Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (Fair Credit)

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $39
• APR: 29.49% variable
• Rewards: 3% on dining/entertainment/streaming/groceries, 1% everything else
• Bonus: No welcome bonus
• Best For: Building credit with lifestyle rewards, foodies with fair credit, entertainment lovers
• Credit Needed: Fair to Good (630-689)

Overview

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (Fair Credit version) is designed specifically for individuals with fair credit scores (typically 630-689) who want to earn strong category rewards while building or rebuilding their credit history. Despite the $39 annual fee, this card offers the same powerful 3% cash back earning structure as the premium Savor card in four popular lifestyle categories: dining, entertainment, groceries, and streaming.

What makes this SavorOne variant valuable is its accessibility to those with less-than-perfect credit who want to participate in category rewards. While most 3% category cards require good to excellent credit, SavorOne opens the door to elevated cash back for fair credit holders. The comprehensive category coverage—dining out, entertainment events, grocery shopping, and streaming services—means you're earning 3% on a significant portion of typical household spending.

Capital One is known for being generous with credit line increases and upgrade opportunities for responsible cardholders. Many SavorOne users report automatic credit line increases within 6-12 months of on-time payments, and some receive offers to upgrade to the premium Savor card (no annual fee) after demonstrating responsible usage. This makes SavorOne not just a rewards card, but a strategic stepping stone to better products.

While there's no welcome bonus and the APR is higher than prime rate cards, the value proposition is compelling: access to competitive 3% category rewards that can easily outpace flat-rate cards, even after accounting for the annual fee, all while actively improving your credit profile.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 29.49% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: 29.49% variable
• Cash Advance APR: 29.49% variable
• Penalty APR: None specified

Critical Note: The APR is significantly higher than cards requiring excellent credit. It's essential to pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges that would completely negate any rewards earned. This card is best used as a credit-building tool with strong category rewards, not for carrying balances.

Benefits Overview

Everyday Benefits

• 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, groceries, and streaming (no caps)
• Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Fraud coverage with zero liability protection
• Free Credit Score Access via Capital One CreditWise with monitoring tools
• Credit line increase opportunities for responsible usage (often within 6-12 months)
• Cash back rewards never expire for the life of your account
• Multiple flexible redemption options
• No foreign transaction fees when making purchases outside the U.S.

Credit Building Benefits

• Reports to all three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion)
• Potential upgrade path to premium Savor (no annual fee) after demonstrating responsibility
• Automatic reviews for credit line increases with positive payment history
• CreditWise tools help monitor credit score and track progress toward goals
• Extended warranty protection adds one year to manufacturer's warranty

Lifestyle Benefits

• Redeem rewards for statement credits, direct deposit, Amazon purchases, gift cards, or travel
• Simple rewards structure with automatic 3% earning in bonus categories
• Mobile app with account management and spending insights
• No category activation or quarterly rotation hassles

Rewards & Cash Back

• 3% cash back on dining (restaurants, fast food, takeout, and eligible delivery services)
• 3% cash back on entertainment (movies, concerts, sporting events, tourist attractions, and more)
• 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)
• 3% cash back on popular streaming services (music, video, gaming subscriptions)
• Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
• No caps or limits on earning 3% rewards in bonus categories
• Rewards never expire for the life of your account
• Redemption options: Statement credits, direct deposit, Amazon purchases, gift cards, and travel bookings

All rewards are automatic—no categories to activate, no quarterly rotations to track. The same earning structure as the premium Savor card, just with an annual fee due to the fair credit requirements.

Welcome Bonus

Currently no welcome bonus offered for new SavorOne (Fair Credit) accounts.

