IHG One Rewards had over 160 million members at the start of 2026, and Marriott Bonvoy had more than 295 million at June 30, 2026. Marriott has the bigger footprint. IHG asks for fewer nights at each step above Silver, and its Reward Nights start at 5,000 points. This guide compares the two from their own terms, program pages and filings. The last section reads both designs from the side of the teams that run loyalty programs.
Is IHG or Marriott better?
Marriott is the better pick for travelers who want the most hotels and the most ways to spend points. It reported over 10,000 properties in 148 countries and territories at June 30, 2026. Its points move to 38 airlines, and every member who books five award nights in a row on a standard award pays points for four.
IHG is the better pick for travelers who want status sooner. Platinum takes 40 nights against Marriott’s 50, and Diamond takes 70 against Titanium’s 75. IHG’s tier bonuses run from 20% to 100%, against 10% to 75% at Marriott. Reward Nights start at 5,000 points, and points held by elite members do not expire.
IHG One Rewards vs Marriott Bonvoy at a glance
The table sets the two programs side by side. Each value comes from the program’s own terms, pages or reports, linked in the sections below.
| IHG One Rewards | Marriott Bonvoy | |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels | More than 7,000 hotels and 21 brands in over 100 countries | Over 10,000 properties in 148 countries and territories (June 30, 2026) |
| Members | Over 160 million (start of 2026) | More than 295 million (June 30, 2026) |
| Base points per US$1 | 10 at most hotels; 5 at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites | 10 at most brands; 5 at brands such as Residence Inn and Element; 4 at StudioRes |
| Elite earning bonus | Silver 20%, Gold 40%, Platinum 60%, Diamond 100% | Silver 10%, Gold 25%, Platinum 50%, Titanium and Ambassador 75% |
| Elite tiers | Silver 10 nights; Gold 20 nights or 40,000 points; Platinum 40 or 60,000; Diamond 70 or 120,000 | Silver 10 nights, Gold 25, Platinum 50, Titanium 75, Ambassador 100 nights plus $23,000 of spend |
| Starting award price | Reward Nights start at 5,000 points | Stays start at 12,000 points a night |
| Award pricing | Varies by brand, hotel and day of week; no blackout dates | Varies by hotel, room type, length of stay and time of year |
| Extra free night | Fourth Reward Night free on four-night stays for cardmembers | Fifth night free on five-night standard awards, all members |
| Late checkout | 2 p.m. at every tier, as available | 2 p.m. for Gold on request; 4 p.m. from Platinum |
| Top-tier perks | Platinum: 72-hour room guarantee, upgrades, early check-in. Diamond: breakfast option, support line | Platinum and above: lounge access, suite upgrades, 4 p.m. late checkout |
| Partners | Hertz status from Gold; ANA Mileage Club and PAYBACK added in 2026 | Points transfer to 38 airlines, mostly at 3 to 1 |
| Points sharing and buying | Transfer between two designated members; buy up to 200,000 a year | Send up to 100,000 a year; receive up to 500,000; buy up to 150,000 a year in the storefront |
| Joining and cards | Free; Chase cards from no fee to $350, each with automatic status | Free; US co-brand cards from American Express and Chase |
| Points expiry | Club level: 12 months of inactivity; Elite members: none while status holds | After 24 consecutive months without activity |
How big are IHG and Marriott?
Marriott is the larger chain. It reported over 10,000 properties at June 30, 2026, and its earn page lists over 30 hotel brands. IHG describes 21 hotel brands with more than one million rooms across 7,100 hotels in over 100 countries. IHG has a development pipeline of a further 2,400 properties.
The member gap is smaller than the hotel gap. Marriott Bonvoy had more than 295 million members at the end of June 2026. IHG One Rewards had over 160 million at the start of 2026, and IHG said gross enrollments were up 15% year over year in the first half. The useful test is local. List the cities you visit most and check which chain has a hotel you would book there.
How do you earn points with IHG and Marriott?
Both programs pay 10 base points per dollar at most hotels. IHG pays 5 points at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. Marriott pays 4 at StudioRes and 5 at brands such as Residence Inn and Element. The gap opens with elite bonuses. IHG adds 20% at Silver, 40% at Gold, 60% at Platinum and 100% at Diamond. Marriott adds 10% at Silver and 75% at Titanium.
