MoneyGeek’s Take

Capital One Spark Miles Review

The Capital One Spark Miles business card is a solid rewards card with a generous early spending bonus of 50,000 miles and straightforward earning structure. Businesses can earn rewards from all regular expenses at a flat rate of two miles per dollar spent. Redemptions are flexible and the various airline partners make this a card worth considering for business owners.

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Last Updated: 11/9/2021

Capital One’s Spark Miles card is designed for small business owners who want a streamlined way to earn rewards from their business expenses. The card also has no foreign transaction fees and can help business owners save money on airline tickets with redemptions available on partner airlines. MoneyGeek's Capital One Spark Miles review dives into the card's features, benefits, downsides and other aspects to help you decide whether it's right for you.

Card Details to Know Up Front

Bonus, Fee or Feature
Has or Not
Has Annual Fee
Has Balance Transfer Offer
Has APR Offer
Cash Back Rewards
Travel Rewards
Hotel Benefits
Airline Benefits
Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
Has Foreign Transaction Fee
Credit Needed
Good–Excellent

Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Credit Card Details at a Glance
Pros & Cons Explained
Bonuses & Rewards Explained
Our Verdict: Is This Card for You?

Capital One Spark Miles at a Glance

The Capital One Spark Miles Credit Card is ideal for frequent business travelers who want to earn unlimited bonus miles that never expire and pay no fees for overseas transactions. You earn two miles per dollar spent on the card, and the $95 annual fee is waived for the first year. Those who use the card frequently can easily attain its $4,500 spending threshold in three months and earn 50,000 bonus miles. In addition, purchases made through the Capital One Travel program earn five bonus miles for every dollar.

Capital One Spark Miles
Best flat-rate rewards card for frequent flyers
- Good–ExcellentCredit Needed
- $95Annual Fee
- 2 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 2xRewards Rate at Hotels
- 2xRewards Rate on Groceries
Pros
Flat-rate rewards of 2x bonus miles
No foreign transaction fees
New cardholder offers
Free employee cards
Flexible payments

Cons
No special reward categories
High regular and penalty APR
Limited travel partners for rewards redemption
Spend $4,500 in the first three months and earn 50,000 bonus miles
$0 intro annual fee for the first year
2x unlimited miles per dollar
Employee cards
Set up automatic payments.
Zero fraud liability
Year-end itemized summaries for tax and budgeting purposes
Purchase records in multiple formats
Virtual Card Numbers for making safer payments online
Tracking and monitoring of all cards
Purchase alerts for all cards
Lock and unlock cards using mobile app or online banking
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Pros & Cons Explained

The Capital One Spark Miles card is ideal for busy entrepreneurs and frequent flyers with excellent credit scores who want a no-fuss travel rewards card. It does, however, have a few drawbacks that may discourage you from considering it.

Pros

Benefits
Description
Flat-Rate Rewards
The Spark Miles Credit Card provides you with an unlimited opportunity to earn two miles for every dollar spent, with no category restrictions or spending caps. Digging deeper into the rewards program reveals that purchases through the Capital One Travel program earn a whopping 5x miles per dollar bonus!
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Your foreign transactions will not be charged a surcharge or fee if you use this card abroad.
Flexible Payments
You have complete control over the payment due date with this Capital One credit card. Each month, your due date will be set to your chosen date.
Free Employee Cards
Employee cards can be added to the credit account at no additional cost. This makes it easier for you to earn awards and bonus points.

Cons

Drawbacks
Description
$95 Annual Fee
Capital One waives the $95 annual fee for the first year. For those looking for a no-annual-fee card, this is not a good choice. However, you can go for the Spark Miles Select credit card, which is its no-annual-fee alternative at a lower rewards rate.
No Special Reward Categories
Spark Miles offers flat-rate miles for every transaction. As a result, you have little opportunity to earn big rewards in specific categories, as you can with several other business cards.
High Regular and Penalty APR
The Capital One Spark Miles comes with a high regular APR of 20.99% for purchases and balance transfers. A very high penalty APR of 29.4% applies for all late payments.
Limited Travel Partners for Rewards Redemption
Only 17 travel partners have signed up with Capital One’s travel loyalty program for rewards redemption. This limits your chance to take advantage of interesting offers from other travel partners.

