American Express® Platinum vs IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Platinum | IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $895 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 125,000 points | |
| Dining | 1x | 3x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 3x |
| Travel | 5x | 3x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $364 | $431 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | 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® Platinum earns about $364 a year in rewards and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card about $431, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Platinum charges $895, but carries about $1,229 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card delivers more total value, about $348 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on dining and gas. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Platinum 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® Platinum if you will use travel transfers, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Platinum currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Platinum if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card if your spending leans toward dining, gas.