The Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card are two no annual fee cash back business cards that pack a huge punch.
Small business owners (and believe me, you may be eligible for a business credit card and not realize it) who already have a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® should give these two Ink Business cards a long, hard look. With one of these cards in your wallet, the cashback from these two Ink cards can be turned into Ultimate Rewards points making the rewards much more valuable – especially if your ultimate goal is travel.
Not sure which one to pick? Chase doesn't restrict you from having both, so that's always an option. But that's too much for many travelers and small business owners … and while they offer some of the same benefits, there are other key differences to be aware of between the Ink Business Cash vs. the Ink Business Unlimited cards.
Let's walk through the bonuses and benefits on each Ink Business card to help you make the decision on which version is best for you.
Overview: Ink Business Cash vs. Ink Business Unlimited Cards
Card Ink Business Cash Credit Card Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
Welcome Bonus $750 back after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of card membership. $750 back after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of card membership.
Rewards Earning Rate 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services. 2% back at restaurants and gas stations (these categories are capped at $25,000 of spending each year). 1% back on all other eligible spending. 1.5% back on all purchases.
Foreign Transaction Fees 3% 3%
Annual Fee $0 $0
Full Benefits of the Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card
$750 cash back (or 75,000 points) after spending $6,000 in the first three months of card membership.
The Ink Business Cash card has no annual fee
5x points (5% cash back) on internet, cable, and phone service; office supply purchases on your first $25,000 of spending each year.
2x points (2% cash back) on restaurants and gas stations on your first $25,000 of spending each year.
1x points (1% cash back) on all other eligible spending
Primary rental car collision and damage waiver coverage
Lost luggage insurance of up to $3,000 per person per trip
Add employee cards at no additional cost
Learn more about the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card .
Full Benefits of the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
$750 cash back (or 75,000 points) after spending $6,000 in the first three months of card membership.
The Ink Business Unlimited card has no annual fee
1.5x points (1.5% cash back) on all purchases
Primary rental car collision and damage waiver coverage
Lost luggage insurance of up to $3,000 per person per trip
Add employee cards at no additional cost
Learn more about the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card .
Comparing the Benefits of the Ink Business Cash vs Ink Business Unlimited
Annual Fee
Whether you choose the Ink Business Cash Credit Card or the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card, neither card charges an annual fee. There's also no cost to add additional employee-authorized user cards on either card.
However, as is the case with many no annual fee credit cards, both Ink Business cards will charge a foreign transaction fee . That makes it important to have another card in your arsenal when traveling abroad.
Still, neither Ink Business card has an advantage here.
Winner: Tie
Welcome Offer Bonus
No matter which version you choose, you'll earn $750 cash back (or 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) after spending just $6,000 in the first three months of Ink Business card membership. That's not the biggest bonus we've seen on these cards – Chase offered a massive $900 (or 90,000-point) bonus earlier in 2023.
But the current bonuses are still nothing to scoff at. And you'll come out the same with either card.
Winner: Tie
Foreign Transaction Fees
Whether you hold the Ink Business Cash Card or the Ink Business Unlimited card, you'll be subject to a 3% fee (charged in U.S. dollars) for any purchase you make with your card abroad.
That's not uncommon for a card that doesn't charge an annual fee, but it makes it important to have another card in your arsenal when traveling abroad. Generally speaking, most travel rewards credit cards that do charge an annual fee also waive foreign transaction fees.
Winner: Tie
Earning Extra Cash Back (or Chase Points) with Ink Business Cards
How you earn additional cash back (or points) is the biggest difference you'll find between these two Ink Business cards. Above and beyond the welcome offer bonus, each Ink Business card earns additional cash back (or points) depending on where your business is spending money.
Earning Cash Back or Points with the Ink Business Cash Card
With the Chase Ink Business Cash Card, you'll earn 5% back (5x points) on internet, cable, phone service, and office supply store purchases . Additionally, you'll earn 2% back (2x points) on restaurant and gas station purchases . Those bonus categories are capped to your first $25,000 spent in total on these categories each calendar year.
You'll earn 1% back (1x point) on all other eligible purchases.
Learn more about the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card .
