The 9 Best Business Credit Cards for Paying Cell Phone Bills January 2024

Mobile technology has become necessary in today’s fast-paced, connected environment. Many businesses have even eliminated landlines altogether and transitioned to operating their businesses solely from a smartphone. Consumers have transitioned as well. In fact, the Pew Research Center has found that 97% of all Americans now own a cell phone.

There’s no doubt that cell phones rule our world — but wireless technology can be expensive. According to the research firm J.D. Power, the average unlimited data cell phone bill has reached $157 per month. That comes out to nearly $500 a month in a household with just 3 smartphones! And, if you own a business (even a small one), your cell phone bill may well exceed those average numbers each month.

So, if you’re spending that much for your business’ cell phone service, did you know that you could leverage that expense to earn rewards for paying your cell phone bill and, in some instances, receive cell phone insurance protection?

In this article, we’ll cover how to earn rewards when paying your cell phone bill, which business credit cards offer levels of cell phone protection, and how purchase protection and extended warranty coverage work for limited cell phone protection. Let’s take a look!

Best Business Credit Cards for Paying Your Cell Phone Bill — Overview

As you’ll see in the article, some cards offer great earnings when paying your cell phone bill with your card, while others provide cell phone protection. It’s rare to find a card that offers both.

Here’s how our featured cards stack up when paying your cell phone bill.

This is just a sampling of business credit cards that may be a consideration for paying your cell phone bill. If you want to learn more about maximizing rewards in other areas of your business spending, don’t miss our piece on how to maximize rewards from your business purchases.

Card	Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee	Cell Phone Protection and Earnings on Cell Phone Services
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card	NEW OFFER: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $95	Up to $1,000 per claim, a limit of 3 claims per 12-month period, $100 deductible per claim Extended warranty, purchase protection 3x points on cell phone services
American Express® Business Gold Card	Earn 70,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $375 (rates & fees)	Up to $800 per claim, a limit of 2 claims per 12-month period, $50 deductible per claim. Extended warranty, purchase protection 4x points on your top 2 spending categories, including monthly wireless service charges, up to $150,000 annually
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card	Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Annual fee of $0	Extended warranty, purchase protection 5x points on cell phone services
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card	Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months. Annual fee of $0 (rates & fees)	Extended warranty, purchase protection 2% cash-back on cell phone services
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	Earn 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)	Up to $800 per claim, a limit of 2 claims per 12-month period, $50 deductible per claim Extended warranty, purchase protection 1x points on cell phone services
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card	Earn 75,000 miles after spending $10,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)	Up to $800 per claim, a limit of 2 claims per 12-month period, $50 deductible per claim Extended warranty, purchase protection 1x miles on cell phone services
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card	Earn 65,000 miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Annual fee of $350 (rates & fees)	Up to $800 per claim, a limit of 2 claims per 12-month period, $50 deductible per claim Extended warranty, purchase protection 1x miles on cell phone services
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card	Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $0	Extended warranty, purchase protection 1.5% cash-back on cell phone services
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express	Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. Annual fee of $0 (rates & fees)	Extended warranty, purchase protection 2x points on cell phone services

The Best Overall Business Credit Card for Paying Your Cell Phone Bill

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

Aside from being one of the best overall business credit cards, the Ink Business Preferred card shines as the go-to credit card for paying your monthly cell phone bill.

You’ll not only earn 3 valuable Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on your monthly wireless bill, but you’ll also receive ongoing cell phone insurance protection!

Just pay your monthly wireless bill with the card (you can set up automatic payments), and you’ll start earning Ultimate Rewards points, plus be eligible for protection.

You’ll receive up to $1,000 in coverage if your phone is accidentally damaged, stolen, or if “involuntary and accidental parting” occurs. Your employees’ cell phones are also covered if the lines are listed on your monthly cell phone bill.

Here’s everything else you need to know about Chase cell phone protection:

• To be eligible, you must charge your monthly cell phone bill on your Ink Business Preferred card
• Coverage is supplemental to other insurance, such as homeowners/renters policies or your wireless phone insurance program.
• Up to $1,000 coverage is provided per claim after a $100 deductible
• 3 claims are allowed within every 12-month period ($1,800 total)
• You will need to report the incident within 60 days from the date it occurred

You may qualify for additional cell phone repair or replacement coverage with the extended warranty protection or purchase protection that comes with the Ink Business Preferred card.

