KEY LINKS:
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card – Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. $0 annual fee
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card – Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. $0 annual fee
Chase has several different small business credit cards, and they are some of the best credit cards out there. Today I thought it might make sense to compare the Chase Ink Business Cash vs. the Chase Ink Business Unlimited to see which of these two cards might be the best. Deciding what might be best will depend on your specific situation, but there are a few rules of thumb that you might want to consider. Both of these cards currently come with no annual fee and equivalent signup bonuses, so it mostly comes down to which one will help you earn the most points through ongoing spending.
Both of these are considered business credit cards, but you may have a business even if you don’t think you do. And I would say that if you are ignoring the small business cards and only applying for personal credit cards, you are doing yourself a disservice by passing up on half of the available credit card bonus offers.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
The first card to look at is the Chase Ink Unlimited. The Ink Unlimited has a very simple earning structure. You’ll get 1.5% cash back per dollar spent on the card. If you don’t have a premium Chase card (like the Sapphire Reserve or Ink Preferred), then you can only redeem your cash back directly. But if you do have a premium card, you can transfer your Chase points that you earn with the Ink Unlimited and get 25% or 50% extra value.
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases 12 months. Regular APR is 18.49% – 24.49% Variable
- Primary Car Rental Damage Insurance when traveling for business (so you can decline the car rental company’s insurance)
- $0 annual fee
Read our full Chase Ink Unlimited review
Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
The Chase Ink Cash is another no-fee option. Rather than earning 1.5% cash back per dollar, you’ll get 5% at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services, and 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants. So depending on your spending patterns, you may find that you’ll come out ahead with the Ink Cash instead of the Ink Unlimited. You can also consider having both cards – that way you can use the Ink Cash where it gets a spending bonus and the Ink Unlimited everywhere else.
Just like with the Ink Unlimited, if you don’t have a premium Chase card (like the Sapphire Reserve or Ink Preferred), then you can only redeem as cash back. But if you do have a premium card, you can transfer your Chase points that you earn with the Ink Unlimited and get 25% or 50% extra value.
- Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
- 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services (up to $25,000 per year combined)
- 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $25,000 per year combined)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Primary Car Rental Damage Insurance when traveling for business (so you can decline the car rental company’s insurance)
- $0 annual fee
Read our full Chase Ink Cash review
Chase Ink Business Cash® vs. Chase Ink Business Unlimited® – Which Is Better?
The Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited cards are very similar. They both have no annual fee, very similar benefits and perks and similar welcome offers. The main (only?) difference is in their earning strategy. The Ink Cash gives you 5% cashback at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services (up to $25,000 per year combined), 2% cashback at gas stations and restaurants (up to $25,000 per year combined) and 1% everywhere else. The Ink Unlimited earns 1.5% cashback on all purchases. Which one is better will depend on how much you spend at office supply stores, internet, cable, phone, gas stations and restaurants. If you have an above average spending in those categories, the Ink Cash may be the better option. Otherwise, consider the Ink Unlimited as a good “everyday” card.
Though frankly, there’s a case to be made for having both cards (I do).
Other Chase Ink Cards To Consider
There are 2 other Chase Ink cards that you might want to consider consider:
- Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card – Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. $95 annual fee
- Ink Business Premier® Credit Card – Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. $195 annual fee
Remember that if you only hold the Chase Ink Cash or Chase Ink Unlimited (or both), you won’t be able to transfer your points to Chase’s hotel and airline travel partners. So it can make sense to get either the Ink Preferred or Ink Premier as a premium Chase card. That way you can combine your Chase points and unlock even more value.
The Bottom Line
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card – Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. $0 annual fee
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card – Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening. $0 annual fee
Deciding whether the Chase Ink Preferred or Chase Ink Unlimited is best for you will depend on your particular spending patterns. Personally, I have both the Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited (along with the Sapphire Preferred), and I think there can be value in having both. If you’re only going to get one, consider how much you spend in the categories where the Ink Cash gets 5X or 2X. If you don’t spend very much in those categories, then the 1.5X on all purchases of the Ink Unlimited may be the better option.
What about you? Do you have either of these Chase Ink cards? Which one do you think is best?
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
And to the question “Can you have multiples of either of the cards?”
Yes you can. I just applied for and was approved for my 2nd Ink Unlimited.