For illustration, take $1,000 of paid stays at a hotel that pays 10 base points per dollar. The table applies each program’s published tier bonus to the 10,000 base points.
| Tier level | IHG One Rewards points | Marriott Bonvoy points |
|---|---|---|
| Base member | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Silver | 12,000 | 11,000 |
| Gold | 14,000 | 12,500 |
| IHG Platinum, Marriott Platinum | 16,000 | 15,000 |
| IHG Diamond, Marriott Titanium | 20,000 | 17,500 |
Both programs also pay away from the hotel. IHG members earn elite-qualifying points on Hertz car rentals, OpenTable reservations and Viator experiences. Marriott members earn on Hertz rentals and on Vacations by Marriott Bonvoy packages. Both sell points. IHG caps purchases at 200,000 points a year.
How do IHG and Marriott award nights compare?
Neither program prices awards on a fixed chart. IHG says the points for a night vary by brand, hotel and day of week, with no blackout dates. Marriott says they vary by hotel, room type, length of stay and time of year. It says prices are updated continuously. IHG Reward Nights start at 5,000 points. Marriott stays start at 12,000 points a night.
The extra free night sits in different places. Any Marriott member who books five award nights in a row on one reservation with a Standard or PointSavers award pays points for four. At IHG, the 4th Reward Night Free benefit belongs to IHG One Rewards cardmembers, for a consecutive four-night stay paid in points. IHG also offers Points & Cash, which lets a member add purchased points to existing points at booking. Its terms give Platinum, Diamond and cardholders exclusive access to promotional Reward Night discounts.
Marriott points travel further from the hotel. They transfer to 38 airlines, mostly at 3 to 1, and pay for events through Marriott Bonvoy Moments. IHG members can convert points to partner rewards or use them in the catalog.
Which elite status is easier to earn?
IHG asks for fewer nights at every tier above Silver, and it also counts points. Gold takes 20 nights or 40,000 points, Platinum 40 nights or 60,000, and Diamond 70 nights or 120,000. Marriott counts nights: Silver takes 10, Gold 25, Platinum 50 and Titanium 75. Ambassador takes 100 nights plus $23,000 of qualifying spend. IHG also rolls extra nights from Gold and above into the next year.
The perks differ in the middle. IHG Platinum brings a 72-hour room guarantee, upgrades when available, a welcome amenity, early check-in and Reward Night discounts. IHG Diamond adds a welcome amenity that can be daily hot breakfast for two, and a dedicated support line. Lounge access and 4 p.m. late checkout start at Marriott Platinum Elite. IHG offers 2 p.m. late checkout at every tier.
Both pay for volume past the tier. IHG’s Milestone Rewards start at 20 nights and arrive every 10 nights up to 100. Members choose from bonus points, food and beverage rewards or a confirmable suite upgrade. IHG said the number of Milestone Rewards chosen grew 7% year over year. Marriott gives Platinum members and above one annual choice benefit at 50 nights.
Marriott has a lifetime tier too. A member needs 600 nights and 10 years at Platinum or above for Lifetime Platinum Elite.
Which program has better partners?
Marriott has the wider transfer network. Points go out to 38 airlines, and points come in from American Express Membership Rewards and MGM Rewards. Marriott members also earn on Hertz rentals.
IHG is adding partners. In the first half of 2026 it added ANA Mileage Club and PAYBACK. PAYBACK is a German consumer loyalty program with more than 35 million customers. Gold and Platinum members get Hertz Five Star status. Diamond members get Hertz President’s Circle status.
What does each program cost?
Both programs are free to join. The paid side is the co-brand card. On October 1, 2026, Chase and IHG announced an updated card portfolio. The IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card carries a $350 annual fee and automatic Platinum Elite status. The Premier card costs $150 and brings Gold status. The no-fee IHG One Rewards Credit Card brings Silver status.
Marriott lists US cards from American Express and Chase in its terms. In August 2026, Marriott said it had signed new long-term card agreements with both banks.
