The best credit cards of 2020

There is no perfect answer to the question “What is the best credit card?” The right credit card for you depends on how you spend the money and what you want from a credit card: rewards, travel benefits, travel protections purchase, etc. But while we cannot offer a better credit card in general, we can definitely say that some credit cards are better than others. Our comprehensive methodology compares every aspect of each credit card with our “reference credit card” to determine which cards can potentially give you the maximum value.

If you are thinking, "but I already have a credit card," remember that unless you have received your card recently, it is very likely that it is outdated and is no longer the best option to meet your current spending needs or habits. So make 2020 the year you will get a better credit card and check out our list of the best credit cards to decide which one will best suit you.

The best credit cards of 2020

Citi® Double Cash Card: the best option for cash refunds.
Capital One® Venture® Rewards: the best to easily redeem trips.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: the best for flexible rewards.
BankAmericard® credit card: the best introductory rate on purchases.
Citi Simplicity® Card: the best for balance transfers.
American Express® Gold Card: the best for restaurant benefits.
The American Express Platinum Card®: the best for travel benefits.
American Express Blue Business® Plus: the best for small businesses.
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business: the best for larger companies.

Why do we select these cards as our best credit cards for 2020? Here are all the details of each one.

The best for cash back: Citi Double Cash Card

Why it's great in one sentence: the Citi Double Cash Card is simple and lucrative, and offers a 2% refund on every purchase (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay the bill) with no annual charge.

This card is suitable for: people who want a card that works for them, but who do not have the time, patience or interest to pursue bonus categories or discover complicated travel loyalty programs.

Outstanding:

• Get a 2% cash refund on all purchases without limit.
• 0% interest for 18 months on balance transfers made in the first four months after opening the card (15.49% -25.49% variable later).
• The refund can be converted into Citi ThankYou travel points at a rate of 1 cent per point when combined with the Citi Premier or Citi Prestige card.
• No annual fee.

Bonus for hiring: none.

What we like about Citi Double Cash: life is already complicated enough for credit cards to be too. If you don't want to deal with bonus categories, transfer partners or spending limits, you can't choose anything simpler than Citi Double Cash. But "simple" does not have to mean "weak." In fact, you will get a 2% cash refund on virtually everything you buy with this card, which is the best return you will find on any credit card without an annual fee. Yes, if you want to make an extra effort to maximize the bonus categories or if you are willing to pay an annual fee, you can get absolutely more rewards or general benefits with others. But if you don't want your credit card to be something else to worry about, you can put the Citi Double Cash in your wallet or wallet, set it up and forget it.

What you could improve: Citi Double Cash is a credit card with no frills, so you won't find any travel benefits or fancy dinners, nor are there any significant protections for travel or shopping. The 0% balance transfer offer comes with a 3% fee, although that is comparable to other credit cards with similar balance transfer features. You also don't want to use this card for purchases abroad, since the 3% foreign transaction fee will eat 2% of the rewards you earn. Having the option of converting the card cash into Citi ThankYou points when you have other Citi cards is an interesting advantage, but ThankYou airlines can be difficult to take advantage of. Finally, Citi Double Cash does not offer a sign-up bonus, which means that other cards could be more rewarding from the start, although the Double Cash will catch up with long-term use.

Why is our “reference” credit card: the ease of use and the cashback rate of Citi Double Cash is the reason why CNN Underscored currently considers the credit card with which to measure other offers. We use it to compare the characteristics of other credit cards and determine if they are better or worse in general.

Click here for more information about the Citi Double Cash Card.

Best to redeem trips easily: Capital One Venture Rewards

Why it's great in one sentence: you'll earn 2 Capital One miles per dollar on every purchase with the Capital One Venture credit card, and you can redeem those miles for any travel purchase you make at 1 cent per mile, or transfer them to airlines Capital One members to redeem them for potentially even more valuable offers.

This card is suitable for: People who wish to travel for free using easily redeemable miles, but with the option of learning how to master transferable miles on airlines to get even greater value.