Note: While this card doesn't offer a sign-up bonus, the primary value comes from credit building opportunities, accessible 3% category rewards for fair credit profiles, and potential credit line increases or upgrade offers after demonstrating responsible usage. For category spenders, the ongoing 3% rewards can quickly exceed the value of many one-time bonuses.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $39
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
• Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount transferred, whichever is greater
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 3% of the amount, whichever is greater
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Authorized User Fee: $0

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• Fair credit holders (scores 630-689) who spend heavily on dining, entertainment, groceries, and streaming
• Foodies with fair credit who dine out frequently and want 3% back
• Entertainment lovers attending movies, concerts, and events regularly
• Families with significant category spending on groceries and streaming services
• Credit rebuilders working to improve scores while earning strong rewards
• Those denied for premium cards but who spend heavily in bonus categories
• International travelers with fair credit needing no foreign transaction fees
• Those seeking an upgrade path to premium no-fee cards in the future

Not Good For

• Those with excellent credit (should apply for no-fee Savor instead)
• Balance carriers (29.49% APR makes carrying debt extremely expensive)
• Minimal category spenders who won't earn enough to offset the $39 annual fee
• Walmart/Target shoppers (superstores excluded from 3% grocery rewards)
• Those seeking welcome bonuses (no current sign-up offer)
• Those unable to pay $39 annual fee (secured cards may be better starting point)
• People seeking flat-rate simplicity over category tracking

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• Accessible for fair credit scores (630-689), opening category rewards to more consumers
• Strong 3% cash back in four popular lifestyle categories
• Same earning structure as premium Savor card ($0 annual fee for excellent credit)
• No caps or limits on earning 3% in bonus categories
• Rewards never expire for the life of your account
• No foreign transaction fees for international purchases
• Free credit score monitoring and CreditWise tools
• Reports to all three major credit bureaus for credit building
• Potential credit line increases within 6-12 months of responsible use
• Possible upgrade offers to premium Savor (no annual fee) after building credit
• Multiple flexible redemption options including direct deposit
• No authorized user fees
• Extended warranty protection on purchases
• No category activation or rotation required

Cons

• $39 annual fee reduces net rewards value (need specific category spending to break even)
• No welcome bonus offer
• High 29.49% APR makes carrying balances extremely expensive
• 3% grocery rewards exclude Walmart and Target
• Base 1% earning on non-category purchases is modest
• Requires fair to good credit (630-689)—not for those building from scratch
• No introductory 0% APR offer
• Limited premium travel benefits or purchase protections
• Not ideal for those who qualify for better cards with no annual fee
• Limited value if you don't spend much in bonus categories

Alternatives to Consider

Card	Best For	Annual Fee	Rewards	Credit Needed
Capital One Savor	Same rewards, no fee	$0	3% categories + $300 bonus	Good to Excellent (700+)
Capital One QuicksilverOne	Simple flat-rate rewards	$39	1.5% unlimited	Fair to Good (630-689)
Capital One Platinum	No fee credit building	$0	No rewards	Fair to Good
Discover it® Secured	Secured card with rewards	$0	2% rotating + 1%	Building credit

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value

If you spend $18,000 per year with heavy category spending:

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Earned Value
Dining & restaurants	$4,500	3%	$135
Groceries (traditional stores)	$4,200	3%	$126
Entertainment	$1,200	3%	$36
Streaming services	$600	3%	$18
All other purchases	$7,500	1%	$75
Subtotal rewards	—	—	$390
Less annual fee	—	—	-$39

Net Annual Value: $351

Break-Even Analysis:

To justify the $39 annual fee over a no-rewards card, you need to earn at least $39 in rewards:

• At 3% back: Need $1,300 in category spending annually
• At mixed spending (avg 2%): Need $1,950 in total spending annually

Category-Heavy Break-Even:

• If 50% of your spending is in 3% categories: Need about $2,500 total annual spend
• If 75% of your spending is in 3% categories: Need about $1,800 total annual spend

Comparison to QuicksilverOne (1.5% flat rate, $39 fee):

On $18,000 annual spending:

• SavorOne: $390 rewards - $39 fee = $351 net
• QuicksilverOne: $270 rewards - $39 fee = $231 net
• SavorOne advantage: $120 more annually (if spending heavily in categories)

Credit Building Value: Beyond cash back, the intangible value comes from building credit history, potential credit line increases, and possible upgrade offers to premium no-fee cards after 6-12 months of responsible use.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If...

