Capital One Platinum Secured vs. Quicksilver Secured

By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated July 2026

The short answer: Capital One offers two secured cards, and the choice between them comes down to one question: can you put down the full $200 deposit? If you can, the Quicksilver Secured is the clear winner, because it earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on everything while it builds your credit, and a secured card that pays you is simply better than one that does not. If the deposit is a stretch, the Platinum Secured can open the same $200 line for as little as $49 up front, but it earns no rewards. Both charge no annual fee, both are refundable, and both graduate to an unsecured Capital One card.

What they share

Both cards are issued by Capital One, carry no annual fee, report to all three credit bureaus, and use a refundable security deposit to set your limit. Both are reviewed automatically for an upgrade to an unsecured card, with your deposit returned, typically within six to twelve months of on-time payments and low balances. Whichever you choose, you are building credit inside a major issuer’s lineup, which means your first card can grow into a Savor or Venture later rather than dead-ending.

Where the Quicksilver Secured pulls ahead

The Quicksilver Secured earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, plus 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and it still charges no annual fee. That makes it one of the few secured cards that actually pays you to build credit. The trade-off is that it requires the full $200 refundable deposit to open, with no reduced-deposit option. If you can cover that, there is little reason to choose the no-rewards card over this one.

Where the Platinum Secured pulls ahead

The Platinum Secured has one advantage, and it is a meaningful one: depending on your creditworthiness, Capital One may open your $200 line for a deposit of just $49 or $99 instead of the full $200. For someone rebuilding after a rough patch, that lower entry cost can be the difference between starting now and waiting months to save up. You give up rewards to get it, but the credit-building itself is identical.

Which should you get

Fund the full deposit and get the Quicksilver Secured; earning 1.5% back for doing the exact same credit-building work is free money. Choose the Platinum Secured only when the deposit is the obstacle and the reduced $49 or $99 option lets you start sooner. Either way you are miles ahead of a fee-harvester card, and you can see how both stack up against the rest in the best credit cards to build credit.

Frequently asked questions

Which Capital One secured card is better?

The Quicksilver Secured, if you can fund the full $200 deposit, because it earns unlimited 1.5% cash back while building credit. The Platinum Secured earns nothing but can open the same line for a deposit as low as $49, so it wins only when cash up front is tight.

Does the Quicksilver Secured really earn cash back?

Yes. It earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases plus 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, with no annual fee, which is rare for a secured card.

Can I get the Platinum Secured with less than a $200 deposit?

Sometimes. Depending on your profile, Capital One may open a $200 credit line for a refundable deposit of $49 or $99. The Quicksilver Secured does not offer that reduced-deposit option.

Do both graduate to an unsecured card?

Yes. Capital One reviews both for an automatic upgrade to an unsecured card and refunds your deposit, generally within six to twelve months of responsible use.

Is the deposit refundable on both?

Yes. On both cards the security deposit is fully refundable and comes back when you close the account in good standing or graduate to an unsecured card.