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IHG One Rewards Traveler vs Hilton Honors Surpass: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: This no-annual-fee card is ideal for occasional IHG hotel guests and budget-conscious travelers looking to earn rewards on stays.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is great for earning Hilton Honors points quickly on hotel stays and everyday spending categories like U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.
IHG One Rewards Traveler Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at what makes the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card a compelling choice.
- This card is a great entry point into travel rewards, as it comes with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
- Cardholders automatically receive Silver Elite status and can get a fourth night free when redeeming points for a stay of three nights or more.
- Since the card has no annual fee, it essentially pays for itself from the very first reward you earn (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- A generous welcome bonus helps you kickstart your earnings, getting you closer to your first reward night.
- Your points won’t expire as long as your account is active, giving you more flexibility for redemption.
- You get access to exclusive reward night sales and can purchase points at a discount to top off your balance for an award stay.
Cons
- The value of IHG points is generally lower than points from other premium travel cards, and the automatic Silver Elite status provides very few meaningful benefits.
- This card lacks robust travel protections, and its rewards are not as flexible as general travel cards since they are mostly limited to IHG hotels.
- You may find that redeeming points at popular properties requires a high number of points, and resort fees can still apply even on “free” reward nights.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This card packs a punch for Hilton loyalists, and here’s a closer look at what makes it a strong contender.
- The card offers generous rewards on Hilton stays and everyday spending categories like U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
- For an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), you get automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, which includes benefits like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties.
- The annual Free Night Reward, earned after meeting a spending threshold, can easily offset the card's annual cost (publisher-formulated estimate).
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
Pros
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status provides immediate value through on-property perks like potential room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties.
- The ability to earn a Free Night Reward after meeting an annual spending threshold offers significant redemption value.
- Includes complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status, a unique perk that enhances the travel experience.
Cons
- Hilton Honors points can have a lower value compared to other hotel loyalty programs, and the dynamic pricing for award nights can make redemptions unpredictable.
- Key benefits, such as the annual Free Night Reward, are not automatic and require meeting a significant spending threshold to unlock.
- The card lacks some premium travel perks like complimentary airport lounge access and primary rental car insurance, which are available on other travel cards.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs IHG One Rewards Traveler
Categories
Deciding which is better, the IHG One Rewards Traveler or Hilton Honors Surpass, ultimately depends on your personal travel frequency and brand loyalty.
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is ideal for budget-conscious travelers and those new to hotel rewards who stay at IHG properties occasionally. It's also a great fit for those who can take advantage of the fourth-night-free benefit on longer award stays.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is best suited for frequent or moderate travelers who prefer Hilton properties and want to earn rewards on everyday spending categories. It's also a strong choice for those who value automatic elite status and its associated perks.
Redemption
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Points are most valuable when redeemed for award nights at any of IHG's numerous properties, but they can also be used for other travel and shopping rewards.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Your points can be used for free nights and room upgrades within the vast Hilton network or transferred to airline partners for flights and other travel experiences.
Travel Perks
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, making them both suitable options for international travel.
- Airport Lounge Access: The Hilton Surpass card provides a limited number of complimentary airport lounge visits each year through a Priority Pass membership (Terms Apply). The IHG Traveler card does not offer this perk.
- Redemption Flexibility: While both cards' points are best used within their respective hotel ecosystems (IHG and Hilton), the Hilton Surpass card offers additional flexibility by allowing you to transfer points to various airline partners.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
For a data-driven approach, Kudos is a financial companion that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your actual spending habits, not generic recommendations.
- Test drive credit cards: Simulate your potential earnings with any card using your real spending data before you apply.
- Comprehensive approval odds: Receive a detailed analysis of your chances of approval for different cards based on your credit report.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of being approved, Kudos will match it.
- Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card rewards when you shop at participating stores.
- Personalized matching: Get matched with cards that will earn you the most rewards based on your unique spending history.
Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Traveler?
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is a great fit for budget-conscious travelers and those new to hotel loyalty programs. With no annual fee, it's an excellent choice for occasional IHG guests who want to earn points toward future stays and take advantage of the fourth-night-free benefit on reward bookings. It's designed as an entry-level hotel rewards card, providing basic travel protections and automatic Silver Elite status without the cost of a premium card.
Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an excellent choice for frequent Hilton guests and moderate travelers who want to elevate their hotel stays with automatic Gold elite status (Terms apply). It also appeals to everyday spenders who can rack up points on purchases at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. Ultimately, this card is for value-conscious travelers seeking strong hotel perks without a premium annual fee, as detailed in our full card review.
Alternatives to Consider
So, you've reviewed the IHG One Rewards Traveler vs. Hilton Honors Surpass® comparison and neither card is calling your name. Fortunately, the world of travel rewards cards is vast, and other options might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.
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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
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score: You will generally need good to excellent credit for approval for either card.
- Plan your spending: Make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spend requirement to earn the welcome offer.
- Know the rules: Be aware of issuer-specific application restrictions, such as the once-per-lifetime welcome offer policy from American Express.
Application Strategy
- Leverage the application process: American Express may let you see your Welcome Offer before a hard credit inquiry.
- Time your application strategically: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.
- Consider your travel loyalty: Choose the card that aligns with the hotel brands you frequent most often.
Our Methodology
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.
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
What are the annual fees for the IHG One Rewards Traveler and Hilton Honors Surpass cards?
The IHG One Rewards Traveler Card has no annual fee, while the American Express® Hilton Honors Surpass Card carries an annual fee.
Do these cards offer complimentary elite status?
Yes, both cards provide automatic elite status as a benefit. The Hilton Honors Surpass Card includes complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Card grants automatic IHG One Rewards Silver Elite status.
Are there foreign transaction fees on these cards?
Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, making them suitable for international travel. For the American Express® Hilton Honors Surpass Card, terms apply.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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