Updated September 29, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One vs Sainsbury's
Capital One
Higher score in this comparison
Sainsbury's
Where Capital One and Sainsbury's differ
| Compare | Capital OneReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Sainsbury'sReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | £0 |
| APR | 34.9% | 20.95%Lower |
| Rewards type | Cashback | Points |
| Rewards rate | unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase | 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 months | 34 monthsHigher |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | 2.88% to 3.88%Lower |
| 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 | Nectar points |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Excellent | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | 1.5% | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | FDIC | Not confirmed |
Same on both: 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
- Founded is lower at Capital One: 1985 vs 1996.
- APR is lower at Sainsbury's: 20.95% vs 34.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Sainsbury's: 2.88% to 3.88% vs 3%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Sainsbury's: 34 months vs 18 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 Sainsbury's offers Nectar points.
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.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's is a points credit card for shoppers who already spend with the supermarket and want no annual charge, paying 20.95% on borrowing. The balance transfer offer, with a fee of 2.88% to 3.88% across a 34 intro period, is the reason to look past the everyday card when old balances need clearing.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Cost reflects annual fee of $0 plus currency conversion fees of 0%. | 9.2Annual fee of £0 helps, but 20.95% interest and a 2.88% to 3.88% transfer fee keep costs mid-range. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherOffer reflects balance transfer intro period of 18 and APR of 34.9%. | 9.0Points as the points reward plus a 34 balance transfer window cover everyday spend and old debt. |
| Trust | 8.9Trust reflects licence FDIC cert 4297 held by Capital One, National Association. | 9.0Higher |
Moving a 3,000 balance
Capital One
90
3% of 3,000
Sainsbury's
86.4 to 116.4
2.88% to 3.88% of 3,000
Sainsbury's comes out 3.6 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.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Capital One | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FDIC FDIC cert 4297 | Not confirmed |
Pick Capital One if, pick Sainsbury's if
Pick Capital One if offer matter most.
Pick Sainsbury's if apr, balance transfer intro period, and balance transfer fee matter most.
Also worth a look
HSBC UK has balance transfer intro period at 17 to 36 months, against 18 months for Capital One and 34 months for Sainsbury's.
HSBC UK reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Capital One | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 176 of 1020 | 171 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 14 of 35 | 13 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Capital One, National Association | Sainsbury's Bank plc |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 1996 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Debit cards
| Fact | Capital One | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Card type | Debit | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One | Sainsbury's | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 20.95%above the median | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | 34 monthshighest quarter | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 2.88% to 3.88%below 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.
Sainsbury's
Pros
- Spending in the supermarket earns the stronger rate set out in 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere, so card spend in a single place is worth more.
- Clearing an old balance is possible: the transfer window runs 34 and the charge for moving the balance is 2.88% to 3.88%.
- The card is issued by Sainsbury's Bank plc, trading since 1996, rather than by a newer entrant.
Cons
- Borrowing is not cheap: 20.95% applies to anything carried from one statement to the next, so the card only pays when balances are cleared.
- The balance transfer is a paid deal rather than a free one, with 2.88% to 3.88% for the balance moved and 20.95% charged outside the 34 window.
- The reward is points tied to a single supermarket chain, and the thinner part of 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere covers everything else.
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.
Sainsbury's
Who it suits
- Shoppers who put most of their card spend through the supermarket and already collect Nectar points.
- Borrowers clearing a balance on another card who can use the 34 window and pay the 2.88% to 3.88% fee.
- People who pay their statement in full each month and want a credit card carrying an annual fee of £0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, where everyday spending comes straight from the account balance instead of accruing 20.95% on a credit card.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card or Chime Card, which also charge an annual fee and suit anyone focused on secured credit building rather than points at 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere.
- Anyone who spends little in the supermarket, since the thinner rate in 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere then covers most of the card use.
Country by country
| Country | Capital One | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Sainsbury's
What does it cost to keep the card open?+
The annual fee is £0 on the main card, so there is no charge for holding it year on year. That applies to the card as issued; the balance transfer deal is the only other fee the terms set out, at 2.88% to 3.88% for the balance moved. Borrowing, not holding, is what costs money here.
What rate is charged if I carry a balance?+
Purchases that are not cleared each month are charged at 20.95%. That rate is the card's real cost, and it applies whatever the rewards are doing, so the card suits someone who pays in full each statement rather than revolving a balance month to month.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Capital One
Sainsbury's