Ink Business Preferred Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Card [Detailed Comparison]

Chase issues a dynamic collection of travel rewards credit cards. Whether you travel mostly for business, take a few family vacations each year, or a mix of both, you’ll find a Chase card that supports your unique travel profile.

The 2 Chase travel rewards cards we’re comparing today are some of the best Chase has to offer. You’ll find that both cards earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points, have elevated earnings on travel, and deliver up to 50% more value at redemption time.

While the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is a Chase business credit card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is a personal credit card, we’ll tell you why they should both be contenders for consideration as your next travel rewards card. We’ll also explain how they can potentially work harmoniously together.

But let’s first talk about some differences between business credit cards and personal credit cards, in an effort to clarify which best fits your situation.

Let’s get started on the path to discovering the features and benefits of the Ink Business Preferred card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Overview

Business Credit Cards vs. Personal Credit Cards

You may not think you need a business credit card. Perhaps you’ve been doing just fine with your personal credit card running your small business. You may even be satisfied with having a separate personal card you use solely for business purposes.

If you have business activity, even with little cash flow, a business credit card can offer advantages over a personal credit card.

Pros of Running Your Business With a Business Card

Keep Expenses Separated — A primary reason for securing a business card is to keep personal and business expenses separate. Business credit cards come with organizational, management, and financial tools that personal credit cards may not offer.

Organization and Support at Tax Time — Business credit cards come with annual reports that break down your spending. When it comes time to file your taxes, having all your business expenses well-organized will make filing easier. You’ll also have supporting records should you face an audit.

Fund the Growth of Your Business — As your business grows, you may need emergency funding to purchase that next piece of equipment or cover a major expense. Business cards often offer a solution in the form of a short-term loan for financing a large expense.

Business Cards Have More Spending Power — Business credit cards generally have higher spending or credit limits than personal credit cards and allow you to add employees to your card so you can track all of your business’s spending.

Rewards — Earning rewards on all your business spending allows you to put that income back into your business or use rewards to offset travel expenses. Business credit cards often offer higher rewards earning on business category expenses.

Build Your Business Credit History — Initially, your personal credit plays a key role in whether you will be approved for a business credit card. This is because you will be personally responsible for the debt. Over time, your business can establish its own credit history.

The Difference in Protections — Personal credit cards are covered under the CARD Act of 2009 which limits APR increases and fraud liability. While business credit cards are not covered under the act, many issuers have altered their policies positively.

Bottom Line: There are many prudent reasons to have a business credit card, including separating business expenses from personal expenses, having higher credit limits, earning rewards on business purchases, and building your business credit history.

Who Qualifies for a Business Credit Card

You don’t have to be a corporate entity or have hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash flow to qualify for a business credit card. In fact, even the IRS recognizes that a small operation can qualify as a business by its own definition:

“A trade or business generally is an activity carried on to make a profit. You do not need to actually make a profit to be in a trade or business as long as you have a profit motive.”

With this statement as a guideline for what constitutes a business, activities such as part-time coaching, selling your artwork, repairing bicycles, or any other business pursuit, regardless of the size, may qualify. If you have a business activity and good credit, you could potentially qualify for a business credit card.

To learn more about business credit cards and to get tips on how to apply, access our complete guide to the best credit cards for small businesses.

The Value of a Welcome Bonus

Ink Business Preferred Card

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

Welcome Offer

Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

90,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,800

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.49% - 26.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
• Cell phone protection
• Purchase protection

Cons

• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% - 26.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Ink Business Preferred card allows you to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for 1.25 cents per point on the Chase travel portal. With this valuation, here’s an example: a welcome bonus of 100,000 points could be worth $1,250 when redeemed for travel.

You could receive even higher value by transferring points to airline and hotel partners.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.74% - 28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.74% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Welcome bonuses are ever-changing but you can count on each Ultimate Rewards point to be worth at least 1.5 cents when redeemed for travel via the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. A 50,000-point welcome bonus would equate to $750 in travel value.

And, like the Ink Business Preferred card, you may receive higher value by transferring points to the Chase travel partners.

Earning Potential

Both the Ink Business Preferred card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points. Ultimate Rewards points are valuable because of their redemption flexibility, which we’ll explain shortly.

Let’s first take a look at how you earn points on these 2 travel rewards cards.

Earning 3x points on travel is a significant feature of these cards because Chase’s definition of travel is very broad. Included in the travel category are merchants and purchases such as airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, cruise lines, tolls, travel agencies, discount travel sites, transit providers, sightseeing activities, and much more.

Bottom Line: Whether you travel for business or pleasure, you’ll realize 3x earnings on all your travel purchases with either the Ink Business Preferred card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Since Chase defines travel quite broadly, it’s easy to accumulate rewards for these purchases. 

Redemption Options

At redemption time, you’ll have several options for your Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

For examples of the best ways to redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you’ll want to look at our list of creative options.

Bottom Line: Both the Ink Business Preferred card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offer several flexible redemption options. You can redeem points for up to 1.5 cents per point on the Chase travel portal, transfer points to travel partners, and even receive 1 cent per point in value as a statement credit. 

