Last updated: August 2026. Sign-up bonuses and fees change often — confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before you apply.
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® is the simplest card in the Ink family: 1.5% back on every purchase, no categories, no caps, no annual fee. What the marketing doesn't say is that the "cash back" accrues as Ultimate Rewards points — and paired with an Ink Business Preferred or Sapphire, those points become fully transferable to Hyatt, United, Flying Blue and the rest. That turns a decent 1.5% card into an effective 3%-in-travel earner on everything your business buys — the business-side twin of the Freedom Unlimited.
Advertiser disclosure: we may be compensated when you're approved through our links. It doesn't affect our editorial take. Terms apply — see the issuer's Rates & Fees.
At a glance
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | $1,000 after $8,000 spend in 4 months — a limited-time bump from the usual $750 (verify current offer) |
| Bonus value | Posts as 100,000 points — $2,000+ transferred, at our 2.0¢ valuation |
| Best for | A no-fee 1.5x catch-all for every uncategorized business dollar |
| Points earned | Chase Ultimate Rewards (transferable only when paired) |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% — don't use it abroad |
| Card network | Visa (Business) |
Apply Now → see the current offer · card details
What the points are worth
- Held alone, points redeem at a fixed 1¢ each — the card is a plain, solid 1.5% cash-back card, full stop.
- Held alongside an Ink Business Preferred, Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, its points pool into that account and transfer 1:1 to Chase's partners, where we value them at 2.0¢ — and where a well-chosen award redeems at 5–8¢+.
Same spending, roughly double the value — the entire difference is holding one premium Chase card. Without one, don't romanticize it: 1.5% is what you get, and a flat 2% cash card beats it.
Where your points can go
Only once paired, your pooled points transfer 1:1 to these programs — tap any partner to see how to use those miles, what they're worth, and the best redemptions:
Airline transfer partners United MileagePlus · Air Canada Aeroplan · Air France/KLM Flying Blue · British Airways / Qatar Avios · Qatar Qsuite award · Virgin Atlantic · Singapore KrisFlyer · Southwest Rapid Rewards · JetBlue TrueBlue
Hotel transfer partners World of Hyatt · IHG One Rewards · Marriott Bonvoy
For every transfer ratio, transfer time and current bonus, see the complete transfer partners chart.
Earning rates
| Rate | Category |
|---|---|
| 1.5% | Everything — every purchase, no cap |
| 5% | Lyft rides (through September 30, 2027) |
That's the whole table, and that's the appeal: inventory, insurance, contractors, equipment — spend that earns 1x on nearly every category card earns 1.5x here, forever, for free.
Benefits & credits
Coverage limits and perks change — verify each is current before you count on it.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases, then a variable APR.
- Employee cards at no cost with individual spending limits.
- Purchase protection — up to $10,000 per item for 120 days.
- Extended warranty — one extra year on eligible warranties.
- Primary auto rental coverage when renting for business.
- Instacart+ trial and monthly credits (promotional — verify current terms).
Best uses (sweet spots), with examples
Every example uses the same formula: (cash price − taxes) ÷ points × 100 = cents per point (CPP) — and assumes the card is paired so points can transfer.
1. The bonus alone funds a business-class seat. $1,000 posts as 100,000 points. Transfer 60,000 to Air Canada Aeroplan for a ~$4,200 Star Alliance seat to Europe + ~$200 taxes: (4,200 − 200) ÷ 60,000 × 100 = 6.67¢ per point — with 40,000 points still in the tank.
2. Uncategorized spend → Hyatt. $3,000/month of general business spend at 1.5x = 54,000 points/year. Three Category 4 Hyatt nights at $350 each for 18,000 points a night: (350 − 0) ÷ 18,000 × 100 = 1.94¢ per point — a $1,050 hotel bill covered by run-of-the-mill expenses.
3. Domestic nonstop via United. A $220 fare for 12,500 United miles + $5.60: (220 − 5.60) ÷ 12,500 × 100 = 1.72¢ per point.
4. The Ink duo. Hold this and the Ink Cash: telecom and office supplies at 5x there, everything else at 1.5x here, both feeding the same balance behind your Ink Preferred's transfer rights. Total added annual fee: $0.
Fine print worth knowing
- 5/24 and business cards: Chase applies 5/24 to Ink approvals (5+ personal cards in 24 months usually means denial), but the card itself doesn't add to your 5/24 count once approved.
- Sole proprietors qualify — freelance or side-hustle income under your own name and SSN is fine. Don't misrepresent.
- 3% foreign transaction fee — use a no-FTF card abroad.
- Points don't expire while the account is open; if you close your only premium Chase card, remaining points fall back to 1¢ redemptions.
- Unpaired, a flat-2% cash-back card strictly beats this one — the pairing isn't a nice-to-have, it's the point.
Who should get it
Get the Ink Unlimited if you want every business dollar earning transferable points without thinking about categories — especially as the catch-all beside an Ink Cash (5x categories) and an Ink Business Preferred (transfer rights + 3x travel/ads). If you don't have business income, the Freedom Unlimited is the identical idea on the personal side.
Not sure of the order to apply? Run your setup through Points Path and keep every balance visible in your Rewards Wallet.
Bottom line
The Ink Unlimited is the volume engine of a Chase business setup: $0 fee, a four-figure bonus that posts as 100,000 points, and 1.5x on absolutely everything. Alone it's ordinary; paired with one premium Chase card it's an effective 3%-in-travel machine with no cap — the card you swipe when nothing else earns a bonus.
Apply Now → see the current offer
Related: How much are your points worth? · Chase transfer partners · Ink Business Cash guide · Ink Business Preferred guide · Chase Freedom guide
