American Express focuses on premium rewards and customer service with higher annual fees, while Capital One emphasizes accessibility and no-fee options for broader demographics. AmEx has higher average rewards rates (2-5%) but stricter approval requirements, whereas Capital One serves subprime and prime customers with more flexible credit policies.
Capital One vs American Express — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Major US credit card issuer focused on accessibility and rebuilding credit with diverse product offerings.
Luxury-focused credit card and financial services company known for premium rewards, concierge services, and exclusive benefits.
Average Annual Fee Range. Merchant Network Acceptance. Average Rewards Rate. Credit Score Requirement (Prime Cards). 24/7 Customer Service Availability. Credit Card Variety. Average Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power)
Choose Capital One if you're building credit, want no-fee options, or prefer accessibility over premium benefits—they excel with subprime and prime customers alike. Choose American Express if you travel frequently, spend $5,000+ annually on cards, and value premium perks like concierge service and higher rewards rates despite stricter approval requirements.
Capital One: 10+ airlines and partners | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 2.5% (2026) | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 1 (uniform) | American Express: N/A
Capital One: Variable transfer rates | American Express: N/A
Capital One: Basic | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 2x flat | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 4.05% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 1,000+ partner locations | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 15+ | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 3.99% - 8.99% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 3.2/5 | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 620+ | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 21.99% - 35.99% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 1-3 business days | American Express: N/A
Capital One: $50,000 | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 20+ cards | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 0% - 1% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 20+ million | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 7.99% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 580 | American Express: Good to Excellent (670+)
Capital One: 5.5% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 1-2 | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 35.99% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 3+ (loans, cards, deposits) | American Express: N/A
Capital One: $95 | American Express: $695
Capital One: 1.5% (Quicksilver) | American Express: 1% (Platinum points)
Capital One: 5% (rotating categories) | American Express: 4-6x (category dependent)
Capital One: 99%+ (Visa/Mastercard network) | American Express: 94% (Amex network)
Capital One: 650 | American Express: 700
Capital One: None (entry/mid-tier) | American Express: 500+ lounges (premium cards)
Capital One: 4.70% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 30,000+ (surcharge-free network) | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 16.99% - 27.99% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 4.8/5 | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 4.60% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: ~70% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: $507 billion | American Express: N/A
Capital One: None | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 4.74% - 9.74% | American Express: N/A
Customer Satisfaction Score (J.D. Power 2025)
Capital One: 768 | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 8.99% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 29.99% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 0% - 8% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 2-3 business days | American Express: N/A
Capital One: Varies by product (up to $100k+ for auto loans) | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 195 million customers | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 4.20% - 4.35% | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 5% rotating | American Express: N/A
Capital One: $0 (with SafePass) | American Express: N/A
Capital One: 4.3/5.0 | American Express: N/A
Capital One: $475+ | American Express: N/A
Capital One: $495 (Venture X equivalent) | American Express: $695 (Centurion Black)
Capital One: 1.5% | American Express: 1.0%
Top-Tier Card Rewards Rate (Select Category)
Capital One: 5% (rotating) | American Express: 5% (dining)
Capital One: 670+ | American Express: 740+
Capital One: 65+ | American Express: 35+
Customer Satisfaction Score (J.D. Power 2024)
Capital One: 82/100 | American Express: 86/100
Capital One: 95% | American Express: 98%
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 190+
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $30.2B
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $95-$695
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $0 liability 24/7
Capital One: N/A | American Express: Issuer + Network
Capital One: N/A | American Express: Direct dedicated support
Capital One: N/A | American Express: Standardized across cards
Capital One: N/A | American Express: ~94%
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 9 million locations
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $550
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 3.0%
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 750+
Capital One: N/A | American Express: Comprehensive (Premium Cards)
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $175B
