Skip to content
Some companies pay us when you click their button. Paying partners are labeled and can be listed first. Some companies pay us. Partners are labeled. Advertiser disclosure

Capital One Savor Review: Is This Cash Back Card Worth It?

The Capital One Savor pays unlimited 3% on dining, groceries, entertainment and streaming with no annual fee, plus a $200 bonus after $500 in 3 months; Walmart and Target purchases earn only 1%.

Capital One Savor BestGuide rating
4.4/5 BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editors from reputation, services, transparency, customer satisfaction and scale. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.

Best for: People who spend heavily on restaurants, supermarkets, streaming and live events and want a no-fee card that also works abroad.

On this page13 sections
  1. Ratings and complaints
  2. Capital One Savor vs. competitors
  3. Pricing
  4. Step by step
  5. the Capital One Savor card legitimacy and licensing
  6. the Savor card value for the price
  7. What counts for 3% cash back
  8. Savor rates and fees
  9. Complaints and how to avoid problems
  10. Rules that protect you
  11. What customers say
  12. Alternatives
  13. FAQ
Our verdict

The Capital One Savor pays unlimited 3% in those categories, 8% on Capital One Entertainment tickets, 5% on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1% on everything else, with a $200 bonus after $500 in 3 months and a 0% intro APR for 12 months. It is a legitimate, no-annual-fee cash back card from Capital One, N.A., and one of the stronger picks for people who spend a lot on dining, groceries, entertainment and streaming. The catches: Walmart and Target don't count as grocery stores, everything outside the categories earns only 1%, and the APR runs 18.74% to 28.74% after the intro period.

Annual fee
$01
Welcome offer
$200 cash bonus after $500 in purchases within 3 months of account opening (as listed October 2026); not available if you received a Savor new cardmember bonus in the past 48 months1
Cash back
8% on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 5% on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 3% at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), dining, entertainment and popular streaming; 1% on everything else1
Intro APR
0% for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 18.74% to 28.74% variable1
Balance transfer fee
3% during the first 12 months, then 4% at a promotional APR Capital One may offer (CreditCards.com, August 2026)2
Foreign transaction fee
None1
Redeeming
Cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account and can be redeemed for any amount1

Capital One Savor ratings and complaint records

  • Capital One customer reviews 4.6 out of 5 1,926 reviews on Capital One's own Savor page, managed by Bazaarvoice; 78% five star, 3% one star; 92% recommend View source
  • BBB A+ Capital One Financial Corp., McLean, VA; accredited since March 4, 2011; 16,929 complaints in the last 3 years (all Capital One products) View source
  • CFPB complaints 13,332 All Capital One credit card complaints, October 12, 2025 to October 12, 2026, not only Savor; top issue: a problem with a purchase on a statement (4,201) View source
  • Trustpilot 1.2 out of 5 4,319 reviews of Capital One overall; 89% one star View source
  • App Store 4.8 out of 5 Capital One Mobile, about 11.2 million ratings View source

Pros

  • Unlimited 3% on dining, groceries, entertainment and popular streaming
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • $200 bonus after just $500 in spending
  • 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
  • 8% on Capital One Entertainment and 5% on Capital One Travel lodging and rental cars

Cons

  • Only 1% on purchases outside the bonus categories
  • Walmart and Target don't count as grocery stores
  • 18.74% to 28.74% variable APR after the intro period
  • Intro APR period (12 months) is shorter than some rivals' 15 months
  • Heavy complaint volume about Capital One customer service

Best for: People who spend heavily on restaurants, supermarkets, streaming and live events and want a no-fee card that also works abroad.

Skip it if: Most of your spending is general shopping, bills or superstores, where a flat 2% card earns more.

Capital One Savor vs. competitors

Capital One Savor compared with competitors
CompanyAnnual feeDining and groceriesEverything elseWelcome offerForeign transaction feeNext step
Capital One Savor $03%1%$200 after $500 in 3 monthsNone
Chase Freedom Unlimited $03% dining; 1.5% groceries1.5%$200 after $500 in 3 months3% Read review
Wells Fargo Active Cash $02%2%$100 after $500 in 3 months3% Read review
Capital One Quicksilver $01.5%1.5%$200 after $500 in 3 monthsNone Read review

