Capital One Spark Cash vs TAP Miles and Go American Express Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Spark Cash comes from Capital One at $95/yr; the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card from Cardless at $79/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
For most people the Capital One Spark Cash is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,000 more in estimated value) than the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card's. Get the Capital One Spark Cash first; revisit the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Capital One Spark Cash | TAP Miles and Go American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $79 |
| Sign-up bonus | $1,000 cash bonus | 40,000 bonus miles |
| Bonus value (est.) | $1,000 | - |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $10,000 in 3 mo | $2,500 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Capital One | Cardless |
| Card category | business | airline |
| Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Editorial take: TAP Miles and Go American Express Card
The only US co-branded card for a European Star Alliance carrier. Useful if you fly TAP to Lisbon or onward Europe several times a year, since the lounge passes, free extra bag, and Premium Boarding can each be worth more than the $79 annual fee on a single transatlantic trip.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Capital One Spark Cash or TAP Miles and Go American Express Card?
- The Capital One Spark Cash has a public bonus ($1,000 cash bonus, worth roughly $1,000), while the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Capital One Spark Cash's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card?
- At $95/yr, the Capital One Spark Cash is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Capital One Spark Cash and TAP Miles and Go American Express Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Capital One and Cardless) 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 or the TAP Miles and Go American Express Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One Spark Cash: $10,000 spend in 3 months. TAP Miles and Go American Express Card: $2,500 in 3 months. 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.
