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Side-by-side

Capital One Spark Cash vs Citi Diamond Preferred Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Spark Cash comes from Capital One at $95/yr; the Citi Diamond Preferred 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 is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,000 more in estimated value) than the Citi Diamond Preferred Card's. Get the Capital One Spark Cash first; revisit the Citi Diamond Preferred Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureCapital One Spark CashCiti Diamond Preferred Card
Annual fee$95$0
Sign-up bonus$1,000 cash bonusNo welcome bonus; product is a 0% intro APR balance-transfer card with no rewards program
Bonus value (est.)$1,000-
Min spend to unlock bonus$10,000 in 3 mo-
IssuerCapital OneCiti
Card categorybusiness
Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one)5x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
      Read the full review
      Capital One Spark Cash
      $95/yr · $1,000 cash bonus
      Read the full review
      Citi Diamond Preferred Card
      $0/yr · No welcome bonus; product is a 0% intro APR balance-transfer card with no rewards program

      Editorial take: Capital One Spark Cash

      Editorial take: Citi Diamond Preferred Card

      Common questions

      Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Capital One Spark Cash or Citi Diamond Preferred Card?
      The Capital One Spark Cash has a public bonus ($1,000 cash bonus, worth roughly $1,000), while the Citi Diamond Preferred Card doesn't advertise one right now.
      Is the Capital One Spark Cash's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Diamond Preferred 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 Citi Diamond Preferred Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
      Can I have both the Capital One Spark Cash and Citi Diamond Preferred 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 or the Citi Diamond Preferred 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. Citi Diamond Preferred 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.