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Capital One Quicksilver Secured vs Amex Platinum: Which Is Better In 2026?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card is ideal for building or rebuilding credit while earning a flat rate of cash back on all purchases.
- American Express® Platinum Card®: This premium card is best for frequent travelers who can take full advantage of its extensive luxury travel benefits, lounge access, and statement credits. Terms apply.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here's a breakdown of why we think this card is a standout option for building credit.
- The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards (See Rates & Fees) is one of the few secured cards that allows you to earn rewards while building your credit history.
- With responsible use, you may be automatically considered for a higher credit line and can eventually graduate to an unsecured card.
- This card is a cost-effective choice as it charges no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Pros
- Earns cash back rewards on every purchase.
- Offers a path to an unsecured card, which means you could get your security deposit back with responsible use.
- You can check for preapproval with a soft inquiry that won't hurt your credit score.
Cons
- Requires a security deposit to open the account, which can be a hurdle for some applicants.
- The high interest rate makes it costly to carry a balance from month to month.
- Graduation to an unsecured card isn't guaranteed and may be a slow process for some cardholders.
American Express Platinum Card® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down why we like the American Express Platinum Card® (See Rates & Fees).
- It provides cardholders with comprehensive access to a wide network of airport lounges around the world.
- Cardmembers can enjoy elite hotel status and exclusive perks at luxury hotels and resorts.
- The card offers a variety of annual statement credits that add significant value for travel and everyday spending.
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.
Pros
- Extensive access to a global network of airport lounges, including the exclusive Centurion Lounges.
- A variety of annual statement credits that can offset costs for travel, digital entertainment, and retail.
- Complimentary elite status with partner hotel loyalty programs, providing valuable perks during your stays.
Cons
- Its substantial annual fee means you'll need to actively use the card's benefits to make it worthwhile.
- Maximizing the card's value can be complex, as many benefits and statement credits require manual enrollment and active management.
- Earning accelerated rewards is largely limited to travel purchases, so it's less rewarding for everyday spending in other areas.
American Express Platinum Card® vs Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards
Categories
When deciding which is better Capital One Quicksilver Secured or Amex Platinum, it's important to understand that these two cards serve vastly different purposes. Each is designed for a specific type of cardholder with unique financial goals and spending habits.
- Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards: This card is best for individuals looking to build or rebuild their credit. It's a secured card that allows users to earn rewards on everyday purchases while establishing a positive payment history.
- American Express Platinum Card®: This is a premium travel card designed for frequent travelers who can take advantage of its extensive travel-related benefits and luxury perks.
Redemption
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards: With this card, you can redeem your cash back rewards in a few straightforward ways, such as receiving a statement credit or a check.
American Express Platinum Card®: This card's points offer flexible redemption options, but they are most valuable when used for travel, like transferring to airline and hotel partners or booking trips directly. Terms apply.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
Kudos is a financial platform that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards, allowing you to make a data-driven decision based on your actual spending habits. According to a Kudos blog post, the goal is to help users avoid costly mistakes and choose the best card for their unique financial situation.
- Test drive a credit card: You can simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your real spending data—all before you apply and without a hard credit pull.
- Approval odds analysis: The platform provides a detailed analysis of your chances of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
- Welcome offer tracking: Keep track of your progress toward earning new card welcome offers for free.
- Reward maximization: Kudos can autofill the best card for you at checkout to ensure you're earning the most rewards on every purchase.
- Financial overview: Monitor your transactions, spending habits, and credit score from a single dashboard.
- Exclusive offers and stacked rewards: Get access to special offers and earn extra rewards on top of what your credit card provides through the Kudos Boost program.
Who Should Choose the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards?
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is primarily for individuals focused on building or rebuilding their credit. It’s an excellent fit for those who can provide a refundable security deposit but still want to earn a competitive 1.5% cash back on every purchase without an annual fee. This card best serves users who plan to pay their balance in full each month, using it as a tool to demonstrate financial responsibility and eventually graduate to an unsecured product.
Who Should Choose the American Express Platinum Card®?
The American Express Platinum Card® is tailor-made for the frequent traveler who values luxury experiences and premium perks. This cardholder is someone who will consistently take advantage of the extensive airport lounge access, elite hotel status, and a wide array of annual statement credits across travel, dining, and entertainment. Ultimately, it's best for individuals who can seamlessly integrate the card's benefits into their lifestyle, ensuring the value they receive far outweighs the substantial annual fee.
Alternatives to Consider
Our Capital One Quicksilver Secured vs Amex Platinum comparison highlights two very different options, so it's no surprise if neither the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards nor the American Express Platinum Card® is the right choice for you. Fortunately, there are plenty of other excellent cards on the market worth considering.
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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 for approval.
- Plan your spending: Make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spend requirement for the welcome offer.
- Review your card history: You may not be eligible for the welcome offer if you have had this card before.
Application Strategy
- Check for pre-qualification: See if you are likely to be approved without impacting your credit score.
- Time your application: Apply before a large purchase to help meet the welcome offer's spending requirement.
- Understand issuer rules: Be aware of specific restrictions, such as limits on recent applications or welcome offer eligibility.
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
Which card is better for building credit?
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is specifically designed for individuals looking to build or rebuild their credit history. The American Express® Platinum Card®, on the other hand, typically requires a good to excellent credit score for approval.
Are there annual fees for these cards?
Yes, The American Express® Platinum Card® comes with a significant annual fee in exchange for its premium travel benefits and credits (Terms apply). The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee, but it does require a refundable security deposit to open the account.
Can I upgrade from the Quicksilver Secured to the Amex Platinum?
You cannot directly upgrade from a Capital One card to an American Express card as they are issued by different banks. After building your credit with the Quicksilver Secured card, you could apply for The American Express® Platinum Card® separately once you meet its eligibility requirements.
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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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