Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card vs. Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card are two of the most popular and highly sought-after credit cards offered by Chase.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee.

The Ink Business Preferred offers great rewards for small business owners. With bonus points on travel, shipping, advertising, and communication services, plus valuable travel protections, it's a solid choice for companies looking to maximize their everyday spending.

This article will compare each card based on several factors to help you make an informed decision on which card is the best to add to your wallet.

Reviews: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

Overview: Sapphire Preferred vs Ink Business Preferred

Welcome Bonus

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred currently offers the following welcome bonus:

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Ink Business Preferred:

The Ink Business Preferred currently offers the following welcome bonus:

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.

Related: History of Welcome Bonuses for Ink Preferred Card.

Earning Points

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points and offers bonus points on spending in several categories:

• 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal;
• 5 points per dollar on Lyft purchases (through March 2025);
• 5 points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $250 or more (through March 2025, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points);
• 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out;
• 3 points per dollar on online grocery store purchases (excludes Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs);
• 3 points per dollar on select streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, Youtube TV, Pandora, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Hulu, and ESPN+;
• 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase travel portal; and
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible spending.

Ink Business Preferred:

The Ink Business Preferred offers several nice bonus categories that can be lucrative to small business owners, including:

• 3 points per dollar on travel;*
• 3 points per dollar on shipping purchases;*
• 3 points per dollar on internet, cable, and phone services;*
• 3 points per dollar on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines;* and
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible spending.

* 3x bonus points is limited to the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases every account anniversary year.

Winner:

Draw. The Ink Preferred offers more points on travel (3x points vs. 2x points), but the other 3x categories may have little benefit to many cardholders.

Whereas the Sapphire Preferred offers 3x points on dining, which many people will be able to maximize.

Card Benefits

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

The  Chase Sapphire Preferred offers nice benefits, including:

• Receive 25% more value on points redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Ultimate Rewards.
• 10% Points Bonus for each Cardmember anniversary.
• A complimentary one-year subscription to DashPass by DoorDash when you enroll by December 31, 2024.
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip).
• Primary car rental insurance.
• Lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000 per passenger)
• Baggage delay insurance (up to $100 per day for five days).
• Trip delay insurance (up to $500 per ticket for a delay longer than 12 hours or overnight).
• Extended warranty.
• 120 days purchase protection (up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per year).
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Free 6-month membership to Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024).

Ink Business Preferred:

The Ink Business Preferred® offers the following benefits to cardholders:

• Cellphone protection.
• Primary car rental insurance.
• Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance.
• Extended warranty.
• Purchase protection.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Free employee cards.

Winner:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers more extensive travel protections and extra perks with partners.

Value of the Annual Fee

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with an annual fee of $95.

While some users might be initially deterred by this cost, it’s important to consider the value and benefits that come with the card.

The rewards points, travel benefits, and purchase protections can help offset the cost of the annual fee for frequent travelers.

Ink Business Preferred:

The Ink Business Preferred carries a $95 annual fee, which aligns with industry standards for a business card offering this level of rewards and benefits. For most businesses, the card's bonus categories, sign-up bonus, and additional perks will more than offset this moderate fee, providing a net positive value.

To illustrate, earning just 4,750 points annually (worth about $95 based on a 2.0 cent per point valuation) will cover the annual fee cost. This equates to spending $1,584 across the 3x bonus categories, an easily attainable target for many businesses. In fact, many businesses will earn far more than this in rewards each year, making the annual fee a minor investment for a substantial return. The key is to ensure your business spending aligns well with the card's bonus categories and benefits to extract the maximum value possible.

Winner:

Chase Sapphire Preferred because it offers a hotel credit and other perks to help better offset its annual fee.

Redeeming Points

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points, one of the most flexible points currencies.

You can use your points to book flights, hotel stays, and even rent a car through Chase Travel — all at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point. For example, 100,000 points are equivalent to $1,250 towards travel.

You can unlock even more value than 1.25 cents per point by transferring rewards to Chase airline and hotel partners.

Ink Business Preferred:

The Ink Business Preferred Card also earns transferrable Ultimate Rewards points so redemption points are similar to the Sapphire Preferred.

The Ink Business Preferred® Card lets you redeem your points for cashback, gift cards, travel, and Apple purchases on the Chase portal.

However, using your points to book flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and cruises will let you enjoy a redemption rate of of 1.25 cents per point, meaning that 100,000 points would be equivalent to $1,250 towards travel expenses.

Additionally, by transferring rewards to Chase’s airline and hotel partners, you can potentially receive even greater value for your points.

Winner:

Both cards offer the same redemption options and values. Additionally, both cards also earn transferrable Chase points so they also have the same transfer partners.

The Verdict

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offer unique benefits, making it difficult to declare a clear winner.

Your choice will depend on your specific needs and spending habits. Business owners will likely find more value in the Ink Business Preferred, while those using the card for personal use will find value in the Sapphire Preferred.

Regardless of which card you choose, both offer excellent rewards programs, valuable perks, and competitive sign-up bonuses.

We recommend carefully evaluating your needs and comparing the benefits of each card before making a decision. Ultimately, the right card for you is the one that helps you maximize your rewards and achieve your financial goals.