Capital One Quicksilver Student vs United Gateway: Which Is Better In 2026?

United Gateway Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down a few of the key reasons we like the United Gateway℠ Card.

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• It's a great entry-level option for earning United miles without the commitment of an annual fee.
• The card comes with useful travel protections and no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid choice for trips abroad.
• Cardholders can earn miles on everyday spending, with bonus opportunities on travel and transit purchases.

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Pros

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• No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
• Earn bonus miles on travel and select everyday spending categories.
• Includes key travel protections like trip cancellation coverage and an auto rental damage waiver.

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Cons

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• Lacks premium airline perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and airport lounge access.
• The welcome bonus is smaller and the card has limited bonus-earning categories.

United Gateway vs Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards

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Categories

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When deciding which is better, Capital One Quicksilver Student or United Gateway, it's crucial to look at your spending habits and reward preferences. These cards cater to different needs, one focusing on straightforward cash back and the other on airline-specific travel miles.

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• Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card is ideal for students who prefer a simple rewards structure for general everyday spending and for booking travel through the issuer's portal.
• United Gateway℠ Card: This card is best for occasional United Airlines flyers looking to earn travel miles on their spending, especially on purchases with the airline, at gas stations, and for local transit.

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Redemption

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Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Rewards are earned as cash back, which can be redeemed at any time and for any amount as a statement credit or a check. You can also use your rewards to cover recent purchases or redeem them for gift cards.

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United Gateway℠ Card: The miles you earn are deposited into your United MileagePlus account for use within the airline's loyalty program. These miles can be redeemed for flights with United and its partners, seat upgrades, and other travel-related purchases.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To eliminate the guesswork, a financial platform like Kudos lets you compare thousands of credit cards using your own spending data to find the perfect match.

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• Test drive cards: Before you apply, you can use your real spending history to simulate your potential earnings with a new card, giving you a personalized projection of its value. This feature, detailed in a Kudos blog post, shows you a side-by-side comparison with your current cards.
• Approval odds: Get a detailed analysis of your chances of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, the platform will match it.
• Kudos Kickstart+: You can unlock $100 in rewards just by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards?

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The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards card is an excellent choice for students seeking a straightforward way to earn cash back on everyday spending without an annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for those with limited or fair credit who want to build their credit history, as well as international students who can benefit from the absence of foreign transaction fees. Additionally, students who travel can take advantage of the elevated 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Who Should Choose the United Gateway?

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The United Gateway℠ Card is an excellent choice for occasional United Airlines flyers and budget-conscious travelers who want to earn miles without committing to an annual fee. It's also particularly well-suited for credit card beginners, offering a straightforward entry into the world of travel rewards. With no annual or foreign transaction fees, the card provides a low-cost way to accumulate MileagePlus miles on everyday spending, making it a practical tool for those new to loyalty programs or who only fly United a few times a year.

Alternatives to Consider

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If you've weighed the Capital One Quicksilver Student vs United Gateway comparison and decided neither is for you, there are several other excellent cards 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.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score to ensure your profile aligns with the card’s typical requirements.
• Review eligibility rules, as some cards require specific statuses like being a currently enrolled student.
• Understand issuer policies and be aware of application restrictions from issuers like Chase.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application - Align it with planned purchases to meet bonus spending requirements naturally.
• Select the right card - Choose one that matches your credit profile and travel habits.
• Leverage existing relationships - Consider issuers you already bank with for a potentially smoother process.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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Is the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card good for building credit?

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Yes, as a student credit card, it is specifically designed to help individuals with limited or no credit history build a positive payment record. Responsible use, like making on-time payments, is reported to the major credit bureaus.

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Can I get the United Gateway℠ Card with no credit history?

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The United Gateway℠ Card generally requires a good to excellent credit score, making it a challenging card to obtain for those with no credit history. It is not specifically designed for credit-building in the way many student cards are.

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Which card has a simpler rewards structure?

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The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a straightforward flat-rate cash back on all purchases, which is very simple to track. In contrast, the United Gateway℠ Card has different earning rates for various spending categories, which requires more attention to maximize rewards.

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