LOOKING FOR THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2021?

MoneyGeek re-ranks credit cards monthly and revises the lists every six months. The Capital One Spark Miles credit card is not among MoneyGeek's top-rated small business travel or rewards credit cards. However, you can find better alternatives by checking our list of the best small business cards for 2021.

Bonuses & Rewards Explained

For the right customer, the card can be highly beneficial. We've broken down some of the bonuses and rewards it provides for a better understanding.

Welcome Bonus

After spending $4,500 in the first three months, all Spark Miles card holders receive 50,000 bonus miles. This is worth $500, which can be easily redeemed for your future purchases or bill payments.

Introductory Offers

Aside from the welcome bonus, the card has no annual fee for the first year.

Earning Rewards

You get two bonus miles for every dollar you spend. For bookings made through Capital One Travel, you earn 5x miles each dollar.

Rewards Redemption

There are a lot of options for redeeming your miles for travel. You can book travel through your favorite travel agent and redeem equivalent points through Capital One’s Purchase Eraser program. You can also make a booking through the Capital One Rewards Center and redeem the miles equivalent to the travel ticket purchase. You can also exchange your miles for cash in the form of a check, account credit, gift cards and more.

TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Credit

You may be eligible for reimbursement of up to $100 for the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs. TSA PreCheck offers expedited security screening of those departing from U.S. airports and Global Entry provides expedited customs screening when you reenter the country from a foreign trip. You will be reimbursed in the form of a statement credit within two billing cycles, every four years.

Other Features Explained

In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, the Capital One Spark Miles card has a few more features that you may like to know about.

Card Feature
Description
Account Managers
You can have an authorized user manage your account on your behalf. The authorized user will get a card of their own but share your line of credit.
Automatic Payments
Say goodbye to paying interest and late fees! You can set up auto-pay so that you don't have to log in every month to make payments.
Capital One Mobile App
You can lock your card or an employee's card if it has been lost or stolen, receive transaction and security alerts, make payments, manage your rewards, set spending limits for employee cards, view statements and purchase records and more using the Capital One mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android users.
Extended Warranty
On eligible items purchased with the card, you get an extended warranty.
Zero Fraud Liability
In the event that your card is stolen or lost, you are entitled to a replacement card as well as a cash advance.
Purchase Records
Purchase records are available to download in a number of different formats, including Excel and QuickBooks.
Roadside Assistance
If your vehicle breaks down, you are eligible for roadside assistance, such as jump-starting, tire changing and towing.
Security Alerts
Capital One will alert you via text, email or phone if it detects potentially fraudulent transactions on your account.
Virtual Card Numbers
These present a way to pay for things online without providing your real credit card number.
Year-End Reports
You can get an itemized breakdown of your purchases if you use the card, which will make budgeting and tax time easier.

MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

"Capital One has 15 travel partners you can transfer rewards to in order to get even more value out of your rewards. The 50,000 early spend bonus is a great welcome offer to get you started. I particularly love this card for its flexible redemptions." - Alene Laney, Credit Card Journalist

Understanding the Fine Print

Understanding how credit cards work is critical, as is understanding the card's benefits, fees and interest rates. Learn more about the Capital One Spark Miles credit card in the table below.

