IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler: Which IHG card is right for you?

IHG Hotels & Resorts is the fourth-largest hotel chain, with more than 6,000 properties across more than 100 countries with 19 hotel brands. Like most hotel chains, it offers a handful of cobranded credit cards. IHG and Chase currently offer three credit cards (two personal and one business) that earn IHG One Rewards points. There is a card suited for everyone from the occasional traveler to IHG loyalists, with annual fees ranging from $0 to $99.

You may be deciding between the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the IHG One  Rewards Traveler Credit Card.

Let’s examine the card details and see which card fits your strategy better.

IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler

*Point value is an estimated value calculated by TPG’s February 2025 valuations and not the card issuer.

IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler welcome offer

New IHG One Rewards Premier cardholders can earn 170,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. This offer ends March 19. Based on TPG’s February 2025 valuations, this bonus is worth $850.

On the other hand, those who apply for the IHG One Rewards Traveler can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first three months after opening an account. This offer ends March 19. Based on TPG’s February 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $500.

It’s important to keep in mind that since Chase issues both of these cards, they are subject to the 5/24 rule, and you likely won’t be approved for either card if you’ve opened five or more credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months.

Winner: IHG Premier. Its welcome offer is worth $350 more than the Traveler’s.

Related: The best welcome bonuses of the month

IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler benefits

The IHG One Rewards Premier and Traveler cards share a few benefits. These include:

• Fourth-reward-night-free benefit: Cardholders who book an award stay of four or more nights will receive every fourth night free.
• 20% discount on points purchases: Cardholders receive at least a 20% discount when purchasing points with their IHG card. This discount is not applicable to any other offers to buy points. IHG often runs sales on points where the savings are higher, so this may not be useful in scenarios when you need to buy points.
• Travel and purchase protections: Both cards offer travel and purchase protections.
• Chase Pay Over Time: Cardholders can break purchases of $100 or more into smaller monthly payments for a fixed fee with no interest.
• Access to Chase Offers
• No foreign transaction fees

With the IHG One Rewards Traveler, cardholders receive:

• Automatic Silver Elite status: Cardholders can earn Gold Elite status if they spend $20,000 within a calendar year.

With the IHG One Rewards Premier, cardholders receive:

• Automatic Platinum Elite status: Cardholders can earn Diamond Elite status if they spend $40,000 within a calendar year.
• Anniversary free night award: Cardholders receive a free night worth up to 40,000 points. You can top up this free award with points from your IHG account if the room costs more than 40,000 points.
• Earn a $100 statement and 10,000 bonus points every year: Cardholders who spend $20,000 in a calendar year will earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points (worth $50 based on TPG’s February 2025 valuations).
• TSA PreCheck/Global Entry/Nexus application fee credit: Cardholders receive up to a $120 statement credit every four years for Global Entry,  TSA PreCheck or Nexus.
• United Airlines TravelBank credit: Cardholders receive up to $50 in United TravelBank credit every year (up to $25 biannually) deposited in their United TravelBank account.

Winner: IHG Premier. It provides a free anniversary night, a higher tier of automatic elite status and more benefits than the Traveler card.

Related: Comparing the best hotel elite status tiers and how to earn them in 2025

Earning points on the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler 

Both the Premier and Traveler cards earn IHG One Rewards points.

With the IHG One Rewards Premier, you’ll earn:

• 10 points per dollar spent on IHG hotels and resorts
• 5 points per dollar spent on travel, dining (including takeout and eligible delivery) and gas purchases
• 3 points per dollar spent on all other purchases

These earning rates represent a 5%, 2.5% and 1.5% return on spending, respectively, based on TPG’s February 2025 valuations.

You can also earn up to 26 points per dollar with the Premier card at IHG hotels (10 points per dollar from the card, 10 points for being an IHG One Rewards member and up to 6 points from the Platinum Elite status the card provides).

