Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is currently offering 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s worth around $1,080 in travel, based on Insider’s valuation of Chase points.

Its small-business equivalent, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, offers an even higher welcome bonus: 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (worth about $1,800 in travel). Plus, its bonus spending categories may be more useful to business owners, so you might want to think about applying for it instead of, or in addition to, the Sapphire Preferred.

Deciding between these two travel rewards credit cards will come down to the benefits you will be able to use, and which earning structure is more suited to your spending habits. Here’s a detailed look at the biggest differences between the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Chase Ink Business Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred 

Welcome Bonus Offers

There are two components to a welcome bonus offer you have to take into account: The number of bonus points you can earn, and the minimum spending requirement you must complete in order to earn those points. These cards field very different minimum spending requirements that might sway your decision in one direction or the other.

The Sapphire Preferred is currently offering 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. To earn the bonus, you’ll have to spend an average of $1,334 each month for the first three months. 

Alternatively, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is offering a whopping 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. The minimum spending requirement is much higher, but the spending divides down to just $2,666 per month — well within reach of many small businesses.

That said, spending $4,000 extra to earn more welcome bonus points might not be practical for many. If the spending threshold is going to be a toss-up, the Sapphire Preferred is the smart choice. You can always open the 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening later.

Eligibility Requirements

This might not be top-of-mind, but if you currently have (or have had in the past) other Chase cards — or if you have applied for several other credit cards recently — you might find yourself ineligible for one or both of these offers.

Chase has what’s informally known as the 5/24 rule. This means if you have opened five or more credit cards, from any bank, within the past 24 months, you won’t be approved for a new Chase card. So look at your accounts and make sure that you have not voided your ability to be considered for these cards off the bat.

Additionally, in the case of the Sapphire Preferred, Chase states: “This product is available to you if you do not have any Sapphire card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.” So if you have the more-premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® open, you’ll be precluded from this offer. Likewise, if you opened either the Sapphire Preferred and received the bonus within the past 48 months, you won’t get this welcome bonus, even if you have since closed your other account.

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card does not have such eligibility requirements. However, because it’s a small business credit card, you may be asked to prove that you actually have a small business, even if it’s just a sole proprietorship for your side hustle, in order to open the card. So be prepared to jump through a few hoops unless you can very clearly demonstrate that this card is for your business and you can verify your income.

Earning Rates

Here, too, the cards diverge significantly. The Sapphire Preferred earns:

• 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025
• 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
• 2 points per dollar on other travel
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

For its part, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in the following categories each account anniversary year (1 point per dollar after that:

• Travel
• Shipping purchases
• Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
• Internet, cable, and phone services

You’ll earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

The best card for you will be the one that complements your spending habits. If your business requires a lot of purchases in the categories where the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card excels, then the card is a clear winner. Even if travel is your main expense is travel, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers 3x points for up to $150,000 in spending, which is pretty high — instead of the Sapphire Preferred’s uncapped 2x points.

However, if dining is your major purchase segment, then the Sapphire Preferred pulls ahead since the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card doesn’t even offer it as a bonus category.

Redeeming Ultimate Rewards Points

This is one of the areas where the two cards are most similar. With either, the points you earn are worth 1.25 cents apiece toward travel reservations booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. For some perspective, that means the welcome bonus from the Sapphire Preferred is worth $750 when cashed in this way, while the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card bonus is worth $1,250.

The interesting play here is that, if you also have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, your points are worth 1.5 cents apiece, upping your value even more. As mentioned above, carrying the Chase Sapphire Reserve® will preclude you from earning the welcome bonus with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, but you might still be able to combine your points with the account of someone else in your household who has the Reserve.

On the other hand, there’s no crossover exclusion between the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, so that might be an easier combo to carry.

The best card in this respect really depends on your spending habits. However, think again about the Chase Sapphire Reserve® double-play with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card since you can combine your points and redeem them through the Chase portal at 1.5 cents apiece.

Aside from that, you can cash in points for 1 cent apiece toward statement credits, gift cards, and Apple purchases with either card and at a lower rate when redeemed directly on Amazon for purchases.

With either card, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to the program’s 14 airline and hotel transfer partners:

Travel and Purchase Protections

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers one of the most comprehensive collections of travel protections of any rewards credit card. Its trip cancellation or interruption coverage maxes out at $10,000 per trip, $20,000 per occurrence, and $40,000 per 12-month period. If your trip is delayed 12 hours or overnight, you can claim up to $500 per purchased ticket to cover meals and lodging. Its baggage delay insurance goes into effect at six hours, with up to $100 per day for up to five days, while lost or stolen luggage is covered up to $3,000.

The Sapphire Preferred is one of the few cards to offer primary rental car insurance against theft or damage. Finally, its purchase protection remains in effect up to 120 days after you buy an item, and is capped at $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

By contrast, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for interruption and cancellation. Its auto rental coverage is primary for business rentals in the US and both business and personal rentals internationally. As for purchase protection, items are covered up to 120 days out, for as much as $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account — so if you’re making a large purchase, this is the card to do it on.

The other major difference is that the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers cell phone protection against theft or damage. It’s capped at $1,000 per claim and up to three claims per 12-month period with a $100 deductible per occurrence. Even with those limitations, though, this perk is one of the best the card offers.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Compared to Ink Business Preferred

Though similar — each charges a $95 annual fee that is not waived the first year — the Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card have different welcome bonus requirements and bonus spending categories. This is how the two stack up.

Which Chase Card Is Right for You?

The answer to this question will mainly depend on a few key factors. First, would a business credit card be more useful than a personal one — both for things like helping you separate personal from work expenses, but also for the extensive purchase protections it might provide?

Second, which card’s minimum spending requirement is a better fit for your spending capacity? Of course, it’s tempting to earn 100,000 points, but not at the expense of overextending your finances. Additionally, will you be able to take advantage of the Sapphire Preferred dining category enough to justify getting it, versus earning more points on travel as well as a variety of other purchases with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card?

Again, you could always think about getting both cards. That way, you can earn even more bonus points with two welcome offers, and spread your bonus earning potential across several categories with two cards rather than having to choose between them. That might be an overreach, but if the spending requirements are within your purview, it’s something to think about.