Card Feature
Amount or Rate
APR
20.99%
Annual Fee
$95
Cash Back Rewards
Rewards Rate
2 Miles per $1
Airline Benefits
Rewards Rate on Groceries
2x
Rewards Rate on Gas
2x
Rewards Rate on Dining
2x
Rewards Rate on Entertainment
2x
Rewards Rate on Online Shopping
2x
Rewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
2x
Rewards Rate on Air Travel
2x
Rewards Rate at Hotels
2x
Balance Transfer Fee
None
Balance Transfer APR
20.99%.
Late Fees
$39.00
Cash Advance Fee
3%
Cash Advance APR
26.99%
Foreign Transaction Fee
None

MoneyGeek’s credit card glossary can help you learn more about common credit card terms.

Annual Fee
Although there is no annual fee for the first year when you use the Spark Miles credit card, there is a $95 fee after that.
Regular and Penalty APR
The Capital One Spark Miles carries a high APR on purchases and balance transfers at 20.99%. The interest rate on cash advances is higher, at 26.99%. In addition, there’s a high penalty APR of 29.4% for those making late payments.
Rewards Rate
Every dollar spent with the Spark Miles card earns you two miles. Bookings made through the Capital One Travel website will earn you five miles per dollar.
Foreign Transaction Fee
You can earn miles even while on a foreign trip as the Spark Miles credit card charges no fees on overseas transactions. This is applicable to transactions made online in a foreign currency as well.
Cash Advance Fee
If you withdraw cash from your credit account, expect to pay a fee of $10 or 3% of the transaction amount, whichever is greater, in addition to the high cash advance APR.

FINDING YOUR CARD'S RATES AND FEES

You need to compare the annual fees, APRs, rewards, benefits and drawbacks of various cards to find one that fits your needs. Look at your most recent monthly statements or visit your credit card company's website or mobile app for more information. You can also find these details in the credit card agreement database of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider Capital One Spark Miles?

Other Considerations for Capital One Spark Miles

When applying for a credit card, it is important to understand all about the card and know your rights as a credit card user. If you're thinking about getting Capital One's Spark Miles card, keep the following points in mind. MoneyGeek helps you assess how it works for you if it's your only card or an addition to your wallet.

Things to Consider if This is Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

The Spark Miles credit card can be useful as your first or only credit card if you fly often, or if you travel abroad on a regular basis. With its no annual fee for one year and no foreign transaction fees ever, you can maximize your rewards without diluting them with fees. If you have multiple employee cards, you can easily reach its $4,500 threshold for earning 50,000 introductory bonus miles.

Things to Consider if This is Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

Because of its unlimited rewards earning potential and new cardholder perks, the Capital One Spark Miles credit card may be useful as an additional card in your wallet. MoneyGeek suggests pairing it with a card that has high-earning bonus categories, using Spark Miles for your other everyday purchases.

WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS

MoneyGeek uses a comprehensive rating approach to conduct an in-depth assessment of credit cards and companies. The technique includes gathering data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's database, standardizing data points for card comparison, estimating average expenditure profiles, considering annual and promotional incentives of each card and calculating the three-year value of maintaining the card. Monthly card re-rankings and semi-annual card list updates are also part of the technique.

How Capital One Spark Miles Compares to Other Cards

The Capital One Spark Miles card is a great choice for many business cardholders. Take a look at how it compares to Chase Ink Business Cash, another highly popular small business card.

Quick Comparison of Capital One Spark Miles

Capital One Spark Miles

Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year and $95 thereafter
Regular APR: 20.99%
Rewards Rate: 2 miles per dollar
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Best for: Business owners who frequently travel and make transactions abroad

Chase Ink Business Cash

Annual Fee: None
Regular APR: 13.24%–19.24%
Rewards Rate: 1%–5%
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
Best for: Small business owners who spend a significant amount on office supplies and business services

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

If you still have questions regarding the Capital One Spark Miles card, please see the questions we answered below. More information about the card is available on the Capital One website.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

If you're still on the fence about getting the Capital One Spark Miles credit card, consider some of the alternative cards that offer better rewards. If you don't want to earn miles, go for a small business cash back or rewards card with no fees and high rewards rates.