Capital on Tap vs American Express at a Glance
| Feature | Capital on Tap | Amex Business Gold | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 (free) / £299 (Pro) | £0 yr 1, then £195 | Capital on Tap |
| Card type | Visa credit card | Charge card (clear monthly) | Depends |
| Core reward | 1% cashback from £1 | 1 MR point per £1 (2x Amex Travel) | Depends |
| Welcome offer | Pro: 10,000 points for £5k spend | 20,000 points for £3k in 3 months | Amex |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | 2.99% | Capital on Tap |
| Acceptance | Visa, near-universal | ~40% of UK merchants decline Amex | Capital on Tap |
| Eligibility | Ltd & LLP, £24k turnover | Ltd & LLP, £20k personal income | Tie |
| Best for | Everyday cashback, overseas spend | Travel rewards, clear monthly | Either |
These two solve different problems. Capital on Tap is a Visa cashback card that works everywhere; Amex Business Gold is a charge card built around Membership Rewards. We checked both against their provider sites in June 2026.
For most limited companies, Capital on Tap is the safer everyday card on acceptance, FX, and fee. Amex wins if you spend heavily, clear in full, and your suppliers take it. That is the trade-off in one line.
Check your Capital on Tap eligibility →Which Is Better for Cashback or Travel Rewards?
Where Capital on Tap Wins
If you want simple cashback that always pays, Capital on Tap is the pick. It earns 1% from the first pound on Visa, so it works at every supplier and you never chase acceptance. There are no FX fees and no annual fee on the free tier.
Where American Express Wins
If you travel and clear monthly, Amex earns more. Membership Rewards transfer to Avios at 1:1, double on Amex Travel, and come with a 20,000-point welcome bonus. The value is real, but only where Amex is accepted.
Verdict for Cashback or Travel Rewards
We keep landing in the same place. For dependable cashback across mixed suppliers, Capital on Tap wins. For travel rewards at scale, Amex wins, provided you clear in full and your suppliers take it. That is the deal.
Capital on Tap vs American Express for Frequent Travellers
How Capital on Tap Fits Frequent Travellers
Capital on Tap covers travellers through its Pro tier (£299): 1:1 Avios or Virgin conversion, an unlimited Priority Pass, and no FX fees on overseas spend. The free tier converts at a weaker 0.8:1.
How American Express Fits Frequent Travellers
Amex Gold is the richer travel programme: Avios 1:1, Hilton 1:2, Marriott 2:3, double points on Amex Travel, and a 20,000-point welcome bonus. The catch is the 2.99% FX fee and the acceptance gap abroad.
Verdict for Frequent Travellers
For pure travel-reward value, Amex Gold edges it. But when you weigh the £195 fee, the 2.99% FX, and the acceptance gap, Capital on Tap Pro is the cheaper, more flexible way to earn Avios for many businesses.
Capital on Tap vs American Express Fees and APR
| Cost | Capital on Tap | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 (free) / £299 (Pro) | £0 year 1, then £195 |
| Card structure | Revolving Visa credit card | Charge card (clear monthly) |
| Representative APR | 34.9% (from 13.86%) | 104.9% (Flexible Payment Option) |
| Average offered rate | ~46% (S&P data) | Not applicable (charge card) |
| Interest-free period | Up to ~42 days | Up to ~54 days |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | 2.99% |
On holding cost, Capital on Tap’s free tier wins: £0 against Amex’s £195 from year two. The Pro tier is £299, justified only by the travel perks.
Neither is a card to revolve on. Capital on Tap’s average offered rate is around 46%, and Amex Gold is a charge card whose Flexible Payment Option carries a 104.9% representative APR.
We flag one caveat for both, as for business cards generally: no Section 75 protection, and balances are not FSCS-covered.
Capital on Tap vs American Express Benefits and Value
| Benefit | Capital on Tap | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Core reward | 1% cashback from £1 (Pro: 1.25% preloaded) | 1 MR point per £1 (2x Amex Travel) |
| Welcome bonus | Pro: 10,000 points for £5k in 3 months | 20,000 points for £3k in 3 months |
| Point transfers | Pro: 1:1 Avios or Virgin | Avios 1:1, Hilton 1:2, Marriott 2:3 |
| Lounge access | Pro: Priority Pass, unlimited | Not on Gold (Platinum only) |
| Statement credits | None | ~£200/yr B2B (Dell, Indeed, more) |
| Insurance | Not a headline feature | Travel and purchase protection |
We rate Amex the richer programme for travellers: a 20,000-point welcome bonus, three transfer partners, insurance, and roughly £200 a year in B2B credits. At high, Amex-friendly spend that is hard to beat.
Capital on Tap answers with simplicity and reach. Cashback lands from the first pound with no redemption admin, and the Pro tier matches Amex on Avios (1:1) and adds a Priority Pass that Gold does not include.
