The Ink Business Preferred vs. Ink Business Unlimited Card [Detailed]
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Business credit cards serve the purpose of keeping personal and business expenses separated, tracking business spending trends, and making it easier to compile information at tax time. They are an even smarter choice if you can earn rewards on every purchase your business makes — rewards you can use to offset business travel expenses or even fund that annual family vacation.
Deciding which business credit card is a potential match for your business may present a more difficult decision.
Today we’re going to look at 2 very popular rewards earning Chase business credit cards, either of which could be a potential fit for your business operation. The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card each have their own strengths, but chances are, 1 card may be a better choice for your particular situation.
We’ll need to look closely at how each card earns rewards and whether earning categories match up with your business spending profile. We’ll also have to zero in on redemption values and then assess the benefits each card provides.
In the end, the overall package needs to make sense for your business — and that’s what we’ll attempt to uncover today.
Let’s look at all the attributes (and any downsides) of the Ink Business Preferred card and the Ink Business Unlimited card.
Table of contents
Table of Contents
Welcome Bonuses
The Value of a Welcome Bonus
The ability to earn a welcome bonus in the initial 3 months after card approval can result in significant value. Both the cards we’re comparing today offer welcome bonuses after meeting initial spending requirements.
Welcome bonuses can change, but let’s take a look at what you can generally expect with each card.
Ink Business Preferred Card
| Credit Card | Key Benefits & Info |
|---|---|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site) |
$2,000 Must Reads: For more info on the Ink Business Preferred, see our guides on its benefits, 7 things to do as a new cardholder, and our full review. This is our favorite Chase business credit card. |
Ultimate Rewards points earned on the Ink Business Preferred card can be redeemed for 1.25 cents per point on the Chase travel portal. While welcome bonuses can vary, a welcome bonus of 80,000 Ultimate Rewards points equates to a value of $1,000 when redeemed for travel.
It is possible to receive even greater value when transferring points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners.
Ink Business Unlimited Card
| Credit Card | Benefits & Info |
|---|---|
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site) |
Must Reads: For more info on the Ink Business Unlimited, see our guide on its benefits and our full review. This is one of several Chase business cards. |
One clarification to note is that the Ink Business Unlimited card is a cash-back card, but rewards are initially earned as Ultimate Rewards points that can later be exchanged for cash-back.
Ultimate Rewards points received when qualifying for the Ink Business Unlimited card’s welcome offer can be redeemed for 1 cent per point for cash-back or for travel via the Chase travel portal.
Points are also transferable to premium Chase credit cards where you can redeem points for greater value (up to 1.5 cents per point) and additionally utilize hotel and airline partners.
Earning and Redeeming Ultimate Rewards Points
Comparing Earning Potential
Both of these Chase credit cards earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points on every purchase you make.
Here’s how the Ink Business Preferred card and the Ink Business Unlimited card stack up against each other when we focus on earnings.
| Expense | Ink Business Preferred Card | Ink Business Unlimited Card |
| Travel | 3 points per dollar spent | 1.5% cash-back |
| Dining | 2 points per dollar spent | 1.5% cash-back |
| Office supply stores | 1 point per dollar spent | 1.5% cash-back |
| Internet service, cable, phone | 3 points per dollar spent | 1.5% cash-back |
| Advertising purchases with social media/search engines | 3 points per dollar spent | 1.5% cash-back |
| Shipping | 3 points per dollar spent | 1.5% cash-back |
| All other purchases | 1 point per dollar spent | 1.5% cash-back |
The Ink Business Preferred Card comes out ahead if your business spending is high in the specific bonus categories. There is, however, a $150,000 limit on total annual purchases in the 3 points per dollar bonus category.
For this reason, if you have significant spending exceeding $150,000 each card anniversary year or spending in categories that do not earn 3x on the Ink Business Preferred card, the Ink Business Unlimited card may be a better choice as the card does not limit earnings.
For example, if your business spending centers on buying equipment, office supplies, or other non-bonus categories, the unlimited 1.5% cash-back on the Ink Business Unlimited card could result in overall higher earnings.
Bottom Line: If your business spends a lot (but not significantly exceeding $150,000 in a card anniversary year) on travel, dining, internet/cable/phone service, shipping, and advertising on social media, the Ink Business Preferred card is the better choice for maximizing rewards earning.
Comparing Redemption Options
One unique feature of Chase Ultimate Rewards points is the ability to transfer points between accounts. This includes business credit card accounts as well as personal credit card accounts.
The transfer option is important because redemption values and transfer opportunities vary by card. Having the ability to transfer points between both business cards and personal cards allows you to maximize both earnings and redemptions.
