Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve®
VS
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
The short answer: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card if you spend more on gas.

Side-by-side comparison

Chase Sapphire Reserve®IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Annual fee$795No annual fee
Welcome offer100,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points125,000 points
Dining3x3x
Groceries1x1x
Gas1x3x
Travel4x3x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$406$431
Points typeTransfers to airlines & hotelsLocked to IHG One Rewards
NetworkVisaMastercard

*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 Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns about $406 a year in rewards and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card about $431, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges $795, but carries about $2,108 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 Chase Sapphire Reserve® delivers more total value, about $234 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Chase Sapphire Reserve® 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 Chase Sapphire Reserve® if you will use travel transfers, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Chase Sapphire Reserve® if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card if your spending leans toward gas.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card better?
On typical household spending, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes out ahead after its annual fee, by roughly $234 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card?
As of June 2026, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 100,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card offers 125,000 points. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.