The 8 top credit cards for freelancers

Regardless of your business's size, a business credit card can be an essential asset for earning rewards and managing costs. However, not all business credit cards are made equal.

Different types of business cards cater to various entrepreneurs and business owners. What benefits a freelancer may find crucial could differ significantly from those valued by a retail store proprietor.

Freelancers seeking a credit card should evaluate their spending habits and overall objectives. For instance, during my freelance graphic design career, my expenses weren't heavily concentrated in one area, and I generally didn't incur substantial business costs.

In my situation, a flat-rate card with no annual fee would have been ideal. However, freelancers who consistently spend more in specific categories like office supplies, internet, and phone services might find greater benefits in cards that offer higher rewards for those expenses.

With that in mind, here are some of our top recommendations for freelancers looking to optimize their spending.

A summary of the top credit cards for freelancers

• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
• Bank of America® Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard®
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
• The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Evaluating the top credit cards for freelancers

Top Credit Cards for Freelancers

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card offered by American Express

Annual fee: $0 (view rates and fees)

Sign-up bonus: Earn 15,000 points after making $3,000 in eligible purchases within your first three months as a cardholder.

Rewards: Earn 2 points for every dollar spent up to $50,000 annually, then 1 point per dollar thereafter.

Why we recommend it for freelancers: If you're operating on a modest annual budget and want to earn Membership Rewards points on business expenses, the Blue Business Plus is an excellent choice. It's straightforward, effective, and has no annual fee — a perfect combination for new freelancers. With the Blue Business Plus, you'll enjoy complete access to Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners, which is uncommon for no-annual-fee credit cards (see rates and fees). Additionally, there are no fees for extra employee cards.

Check out our comprehensive review of the Blue Business Plus.

Bank of America Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Annual fee: $0

Sign-up bonus: Receive a $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days.

Rewards: Earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice and 2% on dining (with a $50,000 annual spending limit for rewards).

Why we recommend it for freelancers: Freelance expenses can differ greatly between individuals and fluctuate month to month. The option to select your 3% cash back category is a fantastic feature not commonly found on many credit cards—business or personal. Each month, you can choose from the following categories:

• Gas stations
• Office supply stores
• Travel
• TV/telecom and wireless services
• Computer services
• Business consulting services

Imagine a typical year where you travel often, but for some reason, you're not traveling right now. You can easily change your selected category to TV/telecom and wireless services, and when travel becomes possible again, you can revert it back.

Additionally, you'll always earn 2% on dining on top of your chosen 3% category. While it may not be the top cash-back option for larger businesses due to the $50,000 annual limit on bonus spending, it could be ideal for budget-conscious freelancers looking to maximize their purchases.

Check out our comprehensive review of the Customized Cash Rewards.

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Annual fee: $95, waived for the first year (see rates and fees)

Sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 within the first three months of opening your account.

Rewards: Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on all purchases.

Why we recommend it for freelancers: The Capital One Spark Miles offers the advantages of a travel rewards card combined with the benefits of a flat-rate cash-back card — all for a low annual fee that is waived in the first year.

You'll earn an unlimited 2 miles for every dollar spent on all purchases. In addition to accessing Capital One's 15-plus transfer partners, you can also redeem your miles for travel expenses on your credit card statement.

This card can be very rewarding for those who understand how to make the most of Capital One miles over time.

Check out our comprehensive review of the Spark Miles for Business.

Apply now: Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Ink Business Cash Credit Card

Annual fee: $0

Sign-up bonus: Earn up to $750: receive a $350 cash back bonus after spending $3,000 within the first three months, plus an additional $400 after spending $6,000 within the first six months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on purchases from office supply stores and for internet, cable, and phone services; earn 2% at gas stations and restaurants (with a $25,000 annual limit on combined bonus category spending).

Why we recommend it for freelancers: The main benefit of this card is that all cash back, including the sign-up bonus, is awarded in points. You can redeem these points for cash back at a fixed rate of 1 cent each, but their value increases if you have a Chase Ultimate Rewards card with an annual fee (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Preferred® Card).

You can merge your earnings into one account by pairing your card with one of these other cards. This enables you to receive a bonus when redeeming your points through the travel portal, and you can even transfer your points to partner airlines and hotels.

Check out our comprehensive review of the Ink Business Cash.

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Annual fee: $95

Sign-up bonus: Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 3 points for every dollar spent on the first $150,000 annually across categories such as shipping, social media or online advertising, travel, internet, cable, and phone services.