Here’s a summary of cell-phone-related benefits of the Ink Business Preferred:

• 3x Earnings — Points are earned and then deposited into your Ultimate Rewards account after each statement closes.
• Chase Cell Phone Protection — Pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card and receive protection up to $1,000.
• Purchase Protection — Pay for your phone in full or in part with your card (even if it’s a gift), and get 120 days of coverage for theft and damage from the date of purchase.
• Extended Warranty — This protection extends the manufacturer’s warranty length (3 years or less) by an additional year.

How To File a Claim for Chase Cell Phone Protection

Chase cell phone protection covers your phone if it is damaged, stolen, or if “involuntary and accidental parting” occurs.

You can initiate a claim by calling 888-320-9956 or by calling the number on the back of your credit card to be directed to the claims administrator.

Note that you must call within 60 days of the incident and submit a completed claim form with supporting documents within 90 days of the incident.

Supporting documentation that could be requested includes:

• A copy of your credit card statement reflecting that you were paying for the cell phone service during the time of the incident
• An itemized receipt if you purchased a replacement phone
• A copy of the police report if the phone was stolen (must report within 48 hours of the incident)
• Itemized estimate for repair of the cell phone if it was damaged
• Other requested documents related to substantiating the claim

If your claim is approved, you may receive the lesser of $600 (after a $100 deductible) or the cost of the replacement phone minus the $100 deductible.

Notable exclusions for Chase cell phone protection include:

• Cell phone accessories
• Phones purchased for resale
• Theft from checked baggage on a common carrier
• Mysterious disappearance

If you purchased your cell phone with your Ink Business Preferred card, you may have coverage for damage or theft under Chase’s purchase protection. Additionally, you may find the manufacturer’s warranty-related protection under the Chase extended warranty benefit.

For more information on cell phone protection, the extended warranty benefit, and purchase protection, access the Ink Business Preferred card’s benefits guide.

Bottom Line: Don’t select the Ink Business Preferred card just because of its unique cell phone benefits — it’s also a solid Ultimate Rewards-earning business card that earns 3 points per dollar on common business spending categories. 

Best Business Cards for Earning Rewards on Cell Phone Bills

If you’re just starting out in business, chances are you could use additional cash added to your bottom line.

Here’s a look at 3 cards that will allow you to earn big rewards by using them to pay your cell phone bill.

American Express^® Business Gold Card

This card earns 4x Membership Rewards points on the top 2 categories in which your business spends the most every month (up to $150,000 in combined purchases every calendar year):

• NEW! Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
• NEW! U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
• NEW! Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
• U.S. purchases at gas stations
• U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)

One of those 4x-earning categories happens to be monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a U.S.-based cellular provider.  There’s a $150,000 cap on 4x earnings in your top 2 spending categories — after that threshold is surpassed, you’ll earn 1x point per dollar spent.

In addition to elevated earnings, the Amex Business Gold card offers the following:

• Cell Phone Protection — Receive up to $1,600 in cell phone protection each year. Coverage includes cosmetic damage, including cracked screens. Cardmembers can make 2 claims per year for themselves or an employee phone. Each claim covers up to $800 in damages after paying a $50 deductible. To receive coverage, your monthly cell phone bill must be paid with your Amex Business Gold card.
• Extended Warranty — Receive an additional year of warranty for products purchased in full or in part with your Amex Business Gold card when the manufacturer’s warranty is 5 years or less. The coverage provided matches that of the original warranty and is in excess of other insurance.
• Purchase Protection — Charge any portion of your new phone with your card and receive 90 days of protection against damage or theft for up to $1,000 per occurrence.
• Amex Offers — Amex Offers can be found on your online account home page. These offers often include statement credits or bonus Membership Rewards points earnings when spending at wireless providers such as AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and others. You can save hundreds of dollars thanks to these targeted offers.

Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card

With the Ink Business Cash card, you’ll earn a generous 5% cash-back on your monthly cell phone bill.

Internet, cable, phone services, and office supplies are all 5% bonus spending categories where you can earn cash back on up to $25,000 in total purchases each year.

While the Ink Business Cash card does not provide cell phone protection coverage, it offers extended warranty and purchase protection that may provide additional, yet limited, coverage.

Let’s summarize the relevant benefits of the Ink Business Cash card as they relate to your cell phone:

• 5% Cash-Back Earnings — Cash-back is earned in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed for cash-back or transferred to premium Chase credit cards and redeemed for up to 50% more in value. Points could also then be transferred to airline and hotel partners for even greater potential value.
• Purchase Protection — If you purchased your cell phone (in full or in part) with the Ink Business Cash card, you may qualify for Chase purchase protection, covering your purchase for 120 days from the purchase date for damage and theft.
• Extended Warranty — Extended warranty coverage on the Ink Business Cash card will add an additional 1 year of warranty to the manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or less.
• 0% APR on Purchases —Additionally, the Ink Business Cash card comes with an introductory 12-month 0% APR that would allow you to purchase your phone and pay for it over time with no interest charges. Regular APR, as indicated in the table above, applies after the introductory period lapses.

