IHG One Rewards Premier vs Hilton Honors Surpass®
Side-by-side comparison
| IHG One Rewards Premier | Hilton Honors Surpass® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | $150 |
| Welcome offer | ||
| Dining | 5x | 6x |
| Groceries | 3x | 6x |
| Gas | 5x | 6x |
| Travel | 5x | 1x |
| Streaming | 3x | 3x |
| Everything else | 3x | 3x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $1,014 | $1,174 |
| Points type | Locked to IHG One Rewards | Locked to Hilton Honors |
| Network | Mastercard | Amex |
*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 | Hilton Honors Surpass® |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 140,000 IHG One Rewards Points | 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points |
| To earn it | $3,000 in 3 months | $3,000 in 6 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $2,315 | $2,524 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $915 | $1,224 |
The Hilton Honors Surpass® 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 | Hilton Honors Surpass® |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | None | ~$200/yr (1 credits) |
| Points & redemptions | Locked to a single program | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, the Hilton Honors Surpass® carries the heavier credit stack (about $200 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
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 Hilton Honors Surpass® about $1,174, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The IHG One Rewards Premier charges $99, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Hilton Honors Surpass® charges $150, but carries about $200 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Hilton Honors Surpass® delivers more total value, about $209 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries 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 two are currently comparable in size. Note that IHG One Rewards Premier and Hilton Honors Surpass® are running a limited-time offer above the usual amount, so that edge may not last. 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 travel. Pick the Hilton Honors Surpass® if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.