My Take On the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: A Great Choice for Foodies & Entertainment Lovers

It seems like so many things I enjoy, from meeting friends for drinks and dinner to traveling to near and far-off lands, have become ridiculously expensive. A simple burger at one of my favorite San Francisco pubs is now $23. 

I can understand that for a fancy place, but not from a hole-in-the-wall. Necessities are also rising. My weekly supermarket haul that usually hovered at around $150 is now nearing $200, and I haven’t changed my shopping habits. So, if a credit card can help in my mission to both have a good time and keep normal costs in check, I’m interested. 

Watch on

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is compelling because it has the power to reduce the costs of the things many people both need and want. There’s no annual fee, and the cash back rewards are up to 8% of the purchase. 

And that’s just the start of this card’s benefits. Read on for everything I found, and my recommendation for who may want to consider adding it to their plastic portfolio. 

Because the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers the highest rates only on select purchases, your personal spending pattern will be a crucial factor in determining whether this account is a good fit for you. 

Want 8% cash back? You can score that rate by buying tickets through the Capital One Entertainment portal. That really adds up for expensive seats to shows and sporting events. Take the family to a Broadway musical, and you can easily spend $1,000, but you’ll also earn $80 in cash back. 

If your travel plans include hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars, you can book them all through the Capital One Travel portal and earn 5% back. Imagine a 10-day trip to London, England. 

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

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Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

4.8/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

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Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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★★★★★ 4.8/5.0

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• For a limited time, earn a one-time $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
• Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.49% – 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• Top rated mobile app

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms and details »

Intro (Purchases) 0% for 12 months

Intro (Transfers) 0% for 12 months

Regular APR 18.49% – 28.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Excellent, Good

See Rates & Fees »

The Strand Palace Hotel is available in the portal and costs $2,403. The price to rent a Peugeot e-3008 electric SUV for five days is $220, bringing the grand total to $2,623. However, you will get a little over $131 in cash back rewards, reducing the net cost to $2,492. 

If you spend a lot on groceries, dining out, and select streaming services, the 3% cash back reward will be attractive. If the total for these expenses is $1,100 a month, you would earn $33 just for covering those regular bills. 

Outside of those categories, the cash back rate drops. Flights will only earn you 1% cash back, as will anything else that doesn’t fall into the big reward categories. 

If you want a high reward rate on flights, a travel card may be better, and if most of your expenses are on things that only generate 1% cash back, this card may not be the best choice for you.

A basic credit card is a tool that does just one thing: facilitate transactions and allow you to pay later. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is like a multi-tool device, though, because it also includes a variety of other features. 

Every time you charge, you’ll earn cash back rewards. You don’t need to do anything but use your card to pay for things. This card will give you anywhere from 1% to 8% back, depending on what you buy. 

To earn 8% back, head to the Capital One Entertainment shopping portal. When the ticket price is high, you can earn substantial rewards. 

For example, my friend’s dad is a huge Beatles fan, and Paul McCartney was coming to town. She bought two great seats totaling $963 for his birthday. Had she used the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card and bought the tickets through the portal, she would have received $77 in cash back. 

You can earn a lot when you book hotels, vacations, rentals, and rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal. Whatever you charge in those categories will result in 5% cash back being added to your rewards balance. 

The process is easy. Just log in to your account and book through the portal, just as you would any third-party travel site. You will get 3% cash back when you use your Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card on dining and drinking out, as well as groceries. 

This category includes restaurants, cafés, fast food, bars, supermarkets, grocery stores, and specialty shops like butchers and bakeries (excluding wholesale clubs like Costco and superstores like Walmart and Target). You’ll also get 3% cash back on such streaming services as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.  

Anything else you buy with the card, including gas and retail items, will earn 1% cash back. That’s not very high, but if the bulk of your shopping is in the other categories, you can earn quite a bit of money.

Cash Bonus Opportunities

As of the time this article was published, this card has a few bonus offers you can take advantage of.

Currently, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card will give you $200 in rewards after you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months of opening the account.

That is a pretty nice chunk of change that you can make go even further, depending on how you redeem it. Another new cardmember offer is $100 in travel credits for flights, stays, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel in the first year.

Just remember that bonus offers are often time-sensitive and subject to change.

No Annual Fee or Foreign Transaction Fees

It’s expensive to provide cardholders with benefits and perks, so some issuers charge annual fees to offset the cost. As long as you get more out of the card than the fee, no problem, but you do have to make sure you use it enough. 

It’s nice to know that the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card doesn’t have an annual fee and still offers valuable goodies. 

This card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, either, which typically range between 1% to 3% of the purchase price of things that you buy outside the U.S. So while you’re globetrotting and want to pick up some souvenirs, you can be sure that you’re not being charged extra. 

