The 17 Best Benefits of the IHG One Rewards Credit Card

The IHG One Rewards Credit Card is the beginner IHG co-brand card in IHG’s lineup of personal credit cards. You can use the card to earn rewards and use cardholder benefits without paying an annual fee.

Here’s a look at all of the most important perks and benefits of the IHG One Rewards card.

Card Overview

LIMITED-TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The New IHG One Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on dining, gas stations, and grocery stores, and 2x on all other purchases.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

The New IHG One Rewards Credit Card

Earn up to 17x when you stay at IHG hotels, 3x on dining, gas stations, and grocery stores, and 2x on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer

Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

125,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$625

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.49%- 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you want to enhance your IHG stays with more points and benefits but don’t want to pay an annual fee, consider the IHG One Rewards Credit Card.

This guide provides a detailed overview of the card, including rewards rates and cardholder benefits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 17 total points per $1 on IHG stays
• 3 points per $1 on dining, gas stations, and grocery stores
• 2 points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Not as rewarding as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Limited Time Launch Offer! Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• No Annual Fee
• Earn up to 17X total points on stays at IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Earn 3X points on dining, at grocery stores (new!) and gas stations. Earn 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Automatic Silver Elite status as long as you remain an IHG One Rewards cardmember. Plus, enjoy 5 Elite Night Credits annually (new!).
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental^®, Kimpton^®, Hotel Indigo^®, Crowne Plaza^®, EVEN^® Hotels, & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49%- 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

IHG Rewards Loyalty Program Review

Earning IHG One Rewards Points

1. Solid Welcome Offer

Upon approval of the IHG One Rewards card, you’re usually eligible to receive the card’s welcome offer after meeting the minimum spending requirements.

The card’s welcome offer changes from time to time. Here is the card’s current public offer:

• Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

According to our valuations, IHG points are worth 0.5 cents apiece, making the welcome offer worth $625.

This is an elevated welcome offer for a card with a $0 annual fee. Of course, how you redeem these points is what ultimately determines their value.

2. High Earnings at IHG Hotels and Resorts

The IHG One Rewards card earns up to 17 IHG One Rewards points per $1 spent at IHG Hotels & Resorts brands:

• 5x points as a cardholder
• Up to 10x points* as an IHG One Rewards member
• Up to 2x points* from Silver Elite status, a card benefit

* Members and elites earn fewer points at Candlewood Suites, Staybridge Suites, IHG Army Hotels, and IHG Residence properties.

Hot Tip:

Learn more about the October 1, 2026, changes to IHG’s credit cards.

3. Bonus Earnings on Everyday Purchases

The IHG One Rewards card also earns 3 points per $1 spent on dining, at grocery stores, and at gas stations.

4. Elevated Earnings on All Purchases

You also earn 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

5. Earn Bonus IHG One Rewards Points Each Year

With the IHG One Rewards card, you can earn 10,000 bonus IHG One Rewards points after spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year. We value these points at $50.

6. 30% Discount on Point Purchases

Although you can earn IHG One Rewards points quickly with the IHG One Rewards card, you may still need more points occasionally for a specific redemption. This is where it can make sense to purchase points.

One of the card’s perks is a 30% discount if you purchase IHG One Rewards points using your card.

7. IHG Promotions To Earn More Points

IHG One Rewards has promotions throughout the year that can help you earn tens of thousands of points. Often, these promotions require you to use your IHG credit card to book and pay for a hotel room. You may also receive a targeted offer from Chase, rewarding you with a spending bonus once you reach a specified spending amount.

Hot Tip:

Although IHG One Rewards has points-earning promotions, many require you to register for them.

Redeeming IHG One Rewards Points

8. Redeem IHG One Rewards Points Earned on Your Card

Here’s a look at the many ways you can redeem IHG One Rewards points.

Redeem IHG One Rewards Points for Reward Hotel Nights

There are many ways to redeem IHG points. You can use your IHG One Rewards points for hotel stays at more than 7,000 IHG properties worldwide to get the most out of your points.

Use Cash and Points

IHG allows members to book hotels using a combination of cash and points. This can be useful if you want to use points but are short for a complete points redemption.

Redeem IHG One Rewards Points for Airline Miles

You can also transfer IHG One Rewards points to the program’s numerous airline partners. With a few exceptions, the transfer rate is 10,000 IHG One Rewards points to 2,000 airline miles.

