How to leverage Capital One Shopping for savings and rewards in 2024

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If you're eager to optimize your savings and earn rewards while shopping online, Capital One Shopping is an excellent choice. This free browser extension is distinctive as it searches the web for the best deals, applies available coupons automatically at checkout, and rewards you for your purchases. Plus, it's accessible to everyone, not just Capital One account holders. Whether you're catching up on holiday purchases or seizing great deals from retailers this season, consider adding Capital One Shopping to your rewards strategy.

Here’s all the essential information about Capital One Shopping:

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What exactly is Capital One Shopping?

Capital One Shopping is a browser extension and portal designed to help users save money and earn rewards while shopping online. It provides cash-back rewards on purchases made at selected online retailers. The browser extension features price tracking to help you find the best deals and notifies you if a lower price becomes available. Additionally, it searches for coupons and automatically applies them to your cart at checkout, enabling you to save money and earn cashback redeemable for gift cards.

It’s important to differentiate Capital One Shopping from Capital One Offers. Both services are entirely free to use; however, Capital One Offers is a cash-back program that gives cardholders statement credits when shopping with participating merchants. In contrast, Capital One Shopping offers cash back that can only be redeemed for gift cards. Additionally, the tool is available to everyone—no need for a Capital One credit card to use Capital One Shopping.

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How to accumulate rewards with Capital One Shopping

You can earn rewards with Capital One Shopping in two ways: by using the online portal or by installing the browser extension. Whichever option you choose, you must first create an account with Capital One Shopping. After registering, you can utilize the online portal to look for specific products or retailers.

Capital One will provide you with a list of merchants offering cash-back rewards, along with the best available prices. This allows you to compare and secure the best deals. You will earn rewards by clicking on the specified link and completing a purchase.

The Capital One Shopping browser extension is a superior choice, as it requires just a one-time installation and automatically searches for reward opportunities while you shop online. You will receive alerts when a merchant is eligible for cash back. Simply click the “activate” button before checking out to earn cash back on your purchases.

Additionally, Capital One will alert you if the product you're buying is available at a lower price on another site. Overall, the browser extension enhances convenience, allowing you to shop as usual without needing to visit Capital One’s website to find deals from individual merchants.

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When can you expect to see your rewards?

Once you complete a qualifying purchase, you will receive an email from Capital One confirming that your rewards are on their way. These rewards should be credited to your account within 30 to 90 days after the purchase. You can check your transaction history on the Rewards and Savings page.

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Tips to enhance your Capital One Shopping rewards

Earning rewards with Capital One Shopping is quite simple, but you can significantly boost your rewards by following a few additional steps. Here’s how to make the most of your Capital One Shopping rewards:

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Install the browser extension

By downloading the Capital One Shopping browser extension, you can easily snag deals while shopping online. This tool will notify you when a site offers cash back on your purchases and will automatically search for and apply coupon codes at checkout. Most importantly, it will alert you about opportunities to save by purchasing items from different merchants. These features streamline the savings process, making it simpler to earn rewards compared to most shopping portals.

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Subscribe for email alerts

By opting for email notifications, you may receive targeted offers from Capital One Shopping. Occasionally, users get enhanced cash-back deals after using the tool to explore products. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re looking for a pricey item, especially during the holiday season.

You can adjust your email settings by visiting your account settings page and selecting to receive marketing emails.

Combine with Amex, Chase, or Citi Offers

American Express, Chase, and Citi offer their own merchant 'Offers' that can be combined with Capital One Shopping. These programs work similarly, allowing cardholders to enroll their credit cards for specific deals at well-known merchants. These offers are frequently updated and include either bonus points or statement credits for various purchases, from everyday bills to dining and online shopping.

Simply go to the designated Merchant Offers page, log in with your details, and explore the available offers. Then, link the desired offer to your preferred credit card. Once you make a qualifying purchase, the bonus points or statement credit will be credited to your account within a certain timeframe.

• Amex Offers

• Chase Offers

• Citi Merchant Offers

Combining one of these offers with Capital One Shopping can yield substantial savings and significantly reduce your overall purchase costs.

