need good credit to qualify for this card.
What we like
Bonus categories
The Capital One Savor Card shines with its bonus categories, offering 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, grocery stores, and popular streaming services. If you’re someone who enjoys dining out or hitting up local events, this card rewards you for those fun (and potentially expensive) outings. If your spending aligns with these categories, you could see significant cash back without altering your lifestyle. Plus, with a card nudging you to indulge in experiences you love, it feels like a win-win!
No foreign transaction fees
Traveling abroad? The Savor Card has you covered with no foreign transaction fees. Not too many no-annual-fee cards have no foreign transaction fees, but Capital One always comes in clutch with this perk. You can swipe your card without worrying about those pesky extra charges adding up, allowing you to focus on your trip instead of your expenses.
Intro APR offer
The Savor Card’s 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers is a terrific perk for those planning larger expenses or balance transfers. If you’re eyeing a big-ticket item or want to consolidate, this feature gives you a brief respite from interest charges for a limited time.
Keep in mind, though, that any debt beyond the 15-month intro APR period will begin accruing interest at the regular APR (19.74% to 29.74%). Also, a fee will apply on any balance transfers: 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR Capital One may offer you at any time.
Capital One Portals
With access to the Capital One Portals, you can maximize your rewards even further. This platform (incl. Capital One Travel, Capital One Shopping, Capital One Entertainment, and Capital One Dining) allows you to find exclusive offers to help you get more bang for your buck. If you love planning trips or hunting for deals, having this access means you can leverage your rewards creatively.
Eno
The Savor Card comes with access to Eno, Capital One’s virtual assistant, which adds a layer of convenience and security to managing your finances. Eno can help track your spending, provide alerts, and even suggest ways to save money. You can also receive virtual card numbers to use at checkout so you don’t have to input your “real” card information, helping to keep your money safer from fraud.
Welcome bonus
While the Savor Card typically boasts an easy-to-earn welcome bonus of $200 after spending $500 in the first three months after account opening, currently new cardholders can benefit from a slightly elevated offer for a limited time. Instead, you can earn $250 after spending $500 in the first three months after account opening. While this is only a $50 increase, it’s still something.
No annual fee
The fact that the SavorOne Card has no annual fee is a huge advantage. Many rewards cards come with costs that can eat into your cash-back earnings, but with this card, you can enjoy all the perks without worrying about a yearly charge. You can spend freely, knowing every penny you earn in rewards is money back in your pocket.
What we don’t like
Specific categories
The bonus categories of Savor are a big selling point, but they might not be right for everyone. If you don’t go out to eat often or don’t spend much on entertainment, you might not get the most out of your rewards. Before deciding, consider whether your spending habits match the card’s benefits. If the bonus categories don’t work for you, you might want to look at other options that fit your spending better.
High credit requirements
The Savor Card has relatively high credit score requirements, which might keep you from qualifying if you’re still building your credit or have a less-than-perfect score. If you’re still working on building up your score, rest assured that plenty of great credit-building card options are available.
Low non-bonus rewards
A downside to the Savor Card is its lower cash-back rates on non-bonus purchases, which sit at just 1%. For those who spend significantly outside the bonus categories, this might not feel very rewarding. If a lot of your spending focuses outside of those bonus categories, you might want to look for a card with a higher flat-rate cash-back option.
Few additional benefits
The Savor card may feel like it’s missing some extra perks compared to other rewards cards. While it does offer cash back and some good features, it doesn’t have many additional benefits like statement credits or partner perks. This might make it less appealing for those who want a more complete reward experience.
Who is the Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card best for?
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card is best if your calendar is packed with outings like weekend theme park visits and movie nights and you’re partial to the more than occasional takeout. If staying at home isn’t for you, whether that’s traveling or getting an Uber to brunch, then this card is ideal. This would also be a great card for families, as a lot of family expenses fall into its bonus categories.
Not many cash back credit cards cover dining in and out, entertainment and streaming with no annual fee. That said, other cards may provide more value if you’re a big spender.
Rewards
Earning rewards
Earning rewards is automatic with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. All you have to do is spend as usual at grocery stores, on event tickets, takeout, restaurants and streaming, and you’re earning cash back.
- 3% cash back on dining
- 3% cash back on entertainment
- 3% cash back on streaming services
- 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores, wholesale stores, gas stations, convenience stores or discount stores)
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
One of the best things about the Savor card is that you don’t have to worry about your cash back expiring as long as your account is open and in good standing. Even more, there’s no cap on the amount of cash back you can rack up.
