Ink Business Unlimited vs. Spark Cash Select: Which simple business cash-back card wins?
As a business owner myself, I've spent more brain power than I'd like to admit thinking about which credit cards can help me get more out of my business spending.
Two cards that often come up when you're looking for a simple, no-annual-fee business card are the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and Capital One Spark Cash Select — and it's easy to see why they're competitors.
Both keep earning simple, offer tools and benefits for business owners and don't charge an annual fee. At the end of the day, though, the Ink Business Unlimited has an edge for most business owners, especially if you can pair it with an eligible Chase Ultimate Rewards card.
I've already put more thought into business credit cards than any reasonable person should, so let me break it down for you.
Ink Business Unlimited vs. Spark Cash Select: At a glance
| Ink Business Unlimited | Capital One Spark Cash Select | |
|---|---|---|
Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
Welcome bonus | Earn $1,000 cash back after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening. | Earn a one-time $750 cash bonus after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
Employee card fee | $0 | $0 |
Base earning rate | Unlimited 1.5% cash back | Unlimited 1.5% cash back |
Quick picks by business type
| Best for ... | Card |
|---|---|
Business owners who already earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points | Ink Business Unlimited |
Those who want more time to finance a large purchase | Ink Business Unlimited |
Those who already earn Capital One miles | Capital One Spark Cash Select |
Those who make purchases abroad | Capital One Spark Cash Select |
Ink Business Unlimited vs. Spark Cash Select: Welcome bonus
The Ink Business Unlimited currently offers $1,000 cash back after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first four months after account opening. The Spark Cash Select offers a one-time $750 cash bonus after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
The Ink's bonus is $250 higher, but you'll need to spend an additional $2,000 to earn it. If that level of spending is already normal for your business, the extra $250 is an easy win. But don't spend more than you otherwise would just to chase a bigger bonus.
Eligibility is important to consider, too. Chase's application terms say the Ink Business Unlimited bonus may not be available if you've ever had this card or another no-annual-fee Chase business card.
Meanwhile, Capital One states that the bonus may not be available to existing or previous Capital One Business cardholders.
Winner: Ink Business Unlimited. Assuming you can comfortably meet the higher spending requirement, the extra $250 makes it the better offer.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
Ink Business Unlimited vs. Spark Cash Select: Benefits
Neither card is going to wow you with a long list of amazing perks — but that's hardly a surprise for a business card with no annual fee.
However, both options offer more protection than you might expect, including extended warranty coverage and rental car insurance.
| Benefit | Ink Business Unlimited | Capital One Spark Cash Select |
|---|---|---|
Employee cards | No additional cost | No additional cost |
Auto rental coverage | Primary for business rentals; up to $60,000 for most eligible vehicles | Primary for eligible business and international rentals* |
Purchase protection | Up to $10,000 per item for 120 days; $50,000 annual account limit | Up to $10,000 per item for 90 days; $50,000 annual account limit* |
Extended warranty protection | Adds one year to eligible warranties of three years or less | Doubles eligible warranties of 12 months or less, up to one additional year* |
Roadside assistance | Yes; cardholder pays for services | Yes; cardholder pays for services |
Foreign transaction fee | 3% | None |
*Capital One Mastercard benefits are subject to issuer participation. Check your card's Guide to Benefits for applicable coverage.
There's quite a bit of overlap between the two cards. Both offer extended warranty protection, purchase protection and rental car coverage, although the exact terms and coverage limits differ.
The Ink Business Unlimited has an edge on purchase protection. Eligible purchases are covered against damage or theft for 120 days (up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per account per year), whereas the Spark Cash Select only covers up to 90 days (with the same limits).
The rental car comparison is closer than it first appears. Ink provides primary coverage when renting for business purposes, with reimbursement of up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage for most eligible vehicles. Depending on your card's applicable Mastercard benefits, Spark's MasterRental coverage can also be primary for eligible business rentals and rentals outside your home country. With primary coverage, you shouldn't have to file a claim with your personal auto insurer first.
Spark, meanwhile, has an advantage if your business takes you abroad. It charges no foreign transaction fees, compared with 3% on the Ink Business Unlimited.
