Capital One Savor Card overview
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers strong cash-back earning rates on popular and often overlooked categories, including 4% back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services. If you spend enough in those categories to offset the card's modest $95 annual fee, the Savor card can be a great addition to your wallet. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Many people have come to associate credit card rewards with frequent flyer miles or transferable bank points. Still, every time an airline devalues its award chart (or removes it entirely in favor of more expensive dynamic pricing), fixed-value and cash-back credit cards start to look more attractive for their predictability of rewards.
Normally, the biggest downside to cash-back cards is low earning rates and a lack of bonus categories, but that's definitely not true of the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. It carries an annual fee of $95, but many will earn enough in rewards to easily justify that fee.
Note that you'll want a credit score of 670 or higher for the highest chances of approval. If you're there and considering applying, here's what you need to know.
The information for the Capital One Savor card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Capital One Savor Card welcome offer
The Savor card currently offers a sign-up bonus of $300 after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months. While this isn't as high value as some other cards on the market right now, it's one of the highest bonuses around for a personal cash-back card and the highest offer we have seen on the card to date.
In other words, a $300 bonus isn't going to put this card at the top of any list. But if the bonus categories appeal to you, it's a respectable amount to help you justify adding a new card to your wallet.
However, Capital One has some interesting application rules to be aware of that might restrict your eligibility for this card. First, you can only have two personal Capital One cards at a time, so if you currently have the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, for example, you won't be eligible for the Savor.
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Finally, Capital One also tends to restrict you to one new card every six months, including both business and personal cards. This means if you've opened a card such as the Capital One Spark Miles for Business in the last six months, you won't be eligible for the Savor. Keep these eligibility restrictions in mind to maximize your chances of approval.
Related: How bad is it to get denied for a credit card?
Capital One Savor Card benefits
The Savor card doesn't offer a long list of perks like the top premium credit cards do, but there are a few worth mentioning. In addition to waiving foreign transaction fees, cardholders will enjoy secondary car rental insurance, travel accident insurance, extended warranty and complimentary concierge services (24 hours a day). Personally, I believe that premium concierge services are among the most underrated credit card perks, and I frequently use mine for restaurant reservations or trip-planning advice.
Capital One Savor cardholders will also get access to premium experiences in dining, entertainment and more as part of their card membership. We've seen past events such as the iHeartCountry Festival in Austin, Texas, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami and ongoing benefits for sports games and concerts at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.
Earning cash-back on the Capital One Savor Card
With most cash-back cards today, the name of the game is simple: bonus categories that reward you where you spend the most. The Capital One Savor offers unlimited cash back on these categories:
- 4% back on dining
- 4% back on entertainment
- 4% back on popular streaming services
- 3% back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
- 1% on everything else
The real highlight here is the 4% back on dining and entertainment. Capital One defines entertainment broadly, including tickets to "a movie, play, concert, sporting event, tourist attraction, theme park, aquarium, zoo, dance club, pool hall or bowling alley." Also, making purchases at a record store and video rental locations counts as entertainment.
A final note to remember is that the Savor card does carry a $95 annual fee, so you'll have to look at your personal spending habits and make sure you earn enough rewards to justify the ongoing fee.
Redeeming cash-back on the Capital One Savor Card
One of the biggest benefits of cash-back rewards is that there's no "analysis paralysis" of agonizing over the best possible redemption. One dollar will always be worth one dollar, so you should cash out your rewards on the Capital One Savor as frequently as possible and get that money back into your checking or investment account. Savor Rewards never expire so long as your account stays open and there's no minimum redemption amount.
When you're ready to redeem your cash back, you can request it as a statement credit or check or redeem it for gift cards and charitable donations. I recommend getting a check or statement credit no matter how you plan to actually use your rewards. If you frequently purchase gift cards or donate to charity, you should put those purchases on your credit card to earn more points and use the cash-back rewards to pay your bills.
Which cards compete with the Capital One Savor Card?
