Capital One Review, Offers, Rates & Alternatives
Capital One is a UK credit card provider known for its credit-building cards and simple cashback cards. It offers cards for people with limited or poor credit history looking to build their credit score. Giraffy lists five Capital One-issued cards, all with no annual fee: the Classic Mastercard and the Post Office, Ocean and thinkmoney cards for credit builders, plus a Balance Transfer card with 0% for 18 months. Representative APRs run from 34.9% to 39.9%, so these cards suit people who will clear the balance each month while they rebuild their credit file.
Live offers
- Classic Mastercard credit card
- Balance Transfer Card
- Post Office Credit Card
- Ocean Credit Card
- thinkmoney Credit Card
| Products | Credit-building cards, cashback credit cards |
|---|---|
| Cards listed | 5 Mastercard credit cards, all £0 a year |
| Representative APR | 34.9% (Classic, Balance Transfer, Post Office) to 39.9% (Ocean, thinkmoney) |
| Balance transfers | 0% for 18 months with a 3% fee (Balance Transfer card); 0% for 12 months with a 2.9% fee (Post Office card) |
| Also issues | Post Office, Ocean and thinkmoney credit cards |
| Best for | UK residents building or repairing their credit score |
| Alternatives | Aqua, Vanquis, Marbles, Barclaycard |
Best for
- UK residents building or repairing their credit score with a managed credit card
- People with average credit who want a 0% balance transfer without an annual fee
Not ideal for
- High spenders who want rewards — a rewards card like Amex is better once credit is established
- Anyone likely to carry a balance — APRs of 34.9%–39.9% make borrowing expensive
Capital One credit cards
All five cards listed are Mastercard credit cards with no annual fee: four credit-builder cards and one balance transfer card.
- Classic Mastercard: 34.9% representative APR, credit builder
- Balance Transfer Card: 0% on balance transfers for 18 months (3% fee), then 34.9%
- Post Office Credit Card: 34.9% APR, 0% balance transfers for 12 months (2.9% fee)
- Ocean Credit Card: 39.9% APR, 0% balance transfers for 6 months (2.9% fee)
- thinkmoney Credit Card: 39.9% APR, no 0% balance transfer offer
Best for: People with a thin or damaged credit file who want to build a record of on-time payments, or to clear an existing card balance within 18 months.
Capital One vs alternatives
Capital One vs Aqua
Credit-building card with higher limits over time. Capital One vs Aqua: Both serve credit builders. Compare eligibility and rates on Giraffy.
Capital One in United Kingdom — FAQ
Is Capital One good for building credit?
Yes. Capital One UK is one of the most popular credit-building card providers. Compare with Aqua and Vanquis on Giraffy.
Which Capital One card can I get with an average credit score?
Capital One's credit-builder range is aimed at people with limited or average credit: the Classic Mastercard (34.9% APR), plus the Post Office, Ocean and thinkmoney cards it issues (34.9%–39.9% APR). All five cards listed on Giraffy have no annual fee.
Does Capital One offer a 0% balance transfer card?
Yes. The Capital One Balance Transfer Card lists 0% for 18 months with a 3% fee, and the Post Office Credit Card lists 0% for 12 months with a 2.9% fee. After the offer, the 34.9% rate applies to any remaining balance.
Who issues the Ocean, Post Office and thinkmoney credit cards?
All three are issued by Capital One in the UK, which is why they appear on this page alongside Capital One's own Classic and Balance Transfer cards.