American Express Platinum Card® vs. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Which is Best?

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The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and American Express Platinum Card® are at the opposite ends of the credit card spectrum. 

One is a premium travel card, and the other is a no annual fee cash back card.

The Amex Platinum offers the most comprehensive airport lounge network available, giving you access to premium Centurion Lounges plus thousands of other lounges worldwide. You can easily offset the card’s large annual fee through generous credits for Uber, hotels, digital entertainment, Resy dining, and lifestyle brands like lululemon.

The Capital One Quicksilver keeps rewards simple with unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and includes useful benefits like no foreign transaction fees. The card works best for people seeking a low-maintenance rewards experience, though its earning rate falls behind more specialized cash back cards.

This article will compare each card based on several factors to help you make an informed decision on which card is the best to add to your wallet.

Overview: Amex Platinum vs Quicksilver Rewards

Airport Lounge Access
American Express Platinum Card®
Learn How to Apply Our Review
American Express is a Deals Points Advertiser; Terms Apply. Enrollment is required for some benefits.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
  • 1.5% Cash Back on Every Purchase
  • 5% Cash Back on Hotels and Rental Cars Booked via Capital One Travel
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. After that, a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR.
  • No Annual Fee
Learn How to Apply Our Review

Welcome Bonuses

Amex Platinum:

The American Express Platinum currently offers the following welcome bonus:

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Capital One Quicksilver Rewards

The Quicksilver Card currently offers the following welcome bonus:

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Earning Rewards

Amex Platinum

American Express Platinum cardholders earn rewards at the following rates:
  • 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel®, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
  • 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Cardmembers are also eligible for targeted Amex Offers that could boost earning rates at various merchants.

Capital One Quicksilver Rewards

The Quicksilver Card earns:

  • 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 
  • 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day.

Winner

The Amex Platinum wins. The rewards it earns are significantly higher and more valuable than the Quicksilver Card.

Card Benefits and Perks

Amex Platinum

The Amex Platinum offers the most benefits of any credit card, including the following:

Lounge Access: Eligible Card members get access to the extensive American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Lufthansa lounges (when flying Lufthansa, SWISS, or Austrian) and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta. Platinum members receive 10 Delta Sky Club visits annually per eligible card (unless you spend $75,000 in a calendar year) when traveling on same-day Delta flights.

Airline Fee Credit: You’ll receive up to $200 in statement credits annually for incidental fees charged by one qualifying airline of your choice.*

Hotel Credits: You’ll receive up to $600 in hotel credits annually with this card, split into two convenient semi-annual periods. The credit structure gives you up to $300 from January through June and another $300 from July through December.*

Uber Cash: Your card provides up to $200 annually in Uber Cash, distributed as up to $15 monthly credits, plus a bonus of up to $20 in December. These credits can be used for both Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the United States when you add your Platinum Card as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.*

Uber One Credit: You’ll receive up to $120 annually in statement credits after purchasing an auto-renewing Uber One membership with your card, which is separate from the existing $200 annual Uber Cash benefit.*

CLEAR Plus Credit: You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with this card.*

Digital Entertainment Credit: You’ll receive up to $25 monthly (up to $300 annually) in credits toward popular streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Paramount+, Peacock, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and digital subscriptions to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. *

Resy Dining Credit: You’ll receive up to $100 quarterly (up to $400 annually) in statement credits when you use your card for eligible dining purchases at over 10,000 U.S. Resy restaurants.*

Lululemon Shopping Credit: You’ll receive up to $75 quarterly (up to $300 annually) in statement credits when you use your card for eligible purchases with Lululemon in the U.S.*

Oura Ring Credit: You’ll receive up to $200 annually in credits when you use your card to purchase an Oura Ring through ouraring.com.*

Equinox Credit: Enjoy up to $300 in annual statement credits toward Equinox gym memberships or the Equinox+ fitness app (subject to auto-renewal).*

SoulCycle Benefit: You can receive up to $300 in statement credits toward the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike (up to 15 bikes per calendar year). To qualify, you must be enrolled in an Equinox+ membership when making your purchase.*

Walmart+ Credit: Receive up to $155 in statement credits annually (up to $12.95 monthly plus applicable taxes) covering a Walmart+ membership when paying with your Platinum Card.

Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: You’ll get a $120 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or up to $85 credit for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years.

Saks Fifth Avenue Credit: Enjoy up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue statement credits annually, divided into two $50 credits (January-June and July-December).*

Hotel Elite Status: Enjoy complimentary Gold status with both Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and Leaders Club hotel programs.*

Car Rental Status: Enjoy complimentary elite status with multiple car rental agencies: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle, Avis Preferred Plus, and National Emerald Club Executive.

Premium Hotel Programs: You’ll have access to exclusive Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection booking programs. These provide valuable perks like room upgrades, daily breakfast for two, guaranteed late checkout, and unique property amenities during your stays.

Travel Protections: Your Platinum Card covers trip delays over six hours (up to $500), cancellations/interruptions (up to $10,000), secondary rental car insurance when declining the rental company’s waiver, and baggage insurance for lost, damaged, or stolen items when purchasing tickets with your card.**

Shopping Protections: Your Platinum Card safeguards purchases with extended warranty coverage adding up to one year to eligible manufacturer’s warranties, protection against theft, damage, or loss for 90 days, potential reimbursement when merchants refuse returns within 90 days, and cell phone protection when you pay your monthly bill with your card.**

* Enrollment is required for select benefits.

** Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Capital One Quicksilver Rewards

The Quicksilver Card offers the following benefits and perks:

Intro APR: Enjoy a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR .

Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans.

No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose.

Travel Accident Insurance offers coverage for accidental death or dismemberment while traveling on a common carrier when the trip is purchased using the eligible credit card.

 

Winner

The Amex Platinum still wins this round. Its benefits are worth thousands of dollars, including lounge access, annual credits, and travel and purchase protections.

Value of the Annual Fees

Amex Platinum

The Amex Platinum comes with a hefty annual fee of $895 (rates & fees), which can be offset if you take advantage of the numerous credits and great airport lounge access.

There is also a $195 annual fee for each additional authorized user Platinum Card, who also receive airport lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, and hotel and rental car elite status.

For example, if you had three authorized users with Amex Platinum cards, your additional fee would be $585.

Alternatively, you can add for free up to 99 Companion Cards for free, which allows you to earn points for spending on the Companion Card, but there are no perks like airport lounge access.

Capital One Quicksilver Rewards

The Capital One Quicksilver comes with a $0 annual fee, making it an accessible option for those wanting simple cash back rewards. While there’s no annual fee to offset, the card does provide some valuable benefits including no foreign transaction fees, concierge service, extended warranty protection, and travel accident insurance.

Winner

It depends on your spending habits. If you can maximize all of the benefits of the Amex Platinum, then paying its hefty annual fee is worth it. 

But if you think your expenses don’t revolve much on travel, then you’re better off with the Quicksilver Card.

Redeeming Rewards

Amex Platinum

American Express Membership Rewards points are a versatile and valuable currency for travelers. The program offers numerous redemption options, with transfers to airline partners being the most lucrative way to use your points.

Amex partners with 18 airlines and 3 hotel chains, allowing you to access a wide range of travel possibilities. Some of the best redemptions include booking business class flights to Europe through Air France-KLM Flying Blue for as low as 50,000 miles one-way. Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club offers excellent value for Delta One flights to Europe at 50,000 points, significantly less than booking directly through Delta.

For those planning a trip to Asia, transferring to ANA Mileage Club can yield incredible value. Round-trip business class flights from the West Coast to Tokyo can be booked for just 90,000 miles. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is another great option, especially for their renowned long-haul flights like New York to Singapore.

Domestic travelers can benefit from transferring to British Airways Executive Club for short-haul American and Alaska Airlines flights, with awards starting at just 8,250 Avios for distances up to 650 miles.

While transferring to airline partners typically offers the best value, Amex also allows direct redemptions for flights through their travel portal. However, this option generally provides lower value at 1 cent per point.

To maximize your Membership Rewards, focus on high-value airline transfers for premium cabin international flights. With strategic planning, you can unlock extraordinary travel experiences and significant savings on your next adventure.

American Express Logo Membership Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
Aer Lingus Aer Lingus Avios AEROMEXICO LOGO AeroMexico [1 to 1.6]
Air Canada Air Canada Aeroplan Air France Air France/KLM Flying Blue
ANA ANA Avianca Avianca LifeMiles
British Airways British Airways Avios Cathay Pacific Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Delta Air Lines Delta SkyMiles El Al El Al [1,000 to 20]
Emirates logo Emirates Etihad Etihad Guest
Hawaiian Airlines logo Hawaiian Airlines Iberia logo Iberia Avios
JetBlue JetBlue [250 to 200] Qantas Logo Qantas
Qatar Airways logo Qatar Airways Singapore Airlines Singapore KrisFlyer
Virgin Atlantic logo Virgin Atlantic Choice Logo Choice
Marriott Hotels Marriott Bonvoy Hilton Hotels Hilton Honors [1 to 2]

Capital One Quicksilver Rewards

The cash back accumulated through your Capital One Quicksilver card can be utilized in a number of ways, including as a statement credit, a check, or a gift card. Alternatively, you have the option to use it directly towards a particular charge on your statement.

What’s more, there’s no requirement for a minimum amount to redeem your cash back. All you need to do is log into your account, either through the app or on your computer, and choose the redemption method that suits you best.

Winner

The Amex Platinum is the best option for redemptions. Amex points are very flexible and way more valuable than cashback points. You get to transfer them to multiple airline and hotel partners for more value. 

The Verdict

Choosing between the Amex Platinum and Quicksilver Cash will depend on how much you travel.

The Amex Platinum offers valuable benefits such as lounge access and annual credits worth almost $2,000 in value. Plus, it offers better rewards and flexible redemptions. 

Meanwhile, the Quicksilver Card is great for beginners who want a straightforward cashback card with no annual fees.

Which card are you going to choose?

Airport Lounge Access
American Express Platinum Card®
Learn How to Apply Our Review
American Express is a Deals Points Advertiser; Terms Apply. Enrollment is required for some benefits.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
  • 1.5% Cash Back on Every Purchase
  • 5% Cash Back on Hotels and Rental Cars Booked via Capital One Travel
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. After that, a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR.
  • No Annual Fee
Learn How to Apply Our Review

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