Capital One Venture X Business Card vs. Capital One Spark Miles for Business [Detailed Comparison]

As a business owner, managing your business well can mean prioritization. If one of those priorities is simplifying expense management, securing the right business credit card could help you reach that objective.

Some of the best business credit cards designed to assist business owners in keeping expense management simple are issued by Capital One.

Capital One has a broad collection of card choices, including the Capital One Venture X Business Card*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One. and Capital One Spark Miles for Business*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.. These are 2 business credit cards that offer solid earning structures you won’t have to memorize, flexible redemption options, and benefits your business can use.

The 2 cards share similar earning and redemption options but have differences that can result in 1 card being a better fit than the other for your business situation.

Here’s how the Capital One Venture X Business card and Capital One Spark Miles card compare.

Overview

Before we expand on the attributes of the Capital One Venture X Business card and the Capital One Spark Miles card, let’s compare a high-level summary of the cards side-by-side.

Here’s how our featured cards stack up when comparing key features and benefits:

Welcome Bonus Offer Comparison

Immediately after you’re approved for either the Capital One Venture X Business card or Capital One Spark Miles card, you’ll have the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus offer.

The bonus is earned by meeting minimum spending requirements within the specified period after approval and will consist of a generous number of Capital One miles.

While the Capital One Venture X Business card comes with a very generous welcome bonus, the minimum spending requirement can also be high. Keep this in mind when comparing these 2 business cards. Earning the welcome bonus can be a key overall value proposition for cardholders.

Welcome offers fluctuate, so we’ve provided a snapshot of each of our featured cards, which includes the most current offer available:

Capital One Venture X Business Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X Business card offers at least 2x miles on all purchases, and comes packed with premium perks. The information regarding this card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Capital One Venture X Business Card

The Capital One Venture X Business card offers at least 2x miles on all purchases, and comes packed with premium perks. The information regarding this card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.

150,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,700

Annual Fee

$395

APR

All charges made on this account are due and payable in full when you receive your periodic statement. The minimum payment due is the New Balance as indicated on your statement.

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Business card is a great all-around premium rewards card that helps you rack up miles on all of your business expenses.

From 2x miles per dollar on all purchases, airport lounge access, an annual travel credit, complimentary employee cards, and more, there is plenty to love about the Capital One Venture X Business card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Business Travel
• 5x miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Business Travel
• 2x miles per dollar on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee
• 10x and 5x bonus categories are limited to Capital One Business Travel

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
• Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
• With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
• Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
• Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Every year, you’ll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month

Financial Snapshot

• APR: All charges made on this account are due and payable in full when you receive your periodic statement. The minimum payment due is the New Balance as indicated on your statement.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Spark Miles card is a low-annual-fee business card that earns 2x transferable miles on every dollar you spend. The information regarding this card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

The Capital One Spark Miles card is a low-annual-fee business card that earns 2x transferable miles on every dollar you spend. The information regarding this card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Welcome Offer

Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

50,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$900

Annual Fee

$0 intro for the first year, $95 after that

APR

24.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Spark Miles for Business is a great option for business owners looking for an uncomplicated rewards card that earns double miles on every purchase they make and offers access to transfer partners, all for a low annual fee.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Unlimited 2x miles per dollar spent on all purchases
• 5x miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars purchased through Capital One’s travel booking site
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit

Cons

• Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, $95 after that

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won’t expire for the life of the account
• Unlimited 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One’s travel booking site
• Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
• Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar from their purchases

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 24.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Bottom Line:

Both the Capital One Venture X Business card and Capital One Spark Miles card come with generous welcome bonuses that can be earned by meeting minimum spending requirements in the period immediately after card approval.

Earning Potential

Capital One miles can be earned by spending on either the Capital One Venture X Business card or the Capital One Spark Miles card.

Additional miles can be earned on the Capital One Spark Miles card by referring family or friends or on the Capital One Venture X Business card by renewing your card each year.

Referral Opportunities

While all Capital One cards do not offer the opportunity to earn referral bonuses, the Capital One Spark Miles card does. You can earn up to 20,000 miles for each approved referral, up to 100,000 miles yearly.

While the Capital One Venture X Business card does not currently have a referral bonus, it could in the future.

Spending on the Card

Earning Capital One miles on either the Capital One Venture X Business card or the Capital One Spark Miles card is simple. You can earn up to 10x miles via select purchases on Capital One Business Travel or 2x miles on all other spending.

Here’s how you’ll earn rewards on our featured cards:

The Capital One Venture X Business card has a slight earning edge if you spend a large amount on rental cars and hotels via Capital One Business Travel. Otherwise, earning on both cards is the same.

Earning 2x miles on all your business expenses without having to keep track of bonus-earning spending categories is a positive for any business owner.

Even paying business taxes with your card can make sense with these Capital One cards.

Renewal Bonus Miles

When you renew your Capital One Venture X Business card each year, you’ll receive 10,000 bonus Capital One miles.

The Capital One Spark Miles card does not have a renewal bonus.