Extended Warranty Protection

Imagine buying something expensive and then being grateful for the warranty that will protect you against problems you may have with the item. But after that time frame lapses, it’s all on you. 

That is, unless you use the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card to buy it, because it comes with an extended warranty program through the Mastercard network. 

If you buy items like electronics and appliances with a manufacturer’s warranty lasting up to three years, the network’s extended warranty may cover you for a year after it expires. 

Coverage can include the cost of repairs, replacements, or reimbursement up to the original purchase price. To file a claim, you can either call 1-800-627-8372 or visit www.mycardbenefits.com. 

Capital One Travel and Entertainment

Capital One Travel not only allows you to earn cash back on all of your charges, but it also includes a price match guarantee.  

First, when you’re shopping around for flights and enroll in the free price prediction and alert system, Capital One Travel will send a prompt when the best price is available.

I use this system all the time, and I am currently waiting for the lowest fare to Bend, Oregon. Also, if you book a flight Capital One recommends and the price drops within 10 days, you’ll get up to a $50 travel credit. 

I’ve now received three of them, totaling $150! And if you find a better price within 24 hours of booking your flight, hotel, or rental car, Capital One will give you a credit for the difference. 

You may also want to spring for Capital One’s Flight Disruption Assistance, a fee-based, opt-in service that can reduce aggravation and costs. When you buy through Capital One Travel, you can book a new same-day or next-day flight at no charge if your flight is delayed or canceled. 

As I’ve covered a little already, Capital One Entertainment is the place to go to buy tickets to amazing experiences, concerts, theater, and sporting events. I must admit that I only just started using this portal, and I’m kind of addicted. 

It also includes a wide array of VIP packages, events, and other exclusive perks for Capital One cardholders. 

You can even reserve tables at restaurants through the entertainment portal. They’re typically high-end establishments, but if you’re looking for a special place that’s hard to book, you may see exclusive time slots held for Capital One customers.

If you’re interested in the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, make sure your credit rating is top-notch before you apply. Capital One stipulates that it’s for people who have “excellent” credit. 

Check your FICO Score to see where you stand numerically. These scores range from 300 to 850, and those that are at least 800 are considered exceptional, or excellent, but you may qualify if yours are in the very good range, starting at 740. 

FICO Score Categories	Score Range
Exceptional	800-850
Very Good	740-799
Good	670-739
Fair	580-669
Poor	Below 580

However, Capital One has additional requirements for this card. Your credit reports can’t show that you’ve declared bankruptcy, have defaulted on a loan, or have been more than 60 days late on any credit card, medical bill, or loan in the last year. 

You will need to have had a loan or credit card for three years, and the credit limit must be more than $5,000. All of this information will be on your credit reports, so review them carefully before applying.

You can get a general sense of whether you’re in the running for the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card by reviewing your credit scores and credit reports. If your scores are very high (at least 740), you don’t have any dings, and you have a demonstrated history of using accounts well, you may feel comfortable applying. 

Still, I’d play it safe. Capital One offers a preapproval tool where you provide basic credit and financial information, and it will let you know instantly if this card is within reach. It will not trigger a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can help protect your credit score. 

Ready to apply? Marvelous. This is what you can expect. It’s shorter than some other Capital One credit card applications, and it took me about 10 minutes to complete. 

Step 1: Social Security Number, Date of Birth, and Citizenship Status

On this first screen, I see spaces to add my name, Social Security number (or Individual Tax ID), and date of birth. There are two buttons below asking me to confirm my U.S. citizenship status. 

Off to the right, I see a dollar sign icon, explaining the new card member offer of $100 for flights, stays, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel in the first year, plus another $200 cash bonus after I charge $500 within the first three months of opening the account. (Again, these details are subject to change, based on when you apply.)

Step 2: Residential Address, Email, and Phone Number

Now I come to a screen that asks me to list my residential address, email address, and my primary phone number. To the right, I see another icon featuring tickets, and an explanation about premium experiences that I can access as a cardholder. 

Step 3: Employment Status and Income

On this screen, I am instructed to add my employment status. I can choose from the following options: employed, self-employed, retired, student, unemployed, or other. I choose self-employed, and write that I am a reporter. 

It also asks me to write how much I earn as total annual income. Underneath that box, it stipulates that I don’t have to reveal any alimony, child support, or separate maintenance income if I don’t choose to have it considered as a basis for repaying the debt I accumulate on the card. 

There is a box to list the cost of my monthly rent or mortgage. 

Next comes information about my bank account. There is a drop-down menu for me to indicate whether I have a checking account, a savings account, both, or none. 

An optional box asks me to explain if I will be using my account for cash advances. 

Off to the side of this screen is a ribbon icon, explaining how my cash back rewards will not expire and that I can redeem them for any amount. 

