[Expired] Should You Get the IHG Traveler or Premier Card in 2026?

Updated: April 15, 2026, 7:02am CDT

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Table of Contents

IHG Premier Card Overview
IHG Traveler Card Overview
Should You Apply for the IHG Premier Card?
Should You Apply for the IHG Traveler Card?
What To Know Before Applying for Either Chase IHG Card
Final Thoughts

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Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

Some of our favorite hotel credit cards have just rolled out major new welcome bonus offers, but which one should you choose?

It mainly comes down to how often you stay at IHG properties, which brands you tend to stay at (luxury, midrange, or budget), and how much you’d like to pay in annual fees. Or you could choose the card entirely based on its welcome offer — because these offers are pretty legit.

Right now, eligible new applicants on the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card can earn a higher-than-usual 175,000-point welcome offer after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Meanwhile, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card currently features an increased 2-part welcome offer of up to 120,000 points.

While a key differentiator between the cards is their annual fees — $99 for the IHG Premier card and $0 for the IHG Traveler card — there’s a lot more to consider.

Here’s what you need to know to help you decide.

IHG Premier Card Overview

As its name suggests, the IHG Premier card is the top-tier product currently available in Chase’s IHG lineup. Its latest welcome offers give new cardholders the chance to earn 175,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Though the exact value of the bonus depends on the properties where you redeem your free nights, with any of them, you can easily get several nights at a budget hotel, a few at a midrange spot, and 1 or 2 at a more luxurious resort. Beyond the welcome bonus offer, here are the travel benefits cardholders can get:

You have complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status as long as you hold the card.
Earn up to 26 points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts (16x points from being a Platinum elite member and 10x points with the IHG Premier card).
Earn 5 points per $1 spent on travel, gas stations, restaurants, and 3 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Earn an anniversary free night certificate at each cardmember renewal period, worth up to 40,000 points each.
Score a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $120 every 4 years
20% off when buying IHG Rewards points.
Earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Get up to $50 in United Airlines TravelBank Cash each year.
Receive travel and purchase protections.
Pay no foreign transaction fees.

Hot Tip:

The anniversary free-night certificates you receive each year with the IHG Premier card upon paying your $99 annual fee can be topped up. You’re allowed to add up to 40,000 points to the certificate, making it possible to book stays at properties that cost up to 80,000 points per night.

IHG Traveler Card Overview

The IHG Traveler card has a $0 annual fee, making it fantastic for budget-minded travelers who still want meaningful perks. Its up-to-120,000-point welcome offer comes split into 2 parts:

Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Earn up to 30,000 additional points by earning an additional 3x points on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening on up to $10,000 spent except at IHG Hotels & Resorts).

Thanks to this limited-time offer, you’d earn 40,000 more points than the standard welcome bonus offer that’s offered throughout the year, making it a great time to pick up the card. Other perks include:

Have complimentary IHG Silver Elite status as long as you hold the card.
Earn up to 17 points per $1 at IHG hotels and resorts (10x points from being an IHG One Rewards member, 2x points from being a Silver Elite member, and 5x points from the IHG Traveler card).
Earn 3 points per $1 on dining, utilities, certain streaming services, and gas stations, and 2 points per $1 on all other purchases.
Earn 10,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 each calendar year.
Receive travel and purchase protections.
Pay no foreign transaction fees.

Bottom Line:

Both the IHG Premier and IHG Traveler cards offer a fourth-night-free benefit on award stays. That means if a hotel costs 20,000 points per night, you can book 4 consecutive nights for just 60,000 points instead of the full 80,000.

Should You Apply for the IHG Premier Card?

IHG’s brands range from economical to luxury. If you tend to stay at hotels falling on the higher end of the spectrum (standard to premium), the IHG Premier card is a no-brainer.

Beyond the fact that the welcome offer is significantly higher, you’d get perks such as IHG Platinum elite status, which means you’d get space-available room upgrades and a welcome amenity upon arrival.

Intercontinental Wellington Welcome Amenity — A welcome gift at the InterContinental Wellington in New Zealand. Image Credit: James Larounis

The anniversary free-night award can justify paying the ongoing annual fee, since it can often be redeemed at a value far higher than the cost of the yearly charge. Upgraded Points values IHG One Rewards points at 0.5 cents apiece, so you’re looking at roughly $200 in redemption value with this certificate on the low end.

Should You Apply for the IHG Traveler Card?

The IHG Traveler card offers a generous sum of points after you meet the minimum spending requirement, though not quite as high as the IHG Premier card.

ANA Crowne Plaza Nagoya room — Book award nights at Crowne Plaza hotels. Image Credit: Ehsan Haque

Many of the key benefits found on the IHG Premier card are also included with the IHG Traveler card, making it a solid pick for budget-conscious travelers. You still get perks like getting your fourth night free on consecutive award stays, no foreign transaction fees when traveling internationally, and solid points-earning potential on eligible travel and everyday purchases.

If you’re looking to avoid annual fees while still racking up a large number of points, the IHG Traveler card could be your best bet. The total welcome offer is worth around $600 in IHG hotel and resort stays if you’re able to earn the full 120,000 amount.

What To Know Before Applying for Either Chase IHG Card

Since both IHG products are Chase credit cards, it’s important to understand the bank’s application rules before you apply.

First, if you’ve opened more than 5 credit cards in the past 24 months, regardless of the issuer, your application for either IHG card will likely be denied. This unofficial guideline, known as the Chase 5/24 rule, is designed to discourage excessive credit card applications.

Additionally, you won’t be eligible for the current welcome offer if you’ve received a new cardmember bonus for either the IHG Traveler card or the IHG Premier card within the last 24 months. Keep this timeframe in mind if you already hold either IHG card.

Final Thoughts

The Chase IHG credit cards currently have some of their strongest welcome offers of 2025, making it a great time to lock in free hotel nights for future travel. However, beyond the upfront welcome bonus offer, it’s important to weigh the ongoing benefits and annual fees to determine whether the IHG Premier card or the IHG Traveler card best fits your travel and spending habits.