IHG One Rewards Premier vs Hilton Honors Surpass: Which Is Better In 2025?

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down the key reasons why we're fans of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

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• Cardholders receive automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, which includes perks like room upgrades and daily food and beverage credits, for a reasonable annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
• It earns an accelerated 6x points on spending at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
• The up to $200 in annual statement credits for Hilton purchases can more than cover the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Earn a Free Night Reward through eligible spending each year.
• Get your fifth night free on award stays of five or more consecutive nights.
• Offers a spending pathway to top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status.

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Cons

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• Hilton Honors points can have a lower value compared to other hotel loyalty programs.
• The Free Night Reward requires meeting a significant annual spending threshold to earn.
• Lacks some premium travel perks like airport lounge access and primary rental car insurance.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs IHG One Rewards Premier

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, IHG One Rewards Premier or Hilton Honors Surpass, depends entirely on your travel habits and hotel loyalty. Both cards offer compelling benefits for brand-loyal travelers, but they cater to slightly different priorities.

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• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: This card is ideal for frequent travelers who are loyal to IHG brands like Holiday Inn and InterContinental, and who value hotel elite status and benefits geared toward longer stays.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is designed for frequent or moderate travelers who prefer staying at Hilton properties and want to earn rewards on both hotel stays and everyday purchases.

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Redemption

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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Points are primarily redeemed for stays across IHG's family of brands, from Holiday Inn to InterContinental. While you can also use points for merchandise or transfer them to airline partners, you'll typically get the most bang for your buck with hotel nights.

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Hilton Honors points are most valuable when used for free nights, offering flexibility with "Points & Money" redemptions and access to premium rooms. Cardmembers can also redeem points for unique experiences, car rentals, or transfer them to various travel partners. Terms apply.

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Travel Perks

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• Airport Lounge Access: The Hilton Surpass card comes with a Priority Pass™ Select membership, offering a number of complimentary airport lounge visits annually. Terms apply. The IHG Premier card, however, does not include a similar lounge access benefit.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are excellent companions for international travel, as neither imposes foreign transaction fees on your purchases abroad.
• Elite Status Perks: Cardholders receive automatic elite status with both. The IHG Premier card provides IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, which includes a valuable fourth-night-free perk on award redemptions. The Hilton Surpass card offers Hilton Honors Gold status, unlocking benefits like space-available room upgrades and daily food and beverage credits at many hotels. Terms apply.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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If you're still on the fence, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards using your own spending data to make a data-driven decision.

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• Test Drive Cards: The “Test Drive” feature lets you see your potential earnings with a new card based on your actual transaction history, all without a hard credit pull.
• Personalized Recommendations: Get matched with cards that will maximize your rewards based on your unique spending patterns.
• Approval Odds Analysis: Kudos provides a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report, helping you apply with more confidence.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, the platform will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card points when shopping at participating stores through Kudos.

Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Premier?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is tailor-made for travelers who frequently stay at IHG properties, such as Holiday Inn, InterContinental, or Kimpton hotels. These cardholders can maximize its value through key benefits like automatic Platinum Elite status and the fourth reward night free on longer stays. For those who can leverage the annual anniversary free night, the card's perks can easily outweigh its annual fee, making it a top contender for dedicated IHG loyalists.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is tailor-made for frequent guests of Hilton properties who want to elevate their stays with automatic Gold elite status and accelerated points earning. It's also a strong contender for moderate travelers and everyday spenders who can capitalize on the 6x points categories at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations without committing to a premium annual fee. Ultimately, this card suits value-conscious travelers looking to accumulate points for special trips, leveraging benefits like the fifth night free on award stays as detailed in our full review.

_{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.}

Alternatives to Consider

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If our IHG One Rewards Premier vs Hilton Honors Surpass® comparison has you concluding that neither card is the right choice for you, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards that might be a better match for your spending habits and travel style.

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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.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Most premium travel cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review issuer application rules: Some issuers have restrictions that may affect your eligibility for a welcome offer.
• Assess the card’s core benefits: Ensure perks like elite status and anniversary nights align with your travel habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application strategically: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Know the issuer's rules: Be aware of policies like Amex's 'one-bonus-per-lifetime' rule before you apply.
• Be patient to find the best offer: Don't settle for a lower welcome offer if a better one may be available.

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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How do the free night awards for the IHG Premier and Hilton Surpass cards compare?

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The IHG Premier card provides an Anniversary Free Night each year for properties valued up to 40,000 points. In contrast, the Hilton Surpass card allows you to earn a Free Night Reward after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within a calendar year.

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Which card provides more valuable elite status?

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The IHG Premier card automatically grants you Platinum Elite status, while the Hilton Surpass card comes with Gold status. The better option depends on your preferences, as Hilton Gold status includes perks like complimentary breakfast at many properties, which can be a significant value for frequent travelers.

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Which card is better for international travel?

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Both cards are excellent choices for traveling abroad as neither charges foreign transaction fees. The decision largely comes down to which hotel chain, IHG or Hilton, has a stronger presence in the destinations you visit most often.

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