Step 4: Add an Authorized User

Do I want to add another person to my account as an authorized user? If so, I am invited to complete this screen with their name, date of birth, phone number, and optional Social Security number. 

An icon to the right explains that adding someone to my account won’t cost me anything, and that I will generate rewards when they use the card. Still, I’m not interested in adding an authorized user, so I skip this step.

Step 5: Reviewing My Information

Now I see an overview of all the information that I have submitted. The screen tells me to make sure that everything looks right. 

The blue bar down at the bottom assures me that if I do not qualify for this card, Capital One may consider me for other cards, and they will only check my credit once. 

Step 6: Communications Preferences and Disclosures

The next screen I see concerns electronic communications. I have to click the box to certify that I read and agree to the terms. Also, until I set up my online access, I will receive statements and servicing notices in the mail, but I can choose to receive them electronically later. 

There is also an option to choose communications to be in either English or Spanish. 

As I scroll down on this screen, I see the full disclosure of all the terms associated with this account. 

These are important to read because they outline all of the details I need to know about the card.

Step 7: Acknowledgments and Submitting the Application

Now I come to the Additional Acknowledgments page. Here I acknowledge that I have read and agreed to the disclosures, that any pre-filled information is correct, and I authorize Capital One to check my credit and employment history and verify my application with third parties. 

I also acknowledge that they may use a third-party service to validate my identity using my phone number. The green “Submit Application” button is at the bottom. If I hit it, I should know if I’m approved within a couple of minutes.

Generally speaking, this card’s initial credit limit is around $2,000 and can go up from there.

Capital One will let you know the credit limit for your Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card after you apply and are approved. The credit line you will be granted will be based on several factors, including your creditworthiness, income, housing expenses, debt obligations, and the bank’s own underwriting requirements. 

When you use the card responsibly and regularly, Capital One may automatically increase your line. Paying your bills on or before the due date while keeping your account balance well below the credit limit will be instrumental in that decision.  

If you’d rather not wait for a credit line increase to come to you, you can also request one by calling the customer service number at 1-800-227-4825 and speaking with a representative. You may also make the request online or through the app by simply selecting “Request Credit Line Increase” from the menu.

For a new account, it’s best to wait at least six months before asking for a higher credit line. This way, the bank will have enough information about your usage history to make a proper determination. 

If Capital One does approve the request, your new limit should be available immediately, but in some cases, they will need to do a more thorough review, so you may have to wait up to 30 days for a decision.

Now that you have all that cash back in your rewards bank, you’re going to want to use it! There’s no need to hurry, though, because these rewards never expire.

So if you want to wait and accumulate them, you don’t have to worry about the value disappearing. To see how much cash back you have available, log in to your account. It will be prominently located on the home screen. 

To redeem the cash back rewards, you have a number of options, beginning with the shopping portals. You can book flights, stays, packages, car rentals, and activities on the Capital One Travel portal and pay with your rewards. 

Same with Capital One Entertainment. Purchase tickets to any show or event you want and use your cash back to pay. For each of these portals, if you don’t have enough cash back rewards, you can split the cost with your card.

I have to say, trading my rewards in for something special is a very cool experience. Because I didn’t earn them with my actual work, it feels like a gift. 

So when my daughter wanted to see Phantom of the Opera, I was able to splurge on preferred seats. By using the rewards, I got a lot more for a lot less. 

You can also use your cash back rewards to drive your balance down. There are two ways to do this: Apply the cash back as a statement credit or use it to pay off specific recent charges. 

Yet another option is to spend your cash back on gift cards. Log in to your account and navigate to the “rewards and benefits” section. You will see gift cards for all kinds of retailers, from stores to delivery services. 

Some offer immediate discounts, too. For example, when I checked, I saw Bath and Body Works gift cards in $25, $50, $100, and $200 increments, each for 25% off. 

You can choose between a digital card that will be sent to you or the recipient immediately, or a physical card that will be sent to your mailing address. 

Want more options? If you’re an Amazon.com shopper, you can redeem your cash back at checkout. When you shop at eCommerce sites and use PayPal, you can use your cash rewards there, too. 

And if you just want the money, you can request that a physical check be sent to you. With so many redemption options, there should be something for everyone.

When it comes to my financial management, I typically prefer to do everything from my computer. However, I do have the Capital One app on my phone and am starting to gravitate to it more. 

I have set up automatic bill pay to cover my entire balance before interest is added, and it’s nice to see exactly when that payment will be made.

Of course, this is just the beginning of what you can do with the app. In addition to checking your account status (including where you charged, your current balance, and APR details), you will also see your rewards balance. 

If you booked trips or purchased tickets through Capital One Travel or Capital One Entertainment, you will see the upcoming arrangements on your screen. 

