IHG One Rewards Premier vs Amex Gold: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express® Gold Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of what makes the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) a perennial favorite for savvy spenders.

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• It offers exceptional rewards on everyday purchases, especially at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
• Valuable monthly statement credits for dining and Uber can help offset the card's annual cost.
• With flexible point transfers to airline and hotel partners and no foreign transaction fees, it's an excellent choice for travelers.

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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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Pros

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• A substantial Welcome Offer is available for new cardmembers.
• Generous rewards at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Annual credits for both dining and Uber.

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Cons

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• Carries a significant annual fee.
• Annual credits are distributed in monthly increments, which can be inconvenient to use.
• Acceptance is limited compared to Visa and Mastercard.

American Express® Gold Card vs IHG One Rewards Premier

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, IHG One Rewards Premier or Amex Gold, comes down to your specific spending habits and travel preferences.

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• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers, especially those who are loyal to the IHG brand and its portfolio of hotels and resorts.
• American Express® Gold Card is best for dining and travel enthusiasts, particularly those who spend a significant amount at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.

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Redemption

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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Points earned with this card are redeemed within the IHG ecosystem, primarily for reward nights at their portfolio of hotels and resorts. This offers a straightforward redemption path for travelers loyal to the IHG family of brands.

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American Express® Gold Card: This card earns Membership Rewards points, which are known for their flexibility. Cardholders can transfer points to a wide array of airline and hotel loyalty programs or use them to book travel through American Express.

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Travel Perks

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• American Express® Gold Card: Offers a flexible travel ecosystem centered around Membership Rewards points. Terms apply.
  • Travel Portal: Cardholders can book travel through the American Express portal.
  • Point Transfers: Points can be transferred to a wide range of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
  • Hotel Perks: Provides access to The Hotel Collection, which offers benefits like a hotel experience credit and room upgrades, when available, on eligible stays.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: This card does not have foreign transaction fees.
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: The ecosystem is tailored specifically for travelers who frequent IHG properties.
  • Hotel Perks: Key benefits include an anniversary free night, automatic Platinum Elite status within the IHG One Rewards program, and a fourth-night-free perk on award stays.
  • Travel Credits: Provides a statement credit for the application fee for programs like Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: This card does not have foreign transaction fees.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.

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• The ability to “test drive” credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply.
• Personalized card recommendations based on your spending history to maximize rewards.
• A welcome offer guarantee that matches any better offer found within three months.
• Analysis of your approval odds for various cards.
• The ability to track your progress toward earning credit card sign-up bonuses.

Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Premier?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card® is tailor-made for frequent guests of IHG Hotels & Resorts, including brands like Holiday Inn, InterContinental, and Kimpton. This traveler values the automatic Platinum Elite status and its perks, and they often book stays long enough to leverage the fourth-reward-night-free benefit. Ultimately, the card is most valuable for IHG loyalists who can easily offset the annual fee by using the annual free night certificate and maximizing the card's robust rewards structure.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?

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The American Express® Gold Card is tailor-made for foodies and frequent travelers who can maximize its robust rewards structure. This card is ideal for those who spend heavily on dining out at restaurants worldwide and on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, earning 4X points in both categories—though the grocery bonus is capped at $25,000 per calendar year, after which it earns 1X. Cardholders who can take full advantage of the up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in annual Uber Cash will find that these benefits can easily offset the card's annual fee.

Alternatives to Consider

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Perhaps the IHG One Rewards Premier vs. American Express® Gold Card comparison has shown that neither card is the perfect match for your wallet. If that's the case, here are a few other excellent alternatives to consider.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most premium cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can meet any welcome offer spending requirements without overspending.
• Review the benefits - Ensure the card’s perks and rewards align with your regular spending habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Review issuer rules - Some card issuers have specific guidelines regarding recent account openings.
• Plan for enrollment - Many premium card benefits, such as monthly credits, require you to enroll after approval.
• Search for the best offer - Welcome offers can vary, so try checking from different browsers or devices if you are looking for a specific one.

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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Which card is better for earning hotel points?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Card is specifically designed for earning IHG points, making it the superior choice if your goal is to maximize rewards within the IHG ecosystem. The American Express® Gold Card earns Membership Rewards points, which are more flexible but may not accumulate as quickly for IHG stays.

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Can I transfer points from the American Express® Gold Card to IHG?

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Yes, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points earned with your Gold Card to the IHG One Rewards program. It's important to check the current transfer ratio, as it may not always be the most valuable use of your points.

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What are the annual fees for the IHG One Rewards Premier and Amex Gold cards?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has an annual fee of $99. The American Express® Gold Card has a $250 annual fee (See Rates & Fees).

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Which card offers better dining rewards?

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The American Express® Gold Card is generally considered one of the best cards for dining rewards, offering a high earning rate at restaurants worldwide. While the IHG Premier card does earn points on dining, its rate is typically lower for that specific category.

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