Chase Ink Business Cash vs United Explorer Card
Both are Chase cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.
Everything else
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
- Ink Business Cash 1.0% 1% base rate
Dining
- United Explorer Card 2.4% 2x
- Ink Business Cash 2.0% 2%
Gas
- Ink Business Cash 2.0% 2%
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Phone & internet
- Ink Business Cash 5.0% 5%
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Flights
- United Explorer Card 3.6% 3x
- Ink Business Cash 1.0% 1% base rate
Hotels
- United Explorer Card 2.4% 2x
- Ink Business Cash 1.0% 1% base rate
Lyft
- Ink Business Cash 5.0% 5%
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
What the numbers are doing
United Explorer Card tops everything else at 1.2% only because this table values its points at 1.2 cents each. Value them at one cent and Ink Business Cash wins that category instead.
The table is earn rate only — annual fees are not netted out of it. These cards charge Ink Business Cash $0 and United Explorer Card $150 a year, so a thin lead in one category may not cover the difference.
Where they differ: United Explorer Card takes everything else, dining, flights and hotels; Ink Business Cash takes gas, phone & internet and lyft.
| Category | Best card |
|---|---|
| Everything else | United Explorer Card1.2% |
| Dining | United Explorer Card2.4% |
| Gas | Ink Business Cash2.0% |
| Phone & internet | Ink Business Cash5.0% |
| Flights | United Explorer Card3.6% |
| Hotels | United Explorer Card2.4% |
| Lyft | Ink Business Cash5.0% |
Content preview. Apple Wallet controls the layout; visible categories vary by device. Categories that rank the same as Everything else are left off; every other category is in pass details.
Every category, every card
Everything else
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
- Ink Business Cash — 1.0%
Dining
- United Explorer Card — 2.4%
- Ink Business Cash — 2.0%
Gas
- Ink Business Cash — 2.0%
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
Phone & internet
- Ink Business Cash — 5.0%
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
Flights
- United Explorer Card — 3.6%
- Ink Business Cash — 1.0%
Hotels
- United Explorer Card — 2.4%
- Ink Business Cash — 1.0%
Lyft
- Ink Business Cash — 5.0%
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
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