Ink Business Preferred® vs United℠ Business Card

Ink Business Preferred®
VS
United℠ Business Card
The short answer: The Ink Business Preferred® delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the United℠ Business Card if you spend more on office supplies.

Side-by-side comparison

Ink Business Preferred®United℠ Business Card
Annual fee$95$150
Welcome offer100,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points100,000 miles
Advertising3%1%
Shipping3%1%
Office supplies1%2%
Phone & internet3%1%
Travel3%2%
Everything else1%1%
Est. yearly rewards*$846$570
Points typeTransfers to airlines & hotelsLocked to United MileagePlus
NetworkVisaVisa

*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 United℠ Business Card about $570, 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 United℠ Business Card charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Ink Business Preferred® delivers more total value, about $336 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on advertising and shipping. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Ink Business Preferred® earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the United℠ Business Card stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Ink Business Preferred® if you will use travel transfers, the United℠ Business Card if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the two are currently comparable in size. 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 United℠ Business Card if your spending leans toward office supplies.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ink Business Preferred® or the United℠ Business Card better?
On typical business spending, the Ink Business Preferred® comes out ahead after its annual fee, by roughly $336 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the United℠ Business Card can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Ink Business Preferred® and the United℠ Business Card?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Ink Business Preferred® or the United℠ Business Card?
As of June 2026, the Ink Business Preferred® offers 100,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points and the United℠ Business Card offers 100,000 miles. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.