Let’s look at the 2 business credit cards we’re focusing on today, plus 2 popular Chase personal credit cards to compare the difference in redemption values between Chase cards.
| Chase Credit Card | Value of Ultimate Rewards Points Redeemed as Cash-Back | Value of Ultimate Rewards Points Redeemed for Travel | Ability to Transfer Ultimate Rewards Points to Airline/Hotel Partners |
| Ink Business Preferred Card | 1 cent per point | 1.25 cents per point | Yes |
| Ink Business Unlimited Card | 1 cent per point | 1 cent per point | No |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 1 cent per point | 1.25 cents per point | Yes |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card | 1 cent per point | 1.5 cents per point | Yes |
Additional redemption options include redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for gift cards, Amazon purchases, merchandise, and Chase experiences.
Bottom Line: Receive more value for your Ultimate Rewards points (up to 1.5 cents per point) by redeeming your points on the Chase travel portal with premium Chase cards such as the Ink Business Preferred, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. These premium Chase credit cards also offer the opportunity to transfer points to airline and hotel partners for even greater value.
How the Cards Can Work Harmoniously Together
Fortunately, you don’t have to decide which card might be perfect for your business as Chase allows you to have more than 1 business card. With that said, Chase does have rules that limit whether you can be approved for their cards.
Securing both the Ink Business Preferred card and the Ink Business Unlimited card could ensure that every purchase you make will earn elevated rewards.
For example, using the Ink Business Unlimited card for office supplies and other purchases that earn just 1 point per dollar on the Ink Business Preferred card will allow you to earn 1.5% versus 1 point per dollar.
At redemption time, you can transfer any points earned on the Ink Business Unlimited card to the Ink Business Preferred card and redeem for a value of 1.25 cents per point on the Chase travel portal versus 1 cent per point. The Ink Business Preferred also allows you to transfer points for potentially greater to airline and hotel partners.
Bottom Line: Pairing the Ink Business Preferred card and Ink Business Unlimited card could result in maximizing both earning and redemption options. Since the Ink Business Unlimited card has no annual fee, you could receive this added value for no additional cost.
Hotel and Rental Car Program Benefits
Hotel Program Benefits
The Ink Business Preferred card and the Ink Business Unlimited card are Visa Signature cards, and as such, they offer several luxury hotel benefits.
Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
Both of our featured cards offer VIP benefits at over 900 properties worldwide in The Luxury Hotel Collection.
You’ll receive the following on-site benefits:
- Best available rate guarantee
- Room upgrades at check-in when available
- Complimentary daily breakfast for 2
- Free Wi-Fi
- $25 food/beverage credit
- Late checkout on request when available
- VIP guest status
Cardholders will also have access to special limited-time property benefits including third/fourth hotel night free offers, additional food/beverage credits, and other on-site property amenities.
OYO Hotels
When you reserve and pay for your OYO Hotel room with your Ink Business card, you can receive a discount of up to 30%. OYO and Visa have partnered to give Visa cardholders discounts at properties in over 800 cities. Use code VISAOYOHOTEL at checkout.
Rental Car Program Benefits
Both Ink Business credit cards offer car rental program discounts.
- Up to 15% off Silvercar rentals
- UP to 25% off base rates with Hertz or Avis
- 5% off Dollar or Thrifty car rentals
- 10% off Sixt car and truck rentals
This list is not a comprehensive list of Visa Signature benefits, just a sampling of some of the key hotel and car rental benefits.
Bottom Line: You’ll receive VIP hotel benefits and car rental discounts with both the Ink Business Preferred card and the Ink Business Unlimited card via the Visa Signature network.
Additional Benefits
Travel Benefits and Protections Offered on Both Cards
Both the Ink Business Preferred card and the Ink Business Unlimited card offer these valuable travel benefits and protections:
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver — Reserve and pay for your rental car with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW insurance, and receive primary rental car coverage for damage, theft, loss of use, and associated towing. Coverage is extended for business and personal use worldwide and business use within your country of residence.
- Baggage Insurance — Receive up to $3,000 if your baggage is lost, damaged, or stolen. Coverage is in excess of any carrier provided coverage.
- Baggage Delay — If your baggage is delayed 6 hours or more, you could receive up to $100/day for up to 3 days.
- Travel Accident Insurance — Receive up to $500,000 should a covered serious injury or death occur when traveling on a common carrier.
- Roadside Dispatch — 24/7 assistance for summoning emergency fuel, towing, tire change, or other covered roadside emergencies. The cardholder is responsible for the actual cost of services.
- Visa Signature Concierge Services — 24/7 assistance before and during your travels.
