United Gateway vs Capital One Savor: Which Is Better In 2025?

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here's a closer look at why we're fans of the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards (See Rates & Fees).

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• The card's rewards are focused on popular lifestyle categories, such as dining, entertainment, and streaming services.
• Cardholders receive access to exclusive entertainment events and benefit from built-in travel and purchase protections.
• Earning cash back is simple since the bonus categories don't rotate, and redeeming rewards is just as straightforward.

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Pros

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• You can earn unlimited cash back in several popular spending categories, including dining, entertainment, and select streaming services.
• The card includes valuable travel protections and provides access to exclusive Capital One Entertainment events.
• Redeeming rewards is straightforward, with several flexible options and no minimum redemption requirements.

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Cons

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• Approval generally requires a good to excellent credit history.
• Bonus cash back at grocery stores excludes purchases made at superstores and wholesale clubs.
• Cardholders who don't spend frequently on dining and entertainment may not maximize the card's value.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards vs United Gateway

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Categories

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The decision of which is better, United Gateway or Capital One Savor, comes down to where you spend your money. Each card is tailored to reward different spending categories, making one a better fit depending on your lifestyle.

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• United Gateway℠ Card: This card is best for earning rewards on United Airlines purchases, as well as spending at gas stations and on local transit.
• Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card is ideal for individuals whose spending is concentrated on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services.

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Redemption

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United Gateway℠ Card: The miles you earn are primarily designed for redemption within the United Airlines ecosystem. This includes booking award flights, upgrading seats, and other travel-related purchases through the airline.

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Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: The cash back you accumulate can be redeemed in a straightforward manner, typically as a statement credit or a check. This gives you the flexibility to use your rewards to offset any purchase, not just travel.

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Travel Perks

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• United Gateway℠ Card: As a co-branded airline card, its travel ecosystem is centered around United Airlines. Miles are redeemed through the United portal for flights and upgrades. This card does include a foreign transaction fee, and complimentary airport lounge access is not one of its benefits.
• Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card offers notable travel flexibility despite not being a dedicated travel card. A key perk is that it does not charge foreign transaction fees on international purchases. Cardholders can book trips through the Capital One Travel portal, but the card does not provide complimentary lounge access.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the right choice, a tool like Kudos can be invaluable, offering a platform to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards and find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test drive a credit card: Simulate potential earnings from any card using your real transaction data before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
• Detailed approval odds: Receive a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of your likelihood of being approved for different cards.
• $100 Kudos Kickstart+: Unlock $100 in rewards when you add select eligible cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved, Kudos will match it.
• Centralized tracking: Monitor your spending, transactions, and credit card perks all in one dashboard.

Who Should Choose the United Gateway?

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The United Gateway℠ Card is an excellent choice for occasional United flyers and beginners in the travel rewards space. With no annual fee, it provides a low-risk way to accumulate MileagePlus miles on everyday spending without the commitment of a premium card. It's also particularly well-suited for budget-conscious international travelers, as it charges no foreign transaction fees.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards?

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The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent fit for social spenders and active families whose budgets are heavily weighted toward going out and eating in. This card is tailor-made for those who frequently dine out, attend concerts or movies, and do regular grocery shopping, as it offers unlimited 3% cash back in all these categories. It also appeals to international travelers who want to avoid foreign transaction fees and anyone who prefers a straightforward rewards structure without the hassle of rotating categories or spending caps.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the United Gateway Card vs. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards matchup didn't produce a clear winner for your wallet, don't fret. Here are a few other excellent cards that might be a better fit for your spending habits and rewards goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending - Ensure you can naturally meet the minimum spend to earn any introductory bonus.
• Review the rewards program - Know how you plan to use the points, miles, or cash back you will earn.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules - Issuers like Chase and Capital One have different application guidelines and approval factors.
• Match the card to your profile - Some cards are designed for beginners, while others require an excellent credit history for approval.
• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending threshold for a welcome offer.

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's the main difference in the rewards offered by the United Gateway and Capital One Savor cards?

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The United Gateway Card primarily earns airline miles for a specific loyalty program, while the Capital One Savor Card earns flexible cash back on everyday spending categories.

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Who is the ideal cardholder for the United Gateway Card?

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This card is best suited for travelers who frequently fly with United Airlines and want to earn miles toward flights and other travel perks within that ecosystem.

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Who would benefit most from the Capital One Savor Card?

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The Savor Card is designed for individuals whose spending is concentrated on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, allowing them to earn cash back on these purchases.

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Does it make sense to have both the United Gateway and Capital One Savor cards?

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Yes, carrying both cards can be a strategic way to maximize rewards, using the Savor for dining and entertainment and the Gateway card for United purchases and travel benefits.

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