Capital One Platinum Secured vs Amex Business Platinum Card: Which Is Better In 2026?

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (See Rates & Fees).

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• The card offers exceptional travel perks, including extensive airport lounge access and elite status with hotel and car rental partners.
• Its flexible rewards program allows you to transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners, maximizing their value.
• It provides significant value for businesses through various statement credits and comprehensive travel insurance protections.

Terms Apply.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Pros

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• Extensive travel benefits, including access to a wide network of airport lounges and complimentary elite status with hotel and car rental programs.
• Flexible Membership Rewards program with the ability to transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners.
• A variety of annual statement credits for travel and business expenses, plus comprehensive travel protections.

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Cons

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• A significant annual fee may not be justifiable for businesses with lower spending or limited travel needs.
• The card’s extensive benefits and statement credits can be complex to track and fully utilize.
• Bonus rewards are primarily focused on travel, with limited earning potential on other everyday business expenses.

Terms Apply.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express vs Capital One Platinum Secured

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Capital One Platinum Secured or Amex Business Platinum Card, depends entirely on your financial situation and goals. These cards are designed for completely different users, one for building credit and the other for premium business travel.

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• Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: This card is best categorized as a credit-building tool. It is designed for individuals who need to establish or rebuild their credit history.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: This is a premium business credit card best suited for business owners who travel frequently. It is designed for those who can take advantage of premium travel perks.

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Redemption

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Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: This card is not designed for earning rewards and therefore has no redemption options for points or cash back. Its primary purpose is to help users build or rebuild their credit history.

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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Cardholders earn points that can be redeemed for a wide array of options, with a strong focus on travel. Points can be used for flights and hotels or transferred to various airline and hotel loyalty programs.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For a more personalized comparison, a tool like Kudos can help you evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your own spending habits.

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• Test Drive Feature: Simulate potential earnings from different credit cards using your actual spending data before you apply.
• Personalized Recommendations: Get card matches based on your unique spending history and see detailed approval odds based on your credit report.
• Maximized Rewards: Access exclusive Kudos Boost rewards when shopping at your favorite stores, which can be stacked on top of your credit card rewards.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you get through the platform within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Unified Management: Track your spending, monitor your credit score, and manage multiple credit cards all in one platform.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Platinum Secured?

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The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals looking to build or rebuild their credit history, especially those with limited or poor credit scores. This makes it particularly suitable for students, recent immigrants to the U.S., or anyone just starting their financial journey and needing to establish a positive credit profile. Ultimately, it serves as a valuable stepping stone, helping cardholders with responsible use eventually graduate to an unsecured credit card.

Who Should Choose the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express?

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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is tailor-made for business owners who travel frequently and have substantial business expenses. This includes everyone from sole proprietors to leaders of larger corporations who value premium travel perks like airport lounge access and hotel elite status. Specifically, businesses that spend at least $10,000 per month and can take full advantage of the card's various travel and statement credits will extract the most value from its offerings.

Alternatives to Consider

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The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express serve vastly different purposes, from building credit to accessing premium travel perks. If neither of these options is the right fit for you, here are a few other cards worth considering.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - You'll generally need good to excellent credit for premium rewards cards.
• Explore business cards - Sole proprietors can often qualify for business versions with different benefits.
• Build your credit first - A secured card can improve your score if you're not ready for a premium card.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application - Plan it around large purchases to help meet any spending requirements.
• Review the offer first - Some applications let you see your exact offer before you accept.
• Don't be afraid to ask again - If initially declined, you can often ask the issuer to reconsider your application.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I get the American Express Business Platinum Card with a low credit score?

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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is designed for applicants with good to excellent credit. If you are working on building your credit, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a more accessible starting point.

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What is a secured credit card?

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A secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, which usually sets your credit limit. Cards like the Capital One Platinum Secured are meant to help users build or rebuild their credit history through responsible use.

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Do I need an LLC to apply for the Amex Business Platinum Card?

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No, you don't need a formal business structure like an LLC to qualify for the Amex Business Platinum. Sole proprietors and freelancers can often apply for business credit cards for their ventures.

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Can the Capital One Platinum Secured card be upgraded?

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Yes, Capital One periodically reviews secured card accounts for potential upgrades to a traditional, unsecured credit card. If you are upgraded, your original security deposit will be refunded.

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