dailynewsnblog
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the The American Express Blue Business Cash® Card are two no-annual-fee cards (see rates and fees for the Blue Business Cash) that take very different approaches to rewards.
The Ink Business Cash offers elevated cash back in several business-friendly categories, while the Blue Business Cash earns a flat 2% cash back on eligible purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1% back on all purchases).
The Ink Business Cash is the better choice for business owners who want to maximize rewards on common business expenses, while Blue Business Cash is a better fit for those who want simple, predictable cash back on everyday spending.
Here’s how the Ink Business Cash and Amex Blue Business Cash compare, including their welcome offers, benefits and earning structures.
Ink Business Cash vs. Amex Blue Business Cash: At a glance
| Card Features | Ink Business Cash | Amex Blue Business Cash |
|---|---|---|
$0 | $0 | |
Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening. | Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. | |
Authorized user/employee card fee | $0 | |
3% |
Quick picks by business type
| Best for | Card |
|---|---|
Businesses with significant office supply, internet, cable or phone expenses | Ink Business Cash |
Businesses that want to power-up their existing Ultimate Rewards business card | Ink Business Cash |
Businesses that want simple, flat-rate cash back | Amex Blue Business Cash |
Businesses with expenses that don’t fit traditional bonus categories | Amex Blue Business Cash |
Ink Business Cash vs. Amex Blue Business Cash: Welcome bonus
New Ink Business Cash cardholders can earn $1,000 bonus cash back after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening.
New Amex Blue Business Cash cardholders, meanwhile, can earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
The Ink Business Cash, therefore, offers $750 more in potential value from its welcome bonus. But you’ll need to spend $5,000 more on purchases than you would with the Blue Business Cash to earn it.
The Ink’s larger bonus is therefore the clear winner if you can comfortably meet its spending requirement. But don’t spend money you wouldn’t otherwise spend simply to earn a credit card welcome offer.
Before you apply, keep eligibility restrictions in mind. Chase states that the Ink Business Cash welcome bonus may not be available if you’ve ever had this card or another no-annual-fee Chase business card.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Meanwhile, American Express generally restricts welcome offers to applicants who haven’t previously had that card, commonly referred to as its once-per-lifetime rule.
Winner: Ink Business Cash. Its welcome offer is substantially more valuable, and the additional spending required to earn it is reasonable for many established businesses.
Related: The best credit card welcome bonuses of August 2026
Ink Business Cash vs. Amex Blue Business Cash: Benefits
| Benefit | Ink Business Cash | Amex Blue Business Cash |
|---|---|---|
Yes; up to 120 days | Yes; up to 90 days* | |
Extended warranty protection | Yes | Yes* |
Primary for eligible business rentals | Secondary** | |
No | Yes*** |
Neither card offers the premium perks you’ll find on more expensive business cards, but both provide a useful collection of protections despite charging no annual fee.
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
***The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts based on several factors. The amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
Purchase and rental car protections
The Ink Business Cash has an advantage when it comes to purchase and rental car protections. Its purchase protection covers eligible new purchases against damage or theft for up to 120 days, compared with up to 90 days* on the Blue Business Cash.
More significantly, the Ink provides primary auto rental collision damage waiver coverage on eligible rentals for business purposes, while the Blue Business Cash offers secondary coverage**. With primary coverage, you generally won’t have to first file a claim with your personal auto insurance for an eligible loss. That can make the Ink Cash valuable for business owners who frequently rent cars for work.
Extended warranty protection
Both cards can also provide additional protection after an eligible manufacturer’s warranty expires. The Ink Business Cash adds an additional year to eligible U.S. manufacturers’ warranties of three years or less, while the Blue Business Cash can add up to one year to eligible warranties of five years or less*.
The differences here aren’t significant enough to sway me toward one card over the other, but either benefit could save your business money if an eligible purchase needs repair or replacement after its original warranty expires.
Expanded buying power
The Blue Business Cash has one benefit the Ink doesn’t: Expanded Buying Power***. This feature can allow eligible cardmembers to spend beyond their credit limit without an over-limit fee (see rates and fees), with the amount available varying based on factors such as purchase, payment and credit history. You’ll still need to pay your balance according to the card’s terms.
Both cards also allow businesses to add employee cards without an additional annual cost, making it easier to manage employee spending while earning rewards on their purchases.
Winner: Ink Business Cash. Both cards offer useful protections for no-annual-fee products, but the Ink’s longer purchase protection period and primary rental car coverage for eligible business rentals give it the edge.
Related: 6 reasons to apply for the Chase Ink Business Cash card
How to earn and redeem rewards with Ink Business Cash vs. Amex Blue Business Cash
| Card | Earning rates |
|---|---|
| |
|
Earning rewards
The biggest difference between these cards is the way they earn rewards: the Ink Business Cash rewards specific types of business spending, while the Blue Business Cash rewards almost everything at the same rate.
If your business regularly spends money at office supply stores or pays for internet, cable and phone services, the Ink Business Cash can be significantly more rewarding. You’ll earn 5% back on up to $25,000 in combined purchases in those categories each account anniversary year.
That means a business that spends heavily in those categories can earn considerably more than it would with a flat-rate 2% card.
The Ink also earns 2% back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $25,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year.
