If you’ve been in the points/miles game for any amount of time you have probably heard of or used shopping portals. Think Rakuten, TopCashBack, RebatesMe, and Swagbucks. Shopping portals are great because they allow you to earn even more on your online and in some cases, instore purchases. Typically you have to set up and account, and click a link to the offer in the portal to activate it. Well, Capital One is also in the shopping portal game and actually has two different ones (to make it confusing). Let’s dive into both and highlight the differences.

Capital One Shopping

Overview:

• Accessibility: Open to everyone, not just Capital One cardholders. They often offer a $10-25 bonus to add the browser extension after creating your account and downloading the app, so don’t immediately add the extension.
• Functionality: Works as a browser extension, mobile app, and desktop site.
• Features: Provides price comparisons, applies coupon codes automatically, and offers rewards credits for online shopping¹.
• Bonus Tip– They often will offer a $10-25 bonus to add the extension shortly after you create your account and download the app, so don’t immediately add it.

Earnings Redemption:

• Type of Rewards: Rewards are earned as “shopping credits.”
• Redemption Options: These credits can be redeemed for gift cards to various popular merchants¹.

Capital One Offers

Overview:

• Accessibility: Exclusively available to Capital One cardholders.
• Functionality: Accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app when you’re logged in.
• Features: Offers cash-back savings on purchases made through linked offers on the Capital One platform.

Earnings Redemption:

• Type of Rewards: Rewards are earned as statement credits. Miles earning cards (Venture family) receive miles that can be redeemed while cash back cards accounts will receive statement credits. If you have both or even a Capital One 360 Checking or Savings account, you can choose which account you want to use for your redemption.
• Redemption Options: These credits are automatically applied to your Capital One credit card account, reducing your balance.

Key Differences

• Eligibility: Capital One Shopping is open to everyone, while Capital One Offers is only for Capital One cardholders.
• Redemption: Capital One Shopping rewards are redeemed for gift cards, whereas Capital One Offers rewards are applied as statement credits.
• Offers: The available offers in each portal vary wildly and refresh often. 
• Alerts: While there isn’t any alert systems in place, you can get notified of offers for Capital One Shopping when you set up your account and enter your email. The Capital One Offers portal just has to be manually checked while your logged into your card account.