Business Travel Card Showdown: Capital One Venture X Business vs Amex Business Platinum

For years, the American Express Business Platinum has been a go-to card for premium travel perks, particularly for lounge access. However, the Capital One Venture X Business is proving to be a stronger, more cost-effective alternative, especially for business owners who prioritize airport lounges, flexible rewards, and straightforward benefits.

While both cards offer valuable perks, the Capital One Venture X Business provides better lounge access, stronger value for its annual fee, and a simpler, more rewarding earning structure—all without the restrictive spending categories and high additional user costs that come with the Amex Business Platinum.

More Lounge Access Without the Extra Fees

The Capital One Venture X Business outshines the Amex Business Platinum when it comes to airport lounge access, offering Priority Pass lounge access without the restrictions that Amex has placed on its cardholders.

Venture X Business Allows Access to Priority Pass Restaurants

The Capital One Venture X Business still includes Priority Pass restaurant benefits, allowing cardholders to get free meals at participating airport restaurants. This is a major perk that the Amex Business Platinum removed in 2023.

Many airport lounges can be overcrowded, especially during peak travel times, and getting a free restaurant credit is often a better option than waiting for space in a crowded lounge.

Venture X Business Includes Capital One Lounges

Cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Business get unlimited access to Capital One Lounges, which are known for their high-end food, drinks, and comfortable workspaces. These lounges, currently in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Washington-Dulles (IAD), and Denver (DEN), are expanding and offer a more curated and modern experience than many Priority Pass lounges.

Amex Centurion Lounge Access Comes With Restrictions

While the Amex Business Platinum offers access to Centurion Lounges, Amex has restricted guest access unless you meet a $75,000 annual spending threshold. The Capital One Venture X Business, on the other hand, allows two free guests with every lounge visit, making it a better choice for business owners who frequently travel with employees or partners.

Better Value for the Annual Fee

The Amex Business Platinum comes with a hefty $695 annual fee, which is significantly higher than the $395 annual fee on the Capital One Venture X Business. While Amex offsets some of its cost with credits, many of these credits are complicated to use, whereas the Capital One Venture X Business offers straightforward, high-value perks that require minimal effort.

• Capital One Venture X Business: $300 Annual Travel Credit – Automatically applied when booking flights, hotels, or rental cars through Capital One Travel. This instantly reduces the net cost of the card to $95, making it far more cost-effective than the Amex Business Platinum.

• Amex Business Platinum: Multiple Credits That Are Hard to Maximize – The Amex Business Platinum offers various credits, but they are spread across different categories like Dell purchases, airline incidental fees, and Adobe subscriptions, making them much harder to fully utilize.

Stronger Rewards Without Complicated Spending Categories

The Capital One Venture X Business makes earning miles simple and efficient with its 2X miles on every purchase, with no caps or restrictions.

Meanwhile, the Amex Business Platinum has a more restrictive earning structure, offering:

• 5X points on flights booked through Amex Travel

• 1.5X points on select business categories (and only after spending $5,000 per transaction)

• 1X points on everything else

For business owners who don’t want to micromanage their spending, the Capital One Venture X Business is a far better choice since it consistently earns 2X miles on all purchases, no matter where you spend.

No Preset Spending Limit and Free Employee Cards

Both the Capital One Venture X Business and Amex Business Platinum offer no preset spending limits, allowing business owners to flexibly manage large purchases. However, Amex charges $195 per employee card for Platinum-level access, while the Capital One Venture X Business provides free employee cards, making it a more cost-effective solution for business owners who want to earn rewards on team spending.

Final Thoughts: A More Rewarding and Hassle-Free Travel Card

For business owners who prioritize lounge access, simplicity, and strong earning potential, the Capital One Venture X Business beats the Amex Business Platinum in key areas:

• Better lounge benefits, including Priority Pass restaurant access and Capital One Lounges

• Lower annual fee with higher-value credits that are easier to use

• 2X miles on all purchases, compared to Amex’s complicated bonus categories

• Free employee cards, while Amex charges $195 per additional cardholder

The Amex Business Platinum still has valuable perks, especially for those who frequently book premium airfare through Amex Travel, but for most business owners looking for ease, flexibility, and stronger lounge benefits, the Capital One Venture X Business is the better option.

If you want a business travel card that delivers premium perks, strong rewards, and simplified expense management, the Capital One Venture X Business is the smarter choice.