For example, $10,000 in eligible office supply store and telecommunications spending would earn $500 in cash back with the Ink Business Cash, compared with $200 with the Blue Business Cash.
But the math changes when your expenses don’t fit neatly into the Ink’s bonus categories.
The Blue Business Cash earns 2% back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year (after that, earn 1% back on all purchases). You don’t need to think about whether a purchase qualifies for a bonus category, and you don’t need to remember which categories have spending caps.
There’s also an important consideration for businesses with high annual spending. Once you’ve reached $25,000 in combined purchases in each of the Ink’s 5% and 2% bonus-category groups, additional purchases in those categories earn 1%. The Blue Business Cash, meanwhile, continues earning 2% on eligible purchases until you’ve spent $50,000 during the calendar year.
So while the Ink has a higher earning ceiling in its bonus categories, the Blue Business Cash can be more rewarding for a business with a broad mix of expenses.
Winner: Tie. The Ink Business Cash for bonus-category spending; Amex Blue Business Cash for simplicity.
Related: Earning rewards on your business spending? Here’s how to redeem for the best value
Redeeming rewards
With the Blue Business Cash, cash back is automatically applied to your account as a statement credit each month, making redemptions particularly simple.
The Ink Business Cash offers more flexibility. Although Chase markets the card as earning cash back, rewards are issued as Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed for cash back.
You can also redeem them for options such as gift cards and travel through Chase Travel℠.
The Ink’s rewards can become even more valuable if you pair the card with an eligible Ultimate Rewards card, which we’ll discuss below.
Winner: Ink Business Cash. The Blue Business Cash makes redeeming rewards easier, but the Ink provides more redemption options.
Related: 19 incredible ways to use 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Transferring rewards
The Blue Business Cash doesn’t earn transferable Membership Rewards. Its rewards are cash back, automatically issued as statement credits, so there’s no option to transfer your rewards to airline or hotel partners.
The Ink Business Cash has considerably more upside. On its own, the card doesn’t allow you to transfer rewards to travel partners. However, if you also hold an eligible Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (see rates and fees) or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees), you can combine your rewards and then transfer them to Chase’s airline and hotel partners, such as United MileagePlus, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt.
That can potentially provide significantly more value than redeeming your rewards for cash back. For example, 50,000 Ink Business Cash points would be worth $500 as cash back, but TPG values 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points at $1,025 according to our August 2026 valuations.
Of course, maximizing your points this way requires more work than simply accepting cash back. You’ll need to find award availability and understand how Chase’s transfer partners work.
For business owners who prioritize simplicity and don’t want to spend time navigating award programs, the Blue Business Cash’s automatic statement credits may be more appealing despite offering less potential value.
Winner: Ink Business Cash.
Related: Why all travelers should earn transferable credit card points
Can I have both the Ink Business Cash and Amex Blue Business Cash?
Yes, there’s no rule preventing you from having both the Ink Business Cash and Amex Blue Business Cash.
In fact, the cards can complement each other: You could use the Ink Business Cash for purchases that earn 5% or 2% cash back and the Blue Business Cash for eligible purchases that don’t fall into the Ink’s bonus categories.
Keep in mind that the Blue Business Cash’s 2% earning rate applies only to the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year (then 1%).
Before opening both cards, consider whether your business spending is high enough to justify managing two cards and whether you’re eligible for each card’s welcome offer.
If neither card fits your spending habits, consider a business card with a flat-rate earning structure, a card with transferable points or a card with bonus categories that better match your expenses.
Related: How to choose the best credit card for your business expenses
Should I get the Ink Business Cash or the Amex Blue Business Cash?
Choose the Ink Business Cash if your business spends heavily on office supplies, internet, cable, phone services, gas or restaurants. The 5% and 2% bonus categories can produce significantly more cash back than a flat-rate card if you can maximize them.
The Ink is also the better choice if you’re already invested in Chase Ultimate Rewards. While you can redeem its rewards as cash back, having an eligible Chase card gives you the potential to turn those rewards into transferable points.
Choose the Amex Blue Business Cash if you want to earn 2% cash back without thinking about bonus categories (earn 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in purchases you make each calendar year; then 1% back on all purchases). It’s especially compelling for businesses with varied expenses that don’t fit neatly into the Ink’s bonus categories.
It’s also worth considering the Blue Business Cash if your business has substantial expenses but doesn’t want to manage multiple cards. The 2% rate applies across eligible purchases, up to $50,000 per calendar year, so you can simply put most or all of your business expenses on the card and let the rewards accumulate.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether you’re willing to trade simplicity for potentially higher rewards.
Related: Your guide to the Chase Ink Business credit cards
Bottom line
Choosing between the Ink Business Cash and Amex Blue Business Cash comes down to how much effort you want to put into maximizing your business spending. The Ink Business Cash has the higher potential upside, while the Blue Business Cash is a better fit if you value simplicity and predictable cash back.
Neither card is ideal for businesses that frequently make purchases abroad because both charge foreign transaction fees. And if you’re looking for premium travel benefits or transferable rewards without adding another Chase card to your wallet, you may want to consider a different business card altogether.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Ink Business Cash Card and our full review of the American Express Blue Business Cash Card.
Apply here: Ink Business Cash Credit Card
Apply here: The American Express Blue Business Cash Card
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Cash, click here.
