Chase Ink Business Preferred Card vs. Amex Business Gold Card [Detailed Comparison]

Business credit cards can serve a very important role in managing a business operation. While providing support for your business growth, credit cards can also help you manage your business by making it easier to track expenses and allowing key employees to make necessary business purchases.

A prudent business move is to ensure all of your expenses are earning rewards. Whether it’s cash-back, miles, or flexible transferable points, rewards currencies can return value back to your business to offset expenses or even fund your personal travel goals.

Today we’re looking at a Chase business credit card and an Amex business credit card that offer stellar rewards-earning possibilities, have flexible options at redemption time, and provide benefits that result in savings or help make your travel more comfortable.

The popular Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card and the American Express^® Business Gold Card are both worthy considerations for your go-to business card, but one will stand taller than the other as a better fit for your business.

Join us as we dive into the attributes that make both of these cards a potential partner for rewarding your business cash flow.

Ink Business Preferred Card vs. Amex Business Gold Card — Overview

The Value of a Welcome Bonus

Ink Business Preferred Card

Ultimate Rewards points earned on the Ink Business Preferred card — including the welcome bonus — can be redeemed for 1.25 cents per point for travel on the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. Although welcome bonus offers vary, a 100,000-point welcome bonus could be worth $1,250 when redeemed towards travel.

Points can also be transferred to several airline and hotel partners and subsequently redeemed for tickets or hotel nights, resulting in the potential to receive even greater value.

Amex Business Gold Card

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 110,000 points with the Amex Business Gold card! The current public offer is 70,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Membership Rewards points have a value of 1 cent per point when redeemed for qualifying travel. For this reason, a 70,000-point welcome bonus will be worth at least $700 towards qualifying travel.

Membership Rewards points are also transferable to airline and hotel partners, which could potentially provide more value than other redemption options.

Bottom Line: Typically, you’ll find a better value with the Ink Business Preferred card with its generous welcome bonus versus the Amex Business Gold card. However, be sure to compare current offers when applying for either card as welcome bonus offers change. 

Ultimate Rewards Points vs. Membership Rewards Points

The Ink Business Preferred card and the Amex Gold Business card each earn their own valuable rewards currencies. Ultimate Rewards points are earned on the Ink Business Preferred card and Membership Rewards points are earned on the Amex Business Gold card.

Both types of rewards points are valuable because of the elevated multiple earnings rates on bonus categories and their flexibility at redemption time.

Let’s compare the earning potential and redemption possibilities for each card.

Comparing Earning Potential

Both the Ink Business Preferred card and Amex Business Gold card make it easy to earn rewards quickly, as they offer elevated earnings on common business expense category purchases.

Here’s how the 2 cards compare on earnings for business purchases:

Earning the maximum rewards possible on your business purchases requires aligning the category of purchases you make with the card that generously rewards those categories.

The Ink Business Preferred card has a nice selection of common business expense categories that can earn bonus points. If your greatest expenses fall into those categories, the card could be a good fit, as long as you’re spending $150,000 or less in those categories per cardmember year.

The Amex Business Gold card rewards your 2 highest expense categories automatically each statement period. This is a nice feature that ensures your largest expenses receive the highest 4x earnings. The card also imposes a $150,000 limit per cardmember year on 4x earnings.

Bottom Line: The best business rewards earning card will be the one that aligns with your highest business expenses and ensures every major purchase receives multiple times earnings. To get started, check out our guide to points and miles for business owners for some guidance.

Comparing Redemption Options

At redemption time, there will be several options to maximize the points you’ve earned on either card.

Whether you need to book a premium business flight to Europe or a transcontinental domestic flight for a last-minute meeting, redeeming your points for travel will result in the best value for your points.

It is also possible to use your points for personal travel.

Each reward currency offers several flexible redemption options — some yielding better value than others.

Let’s review the redemption options you’ll have with the Ink Business Preferred card and the Amex Business Gold card:

Whether you prefer to redeem your points for a fixed travel value or transfer the points to hotel or airline partners, you’ll have both options with either card.

You’ll find that Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed via the Ultimate Rewards travel portal for 1.25 cents per point for travel, while Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for 1 cent per point for only airfare through Amex Travel.

One other noticeable difference between the cards is that Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed for 1 cent per point as a statement credit whereas Membership Rewards points receive just 0.6 cents per point when redeemed for charges.

Learn how to realize the best value for your rewards with travel partner transfer options on either card. Our guides will show you how to maximize your Membership Rewards transfers and Ultimate Rewards transfers.

Bottom Line: Redemption options vary in the value received for each reward point. The highest potential value for points earned on either card may be realized when transferring points to airlines and possibly hotel partners. 