Redeeming rewards
Capital One makes it easy to redeem your rewards.
There are various methods to choose from:
- Statement credits.
- Checks.
- Gift cards.
- Travel through Capital One Travel.
- Pay with Points through PayPal
- Shop with Points through Amazon.com
You can also automate cash-back redemptions in one of these two ways:
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Annual automatic redemption. Opt to redeem cash back automatically on a specific date each year.
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Automatic redemption threshold. Set a specific cash-back threshold, and once you’ve reached it, your designated amount is either credited or released (dependent on your choice).
▶︎ Learn more: Capital One Rewards guide
Welcome offer
You’re eligible for a generous $250 sign-up bonus if you spend $500 within the first 3 months of opening the account. This is far easier to earn than some cards with significantly higher minimum spend requirements.
Benefits
Travel benefits
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Travel insurance. Keeping a Capital One Savor in your pocket provides a safety net whenever you go on an adventure. Built-in travel insurance covers travel accidents for eligible purchases.
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Capital One Travel Portal access. If you’ve got wanderlust, you can increase your money-saving potential with Capital One Travel. The platform lets you book flights, rental cars and hotels from one convenient location, with 5% cash back on hotels and car rentals.
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No foreign transaction fees. As a card with no foreign transaction fees, you can swipe your Savor freely overseas without incurring any additional charges on your purchases.
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Concierge service. Get personalized assistance for booking travel experiences, delectable dinners and evenings of entertainment, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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Capital One Shopping. Who doesn’t love shopping online? Score great deals and effortlessly save money with the Capital One Shopping browser extension and mobile app, which helps you find and apply discounts at the checkout.
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$0 fraud liability. With online shopping and digital payments overtaking in-person spending, cybersecurity protections have never been more important. The Savor has $0 fraud liability, so you’re 100% covered if you spot a fishy transaction on your bank statement.
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Eno. Through your Capital One card, you can access Eno, the Capital One virtual assistant. Through Eno, you can get a virtual credit card number to use on online purchases, helping protect your true credit card numbers.
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Capital One Dining & Entertainment. Through your Savor, you can access Capital One Dining, which allows you to book exclusive dining experiences in the U.S. You can also access Capital One Entertainment and book sports games, musicals, concerts and more.
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Extended warranty. Wave goodbye to paying extra for extended warranties on eligible items for up to a year, giving you extra peace of mind when you purchase that new Steam Deck.
The fine print
Fees
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Annual fee: $0 (no annual fee)
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Foreign transaction fee: $0 (no foreign transaction fees)
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Late payment fee: up to $40
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Cash advance fee: $5 or 5% (whichever is more) of the total transaction amount
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Balance transfers: 3% balance transfer fee for the first 15 months. then 4% at a promotional APR that may be offered at any other time
Interest rates
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Regular APR: 19.74% - 29.74% variable
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Intro APR offer: 15-month introductory 0% intro APR offer
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Balance transfer intro APR: 15-month 0% intro offer
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Balance transfer regular APR: 19.74% - 29.74% variable
Credit limit
Users report credit limits of between $1,000 and $10,000 on the Capital One Savor credit card. However, Capital One doesn’t list a minimum or maximum limit, so your limit could be higher or lower, depending on your credit score and history.
Responsible credit use leads to credit limit increases over time, so always spend within your means and don’t go wild with takeouts and nights out!
How the Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card compares
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card vs. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express has some of the same reward-earning categories and rates as the Capital One Savor card. Both are solid rewards cards with no annual fee (see Amex rates and fees) and earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, but the Blue Cash Everyday has a spending cap of $6,000 for that 3% rate, then cash back drops to 1%. On the other hand, Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. gas stations, a category the Savor doesn’t boast. The best one for you depends on where you tend to spend your money.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card vs. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase, while the Savor card caters to a more niche lifestyle. Both cards have a 0% APR introductory offer for 15 months, no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
▶︎ See how these two stack up: Capital One Savor vs Quicksilver
The bottom line
Should you get the Capital One Savor Card?
Whether the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card works for you depends on your spending habits, income and priorities. If you’re someone who enjoys both eating in and dining out, then you can take full advantage of this card’s rewards. If you love entertainment days out such as theme park visits and seeing movies on the big screen, but also want to reap rewards on your weekly shop, then absolutely, this card is for you. To top it off, if you’re seeking rewards without worrying about extra spending on an annual fee, it’s worth trying out.
That said, if you’re a big spender on nights out and groceries but prefer to shop at Costco, you’ll be better off with other cards, even if they charge a fee.
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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please visit this page.