Additional Travel Benefits and Protections on the Ink Business Preferred Card
- Trip Interruption and Cancellation — Receive coverage before and during a covered trip for the cardholder and immediate family members. Covered events that cause cancellation or interruption may qualify for a benefit of up to $10,000 per incident, $20,000 total for all covered persons.
Shopping Benefits and Protections
Both the Ink Business Preferred card and the Ink Business Unlimited card come with purchase protection and extended warranty coverage.
- Purchase Protection — Purchase protection provides for replacement, repair, or reimbursement for a qualifying item purchased with your card for 120 days of coverage from the purchase date. Coverage is included for up to $10,000 per item, $50,000 per account.
- Extended Warranty — Purchase a qualifying item with your card or Ultimate Rewards points and the manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or less will be extended by 1 year. Coverage limits are $10,000 per item, $50,000 per account.
Additional Shopping Benefits and Protections on the Ink Business Preferred Card
The Ink Business Preferred card offers valuable cell phone coverage and does not charge foreign transaction fees.
- Cell Phone Protection — Receive coverage of $600 for cell phones damaged, stolen, or “involuntary and accidental parting” when service is paid for using your Ink Business Preferred card. Only phones listed on your bill will receive coverage. There is a $100 deductible per claim and a limit of 3 claims per year. Ink Business Unlimited card does not provide cell phone coverage.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees — Take your Ink Business Preferred card with you when you travel as it does not add foreign transaction fees. The Ink Business Unlimited card charges a 3% transaction fee on foreign purchases.
Please note that this is not an all-encompassing list of benefits, just key benefits for comparison purposes. We have also abbreviated coverage descriptions. For a complete list of benefits and to access the terms and conditions for each coverage, you’ll want to review the Guide to Benefits that comes with each card.
Bottom Line: Benefits such as cell phone protection, trip interruption/cancellation, and no foreign transaction fees make the Ink Business Preferred card a step above the Ink Business Unlimited card in the benefits and protections category.
The Introductory 0% APR Period Benefit
Introductory 0% APR periods can save you money when managed well. Credit cards offer these no-interest periods as incentives to make purchases or balance transfers to the card, generally in the initial 12-21 months after card approval.
During this period, no interest is charged on purchases and/or balance transfers depending on the terms of the offer.
The Ink Business Unlimited comes with a 0% APR period on purchases only for the first 12 months after card approval. After that, regular APR will apply.
| Credit Card | Benefits & Info |
|---|---|
| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site) |
Must Reads: For more info on the Ink Business Unlimited, see our guide on its benefits and our full review. This is one of several Chase business cards. |
This 0% APR period can save your business money by allowing you to make major purchases for your business and repay your balance over time without incurring interest charges.
The Ink Business Preferred card does not currently offer any special introductory 0% APR period offer.
Annual Fees and Adding Additional Users
Annual Fees
With a low annual fee, plenty of earning power, and several flexible redemption options, the Ink Business Preferred card can be a solid core credit card choice for any business.
The Ink Business Unlimited card, in contrast, has no annual fee but has no bonus earning categories and comes with a flat earning level of 1.5% on every purchase. It also lacks some of the additional benefits and protections found on the Ink Business Preferred card such as cell phone coverage and trip interruption/cancellation protection.
Adding Additional Users
There is no charge to add employees or other authorized users to either the Ink Business Preferred or the Ink Business Unlimited card.
Purchases made by authorized users on either card earn rewards that are deposited into the primary cardholder’s Ultimate Rewards account.
Authorized users can also take advantage of card benefits such as cell phone protection on the Ink Business Preferred and the primary car rental coverage that comes with both cards.
You can access current pricing, annual fees, welcome bonuses, and earning rates for the Ink Business Preferred card here, and the Ink Business Unlimited card here.
Final Thoughts
In most cases, the Ink Business Preferred card will come out ahead for the average business on earnings and for redemption value. However, supplementing the card with the Ink Business Unlimited could ensure that you’ll maximize earnings on both bonus and non-bonus categories.
Since the Ink Business Unlimited has no annual fee, it can offer this added value without any added expense. The card also comes with a 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months after card approval which could serve as a useful interest-free benefit for making needed business purchases.
You’ll, of course, want to review Chase’s 5/24 rule to determine your strategy if you’re applying for 2 Chase business credit cards.
Regardless of which Chase Ink Business card you select, if it aligns with your business spending and redemption preferences and offers usable benefits, the end result will be value-added to your business bottom line.
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There is an error. Dining is not 3x on the CIP.
Nice catch, Phil, thank you. The typo in the chart is corrected.