• You have fair credit (630-689) and spend heavily on dining, entertainment, groceries, and streaming
• You've been denied for premium category cards requiring excellent credit
• You spend at least $1,300+ annually in the 3% bonus categories
• You're committed to paying your balance in full every month
• You want to build/rebuild credit while earning strong category rewards
• You dine out frequently and want 3% back on restaurants
• You shop at traditional grocery stores regularly
• You have multiple streaming subscriptions (music, video, gaming)
• You value 3% category rewards over simpler flat-rate earning
• You'll use CreditWise tools to monitor and improve your credit score
• You're seeking a potential upgrade path to premium Savor after building credit

You Should Skip It If...

• You have excellent credit (700+) and qualify for no-fee Savor instead
• You tend to carry balances month-to-month (29.49% APR is prohibitively expensive)
• You don't spend much in the bonus categories and won't break even on the $39 fee
• You primarily shop at Walmart or Target for groceries
• You need a secured card to build credit from scratch
• You're looking for welcome bonuses or intro 0% APR offers
• You prefer simple flat-rate earning over category tracking
• You seek premium travel benefits or comprehensive purchase protections
• You can't commit to paying balances in full monthly
• You want a completely no-fee option (consider Capital One Platinum for credit building)

Maximizing Your Card & Building Credit

Tips to Get the Most Value:

1. Pay in full every month — The 29.49% APR will erase any rewards if you carry balances
2. Maximize 3% categories — focus spending on dining, entertainment, groceries, and streaming
3. Shop at traditional grocery stores — avoid Walmart/Target to earn 3%
4. Set up autopay for at least the minimum payment to ensure on-time payments
5. Use for all dining — restaurants, delivery, takeout, fast food (3%)
6. Stream everything — music, video, gaming services (3%)
7. Attend events — movies, concerts, sports, attractions (3%)
8. Monitor your credit score using Capital One CreditWise to track improvement
9. Keep utilization below 30% (ideally below 10%) for optimal credit building
10. Request credit line increases after 6 months of on-time payments

Credit Building Strategy:

• Use the card regularly for 3% category purchases
• Pay statement balance in full before due date every month
• Keep credit utilization low (under 30% of your credit limit)
• Never miss a payment—set up autopay for security
• Monitor CreditWise for credit score improvements
• After 6-12 months of perfect payment history, request a credit line increase
• Watch for Capital One upgrade offers to premium Savor (no annual fee)

Path to Premium Cards:

1. Months 1-6: Establish perfect payment history, keep utilization low, maximize 3% categories
2. Months 6-12: Request credit line increase, continue perfect payments
3. Month 12+: Watch for upgrade offers to Savor (no annual fee)
4. Long-term: Use improved credit score to qualify for premium travel cards or other elite rewards cards

Spending Strategy:

• SavorOne for dining, entertainment, groceries, streaming (3%)
• SavorOne for all other purchases if it's your only card (1%)
• Pair with QuicksilverOne or other flat-rate card for non-category spending (1.5% vs 1%)
• Use abroad (no foreign transaction fees)
• Avoid balance transfers or cash advances (high fees and APR)

Category Definitions:

• Dining: Restaurants, fast food, cafes, bars, food delivery services, caterers
• Entertainment: Movie theaters, concerts, sporting events, theme parks, museums, tourist attractions
• Groceries: Supermarkets, grocery stores (excludes Walmart, Target, warehouse clubs, convenience stores)
• Streaming: Music streaming (Spotify, Apple Music), video streaming (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+), gaming subscriptions

Apply Now

Apply for Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

---

Information accurate as of December 2025. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the issuer's website for the most current information.