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Offers for the IHG®
Fans of the
Chase and IHG have recently overhauled their credit card lineup, even adding a new, premium card. Of the four cards now offered, each one is well-suited for a different type of traveler. From the modest IHG One Rewards Credit Card (Rates & Fees) with no annual fee to the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees) and IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees) with built-in elite status and an award night certificate, it's easy to find a card that provides value in a way that matches your travel style.
- Earn up to 17X points spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 3X points per $1 spent on dining, at grocery stores, and gas stations
- 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 5X points for being a IHG One Rewards Card member
- Earn up to 2X points from IHG® with Silver Elite Status, a benefit of this Card
- Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® Rewards Club Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG®
loyalty program
$150Rates & Fees
- Earn up to 24X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 5X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 10X points for being a IHG One Rewards Premier Card member
- Earn up to 4X points from IHG® with Gold Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
$350Rates & Fees
- Earn up to 28 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 6X points per $1 spent on dining and all other travel, including rideshare
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 12X points for being an IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card member
- Earn up to 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
In this post, we'll break down the perks and benefits to help you decide which IHG One Rewards credit card is right for you.
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
The IHG One Rewards Credit Card — formerly known as IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card — charges no annual fee, which is part of why it's so popular. Just because you don't pay anything to keep the card in your wallet every year doesn't mean it's devoid of benefits. In fact, the perks of this card make it an excellent choice for those who want a few modest benefits without having to pay an annual fee to receive them.
- Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- No Annual Fee
- Earn up to 17X total points on stays at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 3X points on dining, at grocery stores (new!) and gas stations. Earn 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Automatic Silver Elite status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards cardmember. Plus, enjoy 5 Elite Night Credits annually (new!).
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Earn up to 17X points spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 3X points per $1 spent on dining, at grocery stores, and gas stations
- 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 5X points for being a IHG One Rewards Card member
- Earn up to 2X points from IHG® with Silver Elite Status, a benefit of this Card
- Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® Rewards Club Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
Feature benefits
- Automatic IHG Silver Elite status.
- Earn Gold Elite status by spending $15,000 on the card each calendar year.
- Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on the card each year.
- 30% discount when buying IHG points (doesn't apply to purchasing IHG points with a bonus or discount).
- Fourth night free on award stays as a card member perk.
- Starting in 2027, cardholders will unlock this benefit after spending $5,000 on purchases with the card.
- Get 5 elite Night Credits toward status or Milestone Rewards.
- Travel protections like baggage delay insurance, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
- Purchase protection for 120 days against damage or theft on items purchased with the card.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Despite not having an annual fee, the IHG One Rewards Card is not without perks that justify keeping the card. While it lacks the higher status tiers and free night awards that come with other IHG credit cards, you still get essential travel benefits and insurance coverage, as well as access to “fourth-night free” award bookings — a benefit that can save thousands upon thousands of IHG One Rewards points each year. Just make sure to note the need to spend $5000 in 2027 to get access to this perk. Our full review of the IHG One Rewards Card has more details.
Related: The Top 14 IHG Hotels Redemptions for Luxury Stays
IHG One Rewards Premier Card
The IHG One Rewards Premier Card has perks that are appealing to IHG loyalists, but these benefits also make sense for travelers who stay at IHG hotels a few times a year and want extra perks during these stays. The perks you will get from this card should outweigh the $150 annual fee, such as complimentary elite status, an annual award night certificate, $50 in United TravelBank, and a fourth night free on points stays.
- Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 180,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn up to 24X total points on stays at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 5X points on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores (new!) and restaurants. Earn 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Get an Anniversary Free Night each year. Plus, redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
- NEW! Enjoy up to $100 in Food & Beverage Rewards annually at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
- This card offers over $700 in value your first year!
- Automatic Gold Elite Status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards Premier cardmember. Plus, get 15 Elite Night Credits each year (new!).
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Earn up to 24X points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- 5X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 10X points for being a IHG One Rewards Premier Card member
- Earn up to 4X points from IHG® with Gold Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
Feature benefits
- Automatic IHG Gold Elite status.
- Ability to earn Platinum status and 15,000 bonus points with $15,000 of annual spend.
- Ability to earn top-tier Diamond status after spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year.
- Annual award night certificate that can be used at hotels that cost a maximum of 50,000 points per night.
- Ability to pay points on top of this free night award to stay at hotels that cost more.
- 30% off IHG points purchases (doesn't apply to purchasing IHG points with a bonus or discount).
- Fourth night free on award stays as a card member perk.
- Travel protections like baggage delay insurance, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
- Purchase protection for 120 days against damage or theft on items purchased with the card.
- $50 in United TravelBank credit ($25 every 6 months) after linking your card to United TravelBank.
- $100 annual food & beverage credit to be used $25 per quarter at IHG hotels.
- $100 airline credit when spending $250 directly with an airline.
- Up to $120 reimbursement every four years to offset your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee.
- Get 15 elite Night Credits toward status or Milestone Rewards. Plus, earn two nights for every $5,000 spent and five nights at $15,000 spent.