Outstanding:

• Earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, with no limit.
• Redeem miles on any travel purchase at a rate of 1 cent per mile.
• Miles can also be transferred to any of the 15 airlines associated with Capital One.
• Up to $ 100 credit when applying for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
• No transaction fees abroad.
• No annual fee for the first year, then $ 95 per year.

Hiring bonus: 50,000 miles after spending $ 3,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening the account.

What we like about Capital One Venture: Some people want easy-to-redeem travel rewards. Others do not care about the most complicated exchanges if they can increase the value of their miles. The Capital One Venture card offers you the best of both worlds. For people who don't want to deal with complex graphics or prize availability, you can use Venture’s “purchase draft” to clear any travel purchase of $ 25 or more you make with the card at a rate of 1 cent per mile, making the 50,000 mile sign-up bonus worth at least $ 500 in travel. In order to dedicate time and effort to find first-class flight swaps, the 15 Capital One airline transfer partners offer another mode of use. You can transfer miles to most of those partners in a ratio of 2 to 1.5 (which means that for every 2 Venture miles you transfer, you'll get 1.5 air miles at the other end), while Emirates, Singapore Airlines and JetBlue transfer in Relationship 2 to 1. You will also get a credit of up to $ 100 when applying for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, there are no overseas transaction fees and you have one year with no annual fee to prove the card.

What could be better: you will give up any bonus category with the Capital One Venture card: it's 2 miles per dollar, no matter what you buy. There is also no balance transfer or introductory interest rate on purchases, so do not plan to use it to transfer a balance. And if you only plan to redeem the miles with the “Purchase Draft”, you could be better served with our Citi Double Cash reference card, since you will earn 2 cents per dollar spent on both, but the Venture card has an annual fee of $ 95 after of the first year. Capital One transfer partners include only one US airline option. UU. (JetBlue), although more advanced cardholders can take advantage of international airline alliances to obtain national swaps. If you think you will combine some airline transfers in the future, the Venture card serves as a great gateway for beginners to the world of transferable points.

Where it exceeds our reference card: registration bonus, purchase protections and travel protections.

Where our reference card is best: Citi Double Cash does not have an annual fee and there is an introductory fee on balance transfers.

Click here for more information on the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card.

The best for flexible rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Why it's great in just one sentence : Chase Sapphire Preferred allows you to earn 2 Ultimate Rewards points for every dollar spent on travel and food purchases, plus 1 point per dollar on all other purchases; Points can be redeemed for trips through Chase Ultimate Rewards at 1.25 cents per point, or transferred to airlines and associated hotel programs for potentially even more valuable rewards.

This card is suitable for: People with travel expenses and / or meals above average who wish to use a basic program of transferable points to redeem their credit card rewards for free travel.

Outstanding:

• You earn 2 points for every dollar spent on travel and food purchases.
• You earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
• Points can be redeemed for trips through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal at a rate of 1.25 cents per point.
• Points can also be transferred to any of the 13 airlines and partner hotels in Chase.
• No transaction fees abroad.
• Annual fee of $ 95.

Recruitment bonus : 60,000 bonus points after spending $ 4,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.

What we like about Chase Sapphire Preferred: It may not seem like it but with more than 10 years, Chase Sapphire Preferred is practically the grandfather of credit cards with travel rewards. With the classic travel and food bonus categories, a recently added bonus category that grants 5 points per dollar on Lyft trips and a 60,000 point registration bonus, it should be easy to quickly add many points, especially because Chase defines “travel "" Very widely and includes purchases such as public transport, tolls, parking and even trips in Uber and the like. But the true power of the CSP is in its redemptions. You'll get 1.25 cents per point when you redeem points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, and you can get even more value by transferring points to one of the 13 Chase travel partners. In fact, the Ultimate Rewards program still features some of the best transfer partners, including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Hyatt Hotels, and all Chase members transfer in a 1 to 1 ratio. To top it off, you can use Sapphire Preferred at abroad safely, since it has no foreign transaction fees on international purchases. It even provides primary car rental insurance, so you don't have to look for your own car policy first if you have an accident with your rental car.