Credit cards we reviewed

  1. Capital One Savor This review BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who spend heavily on restaurants, supermarkets, streaming and live events and want a no-fee card that also works abroad.
  2. Chase Freedom Unlimited BestGuide rating: 4.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who spend a lot on restaurants and drugstores, want a long 0% intro period, or already have a Chase Sapphire card to pair it with.
  3. Chase Sapphire Preferred BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who spend regularly on dining, gas and online groceries, pay in full each month and want flexible travel points with solid trip insurance.
  4. Discover it® Cash Back BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Organized spenders who will activate categories each quarter and want to double their first-year cash back.
  5. Amex Gold BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who spend heavily on dining and groceries, already use Uber or Grubhub, and redeem points for travel.
  6. Capital One Venture BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with strong credit who travel at least a few times a year and want one simple card that earns 2X miles everywhere, including abroad.
  7. Capital One Quicksilver BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with strong credit who want one simple cash back card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
  8. Wells Fargo Active Cash® BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.
See all credit cards, ranked

Capital One Savor pricing at a glance

Capital One Savor earning and fees, as listed October 20261

Item Rate or cost
Annual fee $0
Capital One Entertainment tickets 8% cash back
Hotels, vacation rentals, rental cars via Capital One Travel 5% cash back
Grocery stores, dining, entertainment, popular streaming 3% cash back
Everything else 1% cash back
Intro APR 0% for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
Variable APR after intro 18.74% to 28.74%
Foreign transaction fee None

Grocery excludes superstores like Walmart and Target. Categories follow the merchant's category code, so some food counters inside stores or hotels may not earn 3%.

Capital One Savor, step by step

  1. Check eligibility

    Capital One lists Savor for excellent credit and offers an eligibility check that doesn't affect your credit score.

  2. Earn the bonus

    Spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months. Capital One adds the $200 bonus to your rewards balance within two billing cycles.

  3. Use it in the right places

    Put dining, supermarket, streaming and event tickets on Savor for 3%, and use a flat-rate card for everything else.

  4. Redeem cash back

    Redeem any amount as a statement credit or check; rewards don't expire while the account is open.

  5. Watch the intro APR end date

    After 12 months, unpaid balances start accruing interest at 18.74% to 28.74%.

the Capital One Savor card legitimacy and licensing

Yes. Savor is issued by Capital One, N.A., an FDIC member bank and one of the largest card issuers in the U.S. Capital One Financial Corp. holds an A+ BBB rating and has been accredited since 2011, with 16,929 BBB complaints across all products in three years. The CFPB logged 13,332 Capital One credit card complaints in the year to October 12, 2026. On Capital One’s own site, Savor averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1,926 reviews; Capital One overall scores 1.2 on Trustpilot, mostly over service.

the Savor card value for the price

With no annual fee, it’s worth it if your bonus-category spending is meaningful. Someone who spends $600 a month on groceries and dining earns $216 a year at 3%, versus $144 on a 2% flat card. But on a $1,000 monthly mix that’s mostly bills and general shopping, Savor’s 1% would trail a 2% card. Many people use Savor only for its categories and a flat-rate card for the rest.

Checked the fees?Compare all

What counts for 3% cash back

  • Grocery stores: supermarkets, meat lockers, freezer and dairy stores and specialty markets. Superstores like Walmart and Target are excluded.
  • Dining: restaurants, cafes, bars, lounges, fast-food chains and bakeries.
  • Entertainment: tickets at movie theaters, pro and semi-pro sports, theater, amusement parks, tourist attractions, aquariums, zoos, dance halls, record stores, pool halls and bowling alleys. Golf courses, college sports and cable or streaming memberships don’t count here.
  • Streaming: eligible music and video services such as Netflix, Hulu and Disney+. Some services, like audiobooks and fitness programs, are excluded.

Capital One uses the merchant’s category code. Purchases through third-party payment apps or mobile card readers may not earn the higher rate.

What customers say about Capital One Savor

Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.

Common praise

  • 3% back on dining and groceries with no annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Fraud alerts and card security
  • Easy cash back redemption for any amount

Common complaints

  • High interest rates and few promotional rates for existing cardholders
  • Some cardholders regret product-changing from another Capital One card
  • Capital One customer service waits (Trustpilot, all products)
  • Purchases coded outside the bonus categories

Savor rates and fees

The annual fee is $0. New cardholders get 0% for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 18.74% to 28.74% variable. CreditCards.com lists a 3% Balance transfer. Moving a balance from one card to another, usually for a fee. Compare credit cards fee during the first 12 months and 4% on transfers at later promotional rates. There’s no foreign transaction fee, which makes Savor one of the few no-fee category cards that works well abroad.

