With so many fantastic travel rewards credit cards available, including some with large welcome bonuses and phenomenal benefits, you might have difficulty choosing one that suits your needs. This can become even more overwhelming if you qualify for a small-business credit card, which opens the door to many additional options.
Two of the most valuable mid-tier cards from Chase are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees). They have similar benefits — including earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points — and identical $95 annual fees.
They make a powerful team, but you may only want — or be eligible for — one of them.
Let’s look at how these cards stack up against each other to help you decide whether one or both deserve a place in your wallet.
Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred comparison
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Chase Ink Business Preferred | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $95 |
| Welcome bonus | Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
| Earning |
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| Notable benefits |
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Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred welcome offer
New Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,538. This is the standard welcome offer we typically see on this card.
Meanwhile, new Chase Ink Business Preferred cardholders can earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,845. This is the also standard welcome offer we typically see on this card.
Note that both cards are subject to the 5/24 rule, meaning you can’t have opened five or more cards across all banks in the past 24 months, or you’ll most likely be denied when applying for either card. Chase also recently updated its welcome bonus eligibility rules for the Sapphire cards.
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Lastly, for the Ink Business Preferred, you must have a business to be eligible, but that includes freelancers and limited liability companies.
Winner: Ink Business Preferred. Its welcome offer provides more value, but keep in mind that the spending requirement is almost double that of the Sapphire Preferred.
Related: 5 reasons to get the Ink Business Preferred
Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred benefits
Both cards offer phenomenal travel protections that are quite similar, though the Sapphire Preferred‘s are slightly more comprehensive.
Both cards include trip cancellation and interruption insurance. With the Ink Business Preferred, you’re covered for up to $5,000 per covered person for nonrefundable travel expenses, up to $10,000 per trip; the Sapphire Preferred’s coverage is double that.
Both cards also offer identical trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance and lost luggage reimbursement.
Both cards also offer primary rental car coverage, which is a fantastic benefit and alleviates the expense and hassle of dealing with an agency or your own insurance if things go wrong with a rental. However, the Ink Business Preferred’s benefits state that your rental must be for business purposes for this protection to kick in.
Both cards also provide purchase protection and extended warranty coverage as well. The Ink Business Preferred offers cellphone protection up to $1,000 (with a $100 deductible) if you pay your monthly bill with the card.
Beyond travel protections, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a statement credit each account anniversary of up to $50 statement credit on hotels booked through Chase Travel. In addition, cardholders also receive 10% anniversary bonus points each year. The bonus is based on your total spend during the account anniversary year at a rate of 1 point for every $10 spent.
Finally, the Sapphire Preferred also provides at least one year of complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027) and up to $10 off a month on non-restaurant DoorDash orders.
The Ink Business Preferred offers complimentary employee cards, which is a great bonus for small businesses trying to save on costs.
Winner: Sapphire Preferred. Its benefits outclass those on the Ink Business Preferred.
Related: Why the Sapphire Preferred remains the top travel rewards card year after year
Earning points with the Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred
These cards’ earning rates are very different. The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns at the following rates:
- 5 points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel (approximate 10.3% return based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations)
- 5 points per dollar on Lyft (through September 2027; 10.3%)
- 5 points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through Dec. 31, 2027, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points; 10.3% return)
- 3 points per dollar on dining, online grocery stores (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs) and streaming services (6.2%)
- 2 points per dollar on a broad range of travel purchases, including airline tickets, taxis, tolls and parking (4.1%)
- 1 point per dollar on everything else (2.1%)
The Ink Business Preferred has much simpler earning rates:
- 5 points per dollar on Lyft (through September 2027) (10.3% return)
- 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent each account anniversary year on a combination of travel (the same broad category as with the Sapphire Preferred), shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines (6.2% return)
- 1 point per dollar on everything else (2.1% return)
There are a couple of things to keep in mind here. First, if dining is one of your major expenses, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the way to go. However, if travel is your main outlay, the Ink Business Preferred earns more points per dollar than the Sapphire Preferred on most travel purchases.
If your business spends more than $150,000 each year, the Ink Business Preferred may not be the best fit. If you still want to earn rewards with Chase, apply for the Sapphire Preferred or another Chase business card instead.
Additionally, if your business spends more than $150,000 on advertising, you may want to consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees) as it earns an uncapped 3 points per dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising. Despite the steep $795 annual fee, if your ad spending is that high, you will easily recoup the annual fee cost with the rewards earned.
Winner: Tie. The categories differ significantly, so your preference will depend on your spending habits.
Redeeming points with the Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred
Both cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, some of the most valuable around.
You’ll get the highest value from your points by transferring them to one of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel loyalty partners.
Cardholders of either product can also redeem points directly for travel through Chase Travel to get up to 1.75 cents per point in value, with Points Boost depending on the specific redemption.
Additionally, points can be redeemed to cover eligible purchases in select categories through Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature.
Points can also be used for cash back or gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point.
Winner: Tie. You’ll get the same redemption options on either card.
Related: 6 of the best Ultimate Rewards sweet spots
Transferring points with the Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred
Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to 11 airline partners, including British Airways, Southwest and United, and three hotel programs: IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt.
These transfer partners can provide great value. For example, TPG credit cards writer, Chris Nelson, recently transferred just 8,000 points to United Airlines, where he was able to snag a last-minute award ticket from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) on Star Alliance partner LOT Polish Airlines.
Winner: Tie. You’ll get the same redemption options on either card.
Related: How I used a transfer bonus to get a lie-flat seat to London for just 21,000 points
Should I get the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred?
You should consider whether you want to carry a personal credit card or a business one. If you prefer a personal credit card and can benefit from the Chase Sapphire Preferred‘s superior travel protections and bonus categories, it might be the better option for you. Still, the Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred together is a powerful match-up that could boost your travel rewards earnings into the stratosphere.
Bottom line
If you’re trying to decide between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred, consider whether you want a business or personal card, which one offers the best category bonuses and which one offers better travel protection.
They are two of the best travel rewards credit cards available today, and carrying both is a good way to boost your points earnings on an ongoing basis.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Apply here: Ink Business Preferred