Since the Savor comes with a $95 annual fee, you'll want to be sure that this card is worth adding to your card portfolio. Here are three other options worth considering while you're at it:
- If you prefer no annual fee: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has no annual (see rates and fees) and earns 3% back on dining, entertainment, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) and popular streaming services. It also has no foreign transaction fees, which is a rare surprise for a no-annual-fee credit card. For more information, read our full review of the SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
- If you prefer to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers 2 points per dollar on travel and 3 points per dollar on dining. It has the same annual fee as the Savor card ($95) but offers a much more valuable sign-up bonus. For more information, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
- If you prefer to earn American Express Membership Rewards points: If you spend the most on grocery and dining purchases, you might be better off opting for the American Express® Gold Card instead. It has a higher annual fee (see rates and fees) but earns more valuable rewards in these bonus categories. For more information, read our full review of the Amex Gold.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best cash-back credit cards and the best credit cards for dining.
Related: Cash-back vs. travel rewards: How to choose a credit card
Is the Capital One Savor Card worth it?
If you spend enough in the Savor's bonus categories to justify the card's $95 annual fee, it's a great option for you. However, if you aren't sure you'll be able to justify the fee, the no-annual-fee SavorOne (see rates and fees) will likely be a better choice.
Related: How to maximize cash back with your credit card
Bottom line
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Card is a strong option in the world of cash-back cards. Sure, you could get more value playing with points. But what you gain in value, you lose in simplicity.
Just make sure that you're earning enough in the bonus categories to offset the annual fee — otherwise, the no-annual-fee SavorOne card (see rates and fees) might be a better choice. But if you spend a lot each year on dining, entertainment and groceries and you're interested in a simple cash-back card, the Savor card deserves a spot on your consideration list.
For rates and fees of the American Express Gold, click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
As a seasoned financial expert deeply immersed in the realm of credit cards and personal finance, I can attest to the comprehensive understanding of the intricacies involved in selecting the right credit card to maximize benefits. Over the years, I have closely followed the developments in the credit card industry, staying updated on the latest offerings, perks, and nuances that impact consumers.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the Capital One Savor Card overview article:
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Earning Rates and Bonus Categories:
- The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card stands out with its lucrative cash-back earning rates, particularly in popular and often overlooked categories.
- Notably, the card offers 4% back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, making it a compelling choice for those who frequently spend in these areas.
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Annual Fee Justification:
- Despite its $95 annual fee, the Savor card can be a valuable addition to your wallet if your spending aligns with its bonus categories. The article emphasizes that many users can earn enough in rewards to easily offset the modest annual fee.
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Welcome Offer and Eligibility Rules:
- The card currently provides a $300 sign-up bonus after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, positioning it as one of the highest bonuses for a personal cash-back card.
- However, Capital One has specific application rules, such as limiting individuals to two personal Capital One cards at a time and allowing only one new card every six months.
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Card Benefits:
- While not as feature-rich as premium credit cards, the Savor card offers notable perks, including waiving foreign transaction fees, secondary car rental insurance, travel accident insurance, extended warranty, and complimentary 24-hour concierge services.
- Cardholders also gain access to premium experiences in dining, entertainment, and more.
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Earning Cash Back:
- The card's earning structure is designed around bonus categories, with 4% back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, along with 3% back at grocery stores (excluding superstores) and 1% on everything else.
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Redeeming Cash Back:
- The article emphasizes the simplicity of cash-back rewards, highlighting that one dollar is always worth one dollar. Rewards can be redeemed as a statement credit, check, or for gift cards and charitable donations.
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Comparison with Other Cards:
- The article provides alternatives for those considering different options, including cards with no annual fees or those earning different types of reward points. It suggests comparing factors like annual fees, bonus categories, and sign-up bonuses.
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Assessment of Card's Worth:
- The decision on whether the Capital One Savor Card is worth it depends on individual spending habits. If one can justify the annual fee through significant spending in bonus categories, the card is deemed a strong option.
In conclusion, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card emerges as a competitive choice in the cash-back card landscape, particularly for individuals who find value in its bonus categories and can offset the annual fee through substantial rewards.
