If you travel for business—even a few times a year—the right credit card can make a major difference. From airport lounge access to points that offset airfare and hotels, business travel cards are designed to reward every mile you fly and every dollar you spend.
But in 2025, the options are overwhelming. Do you choose premium perks? Flat-rate cashback? Airline loyalty? Here’s a side-by-side look at the top business travel credit cards this year—and how to choose the one that’s best for your company, your travel style, and your bottom line.
What Makes a Great Business Travel Card?
Before diving into specific cards, here’s what defines a high-performing business travel card:
- Strong welcome bonus (at least $750+ value)
- High earning rates on travel categories
- Airport lounge access or hotel perks
- Transferable points or flexible cashback
- Travel protections like trip delay insurance and rental coverage
- Expense tracking features for teams or freelancers
The right card should balance rewards, travel benefits, and admin tools that make expense management easier.
Top Business Travel Credit Cards in 2025
Here are five of the best business credit cards for travel, along with their pros and cons.
1. Capital One Venture X Business
Best for: Flat-rate earning with premium travel perks
- Welcome Bonus: Up to 150,000 miles (typically after $30,000+ spend)
- Earning Rate: 2x on everything, 5–10x on hotels and flights through Capital One Travel
- Annual Fee: $395
- Travel Perks: Priority Pass, Capital One Lounges, TSA PreCheck credit
- Point Transfers: Yes (to airlines and hotels)
The Venture X Business card combines premium perks (like lounge access) with simple earning. You don’t need to juggle categories—just book travel through Capital One for outsized value, or transfer miles to over 15 partners.
Who it’s for: Business owners who want a luxury-level card with easy 2x earnings across all categories.
2. American Express Business Platinum
Best for: Frequent flyers who value luxury, elite access, and airport perks
- Welcome Bonus: ~120,000–150,000 Membership Rewards points
- Earning Rate: 5x on flights (Amex Travel), 1.5x on purchases over $5,000
- Annual Fee: $695
- Travel Perks: Centurion Lounge, Delta SkyClub (with flight), Fine Hotels & Resorts
- Point Transfers: Yes, to 20+ partners
This is the most premium card on the list, with standout benefits like Concierge service, hotel elite status, and Trip Delay/Cancellation Insurance. It’s expensive, but many business travelers find the value easily offsets the fee.
Who it’s for: Frequent international or domestic flyers who want best-in-class lounge access, upgrades, and points flexibility.
3. Chase Ink Business Preferred
Best for: Points maximizers and budget-conscious travelers
- Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after $8,000 spend
- Earning Rate: 3x on travel, shipping, advertising, and telecom (up to $150k/year)
- Annual Fee: $95
- Travel Perks: Primary rental car insurance, no foreign transaction fees
- Point Transfers: Yes, to 10+ partners (United, Hyatt, Southwest, etc.)
Chase Ink Preferred is known for high flexibility—UR points can be redeemed for travel at 1.25x through the Chase portal or transferred to top airline/hotel programs. For the price, this is one of the best value cards available.
Who it’s for: Business owners who want strong rewards and low fees, especially if they already use Chase personal cards.
4. Brex Card for Startups
Best for: High-spend startups who want cashback and automation
- Welcome Bonus: Variable based on company profile
- Earning Rate: 7x on rideshare, 4x on Brex Travel, 3x on restaurants, 1x on everything
- Annual Fee: $0
- Travel Perks: Brex Travel Portal, partner discounts (AWS, Slack)
- Point Transfers: Yes (Brex Rewards partners)
The Brex card isn’t a traditional credit card—it’s a charge card tied to your business bank account or revenue. For startups, the built-in expense tools, travel booking, and Slack-based approval flows are huge productivity wins.
Who it’s for: Tech-forward teams or startups who prefer automation, high cashback, and modern spend control.
5. Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Best for: Simple, uncapped cashback
- Welcome Bonus: $1,200 after $30,000 spend in 3 months
- Earning Rate: 2% flat cashback on all purchases
- Annual Fee: $150
- Travel Perks: Minimal
- Point Transfers: No (cashback only)
If your team books flights, hotels, and car rentals frequently—but doesn’t want to deal with portals or transfer partners—Spark Cash Plus offers reliable value with no categories to track.
Who it’s for: Business owners who want a simple flat-rate card with a large bonus and no-nonsense redemptions.
Comparison Table
| Card | Best For | Bonus Value | Travel Earn Rate | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venture X Business | Premium travel & simplicity | $1,500+ | 2x everywhere, 5–10x portal | $395 |
| Amex Business Platinum | Elite travel perks | $1,800+ | 5x flights via Amex Travel | $695 |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | Balanced rewards & low fee | $1,250+ | 3x travel, shipping, ads | $95 |
| Brex | Startups and automation | Variable | Up to 7x rideshare | $0 |
| Spark Cash Plus | Flat-rate cashback | $1,200 | 2% on everything | $150 |
What About Airline or Hotel Cards?
Co-branded cards like the Delta SkyMiles Business Amex or Marriott Bonvoy Business can be valuable if:
- You’re loyal to a single brand
- You want upgrades, priority boarding, or elite status boosts
- You fly the same routes often
However, they often lack flexibility. If your travel varies by city or airline, general travel cards (like Chase Ink or Venture X) offer more redemption options and better value long-term.
How to Choose the Right Card for Your Travel Style
Here’s a quick breakdown based on how you travel:
You fly monthly or internationally
- Go with Amex Business Platinum or Venture X Business for lounges and flight protection
You book hotels often and prefer flexibility
- Choose Chase Ink Business Preferred or Venture X for strong hotel portal value and point transfers
You want cashback, not points
- Use Spark Cash Plus for 2% across all purchases
You run a startup or tech team
- Use Brex for built-in travel + spend automation with high multipliers
You care about low fees
- Chase Ink Preferred gives strong rewards with only a $95 annual cost
Final Thoughts
There’s no single “best” business travel card—only the one that matches how and where you spend. For luxury and perks, Amex Business Platinum still leads. For simple cashback, Spark Cash Plus wins. For balance, it’s hard to beat Chase Ink Business Preferred.
In 2025, the top cards all offer tools that go far beyond points. They help streamline your business operations, reduce friction during travel, and reward you for spending you’re already doing.
Choose based on what matters most—whether it’s lounge access, flat cash, low fees, or just fewer headaches. With the right card in your wallet, business travel becomes one less thing to stress about.