Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One UK vs Current
Current
Capital One UK
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | Capital One UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | CurrentReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | $0 |
| APR | 34.9% | 0%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%Lower | 3% |
| Rewards type | None | Points |
| 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 | Paycheck advance up to $750 with qualifying direct deposit, Paycheck up to 2 days early with direct deposit, Fee free overdraft, 40,000 fee free in network ATMs, Savings Pods with annual boosts up to 4.00%, Buy and sell crypto with no trading fees, Cash deposits at 60,000 retail locations, Credit reporting to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, Teen and custodial accounts |
| Card kind | Credit | Charge |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 1x points per $1 on eligible purchases, redeemable as cash back |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 months | Not confirmed |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Credit needed (Poor).
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Key differences
- APR is lower at Current: 0% vs 34.9%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Capital One UK: 2.75% vs 3%.
- 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 Current offers Paycheck advance up to $750 with qualifying direct deposit, Paycheck up to 2 days early with direct deposit, Fee free overdraft.
- Support channels: only Capital One UK offers Phone.
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.
Current
Current suits people who want a no monthly fee account with a Visa debit card, fee-free overdrafts and crypto trading on the same balance. Weigh the currency conversion fee of 3% against a 1% site median, and check what the card costs you abroad.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One UK | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Annual fee £0 and a 3% balance transfer fee keep costs low, against 34.9% interest and 2.75% abroad. | 8.7Monthly fee of $0 and annual fee of $0, but a currency conversion fee of 3% against a 1% site median. |
| Offer | 9.5Balance transfer intro of 18, free credit score tools, and no rewards (none). | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | 9.0 | Not confirmed |
Which one suits you
Pick Capital One UK if currency conversion fee matter most.
Pick Current if apr matter most.
Availability and regulation
Additional countries for Capital One UK: 1. Additional countries for Current: 1.
Sources behind this comparison
Capital One UK
- capitalone.co.uk: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Current
- current.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Capital One UK | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 153 of 1020 | 21 of 1020 |
| Bad credit and credit builder cards | 10 of 23 | 2 of 23 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One UK | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Not confirmed | Crypto, Custodial |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Kids |
| Legal entity | Capital One (Europe) plc | Finco Services, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 1996 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One UK | Current | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 0%lowest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%highest quarter | 3%highest quarter | 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.
Current
Pros
- Monthly fee of $0 and annual fee of $0, so keeping the account open costs you nothing to run
- Fee-free overdrafts, which means a short dip under your balance does not add a charge to your bill
- Buy and sell crypto with no trading fees, with the account also listed for custodial holdings
Cons
- A currency conversion fee of 3% against a 1% site median, so foreign spending costs more than it does with a low conversion pick
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line when a card is frozen or a payment is disputed
- The account is a charge card in the charge sense, listed at 3.2% against 96.8% for the credit kind, so treat the balance as a sum to clear rather than revolving
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.
Current
Who it suits
- US customers who want no monthly fee and no annual fee on a Visa debit card
- Parents looking for teen and custodial accounts, the audience the brand lists
- People who want to hold and trade crypto inside the same spending account
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone spending heavily abroad, since the 3% conversion fee sits well above the 1% site median, where Wise or a no foreign fee pick is cheaper
- People who need a phone line for urgent card problems, since support runs on email, chat and help centre
- Shoppers who want cash back as the standard reward, since points are the points model here
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 | Current |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Current
Does Current charge a monthly or annual fee?+
No. The monthly fee is $0 and the annual fee is $0, so running the account costs you nothing. Money only leaves your balance when you spend it or draw cash, and foreign spending is where a charge can appear. It sits in the same no annual fee group as most compared brands.
How much does it cost to spend in another currency?+
The currency conversion fee is 3%, which is above the 1% site median and well above the 0% lower end. Because the card is on the Visa network, it works abroad, but the conversion charge is the number to budget for. Providers built for travel usually convert at a lower rate.
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Current
Capital One UK