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Capital One Quicksilver vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold: Which Is Better In 2026?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card is ideal for earning simple, flat-rate cash back on everyday spending and for travelers who want to avoid foreign transaction fees.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: This is a great no-annual-fee option for occasional Marriott guests looking to earn hotel points and receive basic elite status benefits.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons we like the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (See Rates & Fees).
- It offers a straightforward and easy-to-understand rewards program without complicated categories to track.
- The card eliminates both annual and foreign transaction fees, making it a great choice for everyday use and travel abroad.
- Cardholders can enjoy flexible reward redemptions and other valuable perks.
Pros
- Enjoy a straightforward rewards program that offers a consistent cash back rate on every purchase, with no need to track spending categories.
- Redeem your cash back rewards with ease and flexibility, with no minimum amount required to access your earnings.
- Comes with valuable partner benefits, such as a complimentary Uber One membership for a limited time.
Cons
- While the card offers a flat cash back rate, other cards may provide higher rewards in specific spending categories.
- Approval generally requires a good to excellent credit score, which might make it inaccessible for some applicants.
- It lacks some of the premium travel perks and purchase protections available with other rewards cards.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here's a breakdown of why we like the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
- It's a great way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points without paying an annual fee.
- The card comes with automatic Silver Elite status, providing immediate travel perks with the hotel.
- It offers notable travel protections, which is a strong benefit for a card in its class.
Pros
- Offers flexible reward redemptions, including the ability to transfer points to various airline partners.
- Provides instant access to the card for digital wallet use immediately upon approval.
- Allows you to add authorized users at no additional cost to help accumulate points faster.
Cons
- The earning rates are lower than what you'll find on premium Marriott cards.
- It does not include an annual free night award, a benefit found on many other hotel credit cards.
- While it includes automatic Silver Elite status, the benefits at this tier are limited.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® vs Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards
Categories
Deciding which is better, Capital One Quicksilver or Marriott Bonvoy Bold, depends entirely on your personal spending habits and what you want from your rewards. One card is built for straightforward cash back on every purchase, while the other is tailored for travelers loyal to a specific hotel brand.
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards: This card is best for earning simple cash back on all your spending, making it a strong choice for those who value simplicity and don't want to track different bonus categories.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: This card is designed for frequent travelers, especially those who often stay at Marriott properties, and serves as an excellent entry-level option for earning hotel points.
Redemption
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards: Rewards are earned as cash back, which you can redeem in a variety of flexible ways, such as a statement credit or a check.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Points earned with this card are redeemed within the Marriott Bonvoy program, primarily for free hotel nights at participating properties worldwide.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
For a more personalized comparison, a tool like Kudos can help you analyze thousands of credit cards with its data-driven card explorer.
- Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply, all without impacting your credit score.
- Receive detailed approval odds based on your credit report to apply with more confidence.
- Get a welcome offer guarantee, ensuring that if you find a better public offer within three months, Kudos will match it.
- Unlock exclusive member benefits, such as the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ for adding select approved cards to your digital wallet.
- Use the autofill feature to automatically select the best card at checkout, maximizing rewards on every online purchase.
Who Should Choose the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards?
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for the straightforward spender who values simplicity over complex reward schemes. This card is ideal for those who don't want to track rotating bonus categories or spending caps, offering a flat 1.5% cash back on every single purchase. It's also a great fit for international travelers, thanks to its lack of foreign transaction fees, and for anyone seeking a solid rewards card without an annual fee.
Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bold®?
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is an excellent choice for occasional Marriott guests who want to earn points without the commitment of an annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for budget-conscious travelers seeking foundational benefits like automatic Silver Elite status and valuable travel protections. This card is ideal for those just dipping their toes into hotel rewards programs or anyone looking to gain perks without paying for a premium card.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards credit card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card comparison has you feeling that neither card is the right fit, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent rewards cards on the market to consider.
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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score: You will generally need good to excellent credit to qualify for most rewards cards.
- Plan your spending: Make sure you can naturally meet any spending requirements to earn a welcome offer.
- Understand the rewards: Decide if you prefer simple cash back or flexible points for travel partners.
Application Strategy
- Know the issuer rules:Be aware of any specific application rules from the card issuer.
- Choose your card type:Decide if you want a simple flat-rate card or one that maximizes rewards in specific categories.
- Consider instant use:Some cards offer instant access to your card number upon approval for immediate use.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does cash back from the Capital One Quicksilver card work?
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card provides a flat rate of cash back on all purchases, which you can redeem at any time for a statement credit or a check. There are no minimums required to redeem your rewards.
Are there annual fees for the Capital One Quicksilver or Marriott Bonvoy Bold?
Neither the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card nor the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card charges an annual fee. This makes both cards excellent choices for earning rewards without an upfront cost.
Which card is better for beginners?
For those new to credit card rewards, the Capital One Quicksilver is generally the more straightforward option with its simple flat-rate cash back. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is better suited for beginners who are confident they will stay at Marriott properties often enough to make the most of the points.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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