Ink Business Preferred® vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison
| Ink Business Preferred® | PayPal Cashback Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points | No current offer |
| Advertising | 3% | 1.5% |
| Shipping | 3% | 1.5% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1.5% |
| Phone & internet | 3% | 1.5% |
| Travel | 3% | 1.5% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1.5% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $846 | $675 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Cash back only |
| Network | Visa | Mastercard |
*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 Ink Business Preferred® earns about $846 a year in rewards and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard about $675, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Ink Business Preferred® charges $95, but carries about $10 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Ink Business Preferred® delivers more total value, about $81 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on advertising and travel. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Ink Business Preferred® earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the PayPal Cashback Mastercard pays plain cash back. Favor the Ink Business Preferred® if you will use travel transfers, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Ink Business Preferred® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Ink Business Preferred® if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, phone & internet. Pick the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if your spending leans toward office supplies, everything else.