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Utilize credit cards that provide enhanced rewards

To maximize your rewards through Capital One Shopping, select a credit card that offers superior rewards for your purchases. Ideally, opt for a rewards card that allows you to make the most of every dollar spent. If you have a spending threshold to meet, using that card for your Capital One Shopping transactions can help you accumulate even more rewards.

For instance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months of account activation. This equates to $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. If you anticipate making significant purchases soon, using this card alongside Capital One Shopping can be an excellent strategy to enhance your rewards.

Even without a spending requirement, you can still gain from selecting the right credit card. Seek one that offers higher rewards in your spending categories. For instance, shopping at office supply stores could earn you up to 5% cash back with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. If the merchant isn’t in a bonus category, opt for a card that provides at least two points per dollar spent. Here are a few examples:

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – 2 miles for every dollar spent on all purchases.

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card– 2 miles for every dollar spent on all purchases.

• Citi Double Cash® Card – 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay off).

• Bilt Mastercard® – 2 points for every dollar spent on Rent Day for purchases that usually earn 1 point per dollar.

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Recommend to a friend

Although Capital One Shopping often has a referral bonus for signing up friends, there isn't one available right now.

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Steps to redeem your Capital One Shopping rewards

Rewards accumulated through Capital One Shopping typically post within 30-90 days after your purchase, after which they can be redeemed for gift cards. To check your rewards status, click on the “My Rewards and Savings” tab on the Capital One Shopping homepage. This will display your qualifying shopping total, the available rewards, and a detailed breakdown of your earned rewards.

With a wide array of popular merchants available, Capital One ensures you'll find options that align with your spending preferences. To redeem your cash back rewards, simply click the “redeem now” button on the “My Rewards and Savings” page. This will redirect you to a selection page where you can choose a gift card matching your account balance. Capital One offers over 50 gift cards from well-known brands like Adidas, Athleta, DoorDash, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and more. You also have the option to donate to charities, such as the CDC Foundation and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

After choosing your gift card, you must indicate the amount. A range of available denominations will be displayed. You can input your preferred gift card amount, which must not exceed your rewards balance.

If this is your first time redeeming rewards, your email will appear on the right side of the page. You'll need to confirm its accuracy by clicking “verify account.”

Following that, you should receive an email to confirm your email address.

Once you've confirmed your address, you'll be directed to the redemption page. Here, you'll need to complete a short form with your name and address details.

Finally, make sure to check the box next to the non-refundable policy statement. After that, click “place order” to finalize your transaction. Expect your gift card to arrive within 2-3 weeks.

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Is Capital One Shopping beneficial?

By helping you find the best deals and automatically applying coupons at checkout, Capital One Shopping simplifies your shopping experience, maximizing your savings. Since it’s free to use (and can even provide rewards, especially if you sign up with a referral code), it’s definitely worth considering. There’s minimal downside to installing the browser extension and letting it hunt for deals and coupon codes before your purchases.

While experienced shoppers may compare rates on an aggregator like Cashback Monitor, this can be time-consuming. The Capital One Shopping portal offers a great alternative for those looking to earn rewards and save money effortlessly. It’s a convenient and user-friendly tool that allows you to save and earn rewards automatically.

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Commonly asked questions

Do I need a Capital One credit card to utilize Capital One Shopping?

You don’t need a Capital One credit card to access Capital One Shopping.

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How is Capital One Shopping different from Capital One Offers?

Capital One Shopping differs from Capital One Offers in that it is a shopping portal available to everyone, not just Capital One customers. In contrast, Capital One Offers is specifically tailored for those who hold a Capital One card.

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How can I redeem my Capital One Shopping rewards?

You can redeem Capital One Shopping rewards for gift cards from select merchants.

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What advantages does Capital One Shopping provide?

The advantage of Capital One Shopping is that it provides cash back at well-known retailers and searches the web for the best prices and promotional codes to help you save money.

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What is the time frame for receiving Capital One Shopping rewards?

Typically, it takes 30 to 90 days to receive your Capital One Shopping rewards. After redeeming, your gift card should arrive within 2 to 3 weeks.

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What’s the optimal way to utilize Capital One Shopping rewards?

The ideal way to utilize your Capital One Shopping rewards is by redeeming them for a gift card to your favorite retailer.

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Editorial note: The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed or endorsed by any of these organizations.