Best card for IHG
At IHG, IHG One Rewards Premier earns an estimated 12.00% back: 24x × 0.5¢ point value. On $100, that is about $12.00 back (estimate).
IHG stays are where the program's own cards pull far ahead of general cards: their IHG rates are in a different league. This page compares the IHG cards against each other and against the best general card.
Best card · IHG
IHG One Rewards Premier
24x × 0.5¢ = 12.00%
On $100, that is about $12.00 back (estimate).
Annual fee: $150/yr.
IHG rates here are totals: card earning plus program base earning. Your rate depends on your membership status.
Best no-fee personal card: IHG One Rewards Credit Card (8.50%).
Top 3 compared
| Card | Earn math | Estimated return | Annual fee | Foreign transaction fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IHG One Rewards Premier | 24x × 0.5¢ | 12.00% | $150/yr | None |
| IHG One Rewards Credit Card | 17x × 0.5¢ | 8.50% | $0 | None |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (business card)Its 2x applies to the first $50,000 of spend per year, then drops to 1x (catalog note). | 2x × 2¢ | 4.00% | $0 | Yes |
How is this ranking computed?
Effective return = category earn rate × point value. Example: 4x × 2.0¢ = 8.00% back (estimate).
Ranked across 91 cards open to new applicants in DanHana's catalog (debit cards and cards closed to new applicants excluded).
Every % here is an estimate: point values are catalog assumptions, and actual value depends on how you redeem.
A payment place's category comes from DanHana's merchant map; if a specific location codes differently, the card falls back to its everything rate.
This page ranks the full catalog. Inside DanHana, the same math re-ranks by the cards in your own wallet -- so your personal best at IHG may differ.
Some bonus rates have annual caps -- the panel flags the ones that matter for the winners above.
Questions about paying at IHG
What is the best card for IHG?
At IHG, IHG One Rewards Premier earns an estimated 12.00% back: 24x × 0.5¢ point value. On $100, that is about $12.00 back (estimate).
What do I earn at IHG without an IHG card?
Without a brand card, the best general card is The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express at 4.00% -- well below IHG One Rewards Premier at 12.00%. The gap is the reason brand cards exist for the programs you actually stay with.
I already have the IHG One Rewards Credit Card. Should I switch?
IHG One Rewards Credit Card earns 8.50% -- about $3.50 less per $100 than the top card (estimate). No need to switch for this one category alone; it only pays if you spend a lot here.
Are these returns guaranteed?
No -- every figure here is an estimate. Point values are catalog assumptions (e.g. Membership Rewards 2.0¢, Ultimate Rewards 1.5¢, cash back 1.0¢), and your actual value depends on how you redeem. Bonus rates can have annual caps, and issuers change terms -- check the card's official terms before applying.
Sources
- How DanHana ranks cards (Methodology)
- About DanHana
- Smart recommendations (feature)
- IHG One Rewards Premier official page
Page updated: October 28, 2026