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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Card Comparison

American Express Gold Card vs Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

American Express Gold Card card art
American Express Membership Rewards
American Express Gold Card
American Express
More Info
Capital One Spark Cash Plus card art
Capital One
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Capital One
More Info
Annual Fee
$325/yr
$150/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
90,000 points
Spend $6,000 in 6 months
200,000 points
Spend $30,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Restaurants (Worldwide) 4x
  • U.S. Supermarkets 4x
  • Flights (Direct or Amex Travel) 3x
  • Hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 5x
  • All Other Purchases 2x
Reward Type
miles
cashback
Key Credits
  • Uber Cash $10
  • Dining Credit $10
  • Resy Credit $100
  • +1 more
None
Card Perks
  • The Hotel Collection Access
  • Baggage Insurance Plan
  • Trip Delay Insurance
None listed
Transfer Partners
  • Flying Blue
  • Delta SkyMiles
  • True Blue
  • Qatar Avios
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • +13 more
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • JAL Mileage Bank
  • Qatar Avios
  • I Prefer Hotel Rewards
  • Flying Blue
  • +16 more
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Common Questions: American Express Gold Card vs Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Is the American Express Gold Card or Capital One Spark Cash Plus better for dining?

American Express Gold Card earns 4x on dining; Capital One Spark Cash Plus has no dining bonus.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

American Express Gold Card currently offers 90,000 pts signup bonus (spend $6,000 in 6 months). Capital One Spark Cash Plus offers 200,000 pts signup bonus (spend $30,000 in 3 months). Capital One Spark Cash Plus has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the American Express Gold Card and the Capital One Spark Cash Plus?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. American Express Gold Card is from American Express and Capital One Spark Cash Plus is from Capital One, so they're governed by separate bank policies.