Amex Business Gold vs IHG One Rewards Premier Business: Which Is Better In 2026?

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we recommend the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.

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• Cardholders automatically receive valuable Platinum Elite status with IHG One Rewards, unlocking travel perks without meeting stay requirements.
• An anniversary free night certificate adds significant value each year, making it a strong choice for those who travel regularly for business.
• The fourth reward night free benefit is a unique feature that helps business owners maximize their points on longer hotel stays.

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Pros

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• Generous welcome offer for new cardmembers.
• No foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international business travel.
• Comprehensive travel and purchase protections offer peace of mind.

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Cons

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• The card carries an annual fee.
• Points offer limited flexibility, as they are most valuable when redeemed for IHG stays.
• Some of the card’s perks require significant spending to unlock.

IHG One Rewards Premier Business vs American Express® Business Gold Card

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Categories

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When considering which is better, Amex Business Gold or IHG One Rewards Premier Business, it's crucial to understand their distinct purposes. Each card is designed to excel for a different type of user, catering to specific business needs.

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• American Express® Business Gold Card is a versatile business tool best suited for business owners. It is designed for growing companies that require flexibility in their spending categories to maximize rewards.
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is an exceptional choice for frequent travelers. This card is built for business owners who often stay at IHG properties and want to maximize hotel-specific benefits and elite status.

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Redemption

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American Express® Business Gold Card: This card provides flexible redemption options, allowing you to use points for a variety of rewards such as travel, statement credits, and gift cards. This versatility is designed to meet a wide range of business spending needs.

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IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: Redemption is centered on hotel stays, enabling you to use points for nights at IHG hotels and resorts across the globe. This is tailored for business owners who want to leverage their spending for travel accommodations within the IHG network.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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The Kudos financial platform is a tool that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best one for your spending habits.

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• Test drive a credit card: Before you apply, this feature uses your real spending data to simulate potential earnings and show you a personalized breakdown of rewards—all without a hard credit pull.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report to help you apply with more confidence.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Personalized matching: Get matched with new credit cards based on your spending history to ensure you’re maximizing your rewards.
• Kudos Kickstart+: Unlock $100 in Kickstart+ Rewards by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card is ideally suited for business owners with at least $50,000 in annual spending and variable expenses that shift from month to month. This card is most valuable for companies that can consistently spend enough in the card’s top bonus categories to maximize the 4X rewards and offset the $375 annual fee. In short, it's designed for entrepreneurs who need a flexible rewards program that automatically adapts to their top two spending areas each billing cycle. (Terms Apply)

Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Premier Business?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is tailor-made for business owners and entrepreneurs who frequently find themselves staying at IHG properties for work. This card is particularly valuable for those looking to leverage automatic Platinum Elite status and maximize benefits like the fourth reward night free on longer trips. Additionally, companies with significant international travel will appreciate the lack of foreign transaction fees and the statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our deep dive into the American Express® Business Gold Card vs. IHG One Rewards Premier Business comparison has left you undecided, you're not out of options. Let's take a look at a few other business credit cards that could be a better match for your company.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – good to excellent credit is typically required for premium business cards.
• Plan your spending – ensure you can meet the welcome offer spending requirement without going into debt.
• Gather your business details – have your company’s tax ID and other information ready for the application.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's application rules, such as Chase's 5/24 rule or Amex's welcome offer policies.
• Time your application before a large planned purchase to help meet the minimum spend requirement.
• Choose a card that aligns with your business's top spending categories to maximize your rewards.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What are the annual fees for these business cards?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card has a $375 annual fee (Terms apply), while the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card has a $99 annual fee.

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Which card is better for earning hotel stays?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is tailored for earning points specifically for IHG hotel stays. In contrast, the American Express® Business Gold Card earns flexible Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to numerous hotel partners, including IHG.

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Can I transfer points from the Amex Business Gold card to IHG?

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Yes, American Express Membership Rewards points earned from the Business Gold card can be transferred to the IHG One Rewards program. This allows you to redeem your Amex points for award nights at IHG properties worldwide.

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