Updated September 29, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One vs Capital One UK
Capital One
Higher score in this comparison
Capital One UK
What sets them apart
| Compare | Capital OneReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Capital One UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%Lower | 2.75% |
| Rewards type | Cashback | None |
| Credit needed | Excellent | Poor |
| Rewards rate | unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | 1.5% | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | FDIC | Not confirmed |
Same on both: APR (34.9%), Balance transfer intro period (18 months), Balance transfer fee (3%), 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), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Capital One: 1985 vs 1996.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Capital One: 0% vs 2.75%.
- Support channels: only Capital One UK offers Email.
Our verdict on each
Capital One
Capital One suits spenders who want cashback on everyday purchases with no annual cost while accepting card approval for shoppers with strong credit. You pay currency conversion fees of 0% and face APR of 34.9% if you carry a balance, so clearing in full each month matters most.
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.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One | Capital One UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherCost reflects annual fee of $0 plus currency conversion fees of 0%. | 8.7Annual fee £0 and a 3% balance transfer fee keep costs low, against 34.9% interest and 2.75% abroad. |
| Offer | 9.4Offer reflects balance transfer intro period of 18 and APR of 34.9%. | 9.5HigherBalance transfer intro of 18, free credit score tools, and no rewards (none). |
| Trust | 8.9Trust reflects licence FDIC cert 4297 held by Capital One, National Association. | 9.0Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Capital One | Capital One UK |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 176 of 1020 | 153 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 14 of 35 | 10 of 35 |
Sources behind this comparison
Capital One
- capitalone.com: 10 facts, checked September 29, 2026
- capitalone.co.uk: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 3 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Capital One UK
- capitalone.co.uk: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One | Capital One UK |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Capital One, National Association | Capital One (Europe) plc |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 1996 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more |
Debit cards
| Fact | Capital One | Capital One UK |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Card type | Debit | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One | Capital One UK | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 34.9%highest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 2.75%highest quarter | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | 18 monthsabove the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 3%at the median | 3% |
| Cashback rate | 1.5%at the median | Not confirmed | 1.5% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Capital One
Pros
- Annual fee of $0 keeps yearly card costs at free while you hold the account.
- Currency conversion fees of 0% keep foreign purchases free of added conversion charges.
- Balance transfer intro period of 18 gives room to spread repayment of moved debt.
Cons
- APR of 34.9% makes carried balances costly, so full repayment matters for value.
- Balance transfer fee of 3% adds cost when you move debt despite the intro period of 18.
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.
Who each suits
Capital One
Who it suits
- Shoppers who pay in full and want cashback with annual fee of $0 and currency conversion fees of 0%.
- Planners who want a balance transfer intro period of 18 to spread moved debt in a structured way.
Who should look elsewhere
- Carried balances: if you often revolve debt, Oney Préstamos may merit a look because Capital One APR of 34.9% is costly.
- Business money management: if you need invoicing and team controls, Qonto may fit better than a card of debit built around spending.
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 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 | Capital One UK |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Capital One
Does Capital One charge an annual fee?+
What is the annual fee on Capital One? Annual fee is $0, which means fixed yearly card costs stay at free. You still need to manage APR of 34.9% and balance transfer fee of 3% when you carry or move balances.
What APR does Capital One charge?+
APR is 34.9%. That rate applies when you carry a balance beyond the payment due date. Paying in full each cycle helps you avoid interest and keeps the cashback value intact over time.
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.
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Capital One
Capital One UK