Vol. I · Issue 01 · The Quarterly of Plastic

Advertiser Disclosure →

SIDE A

A

Chase · Visa

Ink Business Cash Credit Card

VS.

×

SIDE B

B

Chase · Visa

Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card


FILING

Head-to-Head · Plastic Quarterly

Both Chase Ink cards offer no annual fee and identical APR ranges, making them accessible for most business owners. The Cash card rewards category spending heavily—up to 5% back on office supplies and utilities—but caps rewards at $25,000 annually per category. The Unlimited card strips away categories entirely, offering a flat 1.5% cash back on all spending with no caps or limits. The choice depends on whether your business has concentrated spending in specific categories or diverse, uncapped expenses. The Unlimited card includes a higher signup bonus ($500 vs $350), which gives it an extra $150 advantage upfront.

THE VERDICT

Our ruling.

Choose the Ink Business Unlimited if your business spending is diverse or exceeds the category caps. Choose the Ink Business Cash only if you spend heavily on office supplies, utilities, or restaurants within the $25,000 annual limit per category. For most businesses, Unlimited's simplicity and higher bonus make it the better pick.

CHOOSE A

Side A is for you if

  • 01You spend more than $25,000 annually in office supplies, internet/cable, or gas—the 5% and 2% rewards in these categories significantly outpace 1.5% flat rate beyond the cap
  • 02Your business has predictable, concentrated spending in bonus categories like restaurants or utilities
  • 03You value the structured rewards model and prefer incentives that push you toward specific purchasing behavior
  • 04You want maximum rewards on categories Chase prioritizes for business operations

CHOOSE B

Side B is for you if

  • 01Your business has variable, unpredictable spending across multiple categories without heavy concentration in any single area
  • 02You prefer simplicity—no tracking category limits, bonus caps, or rotating bonus categories
  • 03You spend more than $25,000 annually in bonus categories and want unlimited rewards on those purchases
  • 04The $500 signup bonus and flat 1.5% structure appeal to you more than category complexity

THE LEDGER

Side by side.

ISSUER
Chase
Chase
NETWORK
Visa
Visa
ANNUAL FEE
$0
$0
APR RANGE
18.49% – 24.49%
18.49% – 24.49%
INTRO APR (PURCHASES)
0% for 12 months
0% for 12 months
INTRO APR (BALANCE TRANSFERS)
None
None
REWARDS TYPE
cashback
cashback
REWARDS RATE
1% cash back on all purchases
1.5% cash back on all purchases
SIGN-UP BONUS
$350 bonus
$500 bonus
BONUS VALUE
$350
$500
MIN. CREDIT SCORE
670+
670+
FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE
Yes (3%)
Yes (3%)

A HIGHLIGHTS

Ink Business Cash Credit Card

  • No annual fee
  • 5% back on office supplies, internet, cable, and phone
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months
  • Employee cards at no extra cost
  • Fraud protection and purchase protection

B HIGHLIGHTS

Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card

  • Flat 1.5% cash back with no limits
  • No annual fee
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months
  • Pairs with Sapphire for boosted point value
  • Employee cards at no extra cost

QUESTIONS · ANSWERS

Frequently filed.

If you spend $25,000 annually in 5% categories (office supplies, internet, cable, phone), you'd earn $1,250 in rewards. At 1.5% on $25,000, Unlimited yields $375. The Cash card wins by $875 on that category alone. However, if your total spending exceeds $25,000 in that category, rewards cap out on the Cash card, making Unlimited competitive again.