Chase Ink BUSINESS Card (old review NOT updated)
Updated March 23, 2018. Please note that with the introduction of Ink Unlimited, this review won't be updated. Instead, check out the updated reviews for Ink Unlimited, Ink Cash, Ink Preferred.
The Facts
There are two versions of Chase Ink Business Card currently available to new customers: Ink Cash and Ink Preferred.
The Facts
There are two versions of Chase Ink Business Card currently available to new customers: Ink Cash and Ink Preferred.
Ink Cash
|
Ink Preferred
|
The History
In 2009, Chase introduced the Ink series which included Ink Classic, Ink Cash and Ink Bold. In November 2011, Chase had a major revamp of these cards. For Ink Classic/Cash, the one year free Priority Pass Select was removed. For Ink Bold, several changes occurred: the tiered points booster (1.3~1.475 point per dollar spent) was replaced with a 5-2-1 structure similar to Ink Class/Cash with a higher annual spending cap; zero foreign transaction fee feature was added; Priority Pass Select (later becoming Lounge Club) with two free passes was extended beyond year one. In mid 2012, Chase introduced Ink Plus, which was almost identical to Ink Bold - the only difference was Ink Bold was a charge card and Ink Plus was a credit card. In October 2014, Chase discontinued Ink Classic and Ink Bold for new applicants due to their resemblance to their siblings. In April 2015, Chase removed the Lounge Club membership benefit from Ink Plus. In November 2016, Chase introduced Ink Preferred and discontinued Ink Plus for new applications.
The Math
Ink Preferred vs. Ink Plus: Ink Preferred is a direct replacement for Ink Plus, as both carry the same $95 annual fee and both allow miles/points transfer and enhanced airfare redemption. With Ink Preferred, you lose 5x office supplies and 2x telecommunication and gas but gain 3x travel, shipping, and advertising. Which card is better largely depends on your spending pattern. In addition, as noted below, Ink Preferred complements Ink Cash very well, while Ink Plus doesn't.
Ink Cash vs. Ink Preferred: their bonus categories are mostly different, and they will actually make a great combo in your wallet, which wasn't the case before when Ink Cash and Ink Plus offered very similar bonus categories. Ink Cash has office supplies, and phone / internet / cable services as the 5x categories, and gas and dining as the 2x categories, while Ink Preferred covers travel, shipping, online advertising, and phone / internet / cable services as the 3x categories. If you only have Ink Cash and don't have a premium UR card (Sapphire Reserve, JPM Reserve, Sapphire Preferred, Ink Preferred), the 5x points equal to 5% cashback and are not bad at all, especially considering there is no annual fee. However, if you have a premium UR card, you may increase the value of the points earned from Ink Cash quite a bit, and based on our current valuation of 1.5 cents per UR point, 5x points equal to a whooping 7.5% rewards. It is highly recommended to make a combo of Ink Cash and Ink Preferred, as you will have two 5x, three 3x, and two 2x bonus categories, all of which could be very lucrative, for $95 a year.
Ink Preferred vs. Amex Business Gold: They are similar in that they both have multiple bonus categories and allow points to be transferred to frequent traveler programs. But they have major differences. First of all, Ink Preferred is $80 less expensive. Secondly, they have different bonus categories: Ink Preferred offers 3x travel, shipping, advertising, and telecommunication, while Amex offers 3x on one category you select from: airfare, gas, advertising, shipping, and computer, and 2x on the remaining four categories. Lastly, Chase UR program has very different transfer partners from Amex MR. So the bottom line is that each card has its own strength and it is up to your spending pattern as well as redemption need to decide which one to pick up.
The Conclusion
With the November 2016 revamp, Chase Ink Cards continue to impress and are considered among the best business cards for rewards. It is highly recommended that you make a combo of Ink Cash and Ink Preferred to take advantage of seven different bonus categories.
© 2018 DrCreditCard.net All rights reserved.
In 2009, Chase introduced the Ink series which included Ink Classic, Ink Cash and Ink Bold. In November 2011, Chase had a major revamp of these cards. For Ink Classic/Cash, the one year free Priority Pass Select was removed. For Ink Bold, several changes occurred: the tiered points booster (1.3~1.475 point per dollar spent) was replaced with a 5-2-1 structure similar to Ink Class/Cash with a higher annual spending cap; zero foreign transaction fee feature was added; Priority Pass Select (later becoming Lounge Club) with two free passes was extended beyond year one. In mid 2012, Chase introduced Ink Plus, which was almost identical to Ink Bold - the only difference was Ink Bold was a charge card and Ink Plus was a credit card. In October 2014, Chase discontinued Ink Classic and Ink Bold for new applicants due to their resemblance to their siblings. In April 2015, Chase removed the Lounge Club membership benefit from Ink Plus. In November 2016, Chase introduced Ink Preferred and discontinued Ink Plus for new applications.
The Math
Ink Preferred vs. Ink Plus: Ink Preferred is a direct replacement for Ink Plus, as both carry the same $95 annual fee and both allow miles/points transfer and enhanced airfare redemption. With Ink Preferred, you lose 5x office supplies and 2x telecommunication and gas but gain 3x travel, shipping, and advertising. Which card is better largely depends on your spending pattern. In addition, as noted below, Ink Preferred complements Ink Cash very well, while Ink Plus doesn't.
Ink Cash vs. Ink Preferred: their bonus categories are mostly different, and they will actually make a great combo in your wallet, which wasn't the case before when Ink Cash and Ink Plus offered very similar bonus categories. Ink Cash has office supplies, and phone / internet / cable services as the 5x categories, and gas and dining as the 2x categories, while Ink Preferred covers travel, shipping, online advertising, and phone / internet / cable services as the 3x categories. If you only have Ink Cash and don't have a premium UR card (Sapphire Reserve, JPM Reserve, Sapphire Preferred, Ink Preferred), the 5x points equal to 5% cashback and are not bad at all, especially considering there is no annual fee. However, if you have a premium UR card, you may increase the value of the points earned from Ink Cash quite a bit, and based on our current valuation of 1.5 cents per UR point, 5x points equal to a whooping 7.5% rewards. It is highly recommended to make a combo of Ink Cash and Ink Preferred, as you will have two 5x, three 3x, and two 2x bonus categories, all of which could be very lucrative, for $95 a year.
Ink Preferred vs. Amex Business Gold: They are similar in that they both have multiple bonus categories and allow points to be transferred to frequent traveler programs. But they have major differences. First of all, Ink Preferred is $80 less expensive. Secondly, they have different bonus categories: Ink Preferred offers 3x travel, shipping, advertising, and telecommunication, while Amex offers 3x on one category you select from: airfare, gas, advertising, shipping, and computer, and 2x on the remaining four categories. Lastly, Chase UR program has very different transfer partners from Amex MR. So the bottom line is that each card has its own strength and it is up to your spending pattern as well as redemption need to decide which one to pick up.
The Conclusion
With the November 2016 revamp, Chase Ink Cards continue to impress and are considered among the best business cards for rewards. It is highly recommended that you make a combo of Ink Cash and Ink Preferred to take advantage of seven different bonus categories.
© 2018 DrCreditCard.net All rights reserved.
