Independent comparison · May 2026
Capital On Tap vs Amex Business Gold (2026)
American Express Business Gold is the long-time premium choice for UK SMEs that travel, want Membership Rewards points, and don't mind a £125 annual fee (waived first year). Capital On Tap targets the same audience but with a free card, instant approval, and a referral bonus. Here's the honest comparison.
Side-by-side specification
| Capital On Tap | Amex Business Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 (Business) / £99 (Rewards) | £125 (waived in year 1) |
| Rewards | 1 point per £1 (= 1% cashback or 1 Avios 1:1) | 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 (~1-2% value depending on redemption) |
| Foreign-exchange fee | 0% FX fees worldwide | 2.99% non-sterling fee |
| Credit limit | Up to £250,000 | No preset spending limit (charge card) |
| Eligibility | UK Ltd / LLP / PLC, £24k+/yr turnover, no unsatisfied CCJs (last 12 months). Sole traders not eligible. No published minimum trading-period rule. | Limited Company, sole trader, partnership; min income / turnover varies |
| Representative APR | 34.65% representative variable | Charge card — must pay in full each month |
| Application | ~2 minutes, soft credit check first | 5-10 minutes, hard credit check |
| Card type | Visa Business credit card | Amex charge card (~70% UK acceptance) |
Where Capital On Tap wins
- ✓ Free vs £125/year — saves £125 instantly
- ✓ Visa is accepted everywhere; Amex is rejected by ~30% of UK SMEs
- ✓ 0% FX vs Amex's 2.99% — saves ~£150 on every £5,000 of EUR/USD spend
- ✓ £75 welcome bonus with code 2REFY893A52 vs Amex's points-only welcome (variable)
- ✓ Revolving credit line up to £250k vs Amex charge-card (must pay in full)
- ✓ Faster decision (2 min soft check) vs Amex's hard credit search
Where Amex Business Gold wins
- ✓ Membership Rewards points transfer to 13+ airline & hotel programmes — better for premium-cabin redemptions
- ✓ Stronger purchase protection and refund protection
- ✓ Free supplementary cards + dedicated travel insurance bolt-ons
- ✓ Better airline lounge & hotel status partnerships
- ✓ Charge card → no APR risk if you pay in full
Who should pick which
Pick Capital On Tap if
You spend mostly in the UK / on Visa-accepted merchants, want a no-fee card with a welcome bonus, occasionally need to carry a balance, and value 0% FX over premium travel perks.
Pick Amex Business Gold if
You fly business class internationally 4+ times a year, can confidently pay your balance in full every month, value Membership Rewards transfers, and spend enough to justify £125/year.
FAQs: Capital On Tap vs Amex Business Gold
- Can I have both Capital On Tap and Amex Business Gold?
- Yes — many UK Limited Companies hold both. Use Capital On Tap as the default Visa for daily spend and FX, and Amex Business Gold for travel categories where the Membership Rewards earn rate beats 1% cashback (premium-cabin flights, partner hotels).
- Does Amex Business Gold give 0% FX like Capital On Tap?
- No. Amex charges a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee on every overseas spend, while Capital On Tap charges 0%. For a business with £20,000/yr USD/EUR spend that's £600/year saved by using Capital On Tap.
- Is the Capital On Tap £75 bonus better than Amex's welcome offer?
- Capital On Tap's 7,500-point bonus (worth £75 cashback or 7,500 Avios) requires only one card transaction — typically a £1 software subscription. Amex's welcome bonus requires £3,000-£6,000 spend in 90 days. For most small businesses, Capital On Tap's bonus is faster and more accessible.
Other Capital On Tap comparisons
- Capital On Tap vs Amex Business Platinum
- Capital On Tap vs Barclaycard Select Cashback
- Capital On Tap vs Tide
- Capital On Tap vs Revolut Business
- Capital On Tap vs FlexiPay
- Capital On Tap vs Allstar
- Capital On Tap vs Soldo
- Capital On Tap vs Pleo
- Capital On Tap vs Wise Business
- Capital On Tap vs Juni
- Capital On Tap vs Metro Bank Business
- Capital On Tap vs HSBC Business
- Capital On Tap vs NatWest Business
- Capital On Tap vs Lloyds Business
- Capital On Tap vs Santander Business Cashback
- Capital On Tap vs Mettle
- Capital On Tap vs Starling Business
- Capital On Tap vs Monzo Business
- Capital On Tap vs ANNA