Best IHG Credit Cards in December 2024

Both IHG cards award points in the same categories, with the exception of monthly bills, but their earning rates on IHG Hotel & Rewards purchases differ. 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.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card allows you to 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.

Sign-up bonuses are typically a big draw for co-branded hotel cards. The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card lets you earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Based on our estimated point value, this bonus is worth approximately $400. That could be worth as much as three free nights depending on the property you choose.

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers a better bonus, but with a higher spending threshold: You’ll earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening That’s around $700 in value, which can score as many as five free nights depending on a property’s redemption values.

Another perk of hotel cards is often an annual bonus or a free room night certificate. The entry-level IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card does not offer any yearly benefits, however. This is where the higher-tier IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card stand out. Cardholders get a free night certificate on their card anniversary each year. The card also offers a $100 statement credit and a 10,000-point bonus if you reach $20,000 of spending on the card each year.

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card doesn’t charge an annual fee. The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card have an annual fee — but that fee could be worthwhile for certain types of spending styles. The free anniversary night on its own practically cancels it out — assuming you will use the certificate.

Both cards offer a higher sign-up bonus worth more than the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, which essentially covers the annual fee for three years. Note that you also need to consider if you can meet a higher spending minimum to activate that bonus.

Deciding if paying the annual fee is worth it really comes down to whether you stay often enough at IHG hotels to take advantage of either card’s higher earning rate on hotel stays and hotel benefits.

The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card offers automatic Silver Elite status, which unlocks benefits like a 20% points bonus and points that don’t expire.

Of course, the higher the IHG elite-status tier, the better the perks and benefits. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card reward automatic Platinum Elite status, with no spending threshold required. This gives members access to all of the same Silver and Gold Elite benefits plus additional perks like complimentary room upgrades and 60% bonus earnings on base points.

Status chasers will be well served by the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, whereas those who don’t plan on using such benefits might opt for the no-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card.

All three cards offer the fourth night free when you redeem points on a stay of four or more nights. Cardholders of both programs also get travel protections including baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, purchase protection, and trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance.

However, only the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offer a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit of up to $100 every four years — this benefit won’t be available to IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card cardholders.

None of the IHG credit cards charge foreign transaction fees.

This is a matter of personal preference. If you are loyal to IHG hotel brands when you travel, it is worth considering one of the cards. Whether or not you need the higher-level IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card depends on your travel spending. If you’d rather have more flexibility with how you redeem travel points, a general rewards card might be a better option.

You can, but there really would be no benefit to having both cards as the rewards structure is the same.

You can add up to five additional authorized users to your account.

Your IHG points will not expire as long as there is IHG® One Rewards program activity within 12 months. You will lose all points that haven’t been transferred to IHG® One Rewards if you close your card, or if your card account is closed for program misuse, fraudulent activities, failure to pay, bankruptcy or other reasons described in the terms of the Rewards Program Agreement.