Choice Privileges Mastercard vs IHG One Rewards Credit Card

Both cards cost $0/yr. The Choice Privileges Mastercard leads on gas stations; the IHG One Rewards Credit Card on dining.

Card data as of November 13, 2026.

Overview

Annual fee
Choice Privileges Mastercard
$0
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
$0
Welcome offerCurrent public offer
Choice Privileges Mastercard
40,000 points
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
125,000 points
Rewards
Choice Privileges Mastercard
Choice Privileges Points
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
IHG One Rewards
Foreign transaction fee
Choice Privileges Mastercard
None
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
None
Network
Choice Privileges Mastercard
Mastercard World Elite
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
Mastercard World Elite

Earn ratesPer $1 spent

Dining
Choice Privileges Mastercard
1x
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
3x
Highest
Gas Stations
Choice Privileges Mastercard
3x
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
3x
Grocery Stores
Choice Privileges Mastercard
3x
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
3x
Home Improvement
Choice Privileges Mastercard
3x
Highest
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
2x
Telecom
Choice Privileges Mastercard
3x
Highest
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
2x
Everything else
Choice Privileges Mastercard
1x
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
2x
Highest

Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record

Dining & delivery
Choice Privileges Mastercard
—
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
  • DoorDash DashPass
  • $10/mo Instacart+

Perks & access— means none on record

Hotel status & programs
Choice Privileges Mastercard
  • Automatic Gold Elite status with 10% bonus
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
  • Gold Elite after $15,000 in calendar-year purchases
  • IHG Silver Elite status
  • 4th Reward Night Free on Points Stays
Other perks
Choice Privileges Mastercard
  • No foreign transaction fees
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
  • $0 Foreign Transaction Fees
  • 30% off reward points

Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record

Trip insurance
Choice Privileges Mastercard
—
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
  • Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance · up to $5,000
Baggage
Choice Privileges Mastercard
—
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
  • Baggage Delay Insurance · up to $100
  • Lost Luggage Reimbursement · up to $3,000
Purchase & returns
Choice Privileges Mastercard
—
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
  • Purchase Protection · up to $500
Cell phone
Choice Privileges Mastercard
  • Up to $800 cell phone protection
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
—

Pros & cons

Pros
Choice Privileges Mastercard
  • No annual fee with automatic Gold Elite status
  • Strong 3x earning on gas, grocery, home improvement, and phone plans
  • 5x earning at participating Choice Hotels
  • 10 elite night credits annually
  • No foreign transaction fees
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
  • No annual fee with automatic Silver Elite status
  • Fourth night free on reward stays of 4+ nights (from 2027, after $5,000 of annual spend)
  • 3x earning on dining, grocery stores and gas stations
  • 2x earning on all other purchases (above-average base rate)
  • Path to Gold Elite with $15,000 annual spend
Cons
Choice Privileges Mastercard
  • Gold Elite status provides limited benefits compared to Platinum
  • Lower earning rates than the Select card across all categories
  • No anniversary bonus points
  • No Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
  • Choice Hotels lacks luxury properties
IHG One Rewards Credit Card
  • Silver Elite status provides minimal benefits
  • Lower earning rate at IHG properties (5x vs 10x on Premier)
  • Only 5 Elite Night Credits a year
  • No annual free night certificate
  • $15,000 spend requirement for Gold status is steep
Add a 3rd or 4th card to this comparison →

Category-by-Category Winner

Both cards win in 2 categories each — it comes down to which categories matter most to you.

W

Home Improvement

Choice Privileges Mastercard earns 3X vs 2X

W

Telecom

Choice Privileges Mastercard earns 3X vs 2X

W

Dining

IHG One Rewards Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

W

Everyday purchases

IHG One Rewards Credit Card earns 2X on all other spending vs 1X

Year One vs Ongoing Value

Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.

Both scenarios favor the IHG One Rewards Credit Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).

ScenarioChoice Privileges MastercardIHG One Rewards Credit CardOngoing winnerYear-one winner
Light spender: $1,000/month
Rewards: $144
Credits (our usable estimate): $0
− Annual fee ($0)
Ongoing: $144
Year one: $464
Rewards: $173
Credits (our usable estimate): $15
− Annual fee ($0)
Ongoing: $188
Year one: $938
IHG One Rewards Credit CardIHG One Rewards Credit Card
Heavy spender: $4,000/month
Rewards: $576
Credits (our usable estimate): $0
− Annual fee ($0)
Ongoing: $576
Year one: $896
Rewards: $691
Credits (our usable estimate): $15
− Annual fee ($0)
Ongoing: $706
Year one: $1,456
IHG One Rewards Credit CardIHG One Rewards Credit Card

Which Card Is Right for You?

Get the IHG One Rewards Credit Card if you:

  • +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
  • +Prefer a high flat rate across all spending

The Bottom Line

Both scenarios favor the IHG One Rewards Credit Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).

Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 2X on the IHG One Rewards Credit Card vs 1X on the other card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card earns more rewards, the Choice Privileges Mastercard or IHG One Rewards Credit Card?
The IHG One Rewards Credit Card has a higher base earn rate (2X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the Choice Privileges Mastercard have that the IHG One Rewards Credit Card doesn't?
The Choice Privileges Mastercard offers cell phone protection. The IHG One Rewards Credit Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
Should I get the Choice Privileges Mastercard or the IHG One Rewards Credit Card?
Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.

Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.

Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.