IHG One Rewards Traveler vs Amex Green: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express® Green Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here's a closer look at what makes the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) a compelling option for travelers.

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• It earns a high rate of points on a broad range of travel and dining purchases worldwide.
• The points you earn are flexible and can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners for high-value travel redemptions.
• Cardholders receive annual statement credits for popular travel services that can enhance their journey.

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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.}

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Pros

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• Offers a strong rewards rate on a broad range of spending, including travel, transit, and dining at restaurants worldwide.
• Provides annual statement credits for travel-enhancing services like CLEAR Plus membership and airport lounge access.
• Features flexible points that can be transferred to a wide variety of airline and hotel partners, often providing high value for redemptions.

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Cons

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• Carries a relatively high annual fee for a card that isn't in the premium travel category.
• Getting the most value from your points requires extra steps, as the best redemptions come from transferring them to travel partners.
• Some of the card’s travel credits are for niche services, and certain redemption options provide low value.

American Express® Green Card vs IHG One Rewards Traveler

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, IHG One Rewards Traveler or Amex Green, depends entirely on your spending habits and travel style. Each card excels in different areas, making one a clear winner for certain types of consumers.

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• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: This card is best for travelers who frequently stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. It is designed for those who want to earn rewards on their hotel stays without an annual fee.
• American Express® Green Card: This card is ideal for individuals with high spending in broad travel and dining categories. It rewards a wide variety of purchases from airfare and hotels to restaurants and transit.

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Redemption

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IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for free nights and other rewards within the extensive portfolio of IHG Hotels & Resorts.

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American Express® Green Card: This card offers more flexible redemption, allowing you to use points for travel booked through American Express or transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Portal & Partners: The IHG One Rewards Traveler card is tied to the IHG booking platform, whereas the American Express® Green Card offers access to the wider American Express Travel portal and a variety of airline and hotel transfer partners.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: You'll encounter foreign transaction fees with the IHG One Rewards Traveler card, but the American Express® Green Card does not charge them.
• Lounge Access & Travel Credits: The American Express® Green Card provides annual statement credits for both LoungeBuddy access and a CLEAR Plus membership. The IHG One Rewards Traveler card does not offer comparable perks.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To cut through the noise and find the best card for your wallet, a tool like Kudos can provide data-driven recommendations based on your actual spending.

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• Test Drive a credit card: Before applying, you can simulate potential earnings from a new card using your real spending data. This feature provides a personalized projection of annual rewards and net value without requiring an application or a hard credit pull.
• Approval Odds Analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval chances for a card based on your credit report, helping you make more informed application decisions.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when shopping at participating stores.
• Automated Card Selection: When you shop online, Kudos can automatically select and fill in the best card from your wallet for that specific purchase to ensure you maximize your rewards.

Who Should Choose the IHG One Rewards Traveler?

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The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is an excellent choice for occasional IHG guests who want to earn points without committing to an annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for budget-conscious travelers and those just dipping their toes into the world of hotel rewards programs. Additionally, travelers who frequently book stays of four nights or more can maximize value by taking advantage of the fourth-night-free benefit on reward stays.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?

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The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who are savvy enough to maximize the value of transferable points. This cardholder is someone who will take full advantage of the rich rewards by transferring points to various airline and hotel partners for high-value redemptions. Ultimately, it’s a strong option for those whose spending aligns with the card's generous 3X bonus categories for travel, transit, and dining worldwide.

Alternatives to Consider

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Deciding between two great cards can be tough, and sometimes neither one is the perfect match. If our IHG One Rewards Traveler vs. Amex® Green comparison has left you undecided, let's look at a few other top-tier travel cards that could be a better fit for your goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Most travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spend for the welcome offer.
• Know the card’s ecosystem: Research the card’s partners and benefits to ensure they align with your habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Try different methods if one doesn't work, as offers can vary.
• A prior banking relationship can sometimes help with issuers like Chase or Bank of America.
• Don't force the spending; if the requirement is unrealistic, consider a different card.

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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What are the annual fees for the IHG One Rewards Traveler and American Express® Green Card?

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The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card generally has no annual fee, while the American Express® Green Card carries an annual fee. It is always best to confirm the current fees before applying for any card.

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Can I transfer points between IHG One Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards?

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You can transfer points from the American Express Membership Rewards program to IHG One Rewards, but you cannot transfer IHG points to Amex. This one-way transferability is common among flexible rewards programs and their hotel partners.

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What is the difference between a charge card and a credit card?

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A credit card allows you to carry a balance from month to month, but a charge card like the American Express® Green Card typically requires the balance to be paid in full each statement period. Some charge cards include features that let you finance specific purchases over time.

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