How the Cards Can Work Together Harmoniously

One advantage of earning Ultimate Rewards points is their flexibility. You’ll realize this flexibility at redemption time but another useful feature is that points earned on 1 card can be transferred to another Ultimate Rewards-earning card.

Points earned on the Ink Business Preferred card can be redeemed for 1.25 cents per point on Chase Travel. However, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you can transfer points to that card and redeem them for 1.5 cents per point.

Additionally, if you have a lot of business travel expenses, you can earn big on the Ink Business Preferred card but still take advantage of the worldwide access to over 1,400 Priority Pass lounges that comes with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Both cards offer the advantage of transferring Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners.

Of course, Chase does have some rules when it comes to applying for their cards. You’ll want to review Chase’s 5/24 requirements prior to applying for any Chase card.

Now, with the possibility of having both cards on your mind, let’s look at the benefits each card has to offer.

Statement Credits

The Ink Business Preferred does not offer any statement credits for specific purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers several statement credits:

• Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck (as of October 1, 2024)
• $300 statement credit each calendar year for travel purchases

The $300 travel statement credit offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is easy to use as travel is defined broadly to include most travel categories.

Airport Lounge Access

Ink Business Preferred Card

The Ink Business Preferred card does not offer any complimentary airport lounge membership.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

Having access to a comfortable airport lounge when you’re traveling is a welcome benefit. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers complimentary access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.

Enjoy complimentary access for yourself plus up to 2 additional guests. Subsequent guests can enter at a cost of $27 each, per visit.

Hotel Program Privileges

Ink Business Preferred Card

Book your hotel directly through the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection and receive special hotel benefits at over 900 properties worldwide.

• Best rate guarantee
• An upgraded room, if available
• $25 food and beverage credit
• Continental breakfast for 2 daily
• Free Wi-Fi
• Late checkout
• VIP treatment

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card, being a premium Visa Infinite travel rewards card, has an elevated level of hotel benefits.

Luxury Hotels & Resort Collection

Enjoy special benefits at over 1,000 properties worldwide.

• Daily breakfast for 2
• Early check-in and late checkout, subject to availability
• Room upgrade when available
• Unique property benefit
• Free Wi-Fi

Relais & Châteaux

Receive a VIP welcome and complimentary breakfast at participating locations.

Ennismore Hotels Program

• Book 4 consecutive nights with your qualifying card and receive the fourth night free
• Free breakfast for 2 people per room, per day
• $30 food and beverage credit per stay
• Free Wi-Fi for an unlimited amount of devices
• Room upgrades, when available
• Late checkout, when available

Rental Car Program Perks

Ink Business Preferred Card

As a Visa Signature card, your Ink Business Preferred card qualifies for discounts with Avis and Budget.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

• National Emerald Club Executive Level membership
• Benefits and discounts with Avis

Bottom Line: While the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers a few more hotel and car rental program benefits than the Ink Business Preferred card, the lower annual fee on the Ink Business Preferred card may make it a better value in this category. 

Rideshare Benefits

Ink Business Preferred Card

The Ink Business Preferred card earns 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025), but doesn’t offer any other rideshare benefits at this time.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns 10x points per $1 on Lyft (through March 31, 2025).

Food and Grocery Delivery Benefits

Ink Business Preferred Card

The Ink Business Preferred card does not offer any food delivery benefits at this time.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

Cardmembers receive a complimentary DashPass subscription for at least 12 months (must activate by December 31, 2027). There’s also a $5 monthly DashPass credit available.

Travel Benefits and Protections

Travel benefits and protections can save you money, provide needed assistance if something should go wrong, or give you peace of mind knowing you have coverage during your journey.

Here’s how the 2 cards compare on travel benefits and protections:

Shopping Benefits and Protections

We’ve abbreviated benefit descriptions here but you can find full descriptions and the terms/conditions in each card’s guide to benefits.

Bottom Line: While travel and shopping benefits alone are not key reasons for selecting a rewards-earning credit card, benefits and protections can save you money and provide assistance should things go wrong during your travel. As a result, they add value and can influence your card selection. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes out ahead in providing these benefits but it does have a higher annual fee than the Ink Business Preferred card. 

Annual Fees and Additional Users

The Ink Business Preferred card comes with a low $95 annual fee while the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve card has a much higher $550 fee that parallels the additional benefits that come with the card.

The Ink Business Preferred card does not charge a fee for adding an authorized user while the Chase Sapphire Reserve card charges $75 per authorized user.

Additional users on both cards can share in the card benefits provided, including key benefits such as cell phone coverage on the Ink Business Preferred card and worldwide lounge access on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Final Thoughts

Having a business credit card that earns rewards on all your purchases is a smart decision. The Ink Business Preferred card provides solid earning potential, along with flexible redemption options, and travel/shopping protections, all for a lower annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card pairs nicely with the Ink Business Preferred card as it provides elevated benefits and greater value at redemption time. It also offers an easy-to-use $300 travel statement credit each year which nicely offsets the annual fee.

If not as a pair, selecting either card can be a potential win when you match the card to your spending habits, benefit preferences, and an annual fee with which you’re comfortable.