Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
The spending required to keep your small business or side hustle humming can also give you a boost toward your next trip — if you put those expenses on a business travel credit card that gives you points or miles for your purchases. Many of the top business travel cards offer added perks, too, like lounge access, free hotel stays or checked bags, and statement credits for Global Entry or Clear fees.
When choosing a business travel card, consider what kind of rewards would work best for you. So-called flat-rate cards give you a fixed number of points or miles for every dollar you spend, while bonus rewards cards give you extra points in specific categories.
General-purpose travel cards give you flexible rewards you can redeem for a variety of travel expenses. By contrast, business credit cards that carry the name of a specific airline or hotel chain, like United or Hilton, offer the best rewards value if redeemed through that brand.
All of our selections for the best travel business cards are chosen by our editorial team, which independently evaluates and rates cards based on fees, rewards rates and redemption options, among numerous other factors.
Note: Some of our selections can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you’ll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
The spending required to keep your small business or side hustle humming can also give you a boost toward your next trip — if you put those expenses on a business travel credit card that gives you points or miles for your purchases. Many of the top business travel cards offer added perks, too, like lounge access, free hotel stays or checked bags, and statement credits for Global Entry or Clear fees.
When choosing a business travel card, consider what kind of rewards would work best for you. So-called flat-rate cards give you a fixed number of points or miles for every dollar you spend, while bonus rewards cards give you extra points in specific categories.
General-purpose travel cards give you flexible rewards you can redeem for a variety of travel expenses. By contrast, business credit cards that carry the name of a specific airline or hotel chain, like United or Hilton, offer the best rewards value if redeemed through that brand.
All of our selections for the best travel business cards are chosen by our editorial team, which independently evaluates and rates cards based on fees, rewards rates and redemption options, among numerous other factors.
Note: Some of our selections can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you’ll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.
Here are the best business travel credit cards from our partners
| Credit card▼ | NerdWallet rating▼ | Annual fee▼ | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capital One Spark Miles for Business Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 4.7/5 Best for Earning unlimited travel points | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | 2x-5x Points | 50,000 Points | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Travel rewards bonus categories + welcome offer | $95 | 1x-3x Points | 100,000 Points | Apply now on Chase's website |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | 3.7/5 Best for Business travel card with no annual fee | $0 | 1.5x Points | 30,000 Points | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Business credit card with airport lounge access | $695 | 1x-5x Points | 120,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Airline miles + companion certificate | $550 | 1x-3x Miles | 70,000 Miles | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
United℠ Business Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Airline miles | $0 intro for the first year, then $99 | 1x-2x Miles | 50,000 Miles | Apply now on Chase's website |
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.1/5 Best for Free hotel stays | $125 | 2x-6x Points | N/A | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Hotel rewards + welcome offer | $95 | 3x-12x Points | 130,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.9/5 Best for Earning points + intro APR period | $0 | 1x-2x Points | 15,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Capital One Venture X Business Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Cash back on everything, especially travel | $395 | 2x-10x Miles | 150,000 Miles | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
| Credit card▼ | NerdWallet rating▼ | Annual fee▼ | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capital One Spark Miles for Business Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 4.7/5 Best for Earning unlimited travel points | $0 intro for the first year, then $95 | 2x-5x Points | 50,000 Points | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Travel rewards bonus categories + welcome offer | $95 | 1x-3x Points | 100,000 Points | Apply now on Chase's website |
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card Apply now on Bank of America's website | 3.7/5 Best for Business travel card with no annual fee | $0 | 1.5x Points | 30,000 Points | Apply now on Bank of America's website |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Business credit card with airport lounge access | $695 | 1x-5x Points | 120,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Airline miles + companion certificate | $550 | 1x-3x Miles | 70,000 Miles | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
United℠ Business Card Apply now on Chase's website | 5.0/5 Best for Airline miles | $0 intro for the first year, then $99 | 1x-2x Miles | 50,000 Miles | Apply now on Chase's website |
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.1/5 Best for Free hotel stays | $125 | 2x-6x Points | N/A | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Hotel rewards + welcome offer | $95 | 3x-12x Points | 130,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees | 4.9/5 Best for Earning points + intro APR period | $0 | 1x-2x Points | 15,000 Points | Apply now on American Express' website Rates & Fees |
Capital One Venture X Business Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees | 5.0/5 Best for Cash back on everything, especially travel | $395 | 2x-10x Miles | 150,000 Miles | Apply now on Capital One's website Rates & Fees |