What could be better: Chase Sapphire Preferred is a classic, but somehow it is starting to fall asleep. Other credit cards now offer bonus points or cash reimbursement in those same travel and meal categories, and in some cases at higher rates (although they are usually accompanied by higher annual rates). Even our Citi Double Cash reference card offers 2% on all purchases, not just travel and meals, but you can get more value by redeeming your Sapphire Preferred points than with a simple cash refund. In addition, you no longer have a discount of the annual rate of $ 95 the first year with the CSP, so you are paying the card from day 1. For many people, Sapphire Preferred is not as flashy as its older brother, Chase Sapphire Reserve, which comes with travel benefits, higher bonus rates and an annual travel credit of $ 300 (but also an annual fee of $ 550). If you do not need or do not use all these additional advantages, this version may be better and is significantly less expensive.

Where our reference card exceeds: travel and restaurant bonus categories, excellent travel protections, solid airlines and hotel partners, registration bonus.

Where our reference card is best: Citi Double Cash does not have an annual fee, it has an introductory rate on balance transfers and cash back is easy.

Click here for more information on the preferred Chase Sapphire card.

Best for the introductory rate on purchases: BankAmericard credit card

Why it's great in one sentence: for those who prefer not to pay interest on purchases for as long as possible instead of earning cash or travel rewards, the BankAmericard credit card offers 0% interest on all purchases during the first 18 billing cycles (the interest rate increases to 14.49% -24.49% variable after the introductory period ends).

This card is suitable for: people who want the longest introductory interest rate period when they get the card for the first time.

Outstanding:

• 0% interest on all purchases during the first 18 billing cycles (14.49% -24.49% variable later).
• 0% interest for 18 billing cycles on balance transfers made in the first 60 days after opening the card (14.49% -24.49% variable later).
• 3% of each transaction in balance transfers (minimum $ 10).
• No annual fee.

Recruitment bonus: none.

What we like about the BankAmericard credit card: Credit cards are generally known for having very high interest rates, which makes them terrible for financing large purchases. But BankAmericard is an exception, at least during the first year and a half after receiving the card. During that time, you can load purchases to the card and pay them slowly without generating any interest. That is a longer introduction period than almost any credit card in the market, so it is a good way to finance that engagement ring or a used car if you have problems. But be careful! Once the introductory 0% interest period ends, any remaining balance on the card jumps at an interest rate of 14.49% -24.49%, depending on your credit score. If you have not paid all those purchases in full by then, you will have to pay very high interest. Still, if you have an important purchase that you would rather not pay at once, this is a card that can be a useful tool.

What could be better: beyond the introductory rate on purchases, as well as a similar introductory interest rate of 0% on balance transfers (which comes with a 3% rate), this is not a card that goes to Do a lot for you. You don't earn any rewards, it doesn't come with a hiring bonus and has no other significant advantages. It does not have an annual fee, but charges a 3% overseas transaction fee, so you definitely won't want to use it abroad. In fact, apart from using it to finance purchases at 0% interest during the introductory period, it is not a card we recommend for long-term use. And if you are willing to exchange a slightly shorter introductory period in exchange for earning rewards, you can consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited, which offers 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers during the first 15 months of the card (variable interest the rate increases to 16.49% -25.24% after the introductory period ends), but also offers 1.5% cash reimbursement on all purchases (although balance transfers do not generate reimbursement).

Where our reference card exceeds: 0% introductory interest rate on purchases during the first 18 billing cycles (then a variable annual percentage rate of 14.49% to 24.49% applies).

Where our reference card is best: Citi Double Cash earns money on all purchases.

BankAmericard credit card information has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card issuer has not reviewed or provided the card details on this page.

Best for balance transfers: Citi Simplicity Card

Why it's great in one sentence: if you're determined to eliminate your debt in 2020, the Citi Simplicity credit card offers 0% interest on balance transfers for 21 months for transfers completed in the first four months after you hire the card (The interest rate increases to 16.24% -26.24% variable after the end of the introductory period).

This card is suitable for: People who wish to consolidate their existing debt at a low interest rate for the longest possible period of time.

Outstanding:

• 0% interest for 21 months on balance transfers made in the first four months after opening the card (16.24% -26.24% variable later).
• 0% interest on all purchases during the first 12 months (16.24% -26.24% later).
• No surcharges or penalty interest rates for late payments.
• No annual fee.

Recruitment Bonus: None

What we like about the Citi Simplicty: The first step in getting out of credit card debt is to stop the bleeding by ending the exorbitant interests you are paying on the total accumulated. A credit card with a long introductory balance transfer offer is exactly what you need. Citi Simplicity comes with a long introductory period of 21 months, during which you will pay a 0% interest on balance transfers made during the first four months you have the card. But you'll want to make sure you pay your full balance transfer during those 21 months, because when that introductory period ends, the rate will increase to between 16.24% and 26.24%, depending on your credit. Citi Simplicity also presents a couple of consumer-friendly features in the sense that it has no late fees or penalty interest rates, which means that you will not be charged an additional fee for arriving a few days late. But keep in mind that "there are no late payment surcharges" does not mean "no interest", you will still pay interest if you are late with a payment. And if you are using the introductory balance transfer function and do not make a payment, you will lose your 0% interest rate, so you should be very careful in that case.

What could be better: in addition to the balance transfer option and the lack of late fees or penalty interest rates, there are not a lot of interesting features in Citi Simplicity. There are no rewards on the card and there are no other important advantages. The introductory interest rate on purchases is not as impressive as the balance transfer offer, since it only lasts 12 months. Even the balance transfer offer has a drawback: a 5% fee will be charged for the transfers you make, which is at least 2% more than many other credit cards with low interest balance transfer offers. If you can give up a few months with a 0% interest, consider our Citi Double Cash reference card, which will give you a 0% interest on balance transfers only during the first 18 months you have the card (then a rate of variable annual percentage of 15.49% to 25.49%), but with only a 3% rate, and also offers a 2% cash refund on all purchases (although balance transfers do not generate reimbursement). Still, if you need not to pay interest on the debt for as long as possible, Citi Simplicity may be worth the additional cost to save time, return to normal and reaffirm your financial situation.

Where our reference card exceeds: 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 21 months (then a variable annual percentage rate of 16.24% to 26.24% applies), with no late fees or penalty fees.

Where our reference card is best: Citi Double Cash generates rewards on all purchases and has a lower balance transfer fee.

Click here for more information on the Citi Simplicity card.

The best for restaurant benefits: American Express Gold Card

Why it's great in one sentence: the American Express Gold Card is perfect for foodies, with up to $ 120 in annual meal credits, 4 Membership Rewards points earned for every dollar spent at restaurants around the world without limit and 4 points per dollar spent in US supermarkets. UU. up to $ 25,000 per year (1x later).

This card is suitable for: People who spend a significant amount of money on lunch or dinner and want to be rewarded with refundable credits and transferable travel rewards.

Outstanding:

• Earn 4 points for every dollar you spend in restaurants around the world.
• Earn 4 points for every dollar in US supermarkets Up to $ 25,000 per year (then 1 point per dollar).
• Earn 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amex Travel.
• Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
• Points can be redeemed for trips through Amex Travel at a rate of up to 1 cent per point.
• Points can also be transferred to any of the 21 Amex airlines and partner hotels.
• Up to $ 10 in credits each month when you pay with the card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Boxed and participating Shake Shack locations.
• Up to $ 100 in credits annually for incidental rates on an eligible airline.
• No transaction fees abroad.
• Annual fee of $ 250.
• Terms apply.

Hiring bonus: 35,000 points after spending $ 4,000 on purchases in the first three months.

