Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One UK vs Chime
Capital One UK
Higher score in this comparison
Chime
What sets them apart
| Compare | Capital One UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | ChimeReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75% | 0%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Perks | Free CreditWise credit score and report, Up to 56 days interest free on new spends, Section 75 protection on spends between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Up to 2 credit limit increases a year, Free QuickCheck eligibility check with no impact to credit score, Round the clock fraud security | Visa Zero Liability fraud protection, Autopay feature, SpotMe overdraft protection, No credit check, Reports to 3 major credit bureaus, Access to 47,000+ fee free ATMs |
| APR | 34.9% | Not confirmed |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 5% cash back on selected category (Chime Prime with $3,000+ monthly direct deposits) or 2% (Chime Plus) |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 months | Not confirmed |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Credit needed (Poor), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Capital One UK: 1996 vs 2012.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Chime: 0% vs 2.75%.
- Perks: only Capital One UK offers Free CreditWise credit score and report, Up to 56 days interest free on new spends, Section 75 protection on spends between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000.
- Perks: only Chime offers Visa Zero Liability fraud protection, Autopay feature, SpotMe overdraft protection.
- Support channels: only Capital One UK offers Phone, Email.
Our verdict on each
Capital One UK
Capital One UK suits UK shoppers building a score or clearing a balance, offering a balance transfer intro of 18 and credit tools with no fee to hold. The representative APR of 34.9% makes it a card to clear rather than revolve.
Chime
Chime is a good fit for US readers who want a fee free card that builds credit without a credit check. The monthly fee is $0 and the currency conversion fee is 0%, so everyday spending costs nothing, though the rewards only pay properly with a paid plan.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One UK | Chime |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Annual fee £0 and a 3% balance transfer fee keep costs low, against 34.9% interest and 2.75% abroad. | 9.4HigherMonthly fee of $0, annual fee of $0 and currency conversion fee of 0% leave nothing to pay, matching €0. |
| Offer | 9.5HigherBalance transfer intro of 18, free credit score tools, and no rewards (none). | 8.9 |
| Trust | 9.0Higher | 8.8 |
Spending 1,000 abroad
Capital One UK
27.5
2.75% of 1,000
Chime
0
0% of 1,000
Chime comes out 27.5 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Choosing between them
Pick Capital One UK if offer matter most.
Pick Chime if cost and currency conversion fee matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Capital One UK | Chime |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 153 of 1020 | 157 of 1020 |
| Bad credit and credit builder cards | 10 of 23 | 12 of 23 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One UK | Chime |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Not confirmed | Rewards, Secured |
| Legal entity | Capital One (Europe) plc | Chime Financial, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 1996Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One UK | Chime | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%highest quarter | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | Not confirmed | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Capital One UK
Pros
- Aimed at poor credit, so applicants turned down elsewhere can still apply.
- Support runs on chat, phone and email, so help is easy to reach by phone, chat, email or a help centre.
- Credit building tools come as standard: a free credit score and report, an eligibility check that leaves the credit score untouched, and round the clock fraud security.
Cons
- Representative APR of 34.9% sits above the site average of 20.97%, so an unpaid balance costs quickly.
- Foreign purchases are charged 2.75% in currency conversion, above the site average of 1%.
- The rewards type is listed as none, so nothing comes back on everyday spending.
Chime
Pros
- No monthly charge: the monthly fee is $0 and the annual fee is $0, with the no annual fee model shared across the range.
- Converting currency costs 0%, against a site median of 1%, so spending abroad does not add a fee line.
- No credit check, yet it reports to the major credit bureaus, which suits readers with poor credit.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only, so a lost card or a blocked payment is sorted through chat or a help centre rather than a phone line.
- The higher cash back rate needs Chime Prime with a qualifying monthly direct deposit, so the headline rewards rate is not the everyday one.
- The card runs on visa, which is the network used by 58.6% of the cards on the site, narrowing acceptance compared with the widest networks.
Who each suits
Capital One UK
Who it suits
- UK applicants with poor credit who want a mainstream card rather than a secured one.
- Balances being cleared, where the 18 transfer window and 3% fee on the balance transfer card keep the move contained.
- Cardholders who pay in full and would rather build a score than chase rewards.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for frequent foreign spend, where Wise charges 0% on currency conversion against 2.75% on this card.
- Not for anyone after a deposit backed card, since Varo Believe Secured Credit Card has an annual fee of $0 on a secured basis.
- Not for shoppers who want a rewards earn on everyday buying, as the rewards type here is none and Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) offers the same credit building route.
Chime
Who it suits
- US readers rebuilding credit who need no credit check and bureau reporting to keep the account on file.
- Anyone who wants a debit card with a $0 monthly fee and a 0% currency conversion fee.
- Readers who want rewards paid in cash back rather than points, and who can reach the top rate through a paid plan with a qualifying direct deposit.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if the priority is holding several currencies at once rather than 0% conversion costs on a US card.
- Bitpanda, if a crypto element to the card matters more than credit building.
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, if chat only support through chat and help centre will not work and a bank branch style service is needed.
Current offers
Capital One UK
Current offer
First period offer
0% interest on balance transfers for up to 18 months and on purchases for up to 3 months: 0% for up to 18 months on balance transfers; 0% for up to 3 months on purchases
Balance Transfer card; up to 3% transfer fee (maximum 3%); up to GBP 8,000 starting credit limit; representative example assumes a GBP 1,200 credit limit with 34.94% p.a. variable interest on purchases giving 34.9% APR representative variable
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Capital One UK | Chime |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Capital One UK
Is there an annual fee on the Capital One UK credit card?+
There is no annual fee. The card is sold on a no annual fee model, so the annual fee is £0 and the only real cost is interest. That interest is the part to watch, at a representative APR of 34.9%, because the card is aimed at poor credit and some applicants will revolve.
What rate applies if I do not clear the balance?+
The representative APR is 34.9%, above the site average of 20.97%. New purchases sit inside the interest free window the card offers, so the rate matters most once that window runs out or a transferred balance is still unpaid.
Chime
What does a Chime card cost to keep?+
There is no monthly charge: the monthly fee is $0 and the annual fee is $0. That puts Chime in the cheapest group on the site, where the monthly fee median is €0. The one cost to watch is the paid plan needed for the top cash back rate.
Does Chime charge for spending in another currency?+
The currency conversion fee is 0%, which sits at the bottom of the 0% to 10.5% range across the site. The site median conversion fee is 1%, so a card like this removes a charge most cards still apply. It is conversion, not multi currency holding, that makes it useful abroad.
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Capital One UK
Chime