Chase Ink Business Preferred vs Amex Business Gold
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Chase Ink Business Preferred wins 3-1. US-incorporated startups — best welcome bonus in the business-card space. Amex Business Gold is still the right call if small businesses — 4x on top 2 spend categories from a list of 6..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Chase Ink Business Preferred | Amex Business Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | · $375 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 3% (travel) | 4% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 90,000 points after $8,000 spend in first 3 months (~$1,125 in travel) | = 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 700 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | 4.7/5 | · 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Chase Ink Business Preferred
- 3x points on travel + shipping + advertising + telecom (first $150K/year)
- 1x on everything else
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cell phone protection up to $1,000/claim
- Transferable to airline + hotel partners 1:1
- Employee cards at no cost
Amex Business Gold
- 4x on top 2 categories ($150K cap): airfare, gas, advertising, tech, restaurants, US shipping
- $20 monthly FedEx + Grubhub credit
- $240 Amex Business Line of Credit access
- No foreign transaction fees
FAQ
›Chase Ink Business Preferred vs Amex Business Gold: which is better?
Chase Ink Business Preferred wins on more dimensions (3 vs 1). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Chase Ink Business Preferred for its best categories, Amex Business Gold for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Chase Ink Business Preferred: 90,000 points after $8,000 spend in first 3 months (~$1,125 in travel). Amex Business Gold: 70,000 Membership Rewards points after $10,000 spend in 3 months.