- One year of complimentary DashPass membership with DoorDash to save on delivery fees. Enrollment ends on December 31, 2027.
- No foreign transaction fees.
For those looking for elite perks, the IHG One Rewards Premier Card has them. While there is a significant $150 annual fee, the card's perks and earning structure should offset this. Maximizing these benefits could be quite easy to make this a negative-cost credit card each year. Even if you only stay at IHG properties a handful of times each year, you may find that the benefits you receive justify the annual fee. Our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier Card shows more details.
Related: Do IHG One Rewards Points Expire?
IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card
The new IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card has even more perks and credits, but also comes with a hefty $350 annual fee. High-level elite status and an annual award night certificate are among the highlights of this card. For those who plan to frequent IHG hotels — especially abroad — this is the card to take a strong look at.
- Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 200,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy up to $300 in Food & Beverage Rewards annually at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
- This card offers over $1,000 in value your first year!
- Get an Anniversary Free Night each year. Plus, redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
- Earn up to 28X total points on stays at IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Earn 6X points on dining and all other travel, including rideshare. Earn 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards Premier Select cardmember. Plus, get 20 Elite Night Credits each year.
- Earn 2 Elite Night Credits for every $5,000 you spend on your card.
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Earn up to 28 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 6X points per $1 spent on dining and all other travel, including rideshare
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 12X points for being an IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card member
- Earn up to 6X points from IHG® with Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn up to 10X points from IHG® for being an IHG® One Rewards member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
Feature benefits
- Automatic IHG Platinum Elite status.
- Ability to earn top-tier Diamond status after spending $25,000 on the card in a calendar year.
- Annual award night certificate that can be used at hotels that cost a maximum of 60,000 points per night.
- Earn an additional 60,000-point certificate after $40,000 in annual spend.
- Ability to use points on top of these free night awards to stay at hotels that cost more.
- 30% off IHG points purchases (doesn't apply to purchasing IHG points with a bonus or discount).
- Fourth night free on award stays as a card member perk.
- Travel protections like baggage delay insurance, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
- Purchase protection for 120 days against damage or theft on items purchased with the card.
- $300 annual food & beverage credit to be used $75 per quarter at IHG hotels.
- $200 airline credit when spending $250 directly with an airline.
- $50 in United TravelBank credit ($25 every 6 months) after linking your card to United TravelBank.
- Up to $120 reimbursement every four years to offset your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee.
- Get 20 elite Night Credits toward status or Milestone Rewards. Plus, earn two nights for every $5,000 spent and five nights at $15,000 spent.
- One year of complimentary DashPass membership with DoorDash to save on delivery fees. Enrollment ends on December 31, 2027.
- No foreign transaction fees.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card boasts the best perks of all the personal cards, but with a higher $350 annual fee. Still, the Platinum status and multiple credits can make this a go-to card for the most loyal IHG members.
IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card
Before you scroll past an offer on a card that says “business,” you may be surprised to learn that you qualify for a small business credit card. If you generate income outside of the paycheck from your contracted place of employment, you may qualify you for a small business credit card.
The IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card has a strong balance between perks and earning rates, with a modest annual fee. If you stay at IHG hotels a few times a year, it's easy to come out ahead on the $200 annual fee each year. Perks like an award night certificate, automatic Platinum status, and annual credits should make this card a negative-cost addition to most wallets.
- Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 190,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn up to 26X total points on stays at IHG Hotels and Resorts.
- Earn 5X points on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, select advertising, at gas stations and restaurants. Earn 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Get an Anniversary Free Night each year. Plus, redeem 3 nights, get 4th night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay.
- NEW! Enjoy up to $100 in Food & Beverage Rewards annually at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
- NEW! A $100 Airline Statement Credit each year when you spend at least $250 on flights purchased directly with the airline.
- This card offers over $750 in value your first year!
- Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Business cardmember. Plus, enjoy 15 Elite Night Credits annually (new!).
- IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental®, Kimpton®, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®, EVEN® Hotels, & Holiday Inn®
- Member FDIC
- Earn up to 26X total points per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- 5X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly, car rental agencies, select advertising, gas stations, and restaurants
- 3X points per $1 spent on all other purchases
The earning for spending at IHG hotels breaks down as follows:
- Earn 10X points for charging your stay to your IHG Business Card
- Earn up to 6X bonus points for having IHG®Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of having this card
- Earn up to 10X base points for being an IHG® One Rewards Member (Being a cardholder is not required to earn this bonus for participating in the IHG® loyalty program)
Feature benefits
- Automatic IHG Platinum Elite status.
- Ability to spend your way to top-tier Diamond status by spending $50,000 on the card each calendar year.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $25,000 on purchases each calendar year.
- Annual award night certificate that can be used at hotels that cost a maximum of 50,000 points per night.
- Earn a second award night certificate after spending $60,000 on the card in a calendar year.
- Fourth night free on award stays as a card member perk.
- Get 20 elite Night Credits toward status or Milestone Rewards. Plus, earn two nights for every $5,000 spent and five nights at $25,000 spent.
