IHG One Rewards Premier vs Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®
Side-by-side comparison
| IHG One Rewards Premier | Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | $95 |
| Welcome offer | 60,000 points | |
| Dining | 5x | 1x |
| Groceries | 3x | 5x |
| Gas | 5x | 5x |
| Travel | 5x | 1x |
| Streaming | 3x | 1x |
| Everything else | 3x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $1,014 | $618 |
| Points type | Locked to IHG One Rewards | Locked to Choice Privileges |
| Network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | IHG One Rewards Premier | Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 140,000 IHG One Rewards Points | 60,000 points |
| To earn it | $3,000 in 3 months | $3,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $2,315 | $1,123 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $915 | $523 |
The IHG One Rewards Premier wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | IHG One Rewards Premier | Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | None | None |
| Points & redemptions | Locked to a single program | Locked to a single program |
The two are closely matched on perks and redemptions, so the welcome offer and everyday earning above are what should decide it.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the IHG One Rewards Premier earns about $1,014 a year in rewards and the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® about $618, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The IHG One Rewards Premier charges $99, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® charges $95, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the IHG One Rewards Premier delivers more total value, about $392 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 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 IHG One Rewards Premier if your spending leans toward dining, travel, streaming. Pick the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® if your spending leans toward groceries.