Winner: Tie. Ink offers longer purchase protection and straightforward primary rental car coverage for eligible business rentals, while Spark counters with competitive protections and no foreign transaction fees.
Related: Why nearly every purchase should be on a credit card
How to earn and redeem rewards with the Ink Business Unlimited vs. Spark Cash Select
At first glance, there's not much separating these cards when it comes to earning rewards. Both earn at least 1.5% back on everyday purchases, with no spending caps to track.
| Purchase | Ink Business Unlimited | Capital One Spark Cash Select |
|---|---|---|
Everyday purchases | 1.5% cash back | 1.5% cash back |
Lyft rides | 5% cash back through (Sept. 30, 2027) | 1.5% cash back |
Hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel | 1.5% cash back | 5% cash back |
The Spark Cash Select has the edge on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel, earning 5% cash back.
The Ink Business Unlimited has a 5% category for Lyft rides through (Sept. 30, 2027), but it's a temporary perk with a much narrower use case.
Winner on earning: Spark Cash Select. Both cards earn the same 1.5% on everyday purchases, but Spark's 5% return on Capital One Business Travel bookings gives it a leg up.
Redeeming rewards
Cash back is the easiest way to use rewards with either card. But if you're willing to do a little more work, both cards have the potential to become much more useful for travel.
You can convert the cash back you earn on the Ink Business Unlimited to points with an eligible Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) or Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees). Doing so lets you transfer those points to Chase's airline and hotel partners.
The Spark Cash Select works similarly. If you have an eligible Capital One miles-earning card, you can convert your cash back into Capital One miles and transfer those miles to Capital One's airline and hotel partners.
Neither program is automatically better for travel, either. Chase and Capital One have different airline and hotel transfer partners, so the better option depends largely on which programs you actually use.
If you already earn rewards with Chase or Capital One, that's an even stronger reason to stick with the same program and combine your rewards rather than starting from scratch with the other.
Winner on redeeming: Tie. Both cards make cash back easy, while pairing either with an eligible card can open the door to transferable travel rewards.
Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable credit card points
Can I have both the Ink Business Unlimited and Spark Cash Select?
Yes. Since one card is issued by Chase and the other by Capital One, there's nothing stopping you from holding both. But you'll still need to qualify for each card individually.
For the Ink Business Unlimited, keep Chase's 5/24 rule in mind. You'll need to be under 5/24 to qualify, though most business cards won't count toward your 5/24 total.
Capital One doesn't have a publicly stated rule comparable to Chase's 5/24 rule, but you'll still need to meet the issuer's current application requirements to qualify for the Spark Cash Select.
But do you actually need both? Probably not. Since both earn at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases, there's a lot of overlap. And with several cash-back cards earning 2% on everyday spending, neither is the strongest choice based on its base earning rate alone.
These cards are a better fit if you value simplicity, want to avoid an annual fee or already earn rewards with Chase or Capital One.
But if you're starting from scratch, I'd look at options like the Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card (see rates and fees), which earns 2% cash rewards on purchases, or the The American Express Blue Business Cash® Card, which earns 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% back on all purchases).
Related: The best business credit cards to add to your wallet
Should I get the Ink Business Unlimited or Spark Cash Select?
Choose the Ink Business Unlimited if you already have or want to get a Chase Ultimate Rewards-points earning credit card.
Choose the Spark Cash Select if you regularly make international purchases or book hotels and rental cars through Capital One Business Travel. It's also a natural fit if you already have a Capital One travel card and can combine your rewards for more redemption options.
Related: Your guide to the Chase Ink Business credit cards
Bottom line
After weighing it all, Chase's Ink Business Unlimited comes out ahead, but just barely. Its useful protections and the potential to get more from your rewards by pairing it with another Ultimate Rewards card give it the edge.
Still, Capital One's Spark Cash Select puts up a good fight. With no foreign transaction fees and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel, it could be the better fit for some business owners.
To learn more, read our full review of the Ink Business Unlimited and our full review of the Capital One Spark Cash Select.
Apply here: Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
Learn more: Capital One Spark Cash Select
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.