Chase offers four Ink-branded credit cards to small business owners:
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Ink Business Premier® Credit Card
Each of these cards has its own rewards structure and suite of benefits. Which Ink card is right for you will depend on your small business spending patterns and whether you travel for work. In this side-by-side comparison of Ink cards, we’ll show you the details so you can decide which Ink card is right for you.
Summary: Biggest differences between the Chase Ink credit cards
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Ink Business Premier® Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 | $95 | $195 |
| Rewards | Best rewards at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone service. | Good rewards on all spending. | Best rewards on travel purchases, advertising, and shipping. | Best cash back rewards on all spending. |
| Travel benefits | – | – | Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Trip delay reimbursement | Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Trip delay reimbursement |
| Cell phone protection | – | – |
Card basics: Annual fees and rewards
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card all earn Ultimate Rewards® points, whereas the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card earns cash back. Scroll below the table for more on the quirks how theses cards are marketed.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Ink Business Premier® Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 | $95 | $195 |
| Rewards | Marketed as cash back but earns Ultimate Rewards® | Marketed as cash back but earns Ultimate Rewards® | Ultimate Rewards® | Cash back |
While the Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited both earn Ultimate Rewards® points, these cards are marketed by Chase as cash back cards. When we (and other blogs or Chase) refer to these cards, you’ll see us making reference to “5% cash back in select categories” or “1.5% cash back everywhere.” But behind the scenes these cards earn points.
Why does that matter? With Ultimate Rewards, you can combine your points across accounts which means you can earn points on one card and use the redemption options available on another card. For example, if you held the Ink Cash and the Ink Preferred, you could earn increased rewards at office supply stores on the Ink Cash, transfer your points to your Ink Preferred, and redeem them for increased value through Chase Travel℠.
The Ink Business Premier® Credit Card earns cash back rewards that can not be transferred to other cards.
Rewards: Categories vs. better rewards everywhere else
All of the Chase Ink-branded cards offer rewards. If you’re looking for flat-rate rewards on all of your purchases, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card or Ink Business Premier® Credit Card is likely your best bet. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card will earn you more rewards if you’re purchasing from office supply stores and internet services. And the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers better rewards for travel purchases.
Here’s the complete comparison of the Ink cards’ rewards earnings:
| Spending category | Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Ink Business Premier® Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 | 5% | 5% | 5x | 5% |
| Office supply stores | 5%* | – | – | – |
| Internet, cable, and phone services | 5%* | – | 3x* | – |
| Shipping | – | – | 3x* | – |
| Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines | – | – | 3x* | – |
| Travel | – | – | 3x* | – |
| Large purchases purchases of $5,000 or more | – | – | – | 2.5% |
| General purchases | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1x | 2% |
* These categories have limitations on the amount of bonus rewards you can earn. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card earns 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns 3x points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in its bonus categories each account anniversary year.
Benefits: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Ink Business Premier® Credit Card add benefits for travelers
All of the four Ink credit cards offer the same core benefits, including primary auto rental collision damage waiver coverage when renting for business and basic travel and consumer insurance protections. But the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Ink Business Premier® Credit Card offer additional travel protections and cell phone protection.
| Spending category | Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Ink Business Premier® Credit Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary auto rental collision damage waiver when renting for business purposes | ||||
| Baggage delay insurance | ||||
| Lost luggage reimbursement | ||||
| Travel accident insurance | ||||
| Travel and emergency assistance services | ||||
| Trip cancellation/interruption insurance | – | – | ||
| Trip delay reimbursement | – | – | ||
| Roadside dispatch | ||||
| Cellular telephone protection | – | – | ||
| Purchase protection | ||||
| Extended warranty protection |
How to pick between the Chase Ink cards
For most small business owners, the choice of which Chase Ink card to get will come down to whether you travel and what expenses you have for your business.
For rewards on general spending either Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card or the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card is going to be your best bet. Assuming you’re using your points for cash back rewards, you’ll earn more on your small business spending with the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card if you spend more than about $40,000 a year on the card.
If you spend a lot at office supply stores or for internet, cable, and phone services, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card will get you the most rewards on these purchases. If you spend more than $25,000 in these categories in a year, either get a second Ink Cash card or shift your spending to the Unlimited or Premier card.
If you pay for a lot of business travel the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is the card you want. You’ll both earn more points on your travel and enjoy better travel protections when you charge your travel purchases to your card. The card’s ability to get 25% more value for your points when you book through Chase Travel℠ can further strengthen the value you get from all of your Ultimate Rewards® points.
