Compare the Features and Benefits of Capital One Spark Cash Plus and
Citi Strata℠ Card

The Capital One Spark Cash Plus replaced the older Spark Cash business card, with the primary difference being that the Spark Cash Plus is a charge card. The charge card features means that the Capital One Spark Cash Plus can be more easily used for bigger purchases and by companies with very high monthly spend, without bumping up against a credit limit for your business expenses. The card is issued as a Visa.

You earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, plus 5% when you book hotels and rental cars through Capital One’s travel booking site.

If you have a separate credit card that earns Capital One Miles, like the Venture X, Venture, VentureOne, or Spark Miles, you can transfer your cash from the Capital One Spark Cash Plus to those cards, making them Capital One Miles – transferable to airline and hotel partners. $10 = 1,000 Miles.

This card is also featured in Which Capital One Business Cards Report to Personal Credit (Count Towards 5/24)? and in the article Business Credit Cards That Don’t Report to Personal Credit Bureaus.

As a no-annual-fee card, the Citi Strata℠ Card doesn’t come with a ton of additional benefits. However, the primary thing to note before applying is the impressive earning potential. As we’ve already mentioned, you’ll earn 3 points per $1 at supermarkets and on gas purchases. You’ll earn 2 points per $1 at restaurants, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

In addition, you have the opportunity to self-select a 3X earning category from a list of options: fitness clubs, select streaming services, live entertainment, cosmetic stores/barber shops/hair salons, and pet supply stores. Sure, it would be nice to see travel listed as a self-select option, but we can’t have it all. The ability to personalize your earning potential is fantastic.

If you subscribe to every streaming service out there, you can earn a solid chunk of points each month. If you have a pricey gym membership, you might as well earn as much as possible while you’re working out. And if you love going to concerts, live entertainment is your best option.

You’ll also earn 5 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through cititravel.com. If you prefer to book directly with the provider, this won’t do you much good. However, you can try to book your attractions through the portal when you go on vacation to maximize your earning potential.

The welcome bonus, although not extremely high, is easily accessible for most people. You can spend your bonus points by booking travel through Citi Travel at a flat rate of 1 cent per point. Or, you can stretch your points farther by taking advantage of Citi’s comprehensive list of transfer partners — which includes American Airlines. Although you’ll transfer at a lower ratio than if you held the Citi Strata Elite℠ or the Citi Strata Premier®, having access to American Airlines is phenomenal.

Unfortunately, cardholders won’t be able to take advantage of any statement credits or be covered by things like trip cancellation coverage or cell phone insurance. Still, the Citi Strata℠ Card is worth considering.