What we like about American Express Gold: whether at home or in the city, you're earning a lot of points every time you use this card to eat. And the Membership Rewards points you will earn with American Express Gold are extremely valuable when you take the time to redeem them through transfers to the 21 airlines and partner hotels of the program, including US airlines such as Delta and JetBlue, as well as valuable international airline programs like British Airways Executive Club and Aeroplan of Air Canada, just to name a few. On top of that, the additional credit of up to $ 100 in airline purchases can be useful if you want to check in a free bag several times a year, and up to $ 120 in gastronomic credits are excellent if you live in an area where you can take advantage of them. Those who can combine those two credits ($ 220 per year) will pay an effective annual fee of only $ 30, which is very good given the rates of profit on this card.

What could be better: the credits mentioned above are not as easy to use as they should. Amex airline credits at American Express Gold are restricted to the only airline you choose each year, and then only for specific purchases on that airline, such as checked baggage fees or seat upgrade (credit is not used to buy tickets) . Gastronomic credits are also restricted to a list of specific restaurants and delivery services, which can make them easy or difficult to use depending on where you live and where you like to eat. But the real problem is that food credits are distributed in monthly increments of $ 10 during the year instead of a $ 120 jackpot, and if you don't use the $ 10 in a given month, you lose them. Finally, following Amex's tendency to make the benefits more difficult or expensive to use than necessary, the issuer imposes an annoying specific federal tax of 0.06 cents per point, up to a maximum of $ 99, when transferring points to airline programs Americans

Where our reference card exceeds: bonus categories for restaurants and supermarkets, restaurant credits, solid travel protections, large airlines and hotel partners, welcome bonus.

Where our reference card is best: Citi Double Cash does not have an annual fee, it has an introductory rate on balance transfers and easy cash back.

Click here for more information on the American Express Gold card.

Best for travel benefits: American Express Platinum card

Why it's great in one sentence: it's definitely not cheap, but the famous American Express Platinum card is a heavyweight when it comes to travel benefits, with up to $ 200 in annual airline credit, up to $ 200 in Uber annual credit, access to more than 1,200 airport VIP lounges worldwide, including Amex and Delta Sky Clubs VIP Centurion lounges when you fly Delta, elite status with Hilton, Marriott, Hertz, Avis and National Car Rental, and many other benefits of luxury travel

This card is suitable for: People who want first-class luxury travel benefits, refundable travel credits and transferable travel rewards.

Outstanding:

• Earn 5 points for every dollar you spend on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
• Earn 5 points per dollar in prepaid hotels booked on Amex Travel.
• Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
• Points can be redeemed for trips through Amex Travel at a rate of up to 1 cent per point.
• Points can also be transferred to any of the 21 Amex airlines and partner hotels.
• Up to $ 200 in annual credits for occasional purchases at a selected eligible airline.
• Up to $ 100 in credits for purchases on Saks Fifth Avenue.
• Up to $ 15 in credits each month ($ 35 in December) when you pay for your Uber trips with the card.
• Access to American Express Centurion, Delta Sky Clubs rooms when Delta flies and Priority Pass airport VIP lounges (not including Priority Pass restaurants).
• Courtesy Gold Elite status with the Hilton and Marriott hotel chains.
• Courtesy Preferred Elite Status with the Hertz, Avis and National Car Rental chains.
• Shoprunner membership.
• Access to American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts.
• No transaction fees abroad.
• Annual fee of $ 550.
• Terms apply.

Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after spending $ 5,000 on purchases during the first three months.

What we like about the American Express Platinum: if you want to feel like a real VIP when traveling, take the plunge and get an Amex Platinum. For some road warriors, access to so many VIP lounges, and especially Amex Centurion lounges, which are considered some of the best VIP lounges in the US, is worth the cost of the card alone. But if you can also take advantage of the annual airfare credit of up to $ 200 of the card, as well as the annual Uber credit of up to $ 200, plus the Saks Fifth Avenue credit of up to $ 100 (which you can use to buy anything at Saks, either in the store or online), you will get up to $ 500 in annual credits for a card that costs $ 550 a year, leaving a net cost of only $ 50. The icing is the welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $ 5,000 on the card in the first three months, which you should at least be able to redeem for a couple of national airline tickets for you and a companion, or even a trip to Europe.

