Capital One Quicksilver Student vs Chase Freedom Rise®
Side-by-side comparison
| Capital One Quicksilver Student | Chase Freedom Rise® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $100 cash bonus | $25 statement credit |
| Dining | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Groceries | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Gas | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Travel | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Streaming | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Everything else | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $437 | $437 |
| Points type | Pools with Capital One → transferable | Pools with Chase → transferable |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Capital One Quicksilver Student | Chase Freedom Rise® |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $100 cash bonus | $25 statement credit |
| To earn it | $300 in 3 months | Set up autopay in first 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $537 | $462 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $437 | $437 |
The Capital One Quicksilver Student wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*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.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Capital One Quicksilver Student | Chase Freedom Rise® |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | None | None |
| Points & redemptions | Transferable (paired with a premium card) | Transferable (paired with a premium card) |
The two are closely matched on perks and redemptions, so the welcome offer and everyday earning above are what should decide it.
Transfer partners and point value
The Capital One Quicksilver Student earns Capital One miles, which transfers to Air Canada, Avianca LifeMiles, Turkish, British Airways, and Emirates. The Chase Freedom Rise® earns Chase Ultimate Rewards, reaching World of Hyatt, United, Air Canada, Southwest, and British Airways Avios. Most transfers are 1:1 on both, so the partners themselves, not the ratios, are what separate them.
The standout difference is the crown-jewel partner: for the Capital One Quicksilver Student it is Turkish and Avianca for cheap Star Alliance premium cabins; for the Chase Freedom Rise® it is World of Hyatt at 1:1, widely considered the single best hotel transfer in points. Pick the program whose best partners match the trips you would actually book.
These are almost mirror images: flat 1.5%, no fee, no deposit, aimed at credit newcomers, and both earn points that pool into transferable currencies with a premium sibling card.
The only meaningful difference is the ecosystem. The Freedom Rise feeds Chase Ultimate Rewards, whose partners include World of Hyatt. The Quicksilver Student feeds Capital One miles, with a strong airline-heavy partner list. Where you’d grow later is the tiebreaker.
Pros and cons
- Flat 1.5% on everything
- Pools into transferable Capital One miles with a future Venture
- A small easy welcome bonus
- Simple and beginner-friendly
- Capital One lacks a Hyatt-level hotel partner
- Same modest 1.5% rate as the Rise
- Miles only transfer with a Venture
- Flat 1.5% on everything
- Pools into Chase points that transfer to World of Hyatt and United
- A path into the deep Chase ecosystem
- Beginner-friendly
- Same 1.5% rate; no edge on earning
- Points cash-only until you add a Sapphire
- Very small welcome offer
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Earning rate | Tie | Both flat 1.5%. |
| Future ecosystem | Freedom Rise, slightly | Chase’s World of Hyatt is a standout partner. |
| Welcome bonus | Quicksilver Student | A slightly larger easy bonus. |
| Annual fee | Tie | Both $0. |
The verdict
These two are close enough that you can pick by ecosystem preference, since the cards themselves are nearly identical, flat 1.5%, no fee, and points that become transferable with a future premium card. The real decision is which company you’d rather build a rewards setup around later.
The Freedom Rise gets a slight nod if you’re eyeing travel, because Chase’s Ultimate Rewards transfer to World of Hyatt, one of the most valuable partners in points, when you eventually add a Sapphire. The Quicksilver Student is just as good a starter and offers a slightly bigger, easier welcome bonus, with Capital One’s solid airline partners. If you have no ecosystem preference, take whichever you’re approved for, they’re a near tie.