If you want to view your FICO Score, you can navigate to CreditWise. It’s free to enroll, and it’s a great way to monitor how your credit score is doing each month. 

At the bottom of your screen, you will see several icons, one of which is a bubble called “Help.” That’s Eno, Capital One’s virtual assistant.

This chatbot is only OK. It frequently misunderstands what I’m trying to ask it. That could be my failure in communicating or a bug in the system. 

Whatever the case, I tend to avoid Eno and go straight to calling customer support at 1-800-227-4825 if I need extra assistance. After entering the last four digits of my account number, a recording informs me of my current balance and when my next payment is due. 

Getting connected to an actual human takes just a few prompts and a couple of minutes. They always tell me their names and are very polite, easy to understand, and professional. 

When analyzing whether a new credit card is going to be the right fit for your needs and lifestyle, it’s important to compare its advantages against its disadvantages. 

Just a few pros and cons of the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card are:

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card definitely offers a potential for high cash back rewards. But if you don’t spend within the fixed categories, the rate will be very low. 

Check your spending habits to make sure this is a good fit. The current opportunity to earn an additional $300 in bonuses is great, especially since you won’t be charged an annual fee for the account.

When you have earned a high credit score, credit card options abound. Two other cards you may consider that offer similar attributes are: 

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

CardRates Expert Rating

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

4.9/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

at Bank Of America’ssecure website

Our Review »

• $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
• Earn 6% cash back for the first year in the category of your choice. You’ll automatically earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. After the first year from account opening, you’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
• Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. After the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum.
• No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• Select your card design option when you apply – the Customized Cash Rewards design, or the limited-time FIFA World Cup 2026™ design.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.49% – 27.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
• This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms and details »

Intro (Purchases) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Intro (Transfers) 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 5%)

Regular APR 17.49% – 27.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Excellent/Good

If you like being in control of your rewards, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card has an edge over the Savor. Where the Savor locks you into fixed categories (dining, groceries, entertainment, and streaming), this card lets you choose and change your top cash back category every month to match your actual spending.

That kind of flexibility is rare, especially on a no-annual-fee card. The tradeoff? There’s a quarterly spending cap on those bonus categories, so heavy spenders may hit the ceiling faster than they’d like. But if your budget is moderate and you want a card that bends to your lifestyle rather than the other way around, this one’s worth a serious look.

Discover it® Cash Back

CardRates Expert Rating

Discover it® Cash Back

4.9/5.0

About this rating

Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.

See Our Review»

Ashley Fricker Senior Editor

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★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

at Capital One’ssecure website

Our Review »

• INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Redeem cash back for any amount. No annual fee.
• Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. Then 17.49% to 26.49% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Show MoreShow Less See application, terms and details »

Intro (Purchases) 0% Intro APR for 15 months

Intro (Transfers) 0% Intro APR for 15 months

Regular APR 17.49% – 26.49% Variable APR

Annual Fee $0

Credit Needed Excellent/Good

See Rates & Fees »

If the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is your “set it and forget it” card for food and fun, the Discover it® Cash Back takes a different approach. Instead of earning consistently on dining and groceries year-round, Discover rotates its bonus categories every quarter, meaning some seasons you’ll hit big, and others your top spending may not qualify.

The upside? When the categories align, the earning rate is hard to beat. And Discover’s first-year Cashback Match™ is one of the most underrated welcome offers in the no-annual-fee space. So if your spending is heavily concentrated in dining and entertainment, the Savor’s reliability wins.

But if you’re a flexible spender who likes chasing the best rate wherever it lands, Discover is worth a serious look.

I would suggest the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card to anyone whose spending habits match the high cash back rewards structure. It can save you quite a bit of money, especially if you’re big into shows, concerts, and sporting events. It’s hard to beat 8% cash back. 

The 5% cash back on certain travel purchases through the portal is great, but don’t forget that flights will generate only 1% back. Therefore, this may be the better card for road-trippers. Outside of that, 3% cash back on things like food, drink, and streaming services is quite high. 

With groceries and restaurant meals costing so much more, this card’s cash back can take some of the sting out. 

“I would suggest this card to anyone whose spending habits match the high cash back rewards structure, which applies to food and entertainment purchases.”

Capital One’s two shopping portals are marvelous. I use both often. If you’re like me, you’ll get used to turning to them when you want to do everything from booking hotel rooms to buying tickets to games and shows. 

Moreover, this card doesn’t charge an annual fee. If you don’t want to calculate how many benefits you’ll need to use to come out ahead, this can be attractive.

Just remember that you do need to have excellent credit to be eligible, so if you’re not quite there or have marks on your credit report that Capital One doesn’t want to see, you may want to wait it out until you’re in a better position to qualify.