Why we recommend it for freelancers: A diverse range of freelancers can benefit from this card's fantastic bonus categories. Do you advertise your business through social media ads? Does your freelance work involve shipping products? Are you frequently traveling to meet clients locally or internationally? All these activities will earn you 3 points per dollar with this card.

According to TPG's August 2024 valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are valued at 2.05 cents each, meaning that earning 3 points per dollar spent translates to over a 6% return in those bonus categories. The Ink Preferred has an annual fee of $95, but small businesses with multiple employees can request unlimited employee cards at no additional cost.

The main drawback of this card is the requirement to spend $8,000 in the first three months to receive the welcome bonus. While this may be feasible for some freelancers, others might struggle to spend an average of $2,667 per month.

Check out our comprehensive review of the Ink Business Preferred.

Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card

Annual fee: $0

Sign-up bonus: Earn a $900 cash back bonus after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Rewards: Enjoy unlimited 1.5% cash back on all business purchases.

Why we recommend it for freelancers: This card offers exceptional flexibility with no annual fee. You can redeem your rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel, and more through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

For a card with no annual fee, it provides extensive travel and purchase protections, such as auto rental collision damage waiver, travel and emergency assistance, roadside dispatch, purchase protection, and extended warranty coverage.

Similar to the Ink Business Cash card, you can easily convert your cash-back rewards into full Ultimate Rewards points by pairing it with a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Check out our comprehensive review of the Ink Business Unlimited.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)

Welcome offer: Receive a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases within your first three months.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1%).

Why we recommend it for freelancers: Business owners can easily monitor expenses and earn 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year, which is achievable for most freelancers. After reaching that limit, you’ll still earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, and the cash back you earn is automatically applied to your statement.

Additionally, the card's enhanced buying power feature lets you surpass your spending limit without any over-limit fees or penalties. Its straightforward rewards system, with no rotating categories to monitor and no annual fee, makes it an excellent choice for everyday business use.

Check out our comprehensive review of the Blue Business Cash.

Apply now: American Express Blue Business Cash Card

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)

Welcome bonus: Receive 150,000 points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of your card membership.

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on airfare and prepaid hotel bookings at AmexTravel.com, and 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases in select business categories and purchases of $5,000 or more, applicable to up to $2 million of these purchases each calendar year.

Why we recommend it for freelancers: If your freelance work often involves significant travel or large purchases, this card might be ideal for you. The welcome bonus of 150,000 points equates to $3,000 based on TPG's August 2024 valuations, plus you can earn additional bonus points by optimizing spending on specific business expenses.

Along with the bonus points, this card offers an impressive array of benefits. You'll enjoy various travel perks, including exclusive lounge access, complimentary elite status with two hotel brands, and a 35% bonus on award flights booked through Amex (up to 1 million points each calendar year). Enrollment is necessary for select benefits.

Similar to the Ink Business Preferred, this card may not be ideal for freelancers on tighter budgets. To qualify for the welcome bonus, you'll need to spend $20,000 within the first three months, and the hefty annual fee is only justified if you travel often enough to take full advantage of the perks and bonus categories.

Check out our comprehensive review of the Amex Business Platinum.

Steps and reasons to apply for a business card

It's a common misconception that you need a physical storefront to qualify for a business credit card. In many cases, you may not even require a business tax ID to apply for a small-business credit card.

Before applying, it's wise to verify your personal credit score. Applications for business credit cards differ slightly from those for personal cards. You'll need to provide your personal details alongside business information, such as the legal business name, address, phone number, tax identification number, annual revenue, and how long you've been in business.

No tax identification number? You can easily obtain an Employee Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, or you can typically use your social security number if you're operating as a sole proprietor.

Why opt for a business credit card?

In addition to business-related bonus categories and various perks that help maximize your small-business expenses, a business credit card simplifies the separation of personal and business finances. This is particularly crucial for freelancers, who need to meticulously track their business expenses come tax season.

Many expenses incurred for business purposes are tax deductible, but you must keep thorough records of those costs — including receipts. While larger companies might hire accountants for this task, as a solo freelancer, you’ll likely manage this on your own.

Utilizing a dedicated business credit card for all your freelance expenses simplifies tracking and separating those purchases during tax season.

In summary

Whether you’re an established freelancer or just getting started, having a business credit card for your expenses is invaluable for maintaining organized records. Plus, you can earn valuable points, miles, or cash back on your expenditures.

With many attractive offers available for new applicants, now might be the perfect time to consider adding one of these cards to your collection.