Chase has a full lineup of rewards credit cards, including the Sapphire and Freedom card families for consumers and the Ink Business family for business owners. There is, however, some overlap in earning structures and benefits offered by the personal and business cards.
One example of this is the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Ink Business Unlimited. Both come with a minimum of 1.5% cash back across all spending, making them excellent no-annual-fee cards to use on everyday expenses that don’t fall under other bonus categories.
If you’re considering these two cards, make sure you are under Chase’s 5/24 rule and that you are eligible for a business card.
Let’s take a deeper look at each card offer to see which is more valuable.
Ink Business Unlimited vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited comparison
| Card | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Ink Business Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up bonus | Special offer: Chase will match all cash back earned at the end of your first year | $900 after spending $6,000 in the first three months from account opening |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Rewards rate | 5% back on travel booked through Chase
3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services 3% back on drugstore purchases 1.5% back on everything else |
5% back on Lyft rides through March 2025
1.5% back on everything else |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 3% |
| Other benefits | Purchase protection
Extended warranty Fraud protection |
Auto rental collision damage waiver
Travel and emergency assistance services Roadside dispatch Purchase protection Extended warranty Free employee cards |
Ink Business Unlimited vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited welcome bonus
Right now, the Ink Business Unlimited is offering $900 after spending $6,000 in the first three months from account opening.
The Freedom Unlimited, on the other hand, has a special offer: Chase will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned in the first 12 months with no limit. That means the card’s earning rates are effectively doubled for the first year.
Winner: Ink Business Unlimited. While the Freedom Unlimited’s double cash-back offer is enticing, you’d need to spend $30,000 on everyday purchases on the card in the first year to match the $900 cash-back offer for just $6,000 in spending on the Ink Business Unlimited.
Ink Business Unlimited vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits
The Ink Business Unlimited, unsurprisingly, doesn’t offer as many perks as other cards with higher annual fees. Most notably, you won’t enjoy cellphone protection or trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
You will, however, get purchase protection, an auto rental collision damage waiver, a yearlong warranty extension on select purchases and employee cards at no additional cost.
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The Freedom Unlimited offers some solid perks like rental car protection, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, roadside dispatch, extended warranty protection and purchase protection. If you lack another card with more robust benefits, the Freedom Unlimited provides a decent amount of coverage for a card with no annual fee.
Winner: Tie. Your valuation of the benefits here will depend on what you’re looking for in your card, and whether you’re looking for more personal or business-focused benefits.
Earning cash back with the Ink Business Unlimited vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited
The Ink Business Unlimited offers a 5% back on Lyft rides through March 2025, plus a straightforward 1.5% cash back on all purchases without any rotating or bonus categories.
The Freedom Unlimited offers 5% back on travel booked through Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services), 3% back at drugstores and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
Winner: Freedom Unlimited
Redeeming cash back with the Ink Business Unlimited vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited
Your rewards earned through both of these Chase cards can be redeemed as cash back, gift cards, travel or goods and services offered through Chase’s rewards program.
If you elect to redeem for cash, you can get your money as a statement credit or through an electronic deposit. Points redeemed for cash, gift cards or travel are worth 1 cent apiece.
None of those options are quite as lucrative as converting your cash back to Chase points (more on that in the next section) but they’ll get the job done.
Winner: Tie
Transferring cash back with the Ink Business Unlimited vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited
By transferring your earned rewards from either of these cards to a full-fledged Ultimate Rewards personal or business card like the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can boost your redemption rate to an effective return of at least 3%, based on TPG’s valuations.
Once the points are transferred to an Ultimate Rewards account, you can redeem them with valuable airline and hotel partners or book travel directly through the Chase portal at a fixed value per point (1.5 cents with Chase Sapphire Reserve or 1.25 cents with Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred).
Winner: Tie
Should I get the Ink Business Unlimited or Chase Freedom Unlimited?
If you have a small business of any kind or want a higher sign-up bonus, the Ink Business Unlimited is a great choice. Those who don’t, however, can still get great value out of the Freedom Unlimited. Which card is best for you comes down to what expenses you hope to use the card on.
Bottom line
We recommend having a card in your wallet that you can use to earn bonus rewards on everyday spending that doesn’t fall under a specific bonus category. Both of these cards meet that criteria.
If you already have Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards, pairing with the Freedom Unlimited or Ink Business Unlimited is an excellent way to take advantage of the rewards you’ll earn. Both beginners and experts can take advantage of these cards to maximize value.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Ink Business Unlimited and Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Apply here: The Ink Business Unlimited and Chase Freedom Unlimited cards
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