With the IHG One Rewards Traveler, you’ll earn:

• 5 points per dollar spent on IHG hotels and resorts
• 3 points per dollar spent on utilities; internet, cable and phone services; select streaming services; gas stations; and dining (including takeout and eligible delivery)
• 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases

These earning rates represent a 2.5%, 1.5% and 1% return on spending, respectively, based on TPG’s February 2025 valuations.

With the Traveler card, you can also earn up to 17 points per dollar at IHG hotels (5 points per dollar from the card, 10 points for being an IHG One Rewards member and up to 2 points from the Silver Elite status the card provides).

These cards don’t offer showstopping rates, but they both offer decent returns on IHG purchases. However, you may be better off using another card for your hotel stays and everyday purchases, as other cards can offer higher returns.

Winner: IHG One Rewards Premier. It earns more points than the Traveler on most purchases.

Related: How to earn IHG points via stays, credit cards and more

Redeeming points with the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. IHG One Rewards Traveler

Both cards earn IHG One Rewards points, and they can be redeemed in the same ways. IHG One Rewards points can be redeemed for hotel stays, digital rewards and charitable donations, and can be transferred to airline partners.

To maximize the value of your IHG points, it is best to redeem them for hotel stays. IHG utilizes dynamic pricing, which means the points price per night depends on the availability and season, but great deals can still be found.

TPG Credit Cards Editor Emily Thompson loves stretching her points by booking Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express stays and using the fourth-night-free perk on award stays.

Winner: Tie. Both cards earn IHG One Rewards points and offer the same redemption options.

Related: Should you buy IHG points or transfer rewards from Chase?

Transferring points with the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. the IHG One Rewards Traveler

Both cards have access to multiple transfer partners, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

Most airlines convert IHG points to miles at a 5:1 ratio. This isn’t the best use of points, but there could be a few cases where it could be beneficial to transfer IHG points to an airline partner. For example, if you need to book an award flight and are short on miles with an airline that has hard-to-earn miles, like Korean Air, transferring IHG points could be a good option.

It’s important to note that transferring points to airlines is a lot more cumbersome with IHG than other hotel chains, as you have to call IHG One Rewards at 888-211-9874 to initiate the transfer. The transfer times vary by airline; transfers can take up to six weeks to process.

Winner: Tie. Both cards have the same transfer partners.

Related: Should you transfer hotel points to airline partners?

Should I get the IHG One Rewards Premier or IHG One Rewards Traveler?

IHG loyalists and frequent travelers are better suited with the IHG One Rewards Premier card, due to its higher earning rates and automatic Platinum Elite status. The card has a $99 annual fee, but the free anniversary night more than covers the annual fee and the card provides better benefits than the IHG One Rewards Traveler. If you can’t stomach paying an annual fee and only stay at IHG properties a few times a year, you may be better suited with the Traveler as it provides modest elite benefits and earnings at IHG hotels.

Related: Why you should get (and keep) the IHG One Rewards Premier card

How to upgrade from the IHG One Rewards Traveler to the IHG One Rewards Premier

If you currently have one of these cards and you are over 5/24 or not eligible for a new IHG card welcome bonus, you may want to opt for a product change. You can either upgrade from the Traveler to the Premier or downgrade from the Premier to the Traveler.

To request a product change (an upgrade or downgrade), simply call the number on the back of your card. It’s important to make sure you wait until you’ve had the card for at least 12 months before changing so you don’t potentially forfeit your welcome bonus.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card upgrades

Bottom line

The IHG One Rewards Premier and Traveler cards are each a great way to jump into the IHG One Rewards program and take advantage of some of its redemption options. You won’t go wrong with either, as IHG has thousands of properties across the globe.

If you use the free night every year, the Premier is the better value proposition for most IHG loyalists and travelers. Plus, the Premier comes with higher automatic elite status and nearly double the welcome offer value. However, if you don’t stay at IHG properties often and want to enhance your travel experience when you do, the Traveler is a solid no-annual-fee option.

To learn more, check out our full reviews of the IHG One Rewards Premier card and IHG One Rewards Traveler card.

Apply here: IHG One Rewards Premier

Apply here: IHG One Rewards Traveler

Related: Best credit cards