Hotel and Rental Car Program Benefits

Hotel Program Benefits — Ink Business Preferred Card

Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection

With over 1,000 properties worldwide, you’re sure to find the perfect hotel with the Luxury Hotel Collection. Once you do, you’ll receive a nice selection of benefits during your stay. There is no minimum stay required to receive these benefits:

• Room upgrade, if available
• Daily breakfast for 2
• Unique property amenity worth up to $100
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Early check-in and late checkout, if available

You’ll also find special discounted rates, stay credits, and third- or fourth-night free offers available for cardholders on the site.

Hotel Program Benefits — Amex Business Gold Card

The Hotel Collection

Reserve a 2-night or longer stay through Amex Travel using your Amex Business Gold card and receive a room upgrade (subject to availability) and a $100 property credit at checkout towards purchases such as spa services, dining, and other qualifying on-site amenities.

Bottom Line: If you’re a frequent traveler, selecting a business credit card offering extra travel benefits could save you money and make your travel more comfortable. The Ink Business Preferred card and Amex Business Gold card each offer similar levels of benefits in these categories. 

Additional Benefits and Protections

While rewards earning and redemption options are key to your card selection, benefits, protections, discounts, and statement credits can deliver additional value.

Travel Benefits and Protections

If your business purchases a lot of travel, travel protections and benefits may come in handy.

Having rental car insurance can save you money, baggage and trip insurance can reimburse you for your losses, and not incurring foreign transaction fees can save you at least 3% on any such expenses.

Here’s how our featured cards stack up on key travel benefits and protections.

One of the key benefits of the Ink Business Preferred card is primary car rental insurance versus secondary car rental insurance with the Amex Business Gold card. The Ink Business Preferred card’s insurance is primary when renting for business or outside of the U.S. and secondary for personal rentals in the U.S. Secondary car rental insurance requires that you file a claim with your own insurance company first. You do, however, have an option with the Amex Business Gold card to purchase Premium Car Rental Protection for 1 flat low fee that provides coverage for the entire rental period.

Another key travel benefit is trip cancellation and interruption coverage that is offered on the Ink Business Preferred card but not on the Amex Business Gold card.

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Using your eligible business card for specific purchases allows you to receive benefits, protections, discounts, and even statement credits.

Here’s a sampling of the key purchase attributes of each card.

Business Management Tools

Both cards come with tools that assist you in managing your business such as annual summary statements, free employee cards, online and mobile account management, and account alerts.

Note that these summaries are not comprehensive lists of all benefits on each featured card — we’ve also abbreviated the benefit descriptions. You’ll want to learn more about the accompanying terms and conditions and complete descriptions of each benefit and protection by referencing the specific card’s Guide to Benefits.

Bottom Line: You might not consider selecting a specific business card for its benefits and protections alone, but these amenities offer value if you need to use them. For example, a single cell phone protection claim could make the Ink Business Preferred card worth having. A 2-year extension on a manufacturer’s warranty could cover an expensive piece of office equipment and make the Amex Business Gold card worthwhile. 

Annual Fees and Adding Additional Users

Annual Fees

Annual fees can change periodically, but the Ink Business Preferred card has always provided value beyond its low $95 annual fee. The Amex Business Gold card has a higher fee of $295, so you’ll need to find extra value in earnings, redemption preferences, and benefits provided on the card to negate this higher expense.

Adding Additional Users

There is no additional cost to add employees or other authorized users to the Ink Business Preferred card. Authorized users share in benefits such as cell phone protection and trip cancellation, interruption, and delay coverage.

The Amex Business Gold card charges a $50 fee for the first employee card. After that, you can add up to 99 total cards for no additional annual fees.

Final Thoughts

When we compare earnings on these 2 cards, we find that up to $150,000 in purchases on the Ink Business Preferred card earn 3x rewards in bonus category purchases. The Amex Business Gold card earns 4x rewards, also on purchases up to $150,000. This results in a difference that favors the Amex Business Gold card.

This scenario, of course, makes the assumption you would be maxing out bonus category purchases on either card. The actual mix of your purchase categories will determine which card provides better earning potential for your situation.

When it comes to redemptions, an edge goes to the Ink Business Preferred card for the ability to redeem for general travel (versus just airline tickets) at 1.25 cents per point. However, with the ability to transfer points to airline/hotel partners, there is a greater potential value for points earned on either card.

Amex also has some transfer partners that could tip the scales in favor of Amex over Chase for the right person.

In the area of travel benefits, the Ink Business Preferred card is the winner with key benefits such as cell phone protection and trip interruption/cancellation providing tremendous value.

In the end, the card that makes sense for your business rewards all of your major business purchases, allows you to redeem those rewards for value that makes a difference in your bottom line (business or personal), and delivers benefits that you or your business can use.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for eligible persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York state residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered Trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply.  Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the purchase protection benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the extended warranty benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For rates and fees of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, click here.