- $100 annual food & beverage credit to be used at $25 per quarter at IHG hotels.
- $100 airline credit when spending $250 directly with an airline.
- $100 credit at Expensify.
- Up to $120 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee every four years.
- Purchase protection for 120 days against damage or theft on items purchased with the card.
- Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance.
Between the food and beverage, airline, and TSA PreCheck credits, you can definitely come out ahead of the $200 annual fee on the IHG Business Card. For more details, check out our full review of the IHG Business Card.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About IHG One Rewards
Which IHG Card is Right For You?
As you can see, four excellent IHG cards are available from Chase. But which one is the right one for you? It may depend on what you are looking for in your IHG card.
Best IHG card with no annual fee
If you want IHG membership perks without an annual fee, the IHG One Rewards Credit Card is the right card for you. Although it charges no annual fee, it offers benefits like IHG Silver Elite status and a fourth night free on award redemptions (with $5,000 spend beginning in 2027). It's a solid card to have in your wallet without impacting your budget!
Best IHG Card for small business owners
If you have a business, consider the IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card. It provides a free night certificate on your card anniversary plus IHG Platinum Elite status. You can also receive statement credits for your Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS as well as food and beverage credits when staying at IHG properties. Plus, it includes elite nights toward status and the ability to earn more nights with spend on the card.
Best IHG card for most travelers
If you don't have a business and can afford a reasonable annual fee, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is likely the card for you. Like the IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card, it offers a free night each year at IHG properties and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS reimbursement. United Travel Bank credits, along with airline credits, add to the list of perks this card offers. The refresh of this card dropped the included IHG status from Platinum to Gold, but for the majority of IHG members with infrequent hotel stays, this card is the perfect mix of perks and a reasonable annual fee.
Screenshot of IHG
Best IHG card for international travelers
If you frequent IHG properties, especially overseas, the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card is likely the card for you. Like the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, it provides a free night every year to use at IHG properties, United TravelBank funding, and Global Entry/TSA Precheck/NEXUS reimbursement. It also matches the fourth night free on award stays and travel protections provided by the IHG One Rewards Credit Card. It comes with the highest annual fee, but the added perks such as IHG Platinum Elite status and more valuable credits can outweigh the cost.
For those staying at IHG resorts around the world — like InterContinental and Kimpton — using the fourth night free benefit can be most valuable, since you are likely to stay at those types of properties for four or more nights. Coupling that perk with the other benefits of the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card really makes this card worth considering.
Who’s Eligible for the IHG Credit Cards?
With the addition of the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card, the eligibility rules have gotten a bit more complicated. Regarding the IHG One Rewards Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Card personal cards, the terms say:
“This product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of any personal IHG® Rewards Credit Card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of any personal IHG® Rewards Credit Card who received a new cardmember bonus for any personal IHG® Rewards Credit Card within the last 24 months.”
In other words, you are ineligible for the bonus on the IHG One Rewards Card if you currently have the IHG One Rewards Premier Card (and vice versa) or if you have received a welcome bonus on any IHG personal credit card in the past 24 months. This also applies to the IHG® Rewards Select Credit Card, which is no longer open to new applicants. If you currently have an IHG personal credit card, you'll need to close it before you can open one of the other personal cards — with one exception.
The new IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card has different offer language:
This credit card is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of this credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of this credit card who received a new cardmember bonus for this credit card within the last 24 months.
That means the only restriction to getting this new personal card (outside of 5/24, which we will discuss below) is already having the card, which is unlikely as it has just been introduced. So those who currently have or have had in the last 24 months another IHG personal card should be eligible to also get the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card. That's good news for those who want to try out the new card but may otherwise be ineligible.
For the IHG Business Card, you'll see this rule:
“This new cardmember bonus offer is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of this business credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of this business credit card who received a new cardmember bonus for this business credit card within the last 24 months.”
Thus, holding IHG's personal credit cards doesn't affect your eligibility for the business card, but you must follow the 24-month rule on bonuses. And, if you currently have this IHG business card, you'll have to close it before you can open a new one.
Like all Chase cards, the IHG credit cards are subject to Chase’s 5/24 policy. If you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards in the previous 24 months, you probably won't be approved for any of these cards.
Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions
IHG co-branded credit cards allow you to bank a substantial balance of IHG One Rewards points, plus you'll get access to some fantastic perks and benefits when staying at IHG hotels. If you infrequently stay with IHG but still want access to the “fourth night free” award nights perk, then the IHG One Rewards Card is probably your best bet.
Those looking for elite perks for a reasonable annual fee would do well with the IHG Business Card.
However, if you aren't eligible for a small business card, then you can consider either the IHG One Rewards Premier Card or the IHG One Rewards Premier Select Card as another option. Both cards offer similar benefits, with the latter being more robust but with a higher annual fee. With all of these cards, it's easy to justify keeping them year after year because the benefits should outpace the annual fee if you put just a little effort into using them.
Whether you’re an IHG loyalist or simply looking to diversify your points portfolio, one of the IHG credit cards will likely suit your travel style and budget.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: IHG One Rewards Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
