Chase Ink Business Preferred vs. Ink Business Unlimited: Which Ink card is best for your business?
The business credit card market is crowded with many great options. Deciding which is best for your business' needs can be difficult.
Chase has four small-business cards in the Ink family. The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) is a TPG favorite with a $95 annual fee, various perks and the ability to earn ultra-valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points that can be transferred to travel partners.
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees) is a no-annual-fee, cash-back card with an unlimited flat 1.5% earnings rate.
Let's look at both cards and dig deeper into which fits your business better.
Ink Business Preferred vs. Ink Business Unlimited comparison
| Ink Business Preferred | Ink Business Unlimited | |
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Annual fee | $95 | $0 |
Welcome offer | Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
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Ink Business Preferred vs. Ink Business Unlimited welcome offer
With the Ink Business Preferred, new applicants will earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Based on TPG's August 2024 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $2,050.
The Ink Business Unlimited offers new applicants $750 back after they spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account. If you hold a card that earns Ultimate Rewards points, you can use your cash-back rewards as points and transfer them to one of Chase's transfer partners.
It is important to note that both of these cards are subject to Chase's 5/24 rule.
Winner: Ink Business Preferred. This card offers a higher welcome offer.
Related: The power of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Preferred and Freedom Unlimited
Ink Business Preferred vs. Ink Business Unlimited benefits
Both cards share similar benefits regarding travel and purchase protections.
- Primary car rental coverage: If you use either card for the entire rental cost and travel for business purposes, you're covered for theft and damage in the U.S. and most countries worldwide. Remember that this doesn't offer liability coverage, but you are covered up to the actual cash value of the vehicle you're renting.
- Purchase protection: This policy covers new purchases for up to 120 days against damage or theft, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Extended warranty: This extends a U.S. manufacturer's warranty period by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Employee cards: Get additional cards for your employees at no cost.
The Ink Business Preferred has a few more notable benefits not included with the Ink Business Unlimited. These include:
- Cellphone protection: If you pay your monthly cellphone bill with your card and your cellphone is stolen or damaged, you can receive up to $1,000 per claim, with a $100 deductible — for up to three claims per year.
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: If you must cancel or cut a trip short because of a covered issue (such as illness or severe weather), you're eligible for up to $5,000 of coverage per person for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses, which provides great peace of mind when unexpected problems arise. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per trip.
It's also important to note that the Ink Business Unlimited has a 3% foreign transaction fee while the Ink Business Preferred has no foreign transaction fee, so if you travel internationally frequently, this is something to be mindful of.
Winner: The Ink Business Preferred. This card edges out the Ink Business Unlimited by including cellphone protection and trip cancellation/interruption insurance and lacking a foreign transaction fee.
Related: How to meet minimum spending on the Ink Business Preferred: $8,000 in 3 months
Earning rewards on the Ink Business Preferred vs. the Ink Business Unlimited
The Ink Business Preferred offers more bonus categories than the Ink Business Unlimited. As a cardholder, you'll earn 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027. You'll also earn 3 points per dollar on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per account year on:
- Travel
- Shipping purchases
- Internet, cable and phone services
- Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
On all other purchases or after you spend $150,000 combined in the above bonus categories, you'll earn 1 point per dollar spent.
Since Chase Ultimate Rewards are worth 2.05 cents per point, based on TPG's valuations, you're earning a 6.15% return on your category bonus purchases and a 2.05% return on all other purchases.
As for the Ink Business Unlimited, cardholders earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027 and a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no spending cap.
Winner: The Ink Business Preferred. This card allows you to earn bonus rewards in more categories.
Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value
Redeeming rewards on the Ink Business Preferred vs. the Ink Business Unlimited
Even though both cards are in the Ink family, their redemption options are very different.
With the Ink Business Preferred, you can redeem your points in three ways. You can redeem them for cash back, where your points are worth 1 cent apiece. You can also use them for travel in two different ways.
You can either redeem points toward travel through the Chase travel portal, where points are worth up to 1.75 cents each, depending on the specific redemption (see your rewards program agreement for full details), or transfer them to one of Chase's 14 valuable airline and hotel transfer partners at a 1:1 ratio.
With the Ink Business Unlimited, you can redeem your points for cash back, gift cards or travel through Chase Travel.
Suppose you want to take advantage of Chase's transfer partners. In that case, you must combine your rewards from the Ink Business Unlimited with a full-fledged Ultimate Rewards-earning card like the Ink Business Preferred, the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Winner: The Ink Business Preferred. Both cards can redeem rewards for cash back or travel through Chase Travel, but the Ink Business Preferred doesn't require you to carry another card to access Chase's travel partners.
Related: Why I chose the Ink Business Preferred over the Chase Sapphire Reserve
Should I get the Ink Business Preferred or the Ink Business Unlimited?
If you spend a lot on bonus categories such as advertising or shipping and want to utilize Chase's transfer partners, the Ink Business Preferred is a great option to help you maximize your rewards-earning potential. If you want a one-card setup and don't want to worry about bonus categories, I recommend the Ink Business Unlimited with its flat unlimited cash-back earnings instead.
Bottom line
Both cards are solid options; it comes down to your business' needs. Both offer various travel and purchase protections and the ability to earn valuable points or cash back, so your business can't go wrong with either.
Choose the Ink Business Preferred if you want to maximize earnings with bonus categories or the Ink Business Unlimited if you want a simplified approach with a flat cash-back rate.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Ink Business Preferred and the Ink Business Unlimited.
Learn more: Ink Business Preferred
Apply here: Ink Business Unlimited
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees