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Side-by-side
Capital One Spark Cash Plus vs Citi Simplicity Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Spark Cash Plus comes from Capital One at $150/yr; the Citi Simplicity Card from Citi at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($2,000 more in estimated value) than the Citi Simplicity Card's. Get the Capital One Spark Cash Plus first; revisit the Citi Simplicity Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Citi Simplicity Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | $2,000 cash bonus | No welcome bonus; product is a 0% intro APR balance-transfer card with no late fees, no penalty APR, and no rewards program |
| Bonus value (est.) | $2,000 | - |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $30,000 in 3 mo | - |
| Issuer | Capital One | Citi |
| Card category | business | |
| Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
Read the full review
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
$150/yr · $2,000 cash bonus
Read the full review
Citi Simplicity Card
$0/yr · No welcome bonus; product is a 0% intro APR balance-transfer card with no late fees, no penalty APR, and no rewards program
Editorial take: Citi Simplicity Card
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Capital One Spark Cash Plus or Citi Simplicity Card?
- The Capital One Spark Cash Plus has a public bonus ($2,000 cash bonus, worth roughly $2,000), while the Citi Simplicity Card doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus's $150 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Simplicity Card?
- At $150/yr, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Citi Simplicity Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Capital One Spark Cash Plus and Citi Simplicity Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Capital One and Citi) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Capital One Spark Cash Plus or the Citi Simplicity Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One Spark Cash Plus: $30,000 spend in 3 months. Citi Simplicity Card: no published min spend. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.