Chase Business Cards vs. Amex Business Cards: Which Way to Go?

Choosing a business credit card is an important decision that relies on your business’s spending habits and your preferred rewards. Chase offers seamless travel booking options, whereas American Express focuses on luxury benefits.

Chase's business credit cards require you to choose cards based on spending categories, such as office expenses, advertising, and travel, whereas American Express focuses on brands like Hilton, Delta, and Amazon for maximized rewards.

You can’t go wrong with either brand as long as you evaluate your business’s spending habits and choose a card that will reward you more than the cost of the annual fee.

Chase business cards vs. Amex business cards

Chase and American Express business cards offer some great options for redeeming points for travel through their exclusive travel portals, but Chase offers a more seamless experience booking travel, and Amex focuses on premium benefits.

What Chase does well

• Seamless travel booking: Chase partners with Expedia, providing Chase cardholders with access to 300,000+ lodging options and 250 airlines
• Widely accepted: All Chase credit cards are Visa® or Mastercard® , which is much more widely accepted than Amex

What American Express does well

• Provides premium benefits: Amex business credit card customers get benefits not offered by Chase like free annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and elite status with major hotel chains
• Greater selection: American Express offers more business credit card options than Chase, giving business owners more options
• Points transfer bonus: Amex offers more transfer partners so you can maximize your rewards, and they often run promotions that make your points more valuable if you transfer them

When to choose Chase business cards

Chase business credit cards consist of multiple Chase Ink business cards and a few co-branded business cards. The Chase Ink business cards are solely designed and issued by Chase, whereas the co-branded cards are issued by Chase in partnership with another company.

Chase business cards may be the best choice if you:

• Make large business purchases often
• Spend a lot on office supplies
• Prefer to fly Southwest or United and travel frequently
• Have a large travel and shipping budget
• Prefer flexible reward options

Make large business purchases

The Ink Business Premier^® Credit Card rewards cardholders with 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more. This is a great option for established business owners who frequently make large purchases, such as new equipment or inventory.

For every $5,000 you spend (it must be in one purchase), you earn $125 in rewards. I suggest calculating your average large purchases annually and comparing the rewards you’d earn with the annual fee of $195 to ensure you’d make enough to make the annual fee worth it.

As a bonus, with travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, you earn 5% cash back on your purchases. This can replace some large purchases when ensuring the annual fee makes sense.

However, if you don’t make large purchases often, the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card rewards you with 1.5% cash back on every purchase. The card also has a $0 annual fee, so there’s no pressure to ensure you spend enough to make the card worth it.

Buy office supplies frequently

The Ink Business Cash^® Credit Card pays 5% on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Depending on how much you spend in these categories, you may earn up to $1,250 a year.

I like this card because it always rewards cardholders with 2% back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, with 1% cash back on all other purchases. If you purchase a lot of office supplies, supplement with internet, cable, or phone services, and use the card for gas and restaurant purchases, you can earn healthy rewards annually.

Frequently travel Southwest or United

If you travel frequently and are loyal to Southwest, the Chase cards offer some great benefits, including:

If you’re loyal to United, here are the benefits you can enjoy:

• United℠ Business Card: 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting; plus 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
• United Club℠ Business Card: 7X on United flights, 3.5X on hotels booked through United Hotels, 2X on other United purchases, and 1.5X on all other purchases

Both cards also offer a United Club℠ access, but the United Business card allows two one-time passes annually and the United Club℠ card unlimited membership for you and a companion annually.

Have a large travel and shipping budget

The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is for business owners who frequently travel and spend money on advertising or shipping. For example, if you’re an e-commerce entrepreneur, you can rack up points each time you ship orders to your customers.

The card pays 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. The downside is all other purchases earn only 1X points, but you can use other cards to earn higher rewards in other categories.

Even spending $1,000 a month in combined purchases in the above categories earns you 36,000 points, which you can redeem for $450 in travel through Chase Travel, but if you have a much higher budget in these categories, the rewards are even higher, and the card has a low annual fee of $95.

Prefer flexible reward options

With Chase business cards, you can earn cash back, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, or other rewards from another loyalty program. For instance, the Chase Southwest business cards earn Rapid Rewards points, and the United Business Card earns MileagePlus miles.

Cash back is great, but Chase Ultimate Rewards points are easily one of the most lucrative rewards currencies available. You can redeem them for valuable travel options through the Chase Travel portal or for cash back, gift cards, and shopping trips. You can also transfer them to any Chase transfer partner like JetBlue Airways, IHG Rewards Club, or World of Hyatt.

