Credit cards earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points are among the most valuable on the market, thanks to their broad bonus categories and flexible redemption options. Three Chase credit cards earn fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points on their own: the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.
The Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve are personal credit cards, with the Reserve being the premium option. It offers additional bonus categories, perks like lounge access and up to $300 in annual travel credits. The Ink Business Preferred, on the other hand, is a small-business credit card and the only Chase business card that earns fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points.
Today, let’s compare the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Ink Business Preferred to see which card might better fit your wallet and most common purchases.
Chase Sapphire Reserve and vs. Ink Business Preferred comparison
| Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Ink Business Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up bonus | 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening | 100,000 points after you spend $8,000 in the first three months of account opening |
| Bonus categories | 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel
10 points per dollar on dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 2025) 10 points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025, max earn of 50,000 total points) 5 points per dollar on flights purchased through Chase Travel 3 points per dollar on all other travel (excluding the $300 travel credit) and dining purchases worldwide* 1 point per dollar on everything else *Note that you won’t earn any points on the first $300 spent on travel purchases each cardmember year, as that will trigger the card’s $300 travel credit |
3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 of combined purchases each cardmember year in the following categories: shipping purchases, internet services, cable services, phone services, travel and advertising with social media and search engines
1 point per dollar on these purchases past the $150,000 threshold and all other purchases |
| Annual fee | $550 | $95 |
| Points redemption value | 1.5 cents per point in the travel portal or Pay Yourself Back | 1.25 cents per point in the travel portal or Pay Yourself Back |
| Other benefits | Up to $300 in annual travel credits
Priority Pass and Sapphire Lounge by The Club access Reimbursement for your application fee to Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus — available once every four years Complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2024) Complimentary one-year (minimum) DashPass membership (through Dec. 31, 2024) and $5 in DoorDash credits each month Complimentary one-year Instacart+ membership and up to $15 in Instacart statement credits each month (through July 2024) $10 monthly Gopuff credit (through Dec 2023) Extensive travel and purchase protections |
Cellphone protection
Multiple travel and purchase protections |
| Fee for additional cards | $75 each | $0 |
Both cards have much to offer, and which is better for you depends on your business spending habits. Before deciding, consider the factors below.
Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Ink Business Preferred welcome bonus
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is currently offering 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first three months from account opening. TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents each, making this offer worth a valuable $1,200.
The Ink Business Preferred, meanwhile, is currently offering an impressive 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 in the first three months from account opening. According to TPG’s valuation, this bonus is worth $2,000. This spending requirement is twice that of the Sapphire Reserve, but many small businesses have enough expenses to easily meet it.
As always, be mindful of each card’s eligibility restrictions before applying. Both are Chase cards, so they’re subject to the 5/24 rule. Additionally, you won’t be eligible for the Sapphire Reserve’s bonus if you already have a Sapphire card or have received a new cardmember bonus for any Sapphire card in the past 48 months.
Winner: Ink Business Preferred. Even with its higher spending requirement, the bonus is worth $800 more than that on the Reserve.
Related: The best time to apply for these popular travel cards according to offer history
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Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Ink Business Preferred benefits
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a premium $550 annual fee but comes with a stellar set of premium benefits:
The most valuable benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve are the $300 travel credit, airport lounge access and impressive travel protections. If you travel regularly for business, these perks will likely tip the scales in favor of the Sapphire Reserve.
The Ink Business Preferred has a much lower $95 annual fee but comes with a more limited set of benefits:
- Employee cards at no additional cost
- Cellphone protection
- Travel protections, including lost or delayed baggage protection and trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Extended warranty and purchase protection
While the Ink Business Preferred’s list of benefits is shorter than that of the Sapphire Reserve, you’ll still get valuable protections that include cellphone protection for you and every authorized user on the account, which you can add for no additional cost. If you don’t travel enough to benefit from the travel perks on the Sapphire Reserve, you may find that these benefits are sufficient for your needs.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve. The travel benefits and statement credits far outshine the benefits of the Ink Business Preferred.
Related: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve worth the annual fee?
Earning points with the Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Ink Business Preferred
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’ll earn 10 points per dollar on hotel and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel, dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025) and Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025 with a max earn of 50,000 total points).
You’ll also earn 5 points per dollar on flights purchased through Chase Travel, 3 points per dollar on eligible travel (excluding the $300 travel credit) and dining purchases worldwide, as well as 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
The Ink Business Preferred, meanwhile, earns 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 of combined purchases each cardmember year on travel, shipping, internet, cable and phone services and advertising with social media and search engines. It earns 1 point per dollar on these purchases past the $150,000 threshold and on all other purchases.
Winner: Tie. The better earning structure will depend entirely on your spending habits. If you spend a significant amount on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is your winner. Conversely, the Ink Business Preferred has a better earning structure if you spend most of your budget on purchases in its bonus categories.
Related: What purchases qualify for 3 points per dollar with the Ink Business Preferred?
Redeeming points with the Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Ink Business Preferred
Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Ink Business Preferred earn transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and your most valuable redemption option is to transfer your points from either card to one of Chase’s 14 hotel and airline partners.
You also have the option to redeem your points by booking travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal, where you’ll get a value of 1.25 cents per point with the Ink Business Preferred or 1.5 cents per point with the Sapphire Reserve. You can also use Chase’s Pay Yourself Back option and redeem your points for a statement credit for eligible purchases at the same rate.
Additionally, you can redeem your points with either card for gift cards or a statement credit at a rate of one cent per point. This is your least valuable redemption option but nice to have if you need flexibility.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. Its higher redemption value through the Ultimate Rewards portal and Pay Yourself Back gives it the edge.
Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value
Transferring points with the Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Ink Business Preferred
Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Ink Business Preferred allow you to transfer your points to any of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners. You can get outsized value from partners like Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Iberia Plus, United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt.
TPG director of content Summer Hull loves transferring her Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt and using them to book Hyatt resorts and high-end city hotels. Personally, I love stretching my points by transferring them to Southwest Rapid Rewards and booking cheap flights during Southwest’s seasonal sales.
Whether you primarily travel domestically or abroad, you’ll find valuable redemption opportunities with Chase’s transfer partners.
Winner: Tie. Both cards allow you to transfer your points to Chase’s travel partners.
Related: The complete guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners
Should I get the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred?
If your business involves a lot of travel and dining, you’ll want to go with the Chase Sapphire Reserve for its travel credit and benefits as well as its bonus earning on travel and dining purchases. If you don’t travel much, however, and spend more of your money on business expenses, the Ink Business Preferred is the better option.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred
Bottom line
Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred are excellent cards. Which is a better fit for you comes down to whether you are looking for a premium travel card to help you elevate your travel experiences or a versatile business credit card that will reward you in categories where many businesses spend money regularly. Either way, you can’t go wrong earning super-valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards on your business spending.
For more information, please see our full reviews of the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Apply here: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Additional reporting by Ryan Smith and Madison Blancaflor.
