Updated September 29, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One vs NHL® Discover it®
Capital One
NHL® Discover it®
Higher score in this comparison
Where Capital One and NHL® Discover it® differ
| Compare | Capital OneReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | NHL® Discover it®ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9% | 18.49% to 28.49%Lower |
| Rewards rate | unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase | 1% cash back on all other purchases; 5% cash back in rotating categories, plus dollar-for-dollar match in first year |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsHigher | 15 months |
| Credit needed | Excellent | Good |
| 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 | $0 fraud liability on unauthorized purchases, Unlimited Cashback Match: dollar for dollar match of cash back earned in the first 365 days, Free CreditWise credit monitoring and FICO Score 8 access, Pre approval tool that does not impact your credit score, Card Lock in the mobile app, 99% nationwide acceptance (Nilson Report, Feb 2026), Virtual card available before the physical card arrives, if eligible |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | 1.5% | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | FDIC | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Annual fee ($0), Rewards type (Cashback), Balance transfer fee (3%), Card kind (Credit).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- NHL® Discover it® scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- APR is lower at NHL® Discover it®: 18.49% to 28.49% vs 34.9%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Capital One: 18 months vs 15 months.
- Perks: only Capital One 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 NHL® Discover it® offers $0 fraud liability on unauthorized purchases, Unlimited Cashback Match: dollar for dollar match of cash back earned in the first 365 days, Free CreditWise credit monitoring and FICO Score 8 access.
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.
NHL® Discover it®
NHL Discover it is a US credit card that suits people who want cashback on everyday spending without paying an annual fee, and who are comfortable holding a balance at 18.49% to 28.49%. It is issued by Discover by Capital One, N.A., and rewards are cashback rather than points or miles.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One | NHL® Discover it® |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Cost reflects annual fee of $0 plus currency conversion fees of 0%. | 9.2Annual fee of $0 and a balance transfer fee of 3%, with APRs of 18.49% to 28.49% against a site median of 20.97%. |
| Offer | 9.4Offer reflects balance transfer intro period of 18 and APR of 34.9%. | 9.4Cashback on every purchase with a match on the first 15 of spending, plus good credit needed. |
| Trust | 8.9Trust reflects licence FDIC cert 4297 held by Capital One, National Association. | 9.4Higher |
Moving a 3,000 balance
Capital One
90
3% of 3,000
NHL® Discover it®
90
3% of 3,000
Both come to the same total.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Which one suits you
Pick Capital One if balance transfer intro period matter most.
Pick NHL® Discover it® if trust and apr matter most.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Capital One | NHL® Discover it® |
|---|---|---|
| Debit cards | 193 of 1336 | 100 of 1336 |
| Credit cards | 176 of 1020 | 96 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 14 of 35 | 3 of 35 |
| Cashback cards | 66 of 203 | 27 of 203 |
If neither fits
Qonto_AT has apr at 17.5%, against 34.9% for Capital One and 18.49% to 28.49% for NHL® Discover it®.
Qonto_AT reviewSources 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
NHL® Discover it®
- discover.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- capitalone.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One | NHL® Discover it® |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Capital One, National Association | Discover by Capital One, N.A. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1985 | 1985 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Phone, Chat, Help centre |
Debit cards
| Fact | Capital One | NHL® Discover it® |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Card type | Debit | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One | NHL® Discover it® | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 18.49% to 28.49%below the median | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | 15 monthsat 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.
NHL® Discover it®
Pros
- No annual fee, so nothing to pay for keeping the card open: $0
- Cashback on all purchases, with a dollar-for-dollar match on the first 15 of spending
- Balance transfer offer of 15 at a fee of 3%
Cons
- Purchases carry an APR of 18.49% to 28.49%, and cashback is smaller than the interest on a carried balance
- Rotating category bonuses mean the 15 match is the strongest part of the offer only early on
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.
NHL® Discover it®
Who it suits
- US cardholders who want a simple cashback card with no annual fee
- People planning a balance transfer who can clear the balance inside the offer period
- Hockey fans who want a card with cashback and no annual fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting points or miles instead of cashback, where Wise has no rewards at all
- Anyone who needs a debit card for daily spending, where Starling is the better fit
- Anyone rebuilding credit from scratch, where Varo is the better fit
Current offers
NHL® Discover it®
Current offer
Bonus
Discover it Cash Back $200 welcome bonus: $200 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
One-time, new cardholders only, available by clicking Apply Now on the page; may not be available if you navigate away or close the page
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Unlimited Cashback Match on Discover it Cash Back: Dollar-for-dollar match of all cash back earned in the first 365 days, no limit
For new cardholders; no purchase minimums; offered from account approval through first 365 days; promotional offer may not be available in the future
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
0% intro APR on Discover it Cash Back: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Eligible customers only; 18.49% to 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Capital One | NHL® Discover it® |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 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.
NHL® Discover it®
What does NHL Discover it cost to keep?+
There is an annual fee of $0, so the card costs nothing while it sits in your wallet. A balance transfer costs 3% and runs for 15, which is the only separate charge on the card.
What APR will I pay on purchases?+
Purchases carry an APR of 18.49% to 28.49%, which is a range set by your credit profile. The site median across compared cards is 20.97%, so check where your own rate lands before carrying a balance.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Capital One
NHL® Discover it®