American Express® Blue Cash Preferred vs Ink Business Unlimited®
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Ink Business Unlimited® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $300 statement credit | |
| Advertising | 1% | 1.5% |
| Shipping | 1% | 1.5% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1.5% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1.5% |
| Travel | 1% | 1.5% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1.5% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $486 | $675 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Pools with Chase → transferable |
| Network | Amex | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of business spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns about $486 a year in rewards and the Ink Business Unlimited® about $675, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred charges $95, but carries about $84 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Ink Business Unlimited® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Ink Business Unlimited® delivers more total value, about $242 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and advertising. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Ink Business Unlimited® earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred pays plain cash back. Favor the Ink Business Unlimited® if you will use travel transfers, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Ink Business Unlimited® currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Ink Business Unlimited® if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies.