First-year winner
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
$2,168 Year 1 edge
$2,688 vs $520
Compare Cards
Stack up the better credit card
Compare two cards side by side with your real spend, credits, fees, and rewards.
Card A
Card B
Monthly spend
Start with spending categories
Monthly Total
$2,430/mo
Reward assumptions
Credits & benefits
Count the credits and perks you actually expect to use. Credit rows start with conservative default values; edit them for your own merchant, timing, or travel friction.
Card A
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
Southwest Anniversary Value
Other · No listed cash value
Southwest cards are centered on Rapid Rewards value through anniversary points, flight-related perks, or other airline-program benefits.
Perk
Travel Rewards Ecosystem
Other · No listed cash value
The card is designed to fit into a broader travel-rewards setup through issuer redemptions, hotel stays, flights, or travel-portal bookings.
Card B
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
IHG Award-Night Perks
Other · No listed cash value
IHG co-brand cards are built around hotel-program value such as elite-style perks and award-night enhancements on eligible stays.
Perk
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Other · No listed cash value
Eligible international purchases do not incur an added foreign transaction surcharge.
Perk
Travel Rewards Ecosystem
Other · No listed cash value
The card is designed to fit into a broader travel-rewards setup through issuer redemptions, hotel stays, flights, or travel-portal bookings.
Verdict
IHG One Rewards Premier wins year 1 and long term.
Winner after year 1
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
$968 ongoing edge
$1,288 vs $320
Long-term breakeven: the higher-reward option needs roughly $0 per year in this spend mix to overcome the fee and benefit gap.
Chase
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Year One
$520
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$320
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$419
1.44% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$3,000
3 mo window · $1,000/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • The annual fee is harder to justify if you do not use the credits and perks consistently.
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
- • The points value case is thinner without transfer-partner flexibility.
Chase
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Year One
$2,688
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$1,288
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$1,387
4.76% effective return
Welcome Offer
$1,400
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$3,000
3 mo window · $1,000/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • Comes with a particularly strong welcome offer.
- • Earns well on the spend mix you entered.
- • Stays usable for international purchases.
Watch for
- • The annual fee is harder to justify if you do not use the credits and perks consistently.
- • The points value case is thinner without transfer-partner flexibility.
Spend Mix Math
Where the value actually comes from
Category returns are based on the spend mix you entered, your point-value assumption, and the benefits you chose to count.
Dining
1x
$5,400
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
$54
1.00%
IHG One Rewards Premier
$270
5.00%
Groceries
2x
$7,800
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
$156
2.00%
IHG One Rewards Premier
$390
5.00%
Travel
2x
$3,000
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
$60
2.00%
IHG One Rewards Premier
$300
10.00%
Gas
2x
$1,920
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
$38
2.00%
IHG One Rewards Premier
$96
5.00%
General
1x
$11,040
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
$110
1.00%
IHG One Rewards Premier
$331
3.00%
Total annual spend
$29,160 across this mix
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus$419
IHG One Rewards Premier$1,387
Raw Breakdown
Full side-by-side details
Use the spec table below when you want the literal field-by-field differences in rewards, benefits, transfer partners, fees, and approval profile.
| Metric | Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card | IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | ||
| Annual fee | $99 | $99 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | None |
| Rewards | ||
| Dining rewards | — | 5x |
| Gas rewards | 2x 2X points on the first $5,000 in combined gas and grocery purchases each year. | 5x |
| Groceries rewards | 2x 2X points on the first $5,000 in combined gas and grocery purchases each year. | 5x |
| Travel rewards | 2x 2X points on Southwest purchases. | 10x 10x points on eligible IHG hotel purchases. |
| All rewards | — | 3x |
| Offer | ||
| Welcome offer | 20,000 bonus points plus promotional Companion Pass Spend $3,000 in 3 mo | 140,000 bonus points Spend $3,000 in 3 mo |
| Benefits | ||
| Estimated benefits | 2 listed | 3 listed |
| Benefit highlights | Southwest Anniversary Value · Travel Rewards Ecosystem | IHG Award-Night Perks · No Foreign Transaction Fees · Travel Rewards Ecosystem |
| Profile | ||
| Credit needed | Good | Good |
| Network | — | mastercard |
| Reward type | Points | Points |
Costs
Annual fee
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
$99
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
$99
Foreign transaction fee
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
3%
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
None
Rewards
Dining rewards
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
—
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
5x
Gas rewards
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
2x
2X points on the first $5,000 in combined gas and grocery purchases each year.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
5x
Groceries rewards
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
2x
2X points on the first $5,000 in combined gas and grocery purchases each year.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
5x
Travel rewards
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
2x
2X points on Southwest purchases.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
10x
10x points on eligible IHG hotel purchases.
All rewards
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
—
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
3x
Offer
Welcome offer
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
20,000 bonus points plus promotional Companion Pass
Spend $3,000 in 3 mo
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
140,000 bonus points
Spend $3,000 in 3 mo
Benefits
Estimated benefits
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
2 listed
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
3 listed
Benefit highlights
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Southwest Anniversary Value · Travel Rewards Ecosystem
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
IHG Award-Night Perks · No Foreign Transaction Fees · Travel Rewards Ecosystem
Profile
Credit needed
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Good
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Good
Network
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
—
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
mastercard
Reward type
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Points
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Points