I'M INTERESTED IN:
Our pick for
Earning unlimited travel points
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
2x-5x Points
Intro offer
50,000 Points
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No minimum redemption amount
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No Intro APR period
- High APR
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
Rewards rate
2x-5x Points
Intro offer
50,000 Points
Pros
- High rewards rate
- No minimum redemption amount
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No Intro APR period
- High APR
- Earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions, and miles won't expire for the life of the account
- Unlimited 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Redeem your miles instantly for any travel-related purchases, from flights and hotels to ride-sharing services
- Skip the lines with up to a $100 statement credit on TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $95 after that
- Free employee cards which also earn unlimited 2X miles from their purchases
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Travel rewards bonus categories + welcome offer
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-3x Points
Intro offer
100,000 Points
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No intro APR offer
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
1x-3x Points
Intro offer
100,000 Points
Pros
- New cardholder bonus offer
- Bonus categories
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No intro APR offer
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
Business travel card with no annual fee
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Read Review
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5x Points
Intro offer
30,000 Points
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
Apply now
on Bank of America's website
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1.5x Points
Intro offer
30,000 Points
Pros
- No annual fee
- New cardholder bonus offer
- No reward caps
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Requires excellent credit
- Earn 30,000 online bonus points after you make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening which can be redeemed for a $300 statement credit towards travel or dining purchases.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, every time-no matter how much you spend.
- No limit to the amount of points you can earn and points don't expire.
- You can earn up to 75% more points on every purchase, if you have a business checking account with Bank of America and qualify for our highest Preferred Rewards for Business tier. That means you could earn up to an unlimited 2.62 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
- No annual fee and no international transaction fees.
- Choose how to redeem points for a statement credit to offset travel and dining purchases, travel with no blackout dates at the Bank of America® Travel Center, for cash back or gift cards.
- 0% Introductory APR on purchases for your first 9 billing cycles. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 18.49% to 28.49% will apply.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This offer may not be available if you leave this page or visit our website. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Our pick for
Business credit card with airport lounge access
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Annual fee
$695
Rewards rate
1x-5x Points
Intro offer
120,000 Points
Pros
- Lounge membership
- Transfer partners
- Bonus categories
- Automatic elite status
- Premium travel protections
Cons
- High annual fee
- Complicated rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
Annual fee
$695
Rewards rate
1x-5x Points
Intro offer
120,000 Points
Pros
- Lounge membership
- Transfer partners
- Bonus categories
- Automatic elite status
- Premium travel protections
Cons
- High annual fee
- Complicated rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card®.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Airline miles + companion certificate
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Annual fee
$550
Rewards rate
1x-3x Miles
Intro offer
70,000 Miles
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Luxury perks
- Lounge membership
- Companion benefit
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Requires good/excellent credit
Annual fee
$550
Rewards rate
1x-3x Miles
Intro offer
70,000 Miles
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Luxury perks
- Lounge membership
- Companion benefit
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Card Members now enjoy savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With complimentary access into Delta Sky Club®, you can relax before your Delta flight, or find downtime between connections.* You’ll also receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year so you can share the experience with others when you’re traveling together. *Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
- When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner.
- After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
- Enjoy 3x miles per dollar on Delta purchases.
- With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card through 12/31/23, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.* MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights.*Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more.
- Terms and limitations apply.
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Airline miles
United℠ Business Card
Read Review
Apply now
on Chase's website
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Rewards rate
1x-2x Miles
Intro offer
50,000 Miles
Pros
- Free checked bag
- Lounge membership
- Anniversary perk
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
Annual fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Rewards rate
1x-2x Miles
Intro offer
50,000 Miles
Pros
- Free checked bag
- Lounge membership
- Anniversary perk
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the United℠ Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
- Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club℠ one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
- $100 United® travel credit after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year.
