American Express® Gold vs Ink Business Unlimited®
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Gold | Ink Business Unlimited® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points | |
| Advertising | 1% | 1.5% |
| Shipping | 1% | 1.5% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1.5% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1.5% |
| Travel | 3% | 1.5% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1.5% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $618 | $675 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | 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® Gold earns about $618 a year in rewards and the Ink Business Unlimited® about $675, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Gold charges $325, but carries about $424 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 $170 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and advertising. Both earn transferable points rather than flat cash, so the deciding factor is whose transfer partners reach the airlines and hotels you would actually book. On the sign-up bonus, the two are currently comparable in size. Note that Ink Business Unlimited® is running a limited-time offer above the usual amount, so that edge may not last. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Gold if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the Ink Business Unlimited® if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies.