Is the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card worth it?

The break-even math

Its printed statement credits ($310/yr) already exceed the $99 fee on paper — a net of $211 before you earn a single point. The catch is that credits only count if you'd have spent that way anyway: an annual credit you forget to use is worth nothing.

The credits you'd need to use

• Calendar-year spend statement credit — $100/year (annual)
• United TravelBank Cash — $50/year (twice a year)
• DoorDash non-restaurant order discount — $40/year (quarterly)
• Instacart credit — $120/year (monthly)

Credits with a monthly or quarterly cadence expire if unused — that's where most of the printed value quietly disappears.

The verdict

Worth it if you'll actually use the credits. Line up each credit below against how you really spend — if you'd buy those things anyway, the card pays for itself and the rewards are pure upside. If not, you're pre-paying for perks you may skip.

If the answer is no, downgrade — don't cancel

You do not have to choose between paying $99 and closing the account. IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card can normally be product-changed to one lower-fee card in the Chase IHG One Rewards family — the cheapest is IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card at no annual fee, saving $99 a year while the account, its age and its credit line stay on your report.

The catch on that one: No fee. You lose the anniversary free night and the fourth-night-free benefit.

What does the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card downgrade to? See the option →

Other fees worth questioning

• Is the AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard worth $99?
• Is the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard worth $99?
• Is the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card worth $99?
• Is the Chase Ink Business Preferred worth $95?