American Express Gold Card vs Chase Ink Business Preferred
Head-to-head comparison of every feature, fee, and perk
At a Glance
Annual Fee
$250
vs
$95
Base Rewards
1x
vs
1x
Sign-Up Bonus
$600
vs
$1,125
Editor Score
9/10
vs
10/10
Detailed Comparison
| Category wins | 2/6 | 4/6 |
| Fees & APR | ||
| Annual Fee | $250✗ Highest | $95★ Lowest |
| Purchase APR | 29.49% | 21.24% – 26.24% |
| Intro APR (Purchases) | ||
| Intro APR (Balance Transfer) | ||
| Foreign Txn Fee | None★ Lowest | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | None | 5% |
| Rewards | ||
| Rewards Type | Points | Points |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x★ Highest | 1x |
| Bonus Categories | 4x Restaurants · 4x Groceries · 3x Flights | 3x Travel · 3x Shipping · 3x Advertising (social/search) |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $600 value✗ Lowest | $1,125 value★ Highest |
| Eligibility | ||
| Credit Score | Excellent (750+) | Good (670-749) |
| Network | American Express | Visa |
| At a Glance | ||
| Best For | Foodies and grocery shoppers | Growing businesses with travel and advertising expenses |
| Ratings | ||
| User Rating | 4.6 / 5✗ Lowest | 4.7 / 5★ Highest |
| Editor Score | 9 / 10✗ Lowest | 10 / 10★ Highest |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply |
| Full Review | View details → | View details → |
| Pros & Cons | ||
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Our verdict: Chase Ink Business Preferred
The American Express Gold Card ($250/year) and the Chase Ink Business Preferred ($95/year) compete on different axes. The American Express Gold Card's strongest category is 4x on Restaurants, while the Chase Ink Business Preferred leads with 3x on Travel. The American Express Gold Card costs $155 more per year, so you need at least $155 in incremental rewards to justify it over the Chase Ink Business Preferred. At typical spend levels this breaks even somewhere between $4,650 and $9,300 in bonus-category purchases annually. Our scoring model gives the edge to the Chase Ink Business Preferred — it leads on 3 of the 5 key dimensions we evaluate. That said, this ranking is algorithmic; your specific spending pattern can flip the answer.
Leads on 3 of 5 key comparison dimensions
Dimension-by-dimension
| Dimension | American Express Gold Card | Chase Ink Business Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $250/year | $95/year |
| Base Reward Rate | 1x on everything | 1x on everything |
| Top Bonus Category | 4x on Restaurants | 3x on Travel |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in 6 months | 90,000 points after spending $8,000 in 3 months |
| Credit Score Required | excellent | good |
Green checkmark indicates the card that leans stronger on that dimension. Our scoring model evaluates these quantitatively — your specific needs may shift the answer.
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Common Questions
Which is better: American Express Gold Card or Chase Ink Business Preferred?
It depends on your spending habits. The American Express Gold Card has a $250 annual fee and earns 1x base rewards. The Chase Ink Business Preferred has a $95 annual fee and earns 1x base rewards. Compare their bonus categories above to see which aligns better with your spending.
What is the annual fee difference between American Express Gold Card and Chase Ink Business Preferred?
The American Express Gold Card has a $250 annual fee while the Chase Ink Business Preferred has a $95 annual fee. The American Express Gold Card costs $155 more per year, so it needs to deliver that much extra value in rewards and perks to justify the difference.
Can I have both the American Express Gold Card and Chase Ink Business Preferred?
Yes, since these cards are from different issuers (American Express and Chase), you can hold both. Many people pair cards from different banks to maximize bonus category coverage across all their spending.