What could be better: for an annual fee of $ 550 a year, you should be able to really take advantage of the benefits of this card to make it worth the cost. And surprisingly, the American Express Platinum is not an excellent card when it comes to earning points. It's strong when you book airline tickets, since you'll get 5 points for every dollar you spend directly with the airlines. But to earn 5 points per dollar in hotels, you must book only prepaid hotels, and only through Amex Travel. For such an expensive card, those are not exceptional bonus categories. And as with Amex Gold, credits in Amex Platinum can be difficult to avail. Unlike travel credits on cards such as Chase Sapphire Reserve, credit of up to $ 200 on airlines is only valid on one airline that is chosen each year, and only for certain rates such as luggage or cabin pets. The Uber credit of up to $ 200 does not come as a single credit, but as a monthly series of credits of $ 15, with an additional $ 20 in December to reach the total of $ 200. Even the credit of Saks Fifth Avenue is divided into two, with $ 50 available in the first six months of the calendar year and the other $ 50 in the second half. In the end, the Amex Platinum is not really designed for daily use; rather, you must be a regular traveler with the desire to be treated better during those long days traveling so that the cost of the card makes sense.

Where it exceeds our reference card: luxury travel benefits and travel credits, airline and hotel bonus categories, solid travel protections, extensive airlines and hotel partners, welcome bonus.

Where our reference card is best: Citi Double Cash does not have an annual fee, it has an introductory rate on balance transfers and easy cash back.

Click here for more information about the American Express Platinum card.

Best for small businesses: American Express Blue Business Plus card

Why it is excellent in one sentence: for companies with less than $ 50,000 in annual expenses, American Express Blue Business Plus is an excellent and simple option, since you earn a flat rate of 2 Membership Rewards points for every dollar you spend on all your commercial purchases up to $ 50,000 a year, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, and all without an annual fee.

This card is suitable for: Small businesses that want transferable travel rewards and no annual fee.

Outstanding:

• Earn 2 points for every dollar you spend on all purchases up to $ 50,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar thereafter.
• Points can be redeemed for trips through Amex Travel at a rate of up to 1 cent per point.
• Points can also be transferred to any of the 21 Amex airlines and partner hotels.
• 0% interest for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 60 days after opening the card (14.74% -20.74% variable later).
• 0% interest on all purchases during the first 12 months (14.74% -20.74% later).
• No annual fee.
• Terms apply.

Welcome bonus: none.

What we like about the Blue Business Plus: for small businesses looking for a commercial credit card comparable to the personal Citi Double Cash, our reference card, the Blue Business Plus is worth considering. You earn 2 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent on all purchases of up to $ 50,000 each year, and the points can be redeemed directly for trips at a rate of up to 1 cent per point, or transferred to any of the 21 Amex partner airlines and hotels for potentially even more value. Your business can also take advantage of the introductory interest rate of 0% of the card in both purchases and balance transfers during the first 12 months you have the card, just make sure it is paid at the end of that time, or you will find a Interest rate of 14.74% -20.74%, depending on your credit. In general, it is a pretty sweet package for small businesses, and all at no annual charge.

What could be better: Membership Rewards points earned with Blue Business Plus can be converted into cash back, but at a low rate of 0.6 cents per point, so small businesses focused on earning cash instead of travel rewards They should choose the American Express ® Blue Business Cash Card, which has the same characteristics as the Blue Business Plus, but earns money instead of points. You also don't want to use any of the cards for international purchases, since both have a 2.7% rate on overseas transactions. And larger companies, with more than $ 50,000 in credit card expenses every year, will find Blue Business cards limited, since all charges beyond that amount in a calendar year earn only 1 point per dollar. (Companies with higher annual expenses should look for our option for larger companies, below). Finally, the cards do not have any kind of welcome bonus, so your company will need to earn your points or cash simply for the expense, instead of having a rapid accumulation of early bonus points.

