There are numerous business credit cards available on the market, making it difficult to decide which card is the best. Regular Chase customers or those looking to apply for a Chase credit card can choose from four business credit cards, all of which bear the Ink Business name.
If you need a business credit card, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card are two compelling options.
Both cards are solid offerings, and depending on your business purchases, you may benefit more from one than the other. Let’s find out what sets these cards apart and which card might be the right choice for you.
Comparison between Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash
| Ink Business Unlimited | ink, business, cash | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer |
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| Bonus categories |
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| Redemption options | Cashback and various redemptions in the Chase portal, such as travel and gift cards | Cashback and various redemptions in the Chase portal, such as travel and gift cards |
| Card benefits |
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Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash Welcome Offer
With Ink Business Unlimited, you’ll earn $750 cash back when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Ink Business Cash offers a tiered welcome bonus offer with $350 cash back when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening and an additional $400 cash back when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
New cardholders will also receive an additional 10% cash back on their first card anniversary if they have a Chase Business Checking account. This part of the offer is only valid for those who opened a Chase Business Checking account between March and November 2024.
When you try to open one of the cards, you will be subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule, but since they are store cards, they will not count toward the 5/24 rule for you.
Related Topics: The Power of the Chase Trifecta
Winner: Ink Business Cash. The opportunity to earn an additional 10% cash back makes it a better deal.
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Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash Benefits
Neither Ink Business Unlimited nor Ink Business Cash offer account credits or travel discounts. This is not unusual for cards with no annual fee.
Both cards offer the same purchase and rental car protection benefits. With both cards you get:
- Purchase protection: If an eligible item is damaged or stolen within the first 120 days of purchase, you are covered up to $10,000 per claim ($50,000 per account).
- Primary insurance coverage for rental cars: If you use one of the cards for the entire rental cost and are traveling for business, you are covered against theft and damage in the U.S. and most countries worldwide. Remember, this does not provide liability protection, but you are covered up to the actual cash value of the vehicle you rent.
- Extended warranty protection: Purchases with a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less receive an additional year of warranty. This can be extremely helpful if an item stops working shortly after the warranty expires.
Other than these, none of the cards have any other outstanding benefits, so if you’re looking to book travel with this card, consider the cards you already have in your wallet first.
Winner: Draw. Both cards offer the same advantages.
Earn cashback with Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash
The Ink Business Unlimited offers a simple earning rate of 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025.
The card is suitable for companies with purchases in different categories and gives them an additional 0.5% cashback compared to other cards that offer 1% cashback on purchases outside the bonus categories.
On the other hand, with Ink Business Cash, you’ll earn 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services (on the first $25,000 spent on combined purchases during each account anniversary year), 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on the first $25,000 spent on combined purchases during each account anniversary year), and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
As a new Ink Business Cash cardholder, you’ll receive an additional 10% cash back on your first card anniversary if you have a Chase Business Checking account.
This is a useful earning rate for the first year, but as the card is only for business account holders, you should open a business account before applying for the card. Note that you will only be eligible if your Ink Business Cash is opened between March and November 2024.
If your business has significant spending in Ink Business Cash’s bonus categories, applying for the card is a no-brainer. However, if your business purchases fluctuate from month to month or if you make purchases in a variety of categories, you’re better off with Ink Business Unlimited.
Winner: Ink Business Cash. Its bonus categories and the ability to get 10% extra cash back on your card’s first anniversary make it the winner here.
Redeeming Cashback on Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash
Both cards earn cash back that can be redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for cash back or other rewards such as account credits, gift cards and travel through Chase Travel℠.
There is a more lucrative way to redeem cashback, which we discuss below.
Winner: Tie. Both cards offer the same redemption options.
Transferring Rewards with Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash
If you are also a cardholder with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can transfer rewards earned with Ink Business Unlimited or Ink Business Cash to that card.
From there, you can take advantage of Chase’s 14 transfer partners and redeem your rewards for award tickets or hotel stays.
As an Ink Business Cash cardholder, I transfer my rewards to my Sapphire Reserve, which then allows me to transfer them to partners such as Air Canada Aeroplan and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
I recently had to fund my Sapphire Reserve account before I could transfer points to Aeroplan, and the process of transferring the rewards was easy. I logged into my account and transferred the rewards, which happened instantly.
Should I buy Ink Business Unlimited or Ink Business Cash?
If your business has spending within the Ink Business Cash’s bonus categories and spending caps, this is an easy card choice as it allows you to maximize your rewards earnings. On the other hand, if you make purchases across multiple categories and don’t want to be burdened by spending caps on bonus category spending, Ink Business Unlimited and its 1.5% cash back rate are a better fit for you.
How to switch from Ink Business Unlimited to Ink Business Cash
It is possible to switch between Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash or vice versa. To switch products, call the customer service phone number on the back of the card and speak to a representative.
However, it is possible to open both cards, so your business can take advantage of the Ink Business Cash’s bonus categories on some purchases and the Ink Business Unlimited’s fixed 1.5% cashback on all other purchases. Remember that if you switch products from one card to the other, you will no longer be able to take advantage of that card’s welcome offer, so I recommend opening both cards instead.
Conclusion
Chase’s lineup of Ink Business cards can be confusing, but Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash are both cash back cards for business owners. While you may feel limited by just cash back, if you have a credit card with Ultimate Rewards credit, you can easily use the rewards you earn with both cards for travel with Chase’s transfer partners.
If your business wants to benefit from the bonus categories, Ink Business Cash is the right choice. Otherwise, opt for Ink Business Unlimited to benefit from the flat 1.5% cashback rate.
To learn more, read our full reviews of Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash.
Apply here: Ink Business Unlimited
Apply here: Ink Business Cash
Related: Ink Business Unlimited vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited
