{"question": "best corporate card programs for freelancers", "category": "corporate-card-programs", "category_name": "corporate card programs", "audience": "freelancers", "audience_name": "freelancers", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-02T01:07:46Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/corporate-card-programs-freelancers-2026-10-02", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/corporate-card-programs/freelancers", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Ramp", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "Brex", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Mercury", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "Mercury IO", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "Chase Ink Business Unlimited", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Amex", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Amex Blue Business Plus", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Blue Business Plus", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Chase Ink Business Cash", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Lili", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Novo", "label": "recommended"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://relayfi.com/blog/brex-vs-ramp/", "domain": "relayfi.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.nav.com/business-credit-card/reviews/brex-business-card/", "domain": "nav.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://startupsavant.com/service-reviews/mercury-io-mastercard", "domain": "startupsavant.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-credit-cards-for-freelancers/", "domain": "cnbc.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.allcards.com/blue-business-plus-vs-ink-business-unlimited/", "domain": "allcards.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/credit-cards/reviews/amex-blue-business-plus", "domain": "nerdwallet.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://www.brex.com/spend-trends/corporate-credit-cards/business-credit-cards-for-sole-proprietors", "domain": "brex.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://ramp.com/blog/choosing-a-business-credit-card-as-a-sole-proprietorship", "domain": "ramp.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/credit-cards/learn/ramp-vs-brex", "domain": "nerdwallet.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://relayfi.com/blog/lili-alternatives/", "domain": "relayfi.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://found.com/resources/business-banking/best-business-bank-accounts-small-business", "domain": "found.com", "source_type": "vendor"}], "answer_text": "Quick framing first, because it changes the answer: true **corporate cards** (Ramp, Brex, Mercury IO) are mostly *closed* to freelancers - they require a state-registered entity (LLC/C-corp/S-corp) with an EIN, and often a cash-balance minimum. [Ramp](https://relayfi.com/blog/brex-vs-ramp/) and [Brex](https://www.nav.com/business-credit-card/reviews/brex-business-card/) both exclude sole proprietors, and [Mercury](https://startupsavant.com/service-reviews/mercury-io-mastercard) won't take a sole prop even with an EIN. So unless you've incorporated, what you actually want is a **small-business credit card**, which you *can* get as a sole proprietor using your own name as the business name and your SSN as the tax ID.\n\nHere's what I'd actually recommend, in order:\n\n**1. Chase Ink Business Unlimited** - my default pick for most freelancers. $0 annual fee, flat 1.5% back on everything uncapped, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, and by far the best signup bonus of this group (~$750 vs ~$150-300 elsewhere). If you also hold a Sapphire card, you can convert that cash back into transferable Ultimate Rewards points. [cnbc.com/select](https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-credit-cards-for-f", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}