IHG One Rewards Premier vs Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card
Side-by-side comparison
| IHG One Rewards Premier | Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 30,000 points | |
| Dining | 5x | 3x |
| Groceries | 3x | 3x |
| Gas | 5x | 3x |
| Travel | 5x | 1x |
| Streaming | 3x | 1x |
| Everything else | 3x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $1,014 | $515 |
| Points type | Locked to IHG One Rewards | Locked to Wyndham Rewards |
| Network | Mastercard | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | IHG One Rewards Premier | Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 140,000 IHG One Rewards Points | 30,000 points |
| To earn it | $3,000 in 3 months | $1,000 in 90 days |
| Est. first-year value* | $2,315 | $815 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $915 | $515 |
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 | Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both are hotel cards, but the IHG Premier charges $99 for a free night and status while the Wyndham Earner is free, so it’s premium perks versus no-cost earning.
The IHG Premier’s annual free night can beat its fee, and it adds Platinum status. The Wyndham Earner earns solid hotel points on Wyndham and everyday categories with nothing to justify. IHG perks vs free Wyndham points.
Pros and cons
- An annual free night that can exceed the $99 fee
- IHG Platinum status and fourth-night-free
- Strong IHG and everyday earning
- A Global Entry credit
- $99 fee
- Points locked to IHG
- Value tied to IHG stays
- 5x at Wyndham and 3x on dining, groceries, and gas
- No annual fee
- Wyndham points book go-free award nights cheaply
- Zero commitment
- Points locked to Wyndham (lower per-point value)
- No free night or status
- Value tied to Wyndham stays
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel brand | Depends | IHG vs Wyndham. |
| Annual perk | IHG Premier | A free night and Platinum status. |
| Annual fee | Wyndham Earner | $0 vs $99. |
| Everyday earning | Wyndham Earner | 3x on dining/groceries/gas free. |
| Best for | Depends | IHG guests vs budget Wyndham earners. |
The verdict
If you stay at IHG, the Premier is an easy keep, the annual free night usually beats the $99 fee and Platinum status improves every stay.
If you want free hotel earning with no commitment, the Wyndham Earner is a fine no-fee card, 5x at Wyndham and 3x on everyday categories, and Wyndham points can book award nights cheaply. Choose by brand and whether you want a premium free-night perk (IHG Premier) or a zero-cost earner (Wyndham Earner).