Bottom Line:

While the majority of earned miles may come from spending on our featured cards, you could earn additional miles for approved referrals on the Capital One Spark Miles card or at renewal on the Capital One Venture X Business card.

Redemption Options

The miles earned on the Capital One Venture X Business card and the Capital One Spark Miles card are different from frequent flyer miles. The miles function more like flexible rewards that can offer you several options at redemption time.

Here are the choices you’ll have when it’s time to redeem your rewards:

The best potential value for miles earned on the Capital One Venture X Business card and the Capital One Spark Miles card is to transfer the miles to airline or hotel programs and redeem them for award flights or free hotel nights.

Hot Tip:

If you have a personal Capital One consumer card that earns miles, you can transfer miles earned on the Capital One Venture X Business card or Capital One Spark Miles card (or vice versa) and combine miles. This can make it easier to redeem all your miles for that annual family vacation!

One example of utilizing your Capital One miles for elevated experiences is to transfer them to Air France and book Delta One Suites for just 110,000 miles. We have a lot of other great ideas for your miles and share some of the best in our article on the best ways to redeem Capital One miles.

You will have additional redemption options including redeeming miles for gift cards, shopping on Amazon, at checkout via PayPal, or on Capital One Experiences. You can also redeem miles for a general statement credit but this option can result in very poor value for your rewards.

Bottom Line:

You’ll have several options to redeem miles earned on the Capital One Venture X Business card and the Capital One Spark Miles card including purchasing travel via Capital One Business Travel and redeeming for a statement credit against previous travel purchases. The best potential value is to transfer the miles to airline or hotel programs and redeem them for award flights or free hotel nights.

Travel Benefits

Travel benefits are complimentary additions to the Capital One Venture X Business card and the Capital One Spark Miles card.

Worldwide Lounge Access

The Capital One Venture X Business card offers primary cardholders unlimited worldwide lounge access to over 1,300 airport lounges plus lounge-alternative restaurants, and more, with complimentary access to Priority Pass™ lounges. In addition, cardholders can access Capital One Lounges.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Fee Reimbursement

Pay for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application or renewal fee with your card and receive reimbursement, up to $120, as a statement credit.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Rest assured when traveling with either of our featured cards, as neither the Capital One Venture X Business card nor the Capital One Spark Miles card charges foreign transaction fees. Foreign transaction fees are typically 3% of the transaction.

Premier Collection and Lifestyle Collection Hotel Benefits

Book your hotel stay for Premier Collection or Lifestyle Collection properties via Capital One Business Travel and enjoy daily breakfast for 2, an upgraded room (when available), complimentary Wi-Fi, early check-in/late checkout, and up to $100 in onsite credit for dining or other special experiences during your stay.

Capital One Venture X Business Card

Capital One Travel Portal Credit

The Capital One Venture X Business card comes with a $300 annual travel credit for purchasing travel via Capital One Business Travel.

Car Rental Program Benefits

Capital One Venture X Business card members can enjoy complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status, Avis Preferred Plus discounts and free weekend rentals, and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive level status.

Note that Capital One Spark Miles card members may find car rental program discounts and benefits via Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services by registering their card.

Travel Protection and Insurance

Travel protections can provide coverage if something goes wrong during your trip and travel benefits can save you money or provide elevated travel experiences.

Here are the travel protections you’ll find on both of our featured cards:

Car Rental Insurance

Reserve and pay for your car rental with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW insurance, and receive coverage for damage, theft, associated towing, and appropriate loss of use charges. The Capital One Venture X Business card has primary car rental coverage. Primary coverage means you do not have to first file a claim with other auto insurance before card coverage applies.

The Capital One Spark Miles card comes with secondary car rental coverage for personal domestic use. However, primary coverage applies if you rent internationally on business.

Roadside Dispatch

Never worry when you’re stranded roadside with either of these cards. With just 1 call 24/7 and for 1 pre-negotiated service fee, you’ll receive limited towing, standard winching, lockout service, tire changing of an inflated spare, jumpstart service, and emergency fuel delivery.

Bottom Line:

Both the Capital One Venture X Business card and Capital One Spark Miles card come with several travel protections and benefits, including car rental insurance, trip cancellation, interruption, and delay coverage, worldwide lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement, no foreign transaction fees, and hotel elite-style perks. The Capital One Venture X Business card also comes with an annual $300 Capital One travel credit.

Implication of the Card Issuer for Travel Benefits and Protection

Just a note that we have not included every feature and benefit that comes on our featured cards, only key ones for comparison purposes. We’ve also abbreviated the descriptions.

Additionally, the Capital One Venture X Business card is issued as a Visa Signature card, and the Capital One Spark Miles card can be issued as a Mastercard or World Elite Mastercard. As a result, similar benefits can have different terms/conditions, and benefits will differ by card. Some benefits are not included when the Capital One Spark Miles card is issued as a Mastercard vs. a World Elite Mastercard. Complete information can be found in each card’s Guide to Benefits.