- Member FDIC
Our pick for
Free hotel stays
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Annual fee
$125
Rewards rate
2x-6x Points
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Lower acceptance abroad
Annual fee
$125
Rewards rate
2x-6x Points
Intro offer
N/A
Pros
- Anniversary perk
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
Cons
- Has annual fee
- Rewards have limited flexibility
- Lower acceptance abroad
- Welcome Offer: Earn three Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points for each bonus Free Night Award, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly through Marriott. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
- Terms apply.
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Hotel rewards + welcome offer
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
3x-12x Points
Intro offer
130,000 Points
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
- Luxury perks
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No free anniversary night
Annual fee
$95
Rewards rate
3x-12x Points
Intro offer
130,000 Points
Pros
- High rewards rate
- Automatic elite status
- Luxury perks
Cons
- Has annual fee
- No free anniversary night
- Welcome Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first three months of Card Membership.
- Earn Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card: 12X directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, 6X at U.S. gas stations, on U.S. purchases for shipping, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants, 3X on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Earn another Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend an additional $45,000 in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
- Terms apply.
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Earning points + intro APR period
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-2x Points
Intro offer
15,000 Points
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
Annual fee
$0
Rewards rate
1x-2x Points
Intro offer
15,000 Points
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- Intro APR period
- Transfer partners
Cons
- Spending caps on bonus rewards
- Requires good/excellent credit
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
- You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
- *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply
View Rates & Fees
Our pick for
Cash back on everything, especially travel
Capital One Venture X Business
Annual fee
$395
Rewards rate
2x-10x Miles
Intro offer
150,000 Miles
Pros
- Lounge membership
- High rewards rate
- Welcome offer
Cons
- High annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
- Balance must be paid in full every month
Annual fee
$395
Rewards rate
2x-10x Miles
Intro offer
150,000 Miles
Pros
- Lounge membership
- High rewards rate
- Welcome offer
Cons
- High annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
- Balance must be paid in full every month
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- This card has no preset spending limit, so you get purchasing power that adapts to your spending needs. The annual fee on this card is $395
- Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get the best prices on thousands of options
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Skip the lines with up to a $100 statement credit on TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. Then enjoy unlimited complimentary access to Capital One Lounges and a network of 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Priority Pass™ and Plaza Premium Group lounges
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
- Elevate your stay at luxury hotels and resorts from the Premier Collection with a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits on every booking
View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's editorial picks: Best travel credit cards for business
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Best for: Travel rewards bonus categories + welcome offer
The
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere: Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply. Best for: Earning unlimited travel points
The
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus, too. (See rates and fees.) Learn more and apply. Best for: Business travel card with no annual fee
This is the business version of the issuer's excellent no-annual-fee travel card. The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
pays solid rewards on every purchase and gives you wide flexibility in redeeming your points for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Learn more and apply.Best for: Business credit card with airport lounge access
Like the consumer version of this card,
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
comes with a big annual fee. But business travelers who prefer to go in style will find plenty that appeals to them: high rewards on certain travel purchases, bonus rewards on larger non-travel purchases, a superb newcomer welcome offer, extensive airport lounge access, elite hotel status, hundreds of dollars a year in available credits and a list of perks as long as your arm. It's not cheap, but luxury never is. Terms apply. Learn more and apply. Best for: Travel rewards with no annual fee
The
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
is the $0
-annual-fee version* of Capital One's business travel card. It comes with a lower rewards rate: 1.5 miles per dollar spent, with miles redeemable for any travel purchase. The bonus offer is smaller, too: Earn a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles - equal to $200 in travel - once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
.Best for: Airline miles + companion certificate
If your business has you on the road a lot, you'll appreciate the airport lounge access on the
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
, which includes both Delta's own Sky Clubs and American Express's Centurion Lounges when flying Delta. The annual companion certificate — which is good even in first class — and the checked-bag benefit add considerable value, too. Terms apply. Learn more and apply. Best for: Airline miles
The
