Chase Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash: Battle of the Chase business cards

There are plenty of business credit cards available on the market, making it difficult to decide which card is best. Chase loyalists or those looking to open a Chase credit card can choose from four business credit cards, all of which have the Ink Business moniker.

If you need a business credit card, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card are two compelling options.

Both cards are solid offerings, and depending on your business purchases, you may benefit from one more than the other. Let’s explore what sets these cards apart and which card could be the right choice for you.

Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash comparison

Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash welcome offer

With the Ink Business Unlimited, you’ll earn $750 in cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

The Ink Business Cash has a tiered welcome bonus offer with $350 cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening, then an additional $400 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

New cardholders will also earn an additional 10% cash back on the first card anniversary if they have a Chase Business Checking account. This part of the offer is only available to those who opened an Ink Business Cash between March and November 2024.

You’ll be subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule when trying to open either card, but since these are business cards, they won’t count toward 5/24 for you.

Related: The power of the Chase Trifecta

Winner: Ink Business Cash. The ability to earn an additional 10% in cash back makes it a better offer.

Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash benefits

Neither the Ink Business Unlimited nor the Ink Business Cash provides any statement credits or travel perks. This isn’t unusual for cards with no annual fee.

Both cards offer the same benefits when it comes to purchase and car rental protection. With both cards, you’ll receive:

• Purchase protection: If an eligible item is damaged or stolen within the first 120 days after purchase, you’re covered up to $10,000 per claim ($50,000 per account).
• Primary car rental coverage: If you use either card for the entire rental cost and travel for business purposes, you’re covered for theft and damage in the U.S. and most countries worldwide. Remember that this doesn’t offer any liability coverage, but you are covered up to the actual cash value of the vehicle you’re renting.
• Extended warranty protection: Purchases with a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less will get coverage for an extra year. This can be extremely helpful when an item stops working shortly after its scheduled warranty ends.

Neither card has any other outstanding benefits apart from these, so if you want to purchase travel with this card, consider existing cards in your wallet first.

Winner: Tie. Both cards offer the same benefits.

Earning cash back on the Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash

The Ink Business Unlimited has a simple earning rate of 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025.

The card is suited for a business with purchases in a variety of categories, giving them an extra 0.5% in cash back compared to other cards, which offer 1% cash back on purchases that fall outside of bonus categories.

On the other hand, the Ink Business Cash earns 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services (on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year); 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year); and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

As a new Ink Business Cash cardholder, you’ll receive an additional 10% cash back on the first card anniversary if you have a Chase Business Checking account.

This is a useful earning rate for the first year; however, since it’s only for business account holders, you may want to open a business checking account before applying for the card. Keep in mind that you’ll only be eligible for this if your Ink Business Cash is opened between March and November 2024.

If your business has significant expenses in the Ink Business Cash’s bonus categories, applying for the card is a no-brainer. However, if your business purchases fluctuate month to month or if you make purchases in a wide variety of categories, you’re better off with the Ink Business Unlimited.

Winner: Ink Business Cash. Its bonus categories and the ability to earn 10% additional cash back on your first card anniversary make it the winner here.

Redeeming cash back on the Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash

Both cards earn cash back, which can be redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for cash back or other rewards, such as statement credits, gift cards and travel through Chase Travel℠.

There is a more lucrative route to redeeming cash back, which we’ll discuss below.

Winner: Tie. Both cards offer the same redemption options.

Transferring rewards with the Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash

If you’re also a cardholder of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can transfer the rewards earned from the Ink Business Unlimited or Ink Business Cash to that card.

From there, you can take advantage of Chase’s 14 transfer partners and redeem your rewards for award tickets or hotel stays.

As an Ink Business Cash cardholder, I transfer my rewards to my Sapphire Reserve, which then allows me to transfer them to partners such as Air Canada Aeroplan and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

I recently needed to top up my Sapphire Reserve account before transferring points to Aeroplan, and moving rewards was easy. I logged in to my account and moved the rewards, which occurred instantaneously.

Should I get the Ink Business Unlimited or Ink Business Cash?

If your business has expenses within the bonus categories and spending caps of the Ink Business Cash, then it’s an easy choice of card since you can use it to maximize your rewards earnings. On the other hand, if you have purchases in various categories and don’t wish to be bogged down by spending caps on bonus category spending, then the Ink Business Unlimited and its 1.5% cash-back rate are better for you.

How to switch from the Ink Business Unlimited to the Ink Business Cash

Switching between the Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash or vice versa is possible. To switch products, call the customer service phone number on the back of the card and speak with a representative.

However, it is possible to open both cards, allowing your business to utilize the bonus categories of the Ink Business Cash for some purchases and the fixed 1.5% cash back from the Ink Business Unlimited for all other purchases. Remember that product-changing from one card to the other will lock you out of that card’s welcome offer, so I recommend opening both cards instead.

Bottom line

Chase’s lineup of Ink Business cards can be confusing, but the Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash are both cash-back cards for business owners. While you may feel limited by earning cash back only, the rewards earned from either can easily be used for travel with Chase’s transfer partners if you hold an Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card.

If your business would benefit from its bonus categories, the Ink Business Cash is the right choice. Otherwise, go with the Ink Business Unlimited to take advantage of its flat 1.5% cash-back rate.

To learn more, read our full reviews of the Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash.

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Apply here: Ink Business Unlimited

Apply here: Ink Business Cash

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Related: Ink Business Unlimited vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited