American Express® Blue Business Plus vs IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

American Express® Blue Business Plus
VS
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
The short answer: The American Express® Blue Business Plus delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card if you spend more on phone & internet, travel.

Side-by-side comparison

American Express® Blue Business PlusIHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Annual feeNo annual feeNo annual fee
Welcome offer15,000 Membership Rewards® Points125,000 points
Advertising2%1%
Shipping2%1%
Office supplies2%1%
Phone & internet2%3%
Travel2%3%
Everything else2%1%
Est. yearly rewards*$900$666
Points typeTransfers to airlines & hotelsLocked to IHG One Rewards
NetworkAmexMastercard

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of business spending, the American Express® Blue Business Plus earns about $900 a year in rewards and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card about $666, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Blue Business Plus has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the American Express® Blue Business Plus delivers more total value, about $234 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and advertising. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Blue Business Plus earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the American Express® Blue Business Plus if you will use travel transfers, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the American Express® Blue Business Plus if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies. Pick the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card if your spending leans toward phone & internet, travel.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the American Express® Blue Business Plus or the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card better?
On typical business spending, the American Express® Blue Business Plus comes out ahead, by roughly $234 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the American Express® Blue Business Plus and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the American Express® Blue Business Plus or the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card?
As of June 2026, the American Express® Blue Business Plus offers 15,000 Membership Rewards® Points and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card offers 125,000 points. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.