If you’re looking into Chase’s lineup of credit cards, you may be checking out two of the issuer’s top cash-back options: the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees).
These two cards share similar names and earn the same type of rewards, but there are many key differences to weigh. For one, the Freedom Unlimited is a personal credit card, while the Ink Business Unlimited is a business product.
So, if you’re considering both cards, you’ll want to be sure that you’re eligible for a business card first. You’ll also want to be under Chase’s 5/24 rule to be approved.
Now, let’s dive into these two cards and see which one is right for you.
Ink Business Unlimited vs. Freedom Unlimited comparison
| Card | Ink Business Unlimited | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
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Earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
Earn a $250 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
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$0 |
$0 |
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3% |
3% |
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Ink Business Unlimited vs. Freedom Unlimited welcome bonus
The Ink Business Unlimited provides a valuable welcome bonus to new cardholders. With this card, you can earn $750 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
This is a solid offer, especially for a no-annual-fee card.
Meanwhile, new Freedom Unlimited cardholders can earn a $250 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. This bonus is one of the easiest to earn, since it requires a low minimum spending requirement.
Both welcome bonuses can be converted into Chase Ultimate Rewards points if you have the right card. I’ll get into more about that later in this showdown.
Winner: Ink Business Unlimited. Its welcome offer is more valuable, though it does come with a much higher minimum spending requirement than the Freedom Unlimited.
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Related: The best time to apply for these popular Chase credit cards based on offer history
Ink Business Unlimited vs. Freedom Unlimited benefits
Since both the Ink Business Unlimited and the Freedom Unlimited charge no annual fee, neither card has a long list of additional benefits.
In fact, many of these cards’ perks are shared. This includes:
Still, there are some differences that could help you choose one card over the other.
First of all, the Freedom Unlimited does provide an extra perk that the Ink Business Unlimited does not: trip cancellation and interruption insurance. This benefit, which reimburses up to $1,500 per covered traveler and $6,000 per trip, covers travel expenses if your trip is canceled or cut short due to covered situations, such as sickness or severe weather.
I’ve had success using Chase’s trip cancellation and interruption insurance when I had to cancel a hotel stay after catching the flu.
However, the Ink Business Unlimited provides primary car rental insurance, which generally reimburses you for the rental car’s cash value or the cost to repair it (whichever is less) with the need to file only one claim.
The rental car coverage included with the Freedom Unlimited is secondary insurance, which means it kicks in second after other insurance and typically reimburses you for the amount not covered by your initial claim. For cardholders who frequently rent cars, you may want to opt for the Ink Business Unlimited.
The Ink Business Unlimited also provides a complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership (auto-renews at $99 a year after the complimentary period). Once this membership is activated, Instacart+ members receive a $20 Instacart credit each month (automatically loaded into your Instacart Business Account). This benefit ends Dec. 31, 2027.
Meanwhile, the Freedom Unlimited provides six months of a complimentary DashPass membership (for both DoorDash and Caviar; auto-renews at the current monthly rate after the complimentary period). Activate by Dec. 31, 2027. DashPass members also receive up to $10 off each quarter on non-restaurant DoorDash orders through Dec. 31, 2027.
The Freedom Unlimited’s complimentary DashPass benefit lasts three months longer than the Ink Business Unlimited’s Instacart+ membership. But if you prefer Instacart+ to DashPass, that may be the better choice for you. It comes down to preference.
Winner: Freedom Unlimited. This is close, but since the Freedom Unlimited provides trip cancellation and interruption insurance, it pulls ahead of the Ink Business Unlimited.
Related: Why you might want to get a premium credit card instead of purchasing travel insurance
Earning cash back with the Ink Business Unlimited vs. Freedom Unlimited
Both the Ink Business Unlimited and the Freedom Unlimited share an elevated cash-back rate on nonbonus spending at 1.5% back.
The Ink Business Unlimited offers just one additional bonus category: 5% back on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027.
Meanwhile, the Freedom Unlimited boasts three bonus categories: 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3% back on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services), 3% back at drugstores and 2% back on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027).
TPG credit cards editor Olivia Mittak uses her Freedom Unlimited for any purchases that fall out of her cards’ bonus categories when she isn’t working toward a welcome bonus. She strives to earn more than 1 point per dollar spent or 1% back on as many purchases as possible, and the Freedom Unlimited goes a long way toward helping her achieve that.
The Freeeom Unlimited provides many more bonus categories than the Ink Business Unlimited, so if you’ll be spending often on Chase Travel bookings, dining or drugstores, that could push it ahead.
However, if you’re putting a lot of spend on Lyft, the Ink Business Unlimited wins over the Freedom Unlimited, since it earns 5% back instead of 2% back on rides (through Sept. 30, 2027). Since they share a 1.5% cash-back rate on all nonbonus spending, these are the biggest differentiators.
Winner: Freedom Unlimited. The card provides more elevated bonus categories than the Ink Business Unlimited.
Related: The unique bonus categories built for businesses (and the cards that offer them)
Redeeming cash back with the Ink Business Unlimited vs. Freedom Unlimited
The rewards you earn with either the Ink Business Unlimited or the Freedom Unlimited can be redeemed for cash back, goods and services offered through Chase’s rewards program, gift cards and travel.
Cash-back redemptions can be received as a statement credit, a mailed check or an electronic deposit.
If you want to keep things simple, it’s recommended to redeem for cash back rather than use the other flat-rate options.
However, you’ll get much more value if you convert your cash back to Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Winner: Tie. These cards offer the same redemption options.
Related: The pros and cons of cash-back credit cards
Transferring cash back with the Ink Business Unlimited vs. Freedom Unlimited
You can unlock much more value out of the rewards earned with the Ink Business Unlimited and the Freedom Unlimited by transferring them from either card to a full-fledged Ultimate Rewards personal or business card.
Examples include the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees).
If you go this route, you can boost your redemption rate on everyday spending to an effective return of at least 3%, per TPG’s April 2026 valuations.
Once you transfer your rewards to an Ultimate Rewards account, you can transfer them to one of Chase’s valuable airline and hotel partners. Olivia sends her Freedom Unlimited rewards to her Sapphire Preferred account so she can then transfer them to one of her favorite loyalty programs, World of Hyatt.
You could also choose to book directly through Chase Travel at a fixed value per point, depending on the card you hold (see your card’s guide to benefits for full details).
Winner: Tie. The options here are also identical.
Related: 10 best ways to redeem 200,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Should I get the Ink Business Unlimited or Freedom Unlimited?
I see the personal Freedom Unlimited coming out on top for most cardholders since it provides more bonus categories and slightly better benefits than the Ink Business Unlimited.
Even still, I recommend the Ink Business Unlimited for business owners who want to earn 1.5% back on their everyday spending. This business card provides a highly valuable welcome bonus to those who can meet its spending requirement.
Related: How to pick a strategy for your small-business credit cards
Bottom line
Either one of these cards can be a stellar addition to your rewards card strategy. This is because both the Ink Business Unlimited and the Freedom Unlimited earn at least 1.5% back on all purchases, with no annual fee.
You’re going to get the most value out of these cards if you pair them with an Ultimate Rewards-earning card, since that unlocks the ability to convert your rewards into highly valuable Chase points.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Ink Business Unlimited and Freedom Unlimited.
Apply here: Ink Business Unlimited
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
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