See Amex Business Gold rewards →Capital on Tap vs American Express Features and Account Tools
| Tool | Capital on Tap | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Employee cards | Unlimited, free | Up to 20 free |
| Virtual cards | Unlimited, with limits and expiry | Not confirmed for UK Gold |
| Accounting integrations | Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent (native) | Open Banking feeds; native not confirmed |
| Receipt capture | Yes, in-app | Not confirmed for UK Gold |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
On tooling, Capital on Tap is the deeper platform. When a new hire starts on Monday morning and needs a card the same day, its unlimited free employee and virtual cards do the job, and it syncs natively to Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, and FreeAgent with in-app receipt capture.
Amex gives you up to 20 free employee cards and solid expense management, but we could not confirm native integrations or virtual cards on its UK Gold page. For real-time expense tooling, Capital on Tap is ahead.
Capital on Tap vs American Express Eligibility
| Requirement | Capital on Tap | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Sole traders accepted | No | No (since Jan 2026) |
| Limited companies and LLPs | Yes | Yes |
| Turnover / income | £24,000 turnover | £20,000 personal income |
| Bank account required | No | UK account (not Amex) |
Eligibility barely separates these two: both are limited companies and LLPs only, and neither takes sole traders. Capital on Tap asks for £24,000 turnover; Amex for a £20,000 personal income from the director.
So if you are a sole trader, neither is open to you, and Barclaycard Select is the route instead. For an incorporated business, both are on the table and the decision comes back to acceptance, fee, and rewards.
Apply for Capital on Tap →Capital on Tap vs American Express Overseas Use
| Overseas | Capital on Tap | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign transaction fee | None | 2.99% |
| Rewards on overseas spend | 1% from £1 | 1 MR point per £1 |
| Acceptance abroad | Visa, broad | Weaker outside the US/UK |
| Travel rewards | Pro: Avios 1:1 + lounge | Avios and hotel transfers |
Overseas is a clear Capital on Tap win on cost. When an overseas supplier’s invoice lands on your desk and you pay it, Capital on Tap charges no FX fee while Amex adds 2.99%.
On a £10,000 overseas spend, that is roughly £299 in Amex fees you would avoid on Capital on Tap, before you even reach the acceptance question. Amex earns transferable points, but only where it is taken.
Downsides of Capital on Tap and American Express
Reasons to Avoid Capital on Tap
- Limited companies and LLPs only; sole traders cannot apply.
- The 13.86% floor is a best case; the average offered rate is around 46%.
- The richer cashback and travel perks need the £299 Pro tier.
Reasons to Avoid American Express
- £195 annual fee from year two.
- Charge card: the Flexible Payment Option carries a 104.9% representative APR.
- Around 40% of UK merchants do not accept Amex, and a 2.99% FX fee applies.
Other Business Credit Cards to Consider
Funding Circle. 2% cashback for six months, then 1%, with no FX fees. Best for limited companies wanting a cashback head start. The key difference: an intro rate over a flat 1%.
Capital on Tap Pro. The £299 tier with 1.25% on preloaded spend, Avios 1:1, and lounge access. Best for cashback fans who also travel. The key difference: travel value on a Visa card.
American Express Business Platinum. The premium tier with global lounge access and travel credits for £650. Best for frequent business travellers. The key difference: lounges and credits the Gold card lacks.
Capital on Tap vs American Express FAQs
Should I get Capital on Tap or Amex Business Gold?
Choose Capital on Tap if you want simple 1% cashback, no FX fees, and Visa acceptance everywhere. Choose Amex Business Gold if you clear the balance monthly, want Membership Rewards for travel, and your suppliers accept Amex. Both are limited companies and LLPs only.
Can a sole trader get either card?
No. Both Capital on Tap and Amex Business Gold are limited companies and LLPs only; Amex restricted Business Gold to incorporated businesses in January 2026. Sole traders need an open-access card such as Barclaycard Select Cashback.
Which card has better rewards?
Amex Business Gold for travel: Membership Rewards transfer to Avios 1:1 with a 20,000-point welcome bonus. Capital on Tap pays a simpler 1% cashback from the first pound, and its Pro tier also converts to Avios 1:1 with lounge access for a lower fee.
Is Amex Business Gold a credit card?
No, it is a charge card: the balance is due in full each month, with a Flexible Payment Option to revolve designated balances at a representative 104.9% APR. Capital on Tap is a revolving Visa credit card.
Do these cards charge FX fees?
Capital on Tap charges no FX fees on overseas spend. Amex Business Gold charges 2.99%. For international suppliers, Capital on Tap is cheaper abroad and accepted more widely.
Which is cheaper to hold?
Capital on Tap, whose free tier has no annual fee. Amex Business Gold is free in year one, then £195, so it only pays its way if your rewards clearly exceed the fee.
How we compared Capital on Tap and Amex Business Gold
How cards were selected. Both are mainstream UK business cards for limited companies, frequently shortlisted against each other, with no bank-account switch required.
How data was collected. Rewards, fees, features, and eligibility were checked against capitalontap.com and americanexpress.com/uk in June 2026, with the APR distribution from S&P Global securitisation data. Unstated features were marked unconfirmed, not assumed.
How fees and features were compared. We compared like-for-like on rewards, APR and structure, FX, tooling, and eligibility, and verified regulatory status on the FCA register.
Review and update. We re-verify both providers at least monthly and whenever terms change. Some links are affiliate links, see our editorial policy.