Earning Cash Back or Points with the Ink Business Unlimited Card
With the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card, you'll earn 1.5% back (1.5x points) on all eligible purchases . There is no cap on the amount of spending that will earn 1.5% back each year, and thus the name Ink Business Unlimited.
So while you won't earn a big bonus for spending in certain categories, you will earn more points on purchases that otherwise wouldn't earn a bonus.
If you spend a lot of money in the categories that would earn bonus points on the Ink Business Cash, the Ink Business Unlimited is likely a better option. But if you don't, and don't want to worry about maximizing your return on spending with Ink Business Cash, the Ink Business Unlimited might be a better fit.
Learn more about the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card .
This one is close, but if you can maximize the spending categories on the Ink Business Cash, that is likely the better option as you will earn more points. But this hinges entirely on where your business spends money.
Winner: The Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Impacted by the Chase 5/24 Rule?
Applying for credit cards to travel more comes with all kinds of considerations, from protecting your credit score to navigating different banks and mastering all the different points and miles out there. Chase is one of the titans of the world of points and miles, and it has one of the most important restrictions to keep in mind: the Chase 5/24 Rule .
It's a hard-and-fast restriction rolled out years ago in order to limit card applicants from opening credit cards for the sole purpose of earning bonus rewards. If you've heard of the phrase “churning,” that's exactly what this rule is designed to crack down on.
Here's what it boils down to:
If you have opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months from any bank credit card issuers ( not just Chase cards ), you will not be approved for Chase credit cards, regardless of your credit score or history with Chase Bank.
The rule does not count credit inquiries, but rather new cards you have applied for and been approved.
But business credit cards work a bit differently with the Chase 5/24 rule.
When it comes to Chase business credit cards specifically, you'll need to be underneath the 5/24 rule to get approved … but that approval will not add to your 5/24 count.
Related Reading: Master Guide to Credit Card Applications: All the Rules You Need to Know, Bank by Bank
Neither card has the advantage here, you'll need to be underneath the Chase 5/24 rule to get approved, but getting approved for either card doesn't add to your 5/24 total.
Winner: Tie
Ink Business Cash vs Ink Business Unlimited: Which Card is Best for You?
As you can see, the benefits these Ink Business cards provide are very similar. The key difference comes in what kind of bonus you'll earn on certain spending categories.
With the Chase Ink Business Cash Card, you'll earn 5% back (5x points) on internet, cable, phone service, and office supply store purchases. You'll also earn 2% back (2x points) on restaurant and gas station purchases. Those bonus categories are capped to your first $25,000 spent in total on these categories each calendar year. You'll earn 1% back (1x point) on all other eligible purchases.
With the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card, you'll earn 1.5% back (1.5x points) on all eligible purchases. There is no cap on the amount of spending that will earn 1.5% back each year – thus, the name Ink Business Unlimited.
So depending on where your business spends the most money, one card could be better than the other.
For example, if your business spends $25,000 at restaurants each year, you would earn 2% back on those charges (or 2x points) with the Ink Cash Business Card. That means you would end up with $500 back (or 50,000 points). Compare that to the Ink Business Unlimited Card, with which you would only earn 1.5% back on those restaurant charges. You would end up with $375 back (or 37,500 points).
In this example, the Chase Ink Business Cash card should be your choice.
But say, for example, you spend $20,000 a year on software expenses that don't earn a bonus on the Chase Ink Business Cash card. You would earn $200 back for those charges (or 20,000 Chase points) since you only earn 1% back on charges not covered by a category bonus.
But by using the Chase Ink Business Unlimited, you would earn $300 back (or 30,000 Chase points) since you earn 1.5% back on all purchases.
Which card makes the most sense for you and your business will largely depend on where you are spending your money . And remember, Chase doesn't restrict you from only having one card or the other. You could hold both Ink Business Cards and use them on purchases where you'll get the best return.
Bottom Line
When comparing the Ink Business Cash Credit Card versus the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card, make sure you have a solid understanding of where you plan to spend money. Depending on that answer, one version could make more sense for you.
Remember: There is no restriction for holding both of them. And since neither card charges an annual fee, that could certainly make sense if you're aiming to pile up a ton of cashback or Chase points.
Learn more about the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card .
Learn more about the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card .
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