Chase vs. Capital One: The details
Range of cards offered
When it comes to Chase vs. Capital One, both offer a range of rewards cards, as well as cards for people with average credit. Capital One tends to offer more options for people with lower credit scores, while Chase tends to offer more credit cards for people with excellent credit who want high-powered rewards.
Referral programs
Chase's referral program rewards customers -- often as much as 10,000 points -- each time they refer a friend who is approved for a credit card.
But Capital One's referral program can be just as robust, if not more. How much you earn depends on your credit card, but referral bonuses often amount to between $50 and $150, up to $500 per year, or between 10,000 and 25,000 bonus miles, up to 100,000 per year.
Cobranded cards
Both issuers offer a handful of cobranded credit cards, or credit cards offered in conjunction with major retailers and popular rewards programs. Chase's cobranded cards are largely focused in the travel space, earning rewards with airline frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs.
Capital One's cobranded credit cards are retail-heavy, with store credit cards that earn rewards at places like Kohl's, Walmart, Cabela's, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Fraud protection
When it comes to fraud protection with Chase vs. Capital One, both issuers have a zero fraud liability policy, which means you aren't liable for any card purchases declared fraudulent.
What you need to know about Chase credit cards
The best credit cards include some of the most coveted rewards cards out there, and cards are often so different from each other you'll have plenty of ways to maximize rewards on every purchase.
That said, Chase does have some idiosyncrasies when it comes to credit card approvals. The Chase 5/24 rule is the most prominent, and it limits approvals to people who have opened fewer than five credit cards in the past 24 months. If you've opened five or more credit cards in the past two years, you won't be eligible for a Chase credit card.
Chase vs. Capital One: Which one is better for you?
The battle of Chase vs. Capital One is tough, because they both offer robust rewards, solid credit card perks, promotional 0% APR on certain cards, and great customer service. However, if we have to choose one over the other, here's our winners for each type of credit card: