Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards
A no-annual-fee cash back card from Capital One.
Rates, fees, and full terms are set by Capital One and can change. See current rates & fees on the issuer’s site, and always confirm the latest terms before applying.
Our review
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured is one of the very few secured cards that earns real rewards: a flat 1.5% cash back on everything, with no annual fee and a genuine path to graduate to an unsecured card. For building credit, that is a strong, honest package.
You put down a refundable $200 deposit, use the card responsibly, and Capital One reviews you for an upgrade, at which point you get your deposit back. It is exactly the kind of card the fee-harvesters pretend to be.
Think twice if: you can qualify for the Discover it Secured, which earns more with its 2% categories and Cashback Match.
Our 7.6 out of 10 rating
Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.
Earning rates at a glance
Rewards: how it earns
You earn an unlimited flat 1.5% on every purchase, plus 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. A flat 1.5% on a secured card is genuinely good, most secured cards earn nothing, so you are building credit and getting a little back at the same time.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dining and restaurants | 1.5x | Base rate |
| Groceries | 1.5x | Base rate |
| Gas | 1.5x | Base rate |
| Travel | 1.5x | Base rate |
| Streaming | 1.5x | Base rate |
| Everything else | 1.5x | Everything else |
Brand and bonus rates: beyond the everyday categories above, this card also earns:
- 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
The fine print on rates: One of the few secured cards that earns real rewards: a flat 1.5% cash back on everything, with a refundable $200 deposit and a path to graduate to unsecured.
Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.
Best ways to earn & redeem
Use it as a flat-rate everyday card, since it earns the same on every purchase, and pair it with bonus-category cards for groceries, dining, and travel.
When you cash in, take the rewards as cash back or a statement credit, worth a flat 1 cent each. We value every point at a flat 1 cent, so treat any transfer upside as a bonus rather than the baseline — see what your points are really worth.
Pros and cons
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back, rare for a secured card
- No annual fee and a refundable deposit
- Graduates to an unsecured card and refunds your deposit
- Works everywhere as a Mastercard
- The Discover it Secured earns more when available
- $200 minimum deposit (no lower-deposit option like the Platinum Secured)
- Cash back only, no transfer upside
The welcome bonus
There is no welcome bonus, but earning 1.5% from day one on a secured card is already more than almost any competitor offers. The value is in the ongoing rewards and the graduation path.
First-year value vs ongoing value
| Welcome bonus | None |
| To earn it | No minimum spend |
| Est. first-year value* | $437 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $437 |
There is no lump-sum welcome bonus, so first-year and ongoing value are about the same, roughly $437 a year on typical spending after the fee. What you see is what you get from day one.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent, on average spending.
Benefits and protections
Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:
- Refundable $200 security deposit sets your credit limit
- Capital One reviews your account for an upgrade to unsecured (deposit refunded), typically in 6 to 12 months
Statement credits
This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.
Who should get it, and who should skip it
If you want a secured card that earns rewards and you would rather stay with a Visa or Mastercard that is accepted everywhere, the Quicksilver Secured is an excellent choice, 1.5% on everything, no fee, and a clear road to graduating.
The only card I would rank above it for building credit is the Discover it Secured, thanks to its 2% categories and first-year match. But if you cannot get that one or prefer Capital One, this is a strong pick.
Alternatives to the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards
Pairs well with
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards earns a flat rate on everything, so pair it with a category card or two to earn more where you spend the most.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
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How does it rank for your spending?
Every card is ranked by what it actually returns on the way you spend. Run your numbers and see where the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards lands.
Calculate My CardOffer details verified against issuer sources as of October 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