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 1.5%-6%
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 30-60 days
Capital One: N/A | American Express: Strong U.S. + Growing International
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 0.30-0.50% Higher
12-Month Merchant Acceptance Growth Rate
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 16% Year-over-Year Growth
Capital One: N/A | American Express: Good to Excellent (650+)
Small Business Merchant Program Threshold
Capital One: N/A | American Express: OptBlue Program (<$1M)
Capital One: N/A | American Express: Premium Exclusive Benefits
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 5x Expansion (2017-2025)
Capital One: N/A | American Express: Established Fee Model
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 150+ countries
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 5X points
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $0 liability
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 90 days
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $600 annually
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 24/7 Real-Time Alerts
Capital One: N/A | American Express: Amex Intelligence Dashboard
Capital One: N/A | American Express: ~12 million merchants
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 120+ countries
Typical Merchant Discount Rate - Standard
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 2.5-3.5% OptBlue
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $12,000-16,000
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 670+ (good credit minimum)
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 3.5%+ Amex Direct
Capital One: N/A | American Express: AES GCM (March 2026 release)
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 95% of US merchants, 60%+ internationally
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $450
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 17.49%-23.49%
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 195 countries
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $0 (zero liability)
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 6+ types (trip cancellation, delay, baggage, loss of passport, emergency medical, evacuation)
Minimum Annual Spending for Elite Status
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $35,000
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 95%
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $250,000
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 100+
Capital One: N/A | American Express: $10,000
Capital One: N/A | American Express: 170+ years (founded 1850)
How to choose between Capital One and American Express
Capital One vs American Express — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Capital One vs American Express. Contains 122 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Capital One vs American Express — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Capital One vs American Express.
Which card is better for someone with fair credit?
Capital One is significantly better for fair credit (scores 620-680). They offer dedicated subprime cards like the Platinum and QuickSilver One with no annual fees, while American Express typically requires 740+ credit scores for their prime cards. Capital One explicitly markets to credit builders and those rebuilding their credit history.
Which offers better rewards for everyday spending?
American Express offers higher maximum rewards rates (up to 5%) on premium cards like the Gold Card (4% dining/flights) and Platinum (5% airfare). However, Capital One's no-fee QuickSilver offers flat 1.5% cash back with no annual fee, making it better value for those unwilling to pay $95+/year. For high spenders exceeding $5,000/year, AmEx premium cards justify the fees.
Capital One's flagship cards range from $0-$495 annually, while American Express ranges from $0-$695. Both offer no-fee starter cards. AmEx's premium cards (Gold $250, Platinum $695) are more expensive than Capital One equivalents, but provide travel credits that can offset fees for frequent travelers spending $10,000+/year.
Which company has better customer service?
American Express ranks higher in customer satisfaction (86/100 J.D. Power 2024 vs Capital One's 82/100). AmEx includes concierge services on premium cards and 24/7 dedicated support. Capital One offers standard phone and chat support but lacks premium concierge tiers on most cards.
American Express has 98% US merchant acceptance vs Capital One's 95%, a minor difference for domestic use. Both work at major retailers. However, internationally, Visa and Mastercard (which Capital One issues) are more widely accepted than Amex in some regions. For international travel, Capital One may have slight edge due to broader Visa/Mastercard network.
How to Choose Between Capital One and American Express
Average Annual Fee Range: Capital One has $0 - $495, while American Express has $0 - $695.
Merchant Network Acceptance: Capital One has 95% of US merchants, while American Express has 98% of US merchants.
Average Rewards Rate: Capital One has 1.5% - 3%, while American Express has 2% - 5%.
Consider: Credit Score Requirement (Prime Cards)
Credit Score Requirement (Prime Cards): Capital One has 670+, while American Express has 740+.
Consider: 24/7 Customer Service Availability
24/7 Customer Service Availability: Capital One has Phone + Chat, while American Express has Phone + Chat + Concierge.
Credit Card Variety: Capital One has 65+ card products, while American Express has 35+ card products.
Consider: Average Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power)
Average Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power): Capital One has 82/100, while American Express has 86/100.