Complaints and how to avoid problems

Across Capital One cards, CFPB complaints most often involve purchases on statements, card terms, getting a card, closing an account, and fees or interest. On Capital One’s own Savor page, negative reviews mention interest rates and regret over product changes from other Capital One cards.

  • Before you switch an existing Capital One card to Savor, compare what you’d give up, such as a flat rate on everything.
  • Check that your grocery store codes as a supermarket, not a superstore.
  • Pay in full after the intro period so interest doesn’t wipe out the cash back.
  • Dispute billing errors in writing within 60 days, and escalate to the CFPB if needed.

Rules that protect you

The Fair Credit Billing Act lets you dispute billing errors within 60 days of the statement. The CARD Act requires 45 days’ notice of most rate and fee increases. Federal law caps unauthorized charge liability at $50, and Capital One advertises $0 fraud liability. You can file unresolved complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Still deciding?Compare all

Alternatives to Capital One Savor

  • Wells Fargo Active Cash® BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.

    A flat 2% on everything beats Savor if most of your spending falls outside dining, groceries and entertainment.

  • Chase Freedom Unlimited BestGuide rating: 4.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.

    Pays 1.5% on everything plus 3% on dining and drugstores, so it earns more on general spending.

  • Capital One Quicksilver BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.

    A simple 1.5% Capital One card with no foreign transaction fee if you don't want categories.

  • Pair Savor with a 2% card

    Using Savor for its 3% categories and a flat 2% card for the rest usually earns more than either card alone.

See all credit cards, ranked

Capital One Savor reviews

Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.

No reader reviews yet. If you have used Capital One Savor, yours will be the first.

Write a review
How do I know I can trust these reviews about Capital One Savor?
  • Every reviewer confirms an email address before a review can publish.
  • Our moderators read every review before it publishes.
  • Companies can respond publicly but can never edit, hide or remove a review.
  • Paying BestGuide never changes the reader rating or which reviews publish.

Read the review guidelines

Frequently asked questions

Is the Capital One Savor card worth it?

Yes, if you spend a fair amount on dining, groceries, entertainment or streaming, since it pays 3% there with no annual fee. If your spending is mostly elsewhere, a flat 2% card earns more.

Does the Capital One Savor have an annual fee?

No. As listed in October 2026, the annual fee is $0.

What is the Savor sign-up bonus?

A one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months of opening the account. You're not eligible if you received a Savor new cardmember bonus in the past 48 months.

Does Walmart count as a grocery store for Savor?

No. Capital One excludes superstores like Walmart and Target from the 3% grocery category.

What credit score do you need for the Savor card?

Capital One lists Savor for excellent credit and doesn't publish a minimum score. Check eligibility on its site first, which doesn't affect your score.

Does the Savor card have foreign transaction fees?

No. You won't pay a fee on purchases made outside the United States.

What is the Savor intro APR?

New cardholders get 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months. After that the variable APR is 18.74% to 28.74%, depending on credit.

What does Savor pay on Capital One Entertainment?

8% cash back on tickets bought through the Capital One Entertainment platform with the card. Tickets bought directly through Capital One Arena or Capital One Hall don't qualify.

Does Savor cash back expire?

No. Rewards don't expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem any amount.

Does streaming count for 3% on Savor?

Yes, eligible music and video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ earn 3%. Audiobook and fitness program subscriptions are among the services that do not count.

Sources (7)

Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards

  1. Capital One: Savor Rewards credit card (accessed October 12, 2026)
  2. CreditCards.com: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards review (August 11, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
  3. BBB: Capital One Financial Corp. profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
  4. CFPB complaint database API: Capital One credit card complaints, October 12, 2025 to October 12, 2026 (accessed October 12, 2026)
  5. Trustpilot: Capital One reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
  6. Apple App Store: Capital One Mobile (accessed October 12, 2026)
  7. CFPB: How do I dispute a charge on my credit card bill? (accessed October 12, 2026)
How we make money

BestGuide is free to use. Some companies we review pay us when you visit their site or contact them through us. Compensation may influence which companies we feature and their order. It doesn't change what our reviews say. Advertising disclosure