The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is the winner for the best IHG hotels credit card. Its valuable sign-up bonus, high points earning potential and extensive travel perks and elite status benefits make it the best value and well worth the $99 annual fee.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card*
|
Winner
|
$99 | 3X - 26X points
| 5 Free Nights
Earn 5 Free Nights after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
| |
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card*
|
No annual fee
|
$0 | 2X - 17X points
| 120,000 points
Earn 120,000 Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
| |
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
 Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Business
|
$99 | 3X - 26X points
| 140,000 points
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
|
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
General hotel rewards
|
$95 | 1X - 5X points
| 75,000 points
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
|
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
To bring you the list of best credit cards for IHG, we use an objective rating and ranking system that compares features across a large set of credit cards (over 200 of them from over 50 issuers). We use calculations to estimate the value of each card for the average cardholder, based on LendingTree and U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics.
We rank cards based on the following criteria:
We calculate the value of rewards and perks for the average cardholder using Bureau of Labor statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes the card’s sign-up bonus, annual bonus (including free night certificates) and travel perks like lounge access and travel credits. We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
We consider how easy the rewards are to use, looking at factors like expiration dates, minimum thresholds to redeem, blackout dates and the availability of flexible redemption options like travel statement credits and cash back.
We also compare a card’s benefits, such as purchase protections, travel protections and elite status benefits against benefits from other cards.
Note, that our ratings are a starting point for comparing and choosing the best credit card for IHG. However, your needs may be different from the average cardholder’s. You should consider the amount you’re likely to spend in a card’s bonus categories and which benefits you value to choose the best card for you.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: 5 Free Nights
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is the best IHG credit card because it offers the most overall value among the two personal IHG credit card offers. There’s a very large sign-up bonus compared to other IHG credit cards.
On top of that, you’ll get a free anniversary night each year worth up to 40,000 points and automatic Platinum Elite status, with the opportunity to qualify for Diamond Elite Status if you spend at least $40,000 in a calendar year. You’ll also earn 10,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit after spending $20,000 each year. If you stay with IHG enough, you can make this card well worth its $99 annual fee.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: 120,000 points
Welcome offer: Earn 120,000 Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is a more affordable alternative to the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card because of its $0 annual fee. While it offers less overall value, it still has an excellent sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee credit card. You’ll also earn a high rewards rate on hotel stays, plus points on monthly bills, gas stations and purchases.
Additionally, you’ll get Silver Elite status, a discount on points purchased with the card and 10,000 bonus points after $10,000 in yearly spending. This card might be a better choice if you’re a less frequent IHG traveler.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Welcome offer: 140,000 points
The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, the only IHG branded business credit card, can help business owners save if they frequent IHG hotels for work. There are plenty of rewards from this card if you travel often. Perks include automatic Platinum Elite status and an additional free night (up to 40,000 points) each account anniversary year.
It comes with many of the same benefits as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, including a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS fee credit.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Welcome offer: 75,000 points
If you’re a frequent traveler but aren’t loyal to IHG, you may want to consider a general travel credit card with hotel rewards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are two to four times more valuable than IHG points, depending on how you use them. They’re also more flexible: You can redeem them for a variety of travel options through Chase TravelSM for up to a 75% bonus. You can also transfer points to several hotel loyalty programs, including IHG, World of Hyatt and Marriott Bonvoy.
This card is also one of the top choices for a travel credit card, offering a range of valuable benefits, including a generous sign-up bonus and robust list of travel and purchase coverage.
For those who plan to get away a few times per year and enjoy IHG properties, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card should suffice. On the other hand, frequent travelers who want to score higher-end VIP travel perks will find the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card well worth the annual fee.
Here’s how the card features match up:
Both cards earn points on similar categories, but you can earn a higher rewards rate with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
With the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, you can earn up to 17 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Sign-up bonuses are typically a big draw for co-branded hotel cards. The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers a better bonus, but with a higher spending threshold: You’ll earn 5 Free Nights after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card lets you earn 120,000 Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Another often-available hotel card perk is an annual bonus or a free room night certificate. The higher-tier IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers a free night certificate on your card anniversary each year. Plus, you’ll get a $100 statement credit and a 10,000-point bonus if you reach $20,000 of spending on the card each year.
The entry-level IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card only offers a bonus of 10,000 points after you spend $10,000 each calendar year.
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card comes with a $0 annual fee, while the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has a $99 annual fee.
But, paying an annual fee could be worth it if you stay at IHG hotels often because the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card comes with a higher sign-up bonus and earning rate and additional hotel benefits.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers the higher elite-status tier, Platinum Elite status, with no spending threshold required. You’ll get all of the same Silver and Gold Elite benefits plus additional perks like complimentary room upgrades and 60% bonus earnings on base points.
In addition, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers the opportunity to earn Diamond Elite status when you meet the annual spending requirement.
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card only offers automatic Silver Elite status, which unlocks a few benefits like a 20% points bonus and points that don’t expire. However, you’ll get the opportunity to qualify for Gold Elite Status by meeting an annual spending requirement.
Both cards offer the fourth night free when you redeem points on a stay of four or more nights. They also include travel protections including baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, purchase protection and trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance.
However, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus credit and up to a $50 United® Airlines TravelBank Cash each year. These benefits aren’t available to IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card cardholders.
IHG hotel credit card benefits are pretty similar across cards, but the main differences come down to the elite status tier you receive, as well as whether you get perks like an anniversary night or Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus credit.
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card offers the fewest perks between the three cards. The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offers mostly the same perks as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, except it doesn’t allow you to qualify for Diamond Elite Status and it doesn’t offer TravelBank Cash.
| IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card | IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save 20% on Reward Points Purchases | |||
| Fourth reward night free | |||
| Foreign transaction fee? | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Elite Status | Silver Elite Status with chance to qualify for Gold | Platinum Elite Status with chance to qualify for Diamond | Platinum Elite Status |
| Bonus points | 10,000 bonus points with $10,000 spend each year | $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points with $20,000 spend each year | $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points with $20,000 spend each year |
| Anniversary night | |||
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus credit | |||
| Up to $50 United® TravelBank Cash each year |
You can book a free night at an IHG hotel or resort for as little as 5,000 IHG points. But, the points needed to book a free night will vary based on the property and other factors.
IHG is home to 19 hotel brands at over 6,000 destinations around the world. Brands cover a multitude of travel needs and accommodation types from luxury and all-inclusive resorts to extended-stay suites and economy hotels. IHG brands include:
To make the most of the IHG credit cards’ benefits, try to do the following:
→ See all of the top hotel credit cards.
You can see if you’re preapproved for an IHG card by using Chase’s preapproval tool, checking for offers in your Chase account, replying to an offer from Chase or by visiting your local Chase branch.
The best IHG card bonus is currently the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn 5 Free Nights after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
This is a matter of personal preference. If you’re loyal to IHG hotel brands when you travel, it’s worth considering one of the cards. However, whether or not you need the higher-level IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card will depend on your travel spending.
If you’d rather have more flexibility with how you redeem travel points, a general rewards credit card might be a better option.
The best IHG credit card is currently the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card because it has the most valuable sign-up bonus, rewards rate, travel perks and status benefits.
None of the IHG credit cards charge foreign transaction fees.
The information related to the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
