Capital One Spark 2% Cash Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
The Capital One Spark 2% Cash card offers a $1,000 cash-back bonus after spending $10,000, with the $95 annual fee waived in year one. While that’s a strong return, it does count against your 5/24, so it should only be considered if it fits your broader card strategy.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
You earn 2% cash back on all purchases, everywhere, with no spending limits or category restrictions. This straightforward earning structure complements the welcome offer of $1,000 cash back after spending $10,000 in the first 3 months. This card suits businesses looking for simplicity in earning rewards, without the hassle of tracking bonus categories. However, you'll maximize your rewards only if you have an eligible Capital One miles-earning card to convert cash back into transferable miles.
The card has a $95 annual fee, but it is waived for the first year, adding extra value during that initial period. Unfortunately, even though this is a business card, it does count against Chase's 5/24 rule. Outside of the initial sign-up bonus and waived first-year annual fee, there are no significant additional benefits. If you choose this card primarily for the welcome offer, you may want to cancel or downgrade before paying the annual fee in the second year.
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
This card might not be good for you:
- If your priority is maximizing business spending with another business card offering better bonuses, benefits, or perks.
- If you prefer earning points over cash back and don't have an eligible Capital One miles-earning card to convert cash back into transferable miles.
What to Know About Capital One Miles
Capital One is a flexible point system we use for travel items that other systems don't cover
- Partner transfers are niche airlines and hotel brands, making the points more difficult to maximize
- Using an award search tool such as PointsYeah makes finding flights with those airlines more realistic
- Simple redemptions for erasing travel can be useful for cruises & rental cars (at 1¢/point so value isn’t maximized)
- Capital One is particularly attractive to businesses with large spending
How The Capital One Spark 2% Cash Credit Card Fits In The Capital One Miles Ecosystem
This card earns straightforward cash back, but its value improves if you pair it with a miles-earning Capital One card that lets you convert rewards into transferable miles. It is one part of Capital One’s six-card business lineup.
Capital One also limits approvals to one every six months, so timing your applications matters. Here are the other five business cards:
- Capital One Venture X Business: Premium travel card with a large 150,000-mile bonus after spending $30,000. It comes with a $395 annual fee and is one of two Capital One business cards that does NOT count against your 5/24.
- Capital One Venture Business: Simple 2x miles on all purchases, with a 50,000-mile bonus after $4,500 and a $95 annual fee.
- Capital One VentureOne Business: No annual fee and earns 1.5x miles on all spending, with a 50,000-mile bonus after $4,500.
- Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus: Built for high spenders, offering 2% cash back and large bonuses tied to significant spending thresholds.
- Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select: No annual fee option that earns 1.5% cash back, with a smaller bonus and simpler structure.
Card Information
Differentiating Perks
Rules
Historical Card Offers
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Estimated Next Offer
Capital One Spark 2% Cash Application Rules
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
You won’t be approved for a second Capital One card if you’ve opened one in the past six months
