MGM Rewards Iconic vs MGM Rewards World Elite

Every figure below is from the same dataset Miles computes its recommendations from. Rows the two cards agree on are collapsed at the bottom.

Economics

Dollar figures are per year unless the row says otherwise. Ongoing annual value is Miles' estimate of what the card adds per year after its annual fee: statement credits discounted for realistic use, benefits, and earning above a strong flat-rate card on a typical spending profile. First-year value is a separate net figure that includes the welcome bonus. A welcome bonus shown at its advertised maximum may not be available to every applicant; that figure is not marked as stronger. ★ marks the stronger comparable figure on other rows, and no row is marked when either figure is unknown.
Figure	MGM Rewards Iconic FNBO	MGM Rewards World Elite FNBO
Annual fee	$249	Best: $0 $249/yr less
Ongoing annual value, after fee	−$21	Best: $40 $61/yr more
First-year value	Best: $314 $139/yr more	$175
Authorized user fee	—Unknown	—Unknown

Sign-up Bonus

The current welcome offer as recorded in the dataset. No winner is marked: a bonus is points times a valuation times a spend requirement you may or may not clear, and the first-year value above already prices it.
Offer	MGM Rewards Iconic FNBO	MGM Rewards World Elite FNBO
Current offer	30K points after $5K spend in the first 3 billing cycles + $200 resort credit on account opening + additional 15K points after $7.5K total spend in the first 6 billing cycles	10K points after $1K spend in the first 3 billing cycles + an additional 10K points after $2.5K total spend in the first 6 billing cycles

Earning

Percentages are the return on a dollar spent: the multiplier times what Miles values those points at. ★ marks the higher return on a row. Categories only one card earns a bonus on are marked for that card; the other earns its base rate.
Category	MGM Rewards Iconic FNBO	MGM Rewards World Elite FNBO
MGM Rewards Destinations	Best: 6X6%	3X3%
Dining	Best: 2X2%	—Unknown
Hotels	Best: 2X2%	—Unknown
BetMGM deposits	Best: 1X1%	—Unknown

Benefits

Statement credits, lounge access and elite status as listed in the dataset; protections are counted, not listed. No winner is marked: twelve small credits are not more than two large ones, and the row that prices them, ongoing annual value, is under Economics.
Benefit	MGM Rewards Iconic FNBO	MGM Rewards World Elite FNBO
Statement credits	MGM Resort Credit: $200 (Annual Cardmember Year) Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)	—Unknown
Lounge access	—Unknown	—Unknown
Elite status	MGM Rewards Pearl MGM Rewards	MGM Rewards Pearl MGM Rewards
Protections	1	0

The same on both cards (8)

Rows where both cards state the same figure or the same earning rate. Nothing is marked, because there is no stronger side.
Fact	MGM Rewards Iconic	MGM Rewards World Elite
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Issuer	FNBO	FNBO
Rewards currency	MGM Rewards	MGM Rewards
Card type	Personal	Personal
Network	Mastercard	Mastercard
All other purchases	1X1%	1X1%
Gas Stations	2X2%	2X2%
Grocery Stores	2X2%	2X2%

Which one is right for you

This page shows the difference. It does not pick: the winner depends on what you spend and what you already hold, and adding these figures up without knowing that would be a guess dressed as a verdict. Ask Miles and it computes the answer against your own wallet.

Ask Miles which to get