American Express® Blue Cash Preferred vs IHG One Rewards Premier
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | IHG One Rewards Premier | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $99 |
| Welcome offer | $300 statement credit | Up to 185,000 IHG One Rewards Points |
| Dining | 1x | 5x |
| Groceries | 6x | 3x |
| Gas | 3x | 5x |
| Travel | 1x | 5x |
| Streaming | 6x | 3x |
| Everything else | 1x | 3x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $679 | $1,014 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Locked to IHG One Rewards |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*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 household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns about $679 a year in rewards and the IHG One Rewards Premier about $1,014, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred charges $95, but carries about $84 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The IHG One Rewards Premier charges $99, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the IHG One Rewards Premier delivers more total value, about $289 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and dining. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the IHG One Rewards Premier 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 Cash Preferred if your spending leans toward groceries, streaming. Pick the IHG One Rewards Premier if your spending leans toward dining, gas, travel.