Ink Business Preferred vs Business Gold
By Quy Dinh · Updated Oct 24, 2026
The short answer
The Ink Business Preferred for most small businesses: $95 a year, 3x on travel, shipping, ads and phone on up to $150,000, and points that transfer to United, Southwest and Hyatt. The Business Gold earns more (4x) and picks your top two categories for you, including restaurants, gas and software, but costs $375; its credits only help if you’d use them.
Pick the Ink Business Preferred if
- You want the lower fee
- Your spending is travel, shipping, ads and phone
- You like Chase’s partners
Pick the Business Gold if
- Your spending is dining, gas, software or transit
- You’d use the UPS, Grubhub, office supply and ChatGPT credits
- You like Amex’s partners, like Delta and Air Canada
Side by side
| Feature |  Chase |  American Express |
|---|---|---|
| In one line | One of the best business cards for its fee: 3x on travel, shipping, ads and phone and internet on up to $150,000 a year, with Chase’s transfer partners, for $95. | Strong for businesses whose biggest costs are ads, software, dining, gas, transit or phone service: 4x in your top two categories every billing cycle, for $375. |
| Annual fee | $95 | $375 |
| Statement credits | Up to $120 a year in 1 credits | Up to $845.40 a year in 4 credits |
| How it earns |
|
|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. | As high as 200,000 points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Amex tells you your exact offer after you apply, before you accept the card. |
| Counts toward Chase 5/24 | No | No |
Credits are counted at their full cash value; see each card’s page for how each one works and which need activation. Offers change; the bank’s page has the current one.
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