Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select Credit Card Review 2024

• Introducing the Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select
• Quick Facts
• What Is the Spark 1.5% Cash Select Best For?
• Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select Rewards
• Other Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select Benefits
• Fine Print
• How the Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select Stacks Up
• Is the Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select for You?
• Methodology

It may not be the highest-earning cash-back business card around, but what the Spark Cash Select from Capital One* lacks in rewards it makes up for in simplicity. You’ll earn the same 1.5% cash-back rate on everything you purchase, whether it’s sparkles for your craft business, sparkling water for a client dinner or new spark plugs for the company car. You can also earn a boosted rate of 5% back when booking hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel.

When you’re ready to cash in your earnings, you can do so in any amount and at any time as a statement credit or a paper check sent in the mail. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

Although there are other small business cards with bigger welcome offers, for a card without an annual fee, the Spark 1.5% Cash Select offers something for nothing.

Be aware that although this card is aimed at those with excellent credit, Capital One offers another version for those with good credit, the Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Good Credit*. This version swaps a welcome bonus for a 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months of account opening, followed by a regular APR of 21.24% - 29.24% variable on purchases and balance transfers. Which one is right for you will depend on your credit and your business spending goals.

• $0 annual fee
• Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• No foreign transaction fees
• Rewards are unlimited and can be redeemed in any amount at any time
• Travel and extended warranty protections

The Spark Cash Select from Capital One* is an ideal choice for time-pressed business owners seeking a streamlined cash-back card. This card won’t require category tracking or spending time on complicated redemption programs.

Earning Rewards

Earning rewards on the Spark Cash Select from Capital One* is as easy as it gets. Use your card to make a purchase and get 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn a $750 cash bonus after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

Redeeming Rewards

The Capital One Spark 1.5% Cash Select card makes it as easy to redeem your rewards as it is to earn them. You can log into your account online or call the rewards center and ask to cash in those earnings either as a statement credit on your card account or have a check sent in the mail. Rewards can be redeemed in any amount and at any time.

You can also set up automatic redemptions when your earnings reach a preset increment that you select. You can also redeem your rewards for travel through Capital One Travel.

Rewards Potential

Your only limit to how much you can earn back is how much you’re spending, since the card does not offer increased rewards on specific purchase categories. Spend $10,000, earn $150 back; spend $100,000 and earn $1,500 back. Theoretically, the sky’s the limit with this card.

• Extended warranty. Get extended protection on eligible items purchased with the card.
• Roadside assistance. This pay-per-use service includes jump-starting, tire changing and towing.
• Free employee cards. Track employee spending and create preset limits on those cards.
• Payment flexibility. Pick your own monthly due date.

Interest Rates

• APR: 18.49%, 21.49% or 24.49% Variable

Fees

• Annual fee: $0
• Foreign purchase transaction fee: None

Spark Cash Select from Capital One* vs. Capital One Spark Cash Plus*

The Spark Cash Select from Capital One* has a sibling: the Capital One Spark Cash Plus*. The most notable difference between them is that the Spark 2% Cash Plus has an annual fee of $150 but also earns 2% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. This outshines the no annual fee Spark Cash Select’s 1.5% base earnings on purchases. The annual fee on the Spark 2% Cash Plus is also refundable if you spend $150,000 by your card membership anniversary date.

If you plan to put more than $30,000 a year on your card, the Spark 2% Cash Plus will net you more overall, even after taking the annual fee into consideration, compared to the Spark 1.5% Cash Select.

Here’s how the two cards stack up side by side:

Account Features	Capital One Spark Cash Plus*	Spark Cash Select from Capital One*
Annual fee	$150	$0
Welcome bonus	$1,200 cash bonus after spending $30,000 in the first three months	$750 cash bonus after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
Rewards	2% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel	1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

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Spark Cash Select from Capital One* vs. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

If you have the tolerance for category tracking and want to earn maximum rewards, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card could be a worthy option. It earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year and 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

If you max out each of the elevated spending categories, you’ll net a total of $1,750 just on that spending. Compare that to spending $50,000 on the Capital One Spark Cash Select which would net just $750 cash back.

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card also comes with an introductory APR offer: 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months, then a standard APR of 18.49% - 24.49% variable applies for purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.

International spenders should know that the Ink Business Cash card has a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars. However, it does not have an annual fee.

Spark Cash Select from Capital One* vs. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

If an introductory 0% APR offer is a bigger priority than maxing out your rewards potential, take a look at The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees). It has no annual fee and earns 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners up to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

It offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate of 18.49% - 26.49% applies that could give you the breathing room you need to pay off a big purchase over time.

This card, however, is a poor choice for traveling, carrying a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

If you’re looking for a no-cost, hassle-free rewards card for your business that also comes with a few extra goodies, you’d be hard-pressed to find a card that fits that description better than the Spark Cash Select from Capital One*. But keep in mind if you plan to spend more than $30,000 annually on your business card, the Capital One Spark 2% Cash Plus will be more rewarding overall, even with an annual fee.

Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors including:

• Annual fees
• Welcome bonus offers
• Ongoing earning rates
• Value of individual points of miles
• Included travel or merchant credits
• Additional cardholder benefits

Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors come together to provide a star rating for each individual card.

Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards

To view rates and fees for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express please visit this page.