Shopping Protection

When you use either the Capital One Venture X Business card or the Capital One Spark Miles card to purchase an eligible item, you could receive coverage if something goes wrong with that purchase.

Here are the shopping protections that come with our featured cards:

Purchase Security and Extended Warranty Protection

Purchase an eligible item with either of our featured cards and receive coverage for damage or theft for up to 90 days from the purchase date. You could receive up to $10,000 per claim, up to $50,000 per account.

Eligible purchased items with manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less will have the warranty doubled, up to 1 additional year with Extended Warranty Protection coverage.

Capital One Venture X Business Card

Cell Phone Protection

When your monthly cell phone bill is paid with your Capital One Venture X Business card, you’ll receive up to $600 if the phone listed on the bill is damaged or stolen. A deductible of $50 per claim applies and there is a limit of 2 claims per rolling 12-month period.

Hot Tip:

Download the Capital One Shopping browser extension and enjoy cash-back in the form of Capital One Shopping Rewards. The browser extension automatically searches for coupons and discounts whenever you shop online.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

The Capital One Venture X Business card has an annual fee of $395, and the Capital One Spark Miles card has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, $95 after that.

Neither card charges a fee to add employee cards.

Qualifying for Capital One Cards

You’ll generally need an excellent credit score to be considered for the Capital One Venture X Business card. An excellent credit score is generally considered 800 or better.

To qualify for the Capital One Spark Miles card, a good to excellent score of 670 or better is recommended. You will, however, have a better chance for approval if your score is 700 or above.

In addition to an appropriate credit score, Capital One will look at your credit history. If excellent credit is required, Capital One also asks if this description fits the applicant: “I’ve never declared bankruptcy or defaulted on a loan; I haven’t been more than 60 days late on any credit card, medical bill, or loan in the last year; I’ve had a loan or credit card for 3 years or more with a credit limit above $5,000.”

If good credit is a requirement, Capital One asks if this statement defines you as an applicant: “I have not declared bankruptcy or defaulted on a loan in the past 5 years. I have a credit card or loan and have not been more than 30 days late on any payment in the last year.“

Additionally, Capital One will consider the number of credit cards you’ve applied for in recent years. The card issuer is also known to pull hard inquiries from all 3 major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

Finally, at Capital One’s discretion, based on their assessment of your creditworthiness, the Capital One Spark Miles card could be issued as either a Mastercard or a World Elite Mastercard.

Learn more about Capital One card requirements and tips for applying in our article on the topic.

Hot Tip:

For a risk-free way to find out if you have credit card offers waiting for you, you can use the CardMatch tool or Capital One’s preapproval tool. Using either tool will not create a hard inquiry on your credit report. Not all Capital One cards are included with these tools.

Alternative Business Cards

The Capital One Venture X Business card and Capital One Spark Miles card could each make an excellent choice for a business credit card.

Here are 2 additional business credit cards you may also want to consider:

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

Welcome Offer

Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

90,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,800

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 25.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
• Cell phone protection
• Purchase protection

Cons

• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 25.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Our pick for the best overall business credit card is the Ink Business Preferred card. You’ll earn big on common business purchases with 3x points on up to $150,000 in eligible travel and business purchases each card account year. At redemption time, you’ll also receive good value with points worth up to 75% more when redeemed via Chase Travel or transferred to airline/hotel partners for even greater potential value.

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

$900

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$900

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 17.24% - 23.24% thereafter.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.

If so, the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.

Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 17.24% - 23.24% thereafter.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 1.5% cash-back on all purchases
• No annual fee
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 17.24% - 23.24% thereafter.

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
• No Annual Fee
• Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®.
• Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 17.24% - 23.24% thereafter.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

• Chase Ultimate Rewards

With the objective of simplifying your business expense management, you’ll appreciate the flat rate of 1.5% cash-back earnings on the Ink Business Unlimited card. The card works well if you have heavy expenses that do not fall into normal bonus-earning categories, such as large equipment purchases, paying business taxes, or major repair expenses. We also like that the card has a $0 annual fee yet comes with a generous welcome bonus offer.

Final Thoughts

One obvious feature of the Capital One Venture X Business card is that it has a much higher annual fee than the Capital One Spark Miles card. This may be considered a negative, especially when both cards have nearly identical earning potential and redemption options.

You’ll want to look beyond the earning and redemption options to uncover the additional value the Capital One Venture X Business card offers. First, the yearly $300 Capital One travel credit adds significant value if you can use it. Plus, you’ll earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Business Travel. Additionally, the card comes with cell phone protection that can cover multiple cell phones as long as the monthly bill is paid for with the card. Finally, if you can utilize the unlimited worldwide lounge access, you’ll find more than enough value to consider the Capital One Venture X Business card.

If you prefer a lower annual fee or do not find value in the additional benefits the Capital One Venture X Business card offers, the Capital One Spark Miles card is an excellent choice. And, you’ll earn double miles on every purchase your business makes.

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For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa^® or Mastercard^® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.