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Introduction
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is Business Insider's choice for the best credit card and the best travel rewards credit card.
Its small-business equivalent, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, is our choice for the best small business credit card as well as the best business credit card for travel.
Overview of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
If you're considering both credit cards, you may find it hard to choose between these two options — you'll often find that many entrepreneurs have both in their wallets.
Finding the right card for you will come down to evaluating the benefits you will be able to use, and understanding which card's rewards-earning structure is most 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.
Chase Ink Business Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Apply now lock icon An icon in the shape of lock. On Chase's website
Insider’s Rating Info icon Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals. A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection. PerksAnnual Fee$95
Intro APRN/A
Regular APR21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Intro Offer Info icon 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account openingEarn 60,000 bonus points
Recommended Credit Info icon Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.Good to Excellent
Pros- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong travel coverage
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Sapphire Preferred Card Product Details- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Insider’s Rating Info icon Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals. A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection. PerksAnnual Fee$95
Intro APRN/A
Regular APR21.24% - 26.24% Variable
Intro Offer Info icon 120,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account openingEarn 120,000 bonus points
Recommended CreditGood to Excellent
Pros- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High sign-up bonus
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers 3x bonus points on several spending categories, including travel and advertising purchases
- Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Includes comprehensive travel coverage
- con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Welcome bonus has a very high minimum spending requirement
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers a huge welcome bonus and solid earning and benefits for a moderate annual fee. If your small-business expenses line up with the card's bonus categories and you like redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for travel, this is one of the best small-business credit cards to consider.
Ink Business Preferred Card Product Details- Earn 120k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase TravelSM
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Annual fees and sign-up bonuses
These two cards have a lot in common; in fact, you could consider them to be counterparts of each other, designed for consumers or for small business owners.
Comparison of annual fees
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee, and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has a $95 annual fee.
Sign-up bonus offers
Welcome bonuses, often called sign-up bonuses, are initial boosts of rewards that new cardholders can earn after reaching a certain spending requirement.
The Sapphire Preferred Card currently offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, while the Ink Business Preferred Card offers 120,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
There are two components to a welcome bonus offer should 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.
Reward earning potential
Both cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are incredibly valuable by Business Insider's valuations. Chase points are worth 1.8 cents apiece, on average, when redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel℠ Portal. They can be worth far more if transferred to Chase's airline and hotel partners for first- and business-class travel redemptions.
Compare earning rates: Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Here, too, the cards diverge significantly. The Sapphire Preferred Card earns:
- 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 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 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 Card's uncapped 2x points.
However, if dining is your major purchase segment, then the Sapphire Preferred Card pulls ahead since the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card doesn't even offer it as a bonus category.
Compare redemption opportunities: Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Read our guide to earning and using Chase Ultimate Rewards points for more strategies — and don't forget there are lots of ways to use Ultimate Rewards points that don't involve travel.
Travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
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 Travel℠ Portal. For some perspective, that means the welcome bonus from the Sapphire Preferred Card is worth $900 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 through Chase Travel℠, 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.
Point transfer to partners
With either card, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to the program's 14 airline and hotel transfer partners.
Chase Transfer Partners
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways Executive Club
- Emirates Skywards
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
- United MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- IHG Rewards Club
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
Travel Benefits and Protections
Both cards come with generous travel benefits and purchase protections. Here's what you should know.
Travel insurance and 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 Card 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.
No foreign transaction fees
Neither the Sapphire Preferred Card nor the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card charges foreign transaction fees, which saves you an average of 3% per transaction when making international purchases.
Additional perks
Each of these cards offers many more benefits. As you can imagine, some of them diverge — here's how the two stack up.
Sapphire Preferred Card benefits
The Sapphire Preferred Card offers the following supplemental benefits:
- Up to $50 in annual statement credits toward hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary point bonus
- Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership through December 2024 (activation required)
- Six-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024)
- Primary rental car insurance
- Up to $15 per quarter in Instacart credits through July 2024
Learn more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred card review.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card benefits
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers the following supplemental benefits:
- Primary car rental insurance on business-related rentals in the U.S., and all international rentals
- Cellphone protection on phones that are billed monthly to this card
Learn more in our Chase Ink Business Preferred card review.
Which Chase card is suitable for you?
With all of these features and benefits compared side-by-side, it may seem harder than ever to choose between the Sapphire Preferred Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
You can get both cards
You could always consider 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.
If you simply must choose between the two cards, here is what you should consider:
Personal vs. business use
When evaluating either-or between these two cards, consider this: 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?
If you're a sole proprietor selling a few items on eBay each year, there aren't many repercussions for you using the Sapphire Preferred Card for business use.
But if you plan to expand your business, run a cottage industry out of your home kitchen, or operate a larger company, you should definitely get a business credit card to help you separate your personal and professional expenses for tax and accounting reasons. Responsible financial management includes keeping clear records, and holding a dedicated credit card can help with that.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a dedicated business credit card, and offers business-friendly features and benefits that the Sapphire Preferred does not.
Frequent travelers vs. business spenders: Choosing the right card for your spending and travel habits
Your travel habits should also come into consideration when evaluating these two cards. The Sapphire Preferred Card offers better travel insurance benefits and elevated dining rewards. However, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card also offers generous travel protection and earns bonus points on business expenses, and includes cellphone insurance whereas the Sapphire Preferred does not.
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 Card, 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 Card 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.
If you're thinking of getting both cards, apply for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card first. Because it's a business card, Chase won't add it to your 5/24 count. Applying for the Sapphire Preferred Card first would disqualify you from getting approved for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card if it's your fifth card opened in the past 24 months, so the order in which you apply is important.
Conclusion
You can't go wrong with either — or both — of these exceptionally popular Chase credit cards. The most important consideration should be your personal and business spending needs, and how you plan to utilize your credit card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred frequently asked questions
What are the main differences in rewards between Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.The consumer-focused Sapphire Preferred Card offers fantastic travel insurance and bonus points on travel and restaurant spend, while the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card for small business owners has cellphone insurance and bonus points on office supplies and travel.
Do both cards offer sign-up bonuses? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Yes, both cards offer generous welcome bonuses for new cardholders who meet certain spending requirements within the first few months of opening the card.
Which card offers better travel protections? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.While both cards offer a suite of travel protections including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, the Sapphire Preferred Card comes out slightly ahead with some of the best protection in the industry.
Can points from both cards be transferred to airline and hotel partners? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Yes, points earned from both theSapphire Preferred Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card can be transferred to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners through Chase Travel.
Is one card better suited for international travel? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Both cards are excellent for international travelers, with no foreign transaction fees and a number of travel benefits.
Eric Rosen Eric Rosen is a travel and credit card expert who has been helping readers reap the rewards of loyalty programs for over a decade.Eric is based in Los Angeles, though you'll often find him globetrotting to destinations like Australia, Kenya, and Laos on assignment for publications including National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Bloomberg, and AFAR, among others. He covers a mix of award travel, aviation, luxury, food, wine, and wellness. He also recently launched a podcast called Conscious Traveler where he discusses the latest in sustainability, conservation, culture, and community, and how they can inform us to make more meaningful choices when we travel. Read more Read less Top Offers From Our Partners 
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