Chase Ink Business Cash vs. Unlimited: Which Is Better for Your Business?

The Chase Ink Cash and Chase Ink Business Unlimited are pretty evenly matched business credit cards, with similar bonus offers, intro APR periods and annual fees ($0 for both cards). So the choice between the Ink Cash card and the Ink Unlimited card comes down to two things: simplicity and spending.

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is the clear winner on simplicity. This card has flat-rate rewards and an uncomplicated welcome offer. If you want a card you don’t have to think about, this is it.

But the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card can be the more rewarding option. That's particularly true for entrepreneurs who count office supplies and internet, cable and phone bills among their top expenses.

Keep reading to figure out which card will work best for your business.

Differences between the Chase Ink Cash and Chase Ink Business Unlimited

There are two key differences between the Chase Ink Cash card and Chase Ink Business Unlimited card: the rewards structure and the welcome offer.

The rewards structure is the main difference between these cash-back business credit cards — and likely the deciding factor for most business owners.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: This card uses bonus categories to give you more cash back in select areas, up to a point.

• 5% cash back on up to $25,000 a year in spending at office supply stores and on cable, internet and phone service.

• 2% cash back on up to $25,000 a year in spending at gas stations and restaurants.

• 1% cash back on all other spending.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: The card earns the same cash back rate (1.5%) no matter what you purchase, and there are no caps on how much you can earn each year.

If you spend at least $25,000 on office supplies and/or telecom, it’s hard to beat the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. Max out the 5% category each year and you’ll net at least $1,250 in cash back annually. Max out both bonus categories and you’re looking at $2,000 back. Spend the same $50,000 on the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card and you’ll get just $750 in cash back each year.

But if most of your spending falls outside the Chase Ink Cash’s bonus categories — say on inventory, advertising, shipping or raw materials — the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card has the edge. Spend $50,000 annually in those areas and you’ll still get $750 back with the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card, versus just $500 back with the Chase Ink Cash card.

» MORE: Best gas cards for business

You can earn a welcome offer of up to $750 with both the Chase Ink Cash card and the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card. But how you get to the bonus for each business credit card is slightly different:

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Your welcome offer is broken into two parts. 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.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: The welcome offer for this card is all or nothing. Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card includes more time to earn your welcome offer, giving this card an edge over the Ink Business Unlimited card. If you’re a side hustler or sometimes entrepreneur who may not spend $6,000 over three months, the Ink Business Cash card gives you a better shot at earning at least a partial bonus.

Business owners who have the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and a Chase business checking account earn a one-time 10% cash-back bonus on their first card anniversary. So if you earned $2,000 in cash back on your Chase Ink Cash card, you’d get a $200 bonus. The more you spend that first year, the more this bonus is worth. Note: This offer is only available for Ink Business Cash® Credit Cards opened between March and November 2024. Terms apply.

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card does not offer the same relationship bonus.

Similarities between the Chase Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited

These two Chase business credit cards mirror each other in virtually every way outside of the rewards and bonus.

Both the Chase Ink Cash card and the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card have a $0 annual fee. And that’s what one should expect from a cash-back business card. Only a handful have annual fees, and those that do tend to be business charge cards (like the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card) that cater to companies with really high annual spending.

The Chase Ink Cash card and the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card have identical intro APR offers. The ongoing APR is the same, too.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-24.49% Variable APR.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.49%-24.49% Variable APR.

» MORE: Best 0% APR business credit cards

You can easily add employee cards free of charge — and set spending limits on those cards — with both the Chase Ink Cash card and the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card. Employee cards earn cash back, too.

The Chase Ink Cash card and the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card both charge a foreign transaction fee of 3%. This can add significant cost to any international purchases, including inventory or overseas travel. If your business counts foreign transactions among its regular expenses, consider a business credit card with no foreign transaction fee, such as the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card or the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit (see rates and fees).

Which card should you get? Why not both?

Torn about which card to pick? If you’re open to having multiple business cards, you may not have to choose. Pair the Chase Ink Cash card with the Chase Ink Business Unlimited card to maximize rewards on all of your spending.