Editorial take: IHG One Rewards Premier
A solid hotel card if you stay at IHG properties regularly. The free night award and 4th night free on award stays can easily offset the $99 annual fee.
All credit cards
Side-by-side
IHG One Rewards Premier vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Both are well-respected travel cards. The IHG One Rewards Premier comes from Chase at $99/yr; the PayPal Cashback Mastercard from Synchrony at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the IHG One Rewards Premier is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($725 more in estimated value) than the PayPal Cashback Mastercard's. Get the IHG One Rewards Premier first; revisit the PayPal Cashback Mastercard after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | IHG One Rewards Premier | PayPal Cashback Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | 185,000 bonus points | $200 cash back |
| Bonus value (est.) | $925 | $200 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $500 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Chase | Synchrony |
| Card category | hotel | cashback |
| Best earning category (Ihg) | 10x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
IHG One Rewards Premier
$99/yr · 185,000 bonus points
Read the full review
PayPal Cashback Mastercard
$0/yr · $200 cash back
Editorial take: PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, IHG One Rewards Premier or PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
- The IHG One Rewards Premier has the bigger bonus, 185,000 bonus points, worth roughly $925, versus $200 cash back (~$200) on the PayPal Cashback Mastercard.
- Is the IHG One Rewards Premier's $99 annual fee worth it compared to the PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
- At $99/yr, the IHG One Rewards Premier is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the PayPal Cashback Mastercard's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the IHG One Rewards Premier and PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Chase and Synchrony) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the IHG One Rewards Premier or the PayPal Cashback Mastercard first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. IHG One Rewards Premier: $3,000 spend in 3 months. PayPal Cashback Mastercard: $500 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.