Updated September 29, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One vs Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Capital One
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9% | 27.9%Lower |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 months | 21 monthsHigher |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | 2.95%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 | Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases, Money transfer option, Virgin Money Cashback offers in the credit card app, 24/7 in app chat support with Redi, Virgin Money Rewards and Virgin Red offers |
| Annual fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Rewards rate | unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Excellent | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | 1.5% | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | FDIC | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Currency conversion fee (0%), Rewards type (Cashback), 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
- Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- APR is lower at Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card: 27.9% vs 34.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card: 2.95% vs 3%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card: 21 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 Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card offers Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases, Money transfer option.
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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
The Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card is a credit card from Nationwide Building Society, trading as Virgin Money, and it suits anyone clearing an existing balance while earning cashback. The interest free transfer window runs 21 with a fee of 2.95%, and support runs through chat, help centre and phone.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherCost reflects annual fee of $0 plus currency conversion fees of 0%. | 9.1Purchases run at 27.9% against a typical 20.97% on the site, while £0 keeps the account fee at nothing. |
| Offer | 9.4Offer reflects balance transfer intro period of 18 and APR of 34.9%. | 9.4Rewards are cashback, with a money transfer option and an interest free period on purchases. |
| Trust | 8.9Trust reflects licence FDIC cert 4297 held by Capital One, National Association. | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Capital One | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Debit cards | 193 of 1336 | 114 of 1336 |
| Credit cards | 176 of 1020 | 112 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 14 of 35 | 4 of 35 |
| No foreign transaction fee cards | 70 of 111 | 34 of 111 |
| Cashback cards | 66 of 203 | 40 of 203 |
Spending 1,000 abroad
Capital One
0
0% of 1,000
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
0
0% of 1,000
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 29, 2026.
Moving a 3,000 balance
Capital One
90
3% of 3,000
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
88.5
2.95% of 3,000
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card comes out 1.5 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.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Capital One, National Association | Nationwide Building Society (trading as Virgin Money) |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1985 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Chat, Help centre, Phone |
Debit cards
| Fact | Capital One | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | £0 |
| Card type | Debit | Debit |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 27.9%highest quarter | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | 21 monthsabove the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 2.95%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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Pros
- The listed Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases and Money transfer option put an interest free period on purchases alongside the balance transfer offer, so everyday spending can run interest free too while an old balance is being cleared.
- Help runs through chat, help centre and phone, with chat with Redi in the card app day and night for a quick answer on a charge or a transfer.
- The issuer is Nationwide Building Society (trading as Virgin Money), regulated in the UK by the Prudential Regulation Authority under reference 106078.
Cons
- Purchases run at 27.9%, above the typical 20.97% across the site, so a balance carried beyond the interest free window is costly to keep.
- It sits at position 105 of 133 brands on APR, which leaves less expensive rates sitting elsewhere in the comparison.
- Transfers cost 2.95% each, and 21 is the maximum interest free window offered rather than a fixed run for every applicant.
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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Who it suits
- Anyone clearing a balance on an existing card and willing to pay 2.95% for 21 of interest free running.
- Existing Virgin Money customers who already use the app, since the listed Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases and Money transfer option are built around in app chat and cashback offers.
- Cashback shoppers who want an interest free period on purchases as well as on transfers, with both covered in the Up to 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers, Up to 21 months 0% interest on purchases and Money transfer option.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for anyone after the lowest possible rate: the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card is listed at 0%, though it works as a secured card.
- Not for pure everyday spending from an account balance, where the Starling Personal Account Debit Card at 15% is the simpler arrangement.
- Not for paying interest month to month, since the AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito lists 21.59% against 27.9% here.
Current offers
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Current offer
Bonus
0% interest for up to 21 months on balance transfers and purchases on the all round credit card: 0% for up to 21 months, 2.95% balance transfer fee
Promotional offer varies based on your circumstances and starts from account opening date; applies to transfers made in the first 60 days. Credit is available, subject to status, only to UK residents aged 18 or over.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Get 0% interest on balance transfers for up to 36 months on the balance transfer credit card: 0% for up to 36 months, fee per transfer
Promotional offer varies based on your circumstances and starts from account opening date. Applies to transfers made in the first 60 days. Fees and terms apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Virgin Money Cashback from selected top retailers on the Everyday Cashback Credit Card: up to 12% additional cashback
Register in the Virgin Money Credit Card app. Terms apply. Cashback credited monthly; does not count towards your monthly minimum payment.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Everyday Cashback introductory rate: 1% cashback for the first 90 days, then 0.25%, up to £15 a month
90 days starts from when the account opens; cashback deducted from your card balance monthly. Other fees may apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Capital One | Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
What does it cost to hold and to borrow?+
The monthly fee is £0, so holding the account adds nothing in account fees. Borrowing is the expensive part: purchases run at 27.9%, and each balance transfer costs 2.95%. The transfer figure is the one to weigh against a card that charges nothing to move a balance.
How long is the interest free period on a balance transfer?+
The interest free window on balance transfers runs 21, and moving a balance costs 2.95%. Once that window ends the purchase rate of 27.9% is what applies, so the card works when the balance is cleared inside the period. Treat the window as the maximum rather than a fixed run.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Capital One
Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card