IHG and Hilton offer travelers a lot of choice: thousands of locations and dozens of brands that fit every budget and length of stay.
IHG has a strong position in the economy and mid-range markets, while Hilton has a strong portfolio of familiar luxury and boutique brands. Both companies have options to suit every traveler, but each has its particular strengths.
To help you pick the hotel loyalty program that best fits your needs — based on your travel patterns, spending habits and elite status preferences — we outline important factors such as the perks they can provide and which credit cards can help you achieve status. Here’s how IHG vs. Hilton stack up.
Where IHG and Hilton have hotels
The number of properties a hotel group has is a key factor in its strength. Why have elite status with a loyalty program that doesn’t have hotels where you travel?
Winner for most brands and locations: Hilton
Varied locations and brands allow hospitality companies to serve more customers across different budgets, travel purposes and interests. For example, Hilton has one brand specifically focused on college towns. IHG has a brand dedicated to health, exercise and well-being. Both companies offer properties across thousands of locations, but Hilton is the clear winner with its bigger map of destinations.
Hilton
With more than 25 brands and more than 9,000 properties, Hilton wins with the number of brands and expansive destination map. From its globally known Waldorf Astoria luxury brand that is expanding across the globe to extended-stay options that cater to both business and leisure travelers, Hilton has it all, too. It just seems to have more of it, handing it the win in this category.
» Learn more: How much are your airline miles and hotel points worth?
IHG
IHG has more than 20 hotel brands and over 7,000 global destination. IHG continues to expand its luxury options while adding to its roster of budget-friendly accommodations, and more properties from top-tier brands like Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Vignette, Kimpton and Hotel Indigo are on the way. It’s also partnering with Iberostar Beachfront Resorts.
» Learn more: The year's best hotel brands
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Fees
Resort fees and parking charges can increase your total, and they are becoming more common. NerdWallet analyzes these fees as a percentage of the overall room rate to compare one hospitality brand to another.
Winner for the lowest fees: IHG
IHG wins in our hotel fee analysis for the Best-Of 2026 rankings. It ranks third out of the top six hotel brands, while Hilton came in close to the bottom in fifth place, when it comes to the amount of fees tacked onto a reservation.
IHG
The average resort and parking fee per IHG property comes to $44.26. This is less than what Hilton’s average was in NerdWallet’s analysis.
Hilton
Hilton performed slightly worse when it comes to hotel fees with its average nightly fee of $45.68. The results indicate that you will pay slightly more in fees when staying at a Hilton family property.
But, there is a silver lining for many travelers. You can significantly reduce the cost of resort fees when redeeming points for a stay or using the free night certificates that come with some Hilton credit cards.
Learn more: Benefits of the Hilton Honors loyalty program
Credit cards
Winner for the best credit cards: Hilton
In this category, Hilton is a clear winner because it offers more credit card options and provides an instant path to its high-tier Diamond status. IHG does not offer a card that gets you immediate Diamond status in its own program (although you can get there after having spent $75,000 within a calendar year on a Chase Sapphire Reserve® card).
Hilton
Hilton’s roster of cards range from a no-annual fee option all the way up to its premium Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card for a total of four cards to choose from (three consumer cards and one business card). The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond status, a $400 annual Hilton resort credit and $200 in annual flight credits — which is already a strong value given its $550 annual fee (see rates and fees).
That card also comes with an annual free night award valid at almost any Hilton Honors property and the opportunity to earn a second and third free night award when reaching certain spending thresholds in a calendar year ($30,000 and $60,000, respectively). Terms apply.
IHG
There are four IHG co-branded credit cards, including three consumer cards and one business card. The cards provide several benefits, including bonus points on everyday spending categories, the ability to receive the fourth night free when redeeming points and securing elite status depending on which card you have.
The IHG One Rewards Credit Card has a $0 annual fee and offers 3 points per dollar on dining, gas stations and grocery stores and automatic Silver elite status, but you'll have to spend $5,000 annually on the card to receive a fourth night free when you redeem points.
One level higher is the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, which packs plentiful benefits for its $150 annual fee. These perks include automatic Gold Elite status, an Anniversary Free night at your cardmember anniversary (valued up to 50,000 points with the option to top it up with more points from your account), an airline credit, quarterly food and beverage credits and a statement credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus.
» Learn more: What is the best IHG credit card offer?
The best choice: IHG or Hilton?
Each of these loyalty programs has a wide range of properties across the world, although Hilton has more. And Hilton’s number of credit cards and ability to earn and enjoy elite status perks is more advantageous, too.
Yes, IHG has lower fees, but the program won’t waive resort fees on redemptions. And even though IHG’s points are slightly more valuable, its weaker elite status program and credit card portfolio give Hilton the advantage for most travelers.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please visit American Express' rates and fees page
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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