Card name	Best for...	Welcome bonus	Rewards rate
Ink Business Premier® Credit Card 5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products. Read review	Large business purchases	Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; unlimited 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more; unlimited 2% cash back on all other business purchases
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card 4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products. Read review	Travel rewards and benefits	Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card 4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products. Read review	Low-stress spending	Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card 4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products. Read review	Office supplies	Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening	5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; and 1% cash back on all other purchases
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card 4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products. Read review	Frequent Southwest travelers	Earn 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	4X points on Southwest purchases; 3X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners; 2X on rideshare, social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services; plus 1X points on all other purchases
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card 4.3 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products. Read review	Occasional Southwest travelers	Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open	3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; plus 1X points on all other purchases
United℠ Business Card 4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products. Read review	United business travelers	Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open	2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting; plus 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases

When to choose American Express business cards

American Express business credit cards consist of Amex cards and co-branded Amex cards. Amex issues all the cards, but the rewards and perks vary depending on the card.

Amex business cards may be a good fit for you if:

• You prefer the Hilton hotel brand and travel frequently
• Prefer to fly Delta
• Spend frequently in two primary categories
• Prefer simple rewards
• Shop Amazon frequently
• Prefer luxury benefits

Frequently stay at Hilton hotels

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card lets you earn 12X Hilton Honors bonus points on eligible Hilton purchases, but that’s not all.

You also earn a healthy 5X points on other purchases made on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year. You don’t have to worry about spending in specific categories, which I prefer. If you're like me, it's much less stressful when you don’t have to worry about which card will pay the most and can just swipe it.

Of course, the true benefit is only if you stay at Hilton hotels frequently. Not only will you earn 12X points per dollar spent, but you also get Gold status, which allows you to get room upgrades, free continental breakfast, and late checkout.

Plus, the $195 annual fee is easy to make back, especially if you travel frequently.

Prefer to fly Delta

If you fly frequently and prefer Delta, American Express provides you with many options to earn rewards. The right card depends on where your business spends the most money. Here’s how they stack up.

In addition to the above benefits, the full rewards rates for these cards include some other useful spending categories and are as follows:

• Delta Skymiles® Gold Business: 2X miles per $1 spent on eligible Delta and restaurant purchases, and on eligible U.S. shipping purchases and eligible U.S. advertising in select media up to $50,000 per category, per year. Plus, 1X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
• Delta Skymiles® Reserve Business: 3X miles for eligible purchases made directly with Delta; 1.5X miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 in purchases in a year; 1X miles on other purchases
• Delta Skymiles® Platinum Business: 3X purchases made directly with Delta and hotels, 1.5X miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more; and 1X mile per $1 spent on other eligible purchases

Spend frequently in two primary categories

If you have two categories your business spends the most monthly, you can earn 4X points per dollar spent on the two categories with the most spend each month from 6 eligible categories (up to $150,000 annually, after that 1X) with the American Express^® Business Gold Card. Amex points are worth 0.7 to 1 cent each when redeemed through the American Express portal, so you could earn as much as $6,000 in rewards redeemed through the American Express portal.

However, you can maximize your rewards by taking advantage of the transfer partner promotions, which, depending on the partner, can earn 2 cents or more per point.

The bonus categories change monthly, based on your spending, and include:

• Electronic goods retailers
• Transit spending
• Gas station purchases
• Restaurant purchases
• Advertising expenses
• Wireless phone expenses

Amex determines the categories you earn 4X points per dollar spent on the two categories of the six above that you spend the most money on monthly.

Prefer simple rewards

If you prefer to have one credit card and no stress regarding which card pays the most rewards on your purchases, The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card can provide peace of mind.

You earn 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, then 1% after that. I like this card because it helps you lower your bottom line, without adding stress to the existing stress most business owners have.

It also offers a few other basic benefits including:

• Allowance to exceed your credit limit without asking first
• Coverage for rental car loss and damage
• Extended warranty¹ and purchase protection²

Shop Amazon frequently

If your business relies on Amazon Prime for supplies and other materials, you may want to consider one of the following cards:

Other benefits both cards offer include:

• Purchase protection
• No foreign transaction fees
• Free employee cards
• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Baggage insurance

Within the Amex business card program, you can earn cash back, Amex Membership Rewards points, or rewards with another loyalty program. Examples of other rewards you can earn include Delta SkyMiles, Hilton Honors points, and Marriott Bonvoy points.

Amex Membership Rewards points offer loads of value because of their redemption options. Because you can redeem points for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more, business cards that earn Membership Rewards points are more flexible than cards that earn only cash back. You can also transfer your Membership Rewards points to Amex transfer partners like Radisson Rewards, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines.

Prefer luxury benefits

American Express offers more luxurious benefits for most cardholders than Chase business cards. For example, The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express lets you earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on Amextravel.com; 1.5X points on eligible purchases at U.S. suppliers of construction materials and hardware, U.S. retailers of electronic goods, U.S. providers of shipping, software and cloud systems, and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year, then 1X), and 1X points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases (purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus), and like all other Amex cards, offers the following benefits:

• Airport lounge access
• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck®
• Complimentary upgraded status at certain hotel brands
• Access to exclusive American Express events

The key is to evaluate the card’s annual fee and compare it to your potential rewards based on your average spending to determine which card is best for you.

