Key Points

• Both cards currently offer $1,000 cash back after $8,000 in spending within four months, a limited-time bump from the usual $750 offer, with no annual fee on either card.
• The Ink Business Cash wins for businesses with real spending on office supplies, internet, phone, or gas and dining, while the Ink Business Unlimited wins for businesses with spread-out, unpredictable purchases.
• You don't have to choose. Opening both cards lets you capture two welcome bonuses and route every purchase to whichever card earns more.

Introduction

If you're comparing the Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash, you've landed on two of the best no-annual-fee business cards Chase offers. Both cards are currently running a rare elevated welcome offer, and both let you turn everyday business spending into serious value. But they earn cash back in very different ways, and picking the wrong one for your spending habits leaves money on the table. I've used both cards for my own small business, and I'll walk you through exactly how they differ, what the current offer is worth, and how to decide which one (or both) belongs in your wallet.

Quick answer: If your business spends heavily on office supplies, internet, phone, cable, gas, or dining, get the Ink Business Cash. If your spending is spread across many categories with no clear pattern, get the Ink Business Unlimited. If you can qualify for both, do it. There's no annual fee holding you back.

What These Cards Have in Common

Before getting into what sets them apart, it's worth knowing how similar these cards actually are. Both the Ink Business Unlimited and the Ink Business Cash share:

• $0 annual fee, making either one an easy add to your wallet without ongoing cost.
• The same welcome offer structure right now (more on that below).
• A 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, which is genuinely useful if you need to spread out a large purchase or two.
• Purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, and primary car rental insurance when you rent for business purposes.
• Cash back that converts to Chase Ultimate Rewards points if you also hold a card like the Ink Business Preferred, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or Chase Sapphire Reserve.

That last point matters more than people realize. Neither card is technically a "points" card on its own. But pair it with one of those Ultimate Rewards-earning cards, and your cash back instantly becomes transferable to airline and hotel partners like United MileagePlus, World of Hyatt, and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

The Current Welcome Offer

Here's where things get interesting, and where a lot of comparison articles are already out of date. As of this writing, Chase has both cards running the same elevated offer: earn $1,000 cash back after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening.

That's a step up from the standard offer of $750 after $6,000 in three months, and it's one of the strongest sign-up bonuses either card has ever had for a no-annual-fee business card. Chase hasn't announced an end date, and the last time these cards ran a limited-time boost, it lasted about two months. If you're on the fence, I wouldn't wait around to find out when it disappears.

One thing worth flagging: as of late March 2026, Chase ended the option to transfer Ink cash back rewards directly to an outside bank account. You can still redeem as a statement credit, deposit to an eligible Chase checking or savings account, or through Chase Travel, so this shouldn't change your decision, but it's a detail worth knowing before you apply.

Winner: Tie. Same offer, same terms, right now.

Where the Cards Actually Differ: Earning Rates

This is the real decision point. The Ink Business Unlimited keeps it simple:

• 1.5% cash back on every purchase, no categories, no caps.
• 5% cash back on Lyft rides through September 30, 2027.

The Ink Business Cash rewards specific spending instead:

• 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent combined at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year, then 1%.
• 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent combined at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, then 1%.
• 5% cash back on Lyft rides through September 30, 2027.
• 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Do the math on your own spending before you decide. A business spending $500 a month on internet and phone service alone earns $300 a year from that category on the Ink Cash, well above what the flat 1.5% rate would return on the same spending. But a consulting business with spending scattered across software subscriptions, travel, client dinners, and equipment purchases will usually come out ahead with the Unlimited's flat rate, since none of that spending qualifies for the Cash's bonus categories.

Winner: Depends entirely on your spending. This is not a tie, it's a "know your numbers" situation.

The Chase 5/24 Rule and Business Cards

Both cards are subject to Chase's 5/24 rule, meaning you'll likely be rejected if you've opened five or more personal or business credit cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months. The good news is that once you're approved, neither card reports to your personal credit report in the way that counts against your 5/24 status going forward, which is one reason business cards are popular with people actively building a card portfolio. If you want the full picture on how business cards factor into this strategy, our guide on Chase business vs. personal credit cards breaks down the mechanics in more detail.

Should You Get Both Cards?

Yes, and this is honestly the strategy I recommend to most readers. Since these are two different products, opening both lets you collect two separate welcome bonuses (worth $2,000 combined at the current offer) and then route your spending intelligently: office supplies and telecom bills go on the Ink Cash, everything else goes on the Ink Unlimited.

Just don't try to product-change from one card to the other expecting to keep chasing bonuses. Switching products locks you out of a new welcome offer on the second card. If you want both bonuses, apply for both cards separately rather than converting one into the other.

Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash: Which Should You Get?

If you're still torn, here's the simplest way to decide. Add up your business's spending on office supplies, internet, cable, phone, gas, and dining over the past three months. If that number comfortably clears what you'd spend elsewhere, the Ink Business Cash earns you more. If your spending doesn't cluster into those categories, or if you'd rather not track caps and bonus buckets at all, the Ink Business Unlimited is the lower-maintenance choice with a genuinely strong flat rate.

Neither card is wrong. Both are excellent, fee-free ways to earn meaningful cash back or Chase points on business spending you're already doing.

FAQ

Can I have both the Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash at the same time?
Yes. They're separate products, and Chase allows you to hold both, along with other Ink cards, as long as you meet approval requirements and aren't blocked by the 5/24 rule.

Do I need a business to apply for these cards?
Yes, but Chase's definition of a business is broad. Freelancers, sole proprietors, and side-hustle sellers can typically qualify by listing their self-employment activity as the business.

Is the $1,000 welcome offer permanent?
No. It's a limited-time increase over the standard $750 offer, and Chase hasn't published an end date. Elevated offers on these cards have historically run for a few months before reverting.

Which card is better for travel redemptions?
Neither card earns travel rewards directly, but pairing either one with an Ultimate Rewards-earning card like the Ink Business Preferred or a Sapphire card unlocks transfers to airline and hotel partners.

Bottom Line

The Ink Business Unlimited and Ink Business Cash are both standout no-annual-fee business cards, and right now they're offering one of the best welcome bonuses either has ever had. The choice comes down to your spending pattern: category-heavy spenders should lean toward the Ink Business Cash, while businesses with scattered purchases will get more consistent value from the Ink Business Unlimited's flat 1.5% rate. If you can swing it, applying for both lets you capture two bonuses and optimize every dollar you spend. This article contains affiliate links. If you apply through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps us continue sharing points and miles strategies with the community.