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A no-annual-fee business credit card can help you earn more rewards on your daily purchases. But each card earns bonus points on different spending, so it’s important to find the best card for your business.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card earns rewards points you can redeem for cash, gift cards, and travel. Plus, you can earn $750 with the Ink Cash and more if you have a Chase business checking account.
Both The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express have identical fees and rewards programs. There are two different versions of the Amex Blue Business Credit Cards. For cash rewards, get the Blue Business Cash. For travel rewards and 1:1 Membership Rewards® points transfers, get the Blue Business Plus.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Amex Blue Business vs Chase Ink Cash Review
The best card for you will depend on your spending habits and how you plan to redeem your rewards. If you spend a lot on gas, office supplies, and internet and cable services, the Chase Ink Cash Card is a great option. If you want to earn points that can be redeemed for travel, the Amex Blue Business Plus Card is a better choice.
No matter which card you choose, a no-annual-fee business credit card can help you save money on your business expenses.
Blue Business & Ink Cash Signup/Welcome Bonus
New Ink Business Cash® Credit Card cardholders can earn up to a $750 bonus cash back! Earn $350 after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Then, earn an additional $400 after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
Also, new The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card cardholders can earn a $250 statement credit after they make $3,000 in purchases on their Card in their first 3 months.
New The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express cardholders can earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after they spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within their first 3 months of Card Membership.
Verdict: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Earning Points
Ink Business Cash Credit Card
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card awards up to 5% back (5 Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on every purchase) on every purchase:
- 5% back at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services (on the first $25,000 in combined spending annually)
- 2% back at gas stations and restaurants (on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases annually)
- 1% back on everything else
If you reach the annual $25,000 spending threshold, all remaining bonus category spending earns an unlimited 1% back. The $25,000 spending threshold resets annually after your account anniversary.
American Express Blue Business Cash Card
The Amex Blue Business reward system for both cards is straightforward. With The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, cardholders earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases of up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1% cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
It also comes with Expanded Buying Power which gives cardholders the ability to spend beyond their credit limit. Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express, and other factors.
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
With The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, you earn 2x Membership Rewards® points per $1 spent on the first $50,000 in purchases annually on everyday business purchases, then 1x Membership Rewards® points per dollar thereafter.
Cardholders can also enjoy more flexibility to use their card for more purchases and rewards when buying above their credit limit. The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to American Express, and other factors.
Verdict: American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card & The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is a better option than the Ink Cash if most of your spending isn’t in the 5% or 2% bonus category. Also, the Blue Business earns more (2%) than the flat-rate Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (the Ink Business Cash’s sister card), which only earns an unlimited 1.5% back on every purchase.
Redeeming Points
You are probably considering both of these cards because they are “cash back credit cards.”
For both The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, each point is worth 1 cent each for cash rewards. The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card also lets you redeem your points for travel, gift cards, and Amazon.com credit for 1 cent each.
With The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, your points are worth 1 cent each when booking award flights on amextravel.com. They can easily be worth potentially more than 1 cent each when transferring them to the 1:1 airline transfer partners including Delta, Emirates, or Qantas.
However, your points are worth less than 1 cent each if redeemed for cash rewards.
Verdict: Toss Up
Pooling Rewards Points
You should also look at what other credit cards are in your wallet.
Both the Chase Ink Cash and Amex Blue Business Plus let you pool your points with your other cards that earn the same award currency.
For example, you might use the Chase Ink Cash for the 5% and 2% categories that the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card or a Chase Sapphire card, some of the best Chase credit cards, only earn 1 point per $1. Redeeming your points on the Ink Business Preferred makes each point worth 1.25 cents when booking award travel through Chase Travel℠.
Plus, you get access to the 1:1 point travel transfer partners like United, Southwest, Emirates, and Hyatt.
The Amex Blue Business Plus earns Membership Rewards points just like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. With the Business Platinum, you can get 50% of your points back for a second redemption when booking award flights on AmexTravel.com.
Verdict: Toss Up
Additional Benefits
Both of these cards earn more value thanks to these extra benefits.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Primary auto rental car collision damage waiver
- Purchase protection up to $10,000 per claim
- Extended warranty protection on select purchases
Additionally, cardholders may redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Fraud protection is also included with the card as well as zero fraud liability. Cardholders won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with their card or with their account information.
Amex Blue Business Credit Cards
- Free vendor pay at Bill.com (Basic plan for one user)
- Purchase protection up to $1,000 per occurrence
- Extended warranty on select purchases
- Secondary auto rental collision damage waiver
Fees
There is a $0 annual fee for the Amex Blue Business Cards (See Rates & Fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card) (See Rates & Fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express). However, both cards charge a foreign transaction fee which means you should use another card for your international business trips.
Tip: Consider some of the best credit cards for international travel or even the best travel credit cards if you want a card that will earn you rewards and save you money while traveling.
Note that you may only be able to use your Amex card at major retailers, restaurants, and travel providers. American Express isn’t as universally accepted as the Ink Credit Cards issued by Visa.
The Chase Ink Plus has a foreign transaction fee but near-universal acceptance if you use it abroad. Although it’s not a monetary fee, the Chase Ink Plus falls under the Chase 5/24 rule. If you are the primary or authorized user on at least 5 new credit cards in the most recent 24 months, Chase will most likely decline your application.
Verdict: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
The Amex Blue Business Wins When…
The Blue Business lineup can be the better option in these instances:
- Can earn more with the flat-rate 2% back on the first $50,000 spent (Blue Business Cash)
- Want to earn Membership Rewards points for travel rewards (Blue Business Plus)
- Have opened more than 5 new credit cards in the last 24 months
Remember that you will need to decide between earning cash or travel rewards before you apply.
The Chase Ink Cash Wins When…
- Most of your spending is in the 5% and 2% bonus categories
- Want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Like the flexibility of redeeming points for cash or travel rewards
- Can earn the signup bonus
Each point is worth 1 cent when redeemed for cash or travel rewards.
Summary of Ink Cash vs Amex Blue Business Cards
In conclusion, who wins between the Amex Blue Business vs Chase Ink Cash? Both the Amex Blue Business Cards and Chase Ink Cash can help you earn bonus points on your daily spending. Because they are no annual fee cards, they can be perfect primary or secondary credit cards, depending on what else is in your wallet.
- The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, please click here.