Card name	Excellent for...	Welcome bonus	Rewards rate
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express 4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Travel rewards and luxury benefits	Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months	5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on Amextravel.com; 1.5X points on eligible purchases at U.S. suppliers of construction materials and hardware, U.S. retailers of electronic goods, U.S. providers of shipping, software and cloud systems, and eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per year, then 1X), and 1X points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases (purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus)
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card 4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Hilton business travelers	Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $8,000 in purchases in the first 6 months (limited time offer ends 1/8/25)	12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases; 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year; and 3X points thereafter
American Express® Business Gold Card 4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Everyday rewards earning	Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months	4X Membership Rewards Points on purchases in the two eligible categories with the most spend each month from 6 eligible categories (up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, after that 1X), 3X Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked at amextravel.com, and 1 point per $1 spent on other eligible purchases
The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card 5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Low-stress cash back	Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months	2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, then 1% after that
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express 4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Low-stress travel rewards	Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership	2X Membership Rewards points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 each year, and 1X points on eligible purchases after that
The Plum Card® from American Express 3.5 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Simple cash back and interest-free balances	No preset spending limit3	1.5% cash back on the portion of your eligible charges balance that you pay within 10 days of your statement closing date, as long as you pay at least your minimum payment
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express 3.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Amex Travel	Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months	2X points on eligible purchases at AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for all other eligible purchases
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card 4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Low-cost option for Delta Air Lines travelers	Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months	3X purchases made directly with Delta and hotels, 1.5X miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more; and 1X mile per $1 spent on other eligible purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card 4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Marriott business travelers	Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months (redemption level valued at up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points each for eligible stays); Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.	6X points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels; 4X points at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, U.S. purchases on shipping, and wireless telephone services purchased from U.S. providers; and 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card 4.8 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Frequent Delta travelers	Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 6 months	2X miles per $1 spent on eligible Delta and restaurant purchases, and on eligible U.S. shipping purchases and eligible U.S. advertising in select media up to $50,000 per category, per year. Plus, 1X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card 4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Premium Delta benefits	Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in purchases in your first 6 months	3X miles for eligible purchases made directly with Delta; 1.5X miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 in purchases in a year; 1X miles on other purchases
Amazon Business American Express Card 3.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Non-Prime Amazon shoppers	Earn a $100 Amazon gift card upon approval	3% back in Amazon Rewards points or no interest for 60 days on U.S. Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods purchases (on up to $120,000 in purchases per calendar year, after that 1%); 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and purchases with U.S. wireless providers; and 1% back on all other eligible purchases
Amazon Business Prime American Express Card 4.6 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Amazon Prime shoppers	Earn a $125 Amazon gift card upon approval	5% back in Amazon Rewards points or no interest for 90 days on U.S. Amazon Business, AWS, Amazon.com, and Whole Foods purchases (on up to $120,000 in purchases per calendar year, after that 1%); 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and purchases with U.S. wireless providers; and 1% back on all other eligible purchases
Lowe's Business Rewards Card from American Express 4.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.		Earn 5% cash back on purchases at Lowe’s for the first 6 months. 2% back after (new accounts only)	2% cash back on business categories (U.S. restaurants, U.S. office supply stores, and purchases with U.S. wireless telephone service providers) and at Lowe's stores and Lowes.com; 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

FAQs

Bottom line

Chase and American Express business cards offer many benefits, including handsome rewards. One brand isn’t better than the other; it depends on what you want from your card to determine which suits your business’s needs the most.

When considering the best small business credit cards, I encourage you to determine which benefits you’d use the most and compare them to the annual fee charged to determine which will reduce your business’s bottom line and provide you with lucrative rewards.

Hot Welcome Bonus

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

4.8

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

Apply Now

Current Offer

Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$95

Rewards Rate

3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Generous welcome offer
• High rewards rate on common business expenses
• Flexible Ultimate Rewards points
• No foreign transaction fees
• Cell phone, purchase, and travel protections

Drawbacks

• Annual fee of $95
• $150,000 annual cap on bonus category spending
• No intro APR offer

Card Details

• Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Member FDIC

Get 2% Back Automatically

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Apply Now

See rates and fees | Terms Apply

Current Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, then 1% after that

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• $0 annual fee
• 2% cash back on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each year, then 1% after that
• Flexible spending limit

Drawbacks

• Cash back drops after you hit annual spending limit
• 2.70% foreign transaction fee

Card Details

• Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 3 months.
• 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.74% - 25.74%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. APRs will not exceed 29.99%
• Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.
• From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. That’s why you’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power.
• Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us and other factors.
• No Annual Fee
• Terms Apply.