Capital One Quicksilver vs Amex Green: Which Is Better In 2026?

American Express® Green Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we recommend the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees).

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• It's a great option for those who frequently spend on a broad range of travel and dining worldwide.
• The card’s points are flexible and can be transferred to a wide variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• Valuable travel-related statement credits and perks can help offset the card's annual cost for frequent travelers.

Terms apply.

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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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Pros

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• Earns bonus points on an exceptionally broad range of travel purchases—from airfare and hotels to transit and rideshares—plus dining.
• Membership Rewards points offer great flexibility with a long list of airline and hotel transfer partners.
• Includes annual statement credits for travel services that can help offset the annual fee.

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Cons

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• The annual fee can be high for a non-premium card, especially for those who won't use its travel partners or statement credits.
• Maximizing the value of your points requires some effort, as some redemption options offer less value than others.
• The included travel credits may not be as practical for all travelers as those on competing cards, and some perks have limited-time availability.

American Express® Green Card vs Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Capital One Quicksilver or Amex Green, depends entirely on your spending habits and what you want from a card. Each one excels in a different primary category, making the choice a personal one.

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• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card is best for straightforward cash back on everyday spending. It's designed for users who value simplicity and prefer a card without complicated reward categories to track.
• American Express® Green Card: This card is best for travel and dining rewards. It's aimed at frequent travelers and diners who want to earn rewards on their spending in these specific areas.

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Redemption

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Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card offers a simple redemption process, allowing you to receive your rewards as cash back. You can typically get it as a statement credit or a check, making it very flexible for any type of expense.

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American Express® Green Card: With this card, you earn points that are best redeemed for travel and related experiences. You can use your points through the American Express travel portal or transfer them to various airline and hotel partners.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For a data-driven approach to finding the right card, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated credit cards based on your personal spending.

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• Test drive credit cards: Using your real spending data, you can simulate potential earnings with different cards before you apply, without impacting your credit score.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Approval odds analysis: Get a detailed breakdown of your likelihood of being approved for various cards based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when you shop at participating stores.
• $100 Kudos Kickstart+: You can unlock $100 in rewards by adding certain approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards?

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The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals who value simplicity and straightforward rewards. It's designed for the everyday spender who prefers not to track rotating bonus categories, offering a consistent 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Additionally, frequent travelers will appreciate the absence of foreign transaction fees, making it a solid, no-fuss option for use both at home and abroad.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?

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The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers and diners who want to earn valuable rewards on their spending. It's particularly well-suited for points-and-miles enthusiasts who enjoy the challenge of maximizing value by transferring points to various airline and hotel loyalty programs for high-value redemptions. Ideal cardholders are those who will take full advantage of the card's travel credits to offset the annual fee and aren't looking for a simple, set-it-and-forget-it card. Terms apply.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards vs. American Express® Green Card comparison has left you feeling like neither is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent rewards cards on the market that might better suit your spending habits and financial goals.

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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

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can naturally meet any welcome offer spending requirements.
• Review the benefits - Understand how you will use the card’s rewards and credits to justify its place in your wallet.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application - Plan to apply before large purchases to help meet any spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Choose the right card - Select a card that matches your spending style, whether it’s simple flat-rate rewards or maximizing specific categories.
• Look for pre-approvals - Use tools that perform a soft credit check to review your offer without impacting your credit score.

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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What credit score is needed for the Capital One Quicksilver vs. the Amex Green Card?

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While both cards generally require a good to excellent credit score, typically 670 or higher, the American Express® Green Card is often considered more of a premium product. Therefore, having a score well into the 700s might give you a better chance of approval for the Amex.

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Which card is better for international travel?

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Both cards are excellent for international trips because neither has foreign transaction fees. The best choice depends on your spending habits; the Quicksilver offers simple cash back on every purchase, while the Amex Green provides bonus rewards on travel and transit spending.

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Can I have both the Capital One Quicksilver and the Amex Green Card?

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Absolutely, and it can be a savvy strategy to hold both cards simultaneously. This approach allows you to leverage the Quicksilver for simple, flat-rate cash back on everyday spending while using the Amex Green to earn bonus rewards on travel and dining.

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