Expiry is the clearest rule gap. Marriott cancels points after 24 consecutive months with no activity. IHG cancels Club-level points after 12 months with no earn or redeem. Elite members keep their points while they hold status.
IHG or Marriott: which should you choose?
- Hotels in more places: Marriott. It has over 10,000 properties.
- Faster status: IHG. It asks for fewer nights at each step above Silver.
- Low-cost award nights: IHG. Reward Nights start at 5,000 points.
- Flyers who want miles: Marriott. Its points move to 38 airlines.
- Long award stays without a card: Marriott. Every member gets the fifth night free on standard awards.
- Travelers who stay a few times a year: IHG. Silver takes 10 nights, and elite points do not expire.
- Anyone who stays at both: join both. Each one is free.
What do IHG and Marriott teach a loyalty team?
Both programs carry most of the business. Marriott said in its 2025 annual report that about 68 percent of global room nights and about 75 percent of US room nights were booked by Loyalty Program members. IHG said loyalty penetration reached 67% of room nights in the first half of 2026 and topped 73% in the US. At that share, the program is the main customer.
IHG puts a price on that share. It said members spend about 20% more than non-members and are around 10 times more likely to book direct. Direct digital channels delivered 26% of its room revenue in the first half. That makes the program a direct-booking lever.
Cards fund the program. Marriott said that payments under its co-brand card agreements are a significant funding source for the Loyalty Program. IHG’s October 2026 card relaunch shows the other half of the deal: the cards hand out status. The Premier Select card grants 20 Elite Night Credits a year. That opens the first Milestone Reward on day one.
Expiry is a design choice too. IHG lets Club-level points lapse after 12 months, and it lets elite points stand while status holds. That gives a member a reason to reach Silver, which takes 10 nights. Marriott uses one 24-month rule for everyone. Our tier strategy guide covers how to set status thresholds like these.
How GRAVTY handles card-linked status, expiry and partner earning
Status credits from a card, tier-based expiry and Milestone choices are rules a team changes often. GRAVTY Visual Rules is Loyalty Juggernaut’s patented no-code rules engine. It puts those changes in the loyalty team’s hands.
Scale and partners are the other test. Riyadh Air built its program on GRAVTY before it flew and saw Sfeer pass one million members less than a year after launch. Deutsche Telekom runs one program on GRAVTY with 4,500 partners across 9 countries. GRAVTY runs 500M+ members in production, holds a 99.99% uptime SLA and has average latency under 50 ms.
See how GRAVTY runs hotel loyalty, read our guide to partner settlement, or compare more programs in the best hotel rewards programs.
Frequently asked questions
Is IHG or Marriott better for free nights?
Marriott is better for members without a card, because every member gets the fifth night free on a five-night standard award. IHG gives its fourth Reward Night free to cardmembers. IHG Reward Nights start at 5,000 points, and Marriott stays start at 12,000.
Is IHG Platinum easier to earn than Marriott Platinum?
Yes. IHG Platinum takes 40 qualifying nights or 60,000 points in a year. Marriott Platinum Elite takes 50 qualifying nights. Marriott Platinum adds lounge access and 4 p.m. late checkout, and IHG offers 2 p.m. late checkout at every tier.
Do IHG and Marriott points expire?
Yes, on different clocks. IHG Club-level points expire after 12 months with no earn or redeem. IHG elite members keep their points while status holds. Marriott cancels points after 24 consecutive months without activity.
How many members do IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy have?
IHG One Rewards had over 160 million members at the start of 2026. Marriott Bonvoy had more than 295 million at June 30, 2026. Both programs are free to join.
Which program has more hotels, IHG or Marriott?
Marriott has more. It reported over 10,000 properties in 148 countries and territories at June 30, 2026. IHG describes more than 7,000 hotels in over 100 countries across 21 brands.
Does IHG have a credit card with automatic elite status?
Yes. Chase issues four IHG One Rewards cards, and each one grants automatic status. The new Premier Select card ($350 annual fee) grants Platinum Elite, the Premier card ($150) grants Gold Elite, and the no-fee card grants Silver Elite. Chase and IHG announced the changes on October 1, 2026.