Where it exceeds our reference card: Airlines and extensive hotel partners, some travel and purchase protections, introductory rate on purchases.

Where our reference card is best: Citi Double Cash has a low introductory rate on balance transfers and an easy cash refund.

Click here for more information about the Blue Business Plus card.

The best for larger companies: Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Why it is excellent in one sentence: if s + your company spends more than $ 50,000 per year, with the Capital One Spark Miles for Business card you will earn 2 unlimited miles for every dollar you spend on the card, plus 3 additional miles on hotel rentals and cars booked through the Capital One travel portal, and those miles can be redeemed for any travel purchase you make at 1 cent per mile or transferred to the Capital One partner airlines for potentially even more valuable exchanges.

This card is suitable for: Larger companies that wish to redeem miles of easy-to-redeem travel rewards, with the option of learning to master the transferable miles on airlines for greater value.

Outstanding:

• Earn 5 miles for every dollar you spend on your card at hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One travel.
• Earn 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases without limit.
• Redeem miles for any travel purchase at a rate of 1 cent per mile.
• Miles can also be transferred to any of the 15 airlines associated with Capital One.
• Up to $ 100 credit when applying for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
• No transaction fees abroad.
• No annual fee for the first year, then $ 95 per year.

Registration bonus: if you sign up before January 27, you can earn up to 200,000 bonus miles: 50,000 miles when you spend $ 5,000 in the first three months of opening your account and another 150,000 miles when you spend $ 50,000 in the first six months of Opening your account

What we like about Capital One Spark Miles: companies with large expenses that can charge a credit card will love the unlimited 2 miles per dollar of the Spark Miles for Business card, along with the additional 3x miles they will get when booking hotels or car rentals through Capital One Travel. Capital One miles are easy to redeem for travel purchases made with the card at a rate of 1 cent per mile; or with a little extra work, miles can be transferred to any of the 15 Capital One partner airlines for a potentially greater value. But the great attraction of the Spark Miles card is its current limited time registration bonus of up to 200,000 miles. The spending requirement of $ 50,000 in six months is not trivial, so we say that this is a credit card for larger companies that can easily reach that threshold. But if you have a business that can do it, keep in mind that you will also earn at least 2 miles per dollar for that $ 50,000 expense, which means that you will end up with a huge balance of 300,000 miles in total when the period ends. The best part is that the annual $ 95 fee for the card does not apply during the first year, so you can try the card for 12 months and see if it works for your business needs.

What could be better: Capital One deserves credit for expanding its miles program in 2018 to include transfer partners, but as it is a relatively new part of the program, the partners are not as lucrative as those of Chase and American Express, although with something of effort can still find excellent value. It is also not ideal that you have to book through Capital One Travel to earn 5 miles per dollar in hotels and car rentals on the Spark Miles for Business card, especially since most hotels will not honor the elite status earned or grant elite nights or points for Reservations made through third party sites. The credit of up to $ 100 in the application fee for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership is a good advantage, but it is not very useful for companies with multiple employees who travel regularly. The $ 95 annual fee you will pay for Spark Miles miles after the first year makes this a more expensive card than our reference Citi Double Cash, so companies will want to make sure they get enough extra value for their miles to pay The cost is worth it. And companies with smaller monthly expenses or those with expenses that cannot be paid with a credit card will have trouble meeting the large minimum expense requirement to get the bonus, although a portion of the bonus (50,000 miles) can be earned with more manageable expenses of $ 5,000 in three months.

Where our reference card exceeds: Huge limited time registration bonus, purchase protections, travel protections.

Where our reference card is best: Citi Double Cash does not have an annual fee and has an introductory rate on balance transfers.

Click here for more information on Capital One Spark Miles for Business.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are only those of the author, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of these entities.

Note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time and may have changed or may not be available.

Note: The prices above reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.