United℠ Business Card
is a stand-out option for frequent business flyers, particularly those loyal to United. Cardholders earn rewards on everyday spending, like dining, gas stations and transit. A sign-up bonus, plus no annual fee for the first year, sweeten the pot. Learn more and apply. Best for: Free hotel stays
The
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
can pay for itself just with the automatic free night's stay every year. Add in automatic elite status, generous rewards, a dandy welcome offer and more, and it's hard to go wrong. Terms apply. Learn more and apply. Best for: Hotel rewards + welcome offer
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
is an outstanding small-business hotel credit card — though a little unusual. It comes with rich ongoing rewards, automatic elite status with Hilton and 10 free visits to select airport lounges each year (a rare perk for hotel cards). Rather than automatically granting a free night each year, like most hotel cards with annual fees, you have to spend at least $15,000 per calendar year to earn a free weekend night. Terms apply. Learn more and apply.Best for: Earning points + intro APR period
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
is one of the only points cards that also has an intro APR period, giving business owners more wiggle room with cash flow. This card earns 1x-2x
Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent. Those points have a base value of 1 cent per point when redeemed for travel but can be worth even more if redeemed through one of AmEx's transfer partners. Learn more and apply.Best for: Cash back on everything, especially travel
The
Capital One Venture X Business
offers some of the highest travel rewards rates around and a solid cash-back rate on everything else: Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get the best prices on thousands of options. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions.
This is a charge card, so it doesn't come with a pre-set spending limit — but you'll have to pay it off in full every month. If you can swing that (plus the $395
annual fee), it could be a valuable addition to your wallet. (See rates and fees.) Learn more and apply.How to choose a business travel credit card
1. Decide between general or co-branded
Want flexible rewards that are easy to redeem? General business travel cards, like the
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
and the Capital One Spark Miles for Business
, offer travel points that you can cash in for flights, rental cars and hotel stays. You can also transfer points to select airline and hotel loyalty programs.Loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain? Consider a co-branded airline or hotel business card. You’ll earn the most rewards — and get the most juice for points — with that specific brand, whether it be Hilton, United or Southwest.
2. Factor in added perks
Business travel cards deliver more than just miles or points. Some of the top options also include perks that can make your business travel more comfortable.
If you're in an airport more than an office, for example, a business travel card with free checked bags or statement credits for travel costs and/or trusted traveler programs (Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, Nexxus and Clear) can save you time and money. A business credit card with airport lounge access can make the time spent waiting for flights more comfortable, too.
Automatic elite status — a perk of most hotel cards — can be a draw for frequent hotel guests, particularly when that status means complimentary room upgrades and late checkout.
3. Weigh the annual fee
The annual fee for a business travel card can range from $95 to $695 per year, and, generally speaking, the higher the fee the richer the rewards.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
, for example, includes statement credits for airline incidental fees ($200 per year) and Dell purchases (up to $400 per year). Plus lounge access and statement credits for TSA Precheck or Global Entry. These benefits can offset the card’s $695
annual fee — but only if you actually use them.Can’t stomach an annual fee? The
Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card
is one of the few business credit cards for travel with no annual fee. And most cash-back business cards have no annual fee.What is the best business credit card for airline miles?
The
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
is the best business card for points and airline miles. You earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on all travel — flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. — as well as other common business expenses. And those points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through the Chase Rewards Portal. Plus, there’s the welcome offer:
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Business travelers loyal to a specific airline can quickly rack up airline miles and status with a co-branded airline business card, like the
United℠ Business Card
or the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
. These cards offer perks beyond airline miles, including things like free checked bags, in-flight discounts, companion certificates and statement credits, depending on the card.Other business travel cards to consider
To view rates and fees of
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
, see this page.Information related to the
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card. *Information related to the Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
Last updated on November 21, 2023
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for small business based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of small-business operators. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, rewards rates, the earning structure (for example, flat-rate rewards versus bonus categories), redemption options, bonus offers for new cardholders, introductory and ongoing APRs, and other noteworthy features such as special financing arrangements, free cards for employees or tools for managing business expenses. Learn more about how we rate business business credit cards.