IHG One Rewards Premier vs Wells Fargo Autograph: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wells Fargo Autograph Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we’re fans of the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card.

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• The card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees), making it a cost-effective choice for both everyday spending and international travel.
• You'll earn unlimited 3X points on a broad range of popular categories, including restaurants, travel, gas, streaming, and phone plans.
• If you use the card's cell phone protection just once for a covered claim, you could save up to $600, easily justifying this no-annual-fee card (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Generous rewards rate on popular, everyday spending categories.
• Travel-friendly features, including no foreign transaction fees and access to airline and hotel transfer partners.
• Valuable built-in cell phone protection, a rare perk for a card with no annual fee.

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Cons

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• Lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access or credits for expedited security screening.
• The list of travel transfer partners is less extensive than some competing rewards programs.
• Requires a good to excellent credit score for approval.

Wells Fargo Autograph vs IHG One Rewards Premier

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Categories

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The question of which is better, IHG One Rewards Premier or Wells Fargo Autograph, depends entirely on your travel style and spending habits.

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• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card - This card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers, especially those who regularly stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts brands.
• Wells Fargo Autograph® Card - While primarily a travel card, it is also highly useful for a wide range of everyday spending categories.

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Redemption

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IHG One Rewards Premier: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for award nights at IHG Hotels & Resorts properties worldwide. While other options like transferring to airline partners exist, using points for hotel stays generally provides the most value.

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Wells Fargo Autograph: This card provides flexible rewards that can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, and travel booked through the Wells Fargo portal. Points can also be transferred to a growing list of airline and hotel partners, offering more versatile redemption pathways.

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Travel Perks

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• The IHG Premier card is built for brand loyalists, offering perks deeply embedded within the IHG ecosystem, such as an Anniversary Free Night and a fourth night free on award stays. In contrast, the Autograph card provides a more flexible travel platform, allowing you to book travel through the Wells Fargo portal or transfer points to various airline and hotel partners.
• Both cards are excellent companions for trips abroad, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the U.S.
• A key differentiator is the automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status that comes with the IHG Premier card, unlocking on-property benefits like potential room upgrades and late check-out. The Autograph card does not offer elite status with any travel partner, focusing instead on its flexible rewards structure over premium travel comforts like airport lounge access, which neither card includes.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see personalized reward projections before you apply.
• Receive detailed approval odds based on your credit report.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, ensuring you have the best bonus available.
• Unlock a $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Track your sign-up bonus progress and monitor your credit score for free.

Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Premier?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a strong choice for travelers who frequently stay at IHG properties like Holiday Inn, InterContinental, or Kimpton. These cardholders will get the most value from the automatic Platinum Elite status and the annual free night certificate, which can easily offset the annual fee. Furthermore, those who often book stays of four nights or longer can maximize their points with the fourth-reward-night-free benefit.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph?

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The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is an excellent choice for consumers who want to earn travel rewards without paying an annual fee, especially those new to the world of points and miles. It's best suited for individuals with good-to-excellent credit who spend regularly on common categories like dining, gas, transit, and streaming services. As detailed in a NerdWallet review, it serves well as a primary, everyday card that offers straightforward value on both travel and recurring bills.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our IHG One Rewards Premier vs Wells Fargo Autograph comparison didn't seal the deal for you, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards on the market that might be a better fit for your spending habits and travel goals.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most premium rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spending requirement for the welcome offer.
• Know your redemption options – Research the card’s transfer partners or other redemption benefits to maximize your points value.

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Application Strategy

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• Consider issuer-specific rules – Policies like the Chase 5/24 rule can affect your approval odds.
• Time your application – Apply before a large purchase to more easily meet the spending requirement.
• Don’t settle for a lesser bonus – Be patient and wait for the highest available welcome offer.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Is the IHG Premier card only good for IHG hotel stays?

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While its benefits are maximized by IHG loyalists, the IHG One Rewards Premier card also earns points on everyday categories like travel, dining, and gas. However, its most valuable perks, like the annual free night award, are specific to IHG properties.

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How flexible are the rewards for each card?

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The Wells Fargo Autograph card offers highly flexible points that can be redeemed for travel, cash back, or gift cards. In contrast, IHG points provide the best value when redeemed for stays at IHG hotels and resorts.

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Do both the IHG Premier and Wells Fargo Autograph cards have an annual fee?

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The IHG One Rewards Premier card includes an annual fee, which is often justified by its premium travel benefits. The Wells Fargo Autograph card is notable for having no annual fee, making it a cost-effective choice from the start.

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Which card is better for earning on dining and gas?

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Both cards offer accelerated rewards on dining and gas, but the Wells Fargo Autograph card typically provides a higher, more consistent earning rate across these and other broad categories. The IHG Premier card also earns bonus points in these areas, though often at a different rate.

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