Although this can be a helpful way to top off points or miles in an airline frequent flyer program, it is typically not recommended, as it provides a poor redemption value.

Redeem IHG One Rewards Points for Gift Cards

You can also use IHG One Rewards Points to purchase gift cards from numerous establishments. However, this typically provides less than 0.5 cents per point, making it a poor choice.

Bottom Line:

There are many ways to redeem IHG One Rewards points, but generally speaking, it’s best to redeem them for hotel stays.

IHG One Rewards Benefits and Elite Status

9. Fourth Night Free Reward

After you spend $5,000 in a calendar year on the IHG One Rewards card, you can unlock the fourth night free benefit. If you book 4 or more consecutive nights using points, the fourth night will be free. This essentially provides 1 free night for each stay of at least 4 nights.

The points for the free night are automatically deducted when you book the award redemption. Best of all, there is no limit to how many times you can take advantage of this perk.

10. Automatic Elite Status

If you hold the IHG One Rewards card, you receive automatic IHG One Rewards Silver Elite status, which provides several benefits, including:

• 20% bonus earnings on IHG stays
• Late 2 p.m. checkout (when available)
• Free internet
• Member rates and promotions

11. Spend Your Way to Higher Elite Status

With the IHG One Rewards card, you can spend your way to IHG Gold Elite status by spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year. IHG Gold Elite status typically requires staying 20 qualifying nights or earning 40,000 elite-qualifying points in a calendar year.

12. Elite Night Credits

Get 5 Elite Night Credits upon account opening and again at the start of each calendar year. This can help you obtain elite status or milestone rewards faster.

IHG One Rewards Card Travel and Lifestyle Benefits

13. No Foreign Transaction Fees

The IHG One Rewards card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, so you can use it for purchases outside the country without worrying about additional costs.

14. DoorDash Perks

Get a 1-year complimentary DashPass by DoorDash ($120 in value). This gives you unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After that, you are automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate (you must activate by December 31, 2027).

The card also offers $10 off nonrestaurant orders with DoorDash, such as groceries or other everyday essentials, each month through December 31, 2027. These $10 credits are only available to those who enroll in the Chase DashPass membership on or after September 1, 2026.

15. Instacart Perks

Cardholders get a complimentary Instacart+ membership for 3 months, including unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on eligible orders. After that, you are automatically enrolled in Instacart+ at 25% off the annual rate (terms apply, and benefits end on December 31, 2027).

Your card also gives you a $10 monthly Instacart credit, up to $120 total each calendar year, for purchases made directly through Instacart with your card (benefits end December 31, 2027).

Travel Protections

16. Trip, Luggage, and Car Rental Insurance

If your trip is canceled or cut short by a covered reason (such as sickness or severe weather), you can be reimbursed up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses. You must charge your trip to your IHG One Rewards card in order to get coverage. Air, bus, train or cruise transportation paid with your card comes with coverage for up to $500,000 reimbursement in cases of accidental death or dismemberment. The card also provides legal and medical referrals and access to other travel and emergency assistance, though you’re responsible for the cost of any goods or services.

If your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen during a covered trip, you can receive up to $3,000 per applicable traveler in reimbursement. If your baggage is delayed for over 6 hours, you can get reimbursed up to $100 a day for up to 3 days for essentials.

When you decline a car rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental to your card, you receive insurance coverage for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles. In the U.S., the insurance is secondary to other coverage.

Shopping Protections

17. Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty, and Fraud Protection

If you pay for an eligible new purchase with your IHG One Rewards card, this benefit provides up to $500 per item for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft (up to $50,000 per account).

The card also extends the manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by an additional year when you purchase an eligible product with it that has a warranty of 3 years of less, up to 4 years from purchase.

The card comes with fraud protection, too.

Final Thoughts

The IHG One Rewards card is a valuable $0-annual-fee hotel credit card. It provides a good return on spending, useful travel and shopping protections, and numerous benefits, such as automatic Silver Elite status and elevated points earning with IHG.

If you want to earn IHG One Rewards points without paying an annual fee, the IHG One Rewards card is a good choice. For a more elevated welcome offer, higher earning rates, and enhanced benefits, consider the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the more premium IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card.