Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.
Choosing between the Hilton Honors American Express Card (no annual fee) and the IHG One Rewards Premier Card ($99/yr) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value. Let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.
Strongest in dining at 5%. 7x at Hilton hotels, 5x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. Earns a solid 3.0% on everything else.
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply NowStrongest in travel at 5%. Up to 26x at IHG hotels, 5x on travel, gas, and dining. Earns a solid 3.0% on everything else.
Perfect if: You want a strong rewards rate with no spending caps to worry about.
Apply Now| Feature | Hilton Honors American Express Card | IHG One Rewards Premier Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $99 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 70,000 points after $2,000 spend in 6 months | 140,000 points after $3,000 spend in 3 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 3% | 3% |
| Travel Rewards | 3% | 5% |
| Dining Rewards | 5% | 5% |
| Groceries Rewards | 5% | 3% |
| Gas Rewards | 5% | 5% |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
7% at Hilton hotels Earns 7% only on stays at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Travel booked anywhere else earns the flat 3%. |
None |
| Key Benefits | 7x at Hilton hotels, 5x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. | Up to 26x at IHG hotels, 5x on travel, gas, and dining. |
Hilton Honors American Express Card pulls ahead for groceries spending.
IHG One Rewards Premier Card wins on travel.
The $99/year fee difference means IHG One Rewards Premier Card needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
Hilton Honors American Express Card carries $200/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings), while IHG One Rewards Premier Card carries $100/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.