Ink Business Preferred Credit Card – Full Review [2024]

Great Card If

• You’re a business owner who spends a lot on travel, shipping, and advertising expenses
• You want a card with great purchase and travel protections
• You want a card with a cell phone protection plan in case of theft or damage
• You want a card with flexible point redemption options

Don’t Get If

• You prefer a card with no annual fee
• Your business spending does not fall within the bonus categories
• You prefer cash-back rewards over points

Ink Business Preferred Card — Is It Worth It?

Since the Ink Business Preferred card is a business credit card, the ideal cardholder is naturally a business owner.

But this card isn’t limited to brick-and-mortar business owners. If you own an online business, work as a freelancer, or even make a business out of selling things on eBay, you’re eligible for this card.

The card is also perfect for individuals who tend to be rough with their cell phones, as it’s one of the few on the market to offer cell phone protection. Cardholders can receive up to $1,000 per claim, with up to 3 claims per 12 months.

If you’re a savvy business owner with many travel, shipping, or advertising needs — or you’d like a card that covers purchase protection or cell phone insurance — then the Ink Business Preferred card could be a great option. Thanks to the bonus categories, it is also one of the best cards for monthly bills for business owners.

With perks like these, it is easy to see why the Ink Business Preferred card is so popular.

“What I find particularly impressive about the Ink Business Preferred card is its whopping welcome bonus offer, surpassing any other Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card. I use my Ink Business Preferred card on travel purchases like hotel and airfare and select business categories like internet, cable, and phone services, which earns me 3x points per dollar spent.”

Juan Ruiz, Upgraded Points compliance editor and content contributor

Ink Business Preferred Card Top Benefits

Purchase Protection

The card’s purchase protection covers new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days. This benefit covers up to $10,000 per claim, with a maximum of $50,000 per account.

Cell Phone Protection

This benefit will protect your cell phone and the cell phones of the employees listed on your monthly bill against loss or damage. To activate this benefit, all you need to do is pay your recurring phone bill with your Ink Business Preferred card — and don’t forget, you’ll also be earning 3x points.

Each claim has a $100 deductible. Claims are capped at $1,000 each, and you can submit up to 3 claims per year.

At Upgraded Points, we feel that cell phone protection is easily one of the best benefits of the Ink Business Preferred card.

“I pay my cell phone bill with my Ink Business Preferred card because it has cell phone protection. If I break or lose my cell phone, the protection covers up to $1,000 per claim (after a $100 deductible). I also have the Ink Cash^® Credit Card which earns me 5% cash-back on these same purchases of internet, cable, and phone services, however, I’d rather earn fewer points by using my Ink Business Preferred card to pay my cell phone bill and have access to cell phone protection in case something goes wrong.”

Juan Ruiz, Upgraded Points compliance editor and content contributor

While some cards offer a higher rewards rate on phone bill payments, having a card with great cell phone protection is well worth sacrificing a few extra points per dollar spent.

Trip Insurance

Trip insurance is something that many of us won’t pay for, but it’s a nice perk to have built into your credit card. The Ink Business Preferred card offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

This means you’re covered if your trip is canceled or cut short by illness or severe weather. You can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses like tickets, tours, and hotels.

Car Rental Insurance

You’re eligible for primary car rental insurance if you’re renting a car with your Ink Business Preferred card for business purposes. This means you don’t have to file a claim with your other insurance first. This coverage provides reimbursement for theft or damage for most cars up to the car’s actual cash value.

To activate this coverage, pay for the entire rental with your Ink Business Preferred card and decline the collision insurance provided by the rental agency.

Free Employee Cards

This card is an excellent choice for small business owners because you can get cards for your employees at no additional charge.

The annual fee for this card is $95, but being able to add authorized users for free can make the cost well worth it. Remember, though, that you’re responsible for their spending, so only add trusted employees to your account.

Extended Warranty Protection

Purchasing an item with your card extends the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of 3 years or less.

What Is the Annual Fee for the Ink Business Preferred Card?

The annual fee for the Ink Business Preferred card is $95.

While you might initially wonder whether having a business credit card with an annual fee is worth it, many cardholders of the Ink Business Preferred card receive far more value than the fee they pay thanks to the lucrative Chase Ultimate Rewards program, along with perks like cell phone protection and trip delay insurance.

How To Earn and Redeem Your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

While the Ink Business Preferred card is excellent at earning points thanks to its multiple 3x categories, there are tons of other great ways to earn lots of Ultimate Rewards points as well!

When redeeming your points, fortunately, you’ve got no shortage of options. However, not all redemption options provide the same level of value, so check our guide to the best ways to redeem Ultimate Rewards points for max value.

Our favorite way to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points is for luxurious business-class flights and hotel stays. You can also book these redemptions for pennies on the dollar by using one of the many Chase transfer partners.

Team members at Upgraded Points have redeemed their Chase Ultimate Rewards points for top-notch travel experiences, such as Virgin Atlantic Upper Class, ANA first class, amazing Hyatt stays, and more.

Alternatives to the Ink Business Preferred Card

American Express^® Business Gold Card

This gives you the potential to earn 600,000 Membership Rewards points if you hit the spending threshold each year.

So, if you’re intrigued by these business offerings, like the card’s earning structure, or prefer the American Express Membership Rewards ecosystem, this could be the card for you.

See our direct comparison of these 2 cards: Ink Business Preferred card vs. Amex Business Gold card.

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

If you’re looking for a credit card in the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem but prefer one with no annual fee and a simple rewards earning structure, then it is likely that you’ll love the Ink Business Unlimited card. With it, you’ll earn 1.5% cash-back on all purchases you make, no matter what category they fall in, with no limit to how much you can earn.

Our Ink Business Preferred card vs. Ink Business Unlimited card review compares these 2 cards in detail.

We’ve also compared the Ink Business Preferred card to a number of other popular cards:

• Ink Business Preferred card vs. The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express
• Ink Business Preferred card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve^®
• Ink Business Preferred card vs. Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card
• Ink Business Preferred card vs. Ink Business Premier^® Credit Card