Bottom Line: For bonus cash-back upfront and ongoing earnings for business expenses, the Ink Business Cash card makes a fine choice for a small business card, both for purchasing your cell phone and paying your monthly cell phone bill. 

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

The Amex Blue Business Cash card stands up to the competition with 2% cash back on every eligible purchase you make, including standard business expenses such as wireless phone services and office supplies, up to $50,000 per year (1% thereafter).

The card also comes with purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, an introductory 0% APR period on purchases (see table above for the regular APR after this introductory period), and periodic Amex Offers.

Here’s what you’ll get with the Amex Blue Business Cash card:

• 2% Cash-Back Earnings — Cash-back is automatically applied as a statement credit on subsequent monthly billing statements.
• Purchase Protection — Charge any portion of your new phone with your card and receive 90 days of protection against damage or theft for up to $1,000 per occurrence.
• Extended Warranty — Extended warranty coverage will provide an additional year of warranty for products purchased in full or in part with your Amex Blue Business Cash card when the manufacturer’s warranty is 5 years or less. The coverage provided matches that of the original warranty and is in excess of other insurance.
• Introductory 0% APR for Purchases — Need to purchase several cell phones for your employees? Utilize the 0% APR period for 12 months from the account opening date to make your large purchase (rates & fees).
• Amex Offers — Amex Offers can be found on your online account home page. These offers often include statement credits or bonus Membership Rewards points earnings when spending at wireless providers such as AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and others. You can save hundreds of dollars on these targeted offers.

Bottom Line: The Amex Blue Business Cash card packs a lot of value. With 2% cash-back earnings on all your business expenses (up to $50,000) — including cell phone services and purchases — it’s also a good choice for paying your cell phone bill. Just remember that once you max out the $50,000, you’ll earn just 1%.

Additional Business Credit Cards for Paying Your Cell Phone Bill

When it comes to paying your cell phone bill with your credit card, you may have to decide whether you value earnings or cell phone protection, as most cards don’t offer both.

Here are some additional cards that provide either protection or decent earnings on your cell phone expenses.

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

While the Amex Business Platinum card offers just 1x earnings for cell phone expenses, you will find valuable cell phone protection when your bill is paid each month with the card.

The Amex cell phone protection covers up to $800 per claim for damage or theft. There is a limit of 2 claims per 12-month period and a $50 deductible per claim. Leased, borrowed, rented, or prepaid phones are excluded.

Hot Tip: To learn more about Amex cell phone coverage, how it works, how to file a claim, and which cards offer it, check out our overview of this benefit.

Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card

With the same cell phone protection as the Amex Business Platinum card, these Delta Branded business cards could be appropriate choices if your business involves frequent travel on Delta Air Lines.

You will earn 1 mile per dollar spent on cell phone expenses with either Delta-branded business card.

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

Straightforward earnings of 1.5% cash-back on every purchase make the Ink Business Unlimited card another option for paying your business cell phone bill.

Add in the benefit of purchase protection, extended warranty, and 0% APR on purchases for 12 months (regular APR, as indicated in the table above, applies after the introductory period) — and you’ll see some familiar related benefits for cell phone users.

Additional value can be realized when transferring the Ultimate Rewards points earned on this card to Chase premium credit cards for up to 50% more value.

Hot Tip: If you decide you’d rather pay with a personal card, check out these personal credit cards for paying your cell phone bill.

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Earning valuable Membership Rewards points when paying your cell phone bill is a positive, but this card will also earn 2x points on everyday business purchases, up to $50,000 per year. After that, you’ll receive 1x earnings.

In addition to earning 2x points per dollar spent, you’ll enjoy American Express purchase protection and extended warranty benefits.

Final Thoughts

It wouldn’t be prudent to select a business credit card based solely on cell phone benefits, but ensuring you’re paying your cell phone bill with a card that earns rewards (and ideally offers some level of protection) does make sense.

If cell phone services are a significant expense to your business, the Ink Business Preferred card or the Amex Business Gold card may be your best choice for both earning rewards and receiving ongoing protection for you and your employee’s phone service paid for with the card.

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For the cell phone protection benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the purchase protection benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. 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.

For the extended warranty benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. 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.

For the purchase protection benefit of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase with their eligible card, purchase protection can help protect their covered purchases for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. 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.

For the extended warranty benefit of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. 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.

For the cell phone protection benefit of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express, 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.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express, 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.