IHG One Rewards Credit Card vs Imagine Visa Credit Card
The IHG One Rewards Credit Card leads on dining; the Imagine Visa Credit Card leads on gas stations. See category winners and spend scenarios below.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card
Chase · No annual fee
- Imagine Visa Credit Card
WebBank · $99 or $125 or $175/yr by version (set at approval)
Overview
- Annual fee
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card$0Imagine Visa Credit Card$99 or $125 or $175$99 ($400 initial limit (first year)) or $125 ($500 initial limit (first year)) or $175 ($700 or $1,000 initial limit (first year)), set at approval
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card125,000 pointsImagine Visa Credit Card—
- Rewards
- IHG One Rewards Credit CardIHG One RewardsImagine Visa Credit Card—
- Foreign transaction fee
- IHG One Rewards Credit CardNoneLowestImagine Visa Credit Card3%
- Network
- IHG One Rewards Credit CardMastercard World EliteImagine Visa Credit CardVisa
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card3xHighestImagine Visa Credit Card1x
- Gas Stations
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card3xImagine Visa Credit Card3x
- Grocery Stores
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card3xImagine Visa Credit Card3x
- Utilities
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card2xImagine Visa Credit Card3xHighest
- Everything else
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card2xHighestImagine Visa Credit Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Dining & delivery
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card
- DoorDash DashPass
- $10/mo Instacart+
Imagine Visa Credit Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Hotel status & programs
- 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
Imagine Visa Credit Card— - Other perks
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card
- $0 Foreign Transaction Fees
- 30% off reward points
Imagine Visa Credit Card- Easy account management online and mobile
- Unsecured card—no deposit needed
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card
- Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance · up to $5,000
Imagine Visa Credit Card— - Baggage
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card
- Baggage Delay Insurance · up to $100
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement · up to $3,000
Imagine Visa Credit Card— - Purchase & returns
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card
- Purchase Protection · up to $500
Imagine Visa Credit Card— - Other protections
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card—Imagine Visa Credit Card
- 3-bureau credit reporting
- $0 fraud liability—you're protected
Pros & cons
- Pros
- 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
Imagine Visa Credit Card- No security deposit required (unsecured card)
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion)
- Available to consumers with poor or limited credit
- Earns 3% cash back on gas, grocery, and utility purchases, 1% elsewhere
- Cons
- 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
Imagine Visa Credit Card- High annual fee ($99 to $175 in the first year depending on initial credit limit, then $49 a year)
- Additional monthly maintenance fee ($15/month after the first 12 months) and a $2 monthly paper statement fee
- Very high APR (36%)
- Cash back redeems only as an automatic annual statement credit
- Low initial credit limit (typically $300)
Category-by-Category Winner
The IHG One Rewards Credit Card wins in 2 of 3 categories. The Imagine Visa Credit Card leads in 1.
Dining
IHG One Rewards Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X
Utilities
Imagine Visa Credit Card earns 3X vs 2X
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.
| Scenario | IHG One Rewards Credit Card | Imagine Visa Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $173 Credits (our usable estimate): $15 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $188 Year one: $938 | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 Annual fee $99 ($400 initial limit (first year)) or $125 ($500 initial limit (first year)) or $175 ($700 or $1,000 initial limit (first year)), set at approval; net est. $81 ($400 initial limit (first year)) or $55 ($500 initial limit (first year)) or $5 ($700 or $1,000 initial limit (first year)) Ongoing: — Year one: — | — | — |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $691 Credits (our usable estimate): $15 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $706 Year one: $1,456 | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 Annual fee $99 ($400 initial limit (first year)) or $125 ($500 initial limit (first year)) or $175 ($700 or $1,000 initial limit (first year)), set at approval; net est. $621 ($400 initial limit (first year)) or $595 ($500 initial limit (first year)) or $545 ($700 or $1,000 initial limit (first year)) Ongoing: — Year one: — | — | — |
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
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 IHG One Rewards Credit Card or Imagine Visa 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.
- Should I get the IHG One Rewards Credit Card or the Imagine Visa Credit Card?
- Choose based on which bonus categories and benefits 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.
