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Side-by-side
Capital One Spark Cash vs United Gateway Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Spark Cash comes from Capital One at $95/yr; the United Gateway Card from Chase 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 is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($610 more in estimated value) than the United Gateway Card's. Get the Capital One Spark Cash first; revisit the United Gateway Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Capital One Spark Cash | United Gateway Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | $1,000 cash bonus | 30,000 miles |
| Bonus value (est.) | $1,000 | $390 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $10,000 in 3 mo | $1,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Capital One | Chase |
| Card category | business | travel |
| Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
Capital One Spark Cash
$95/yr · $1,000 cash bonus
Read the full review
United Gateway Card
$0/yr · 30,000 miles
Editorial take: United Gateway Card
The no-fee United card. Doesn't include free bags (that starts with the Explorer), so it's really only worth it for credit-building purposes.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Capital One Spark Cash or United Gateway Card?
- The Capital One Spark Cash has the bigger bonus, $1,000 cash bonus, worth roughly $1,000, versus 30,000 miles (~$390) on the United Gateway Card.
- Is the Capital One Spark Cash's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the United Gateway 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 United Gateway Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Capital One Spark Cash and United Gateway Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Capital One and Chase) 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 United Gateway 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. United Gateway Card: $1,000 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.