Best Credit Cards for Hilton Hotels of May 2025
Updated: Apr 30, 2025
+ 2 more+ 2 more
Travelers who prefer Hilton Hotels can rack up more points by using the right credit card, both when booking at Hilton properties and when making purchases elsewhere. Hilton-branded credit cards are issued by American Express; the current lineup includes three cards for consumers and one for business travelers. There's also the option of using a non-Hilton card that allows you to transfer your points to Hilton.
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Travelers who prefer Hilton Hotels can rack up more points by using the right credit card, both when booking at Hilton properties and when making purchases elsewhere. Hilton-branded credit cards are issued by American Express; the current lineup includes three cards for consumers and one for business travelers. There's also the option of using a non-Hilton card that allows you to transfer your points to Hilton.
Why trust NerdWallet
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Travelers who prefer Hilton Hotels can rack up more points by using the right credit card, both when booking at Hilton properties and when making purchases elsewhere. Hilton-branded credit cards are issued by American Express; the current lineup includes three cards for consumers and one for business travelers. There's also the option of using a non-Hilton card that allows you to transfer your points to Hilton.
Why trust NerdWallet
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Travelers who prefer Hilton Hotels can rack up more points by using the right credit card, both when booking at Hilton properties and when making purchases elsewhere. Hilton-branded credit cards are issued by American Express; the current lineup includes three cards for consumers and one for business travelers. There's also the option of using a non-Hilton card that allows you to transfer your points to Hilton.
Why trust NerdWallet
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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NerdWallet's Best Credit Cards for Hilton Hotels of May 2025
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Best for Regular Hilton guests
Hilton Honors American Express Card: Best for No annual fee
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for Point transfers and VIP perks
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Best for Business travelers
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Our pick for: No annual fee
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- No Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
It lacks the perks of its higher-priced sibling cards, but the Hilton Honors American Express Card is a solid option for the occasional Hilton guest who wants to steadily earn points toward their next stay.
Rewards: 7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases with Hilton; 5 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; 3 points per dollar on other purchases.
Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
Automatic Hilton Honors™ Silver status. Benefits include a 20% bonus on Hilton Honors base points earned on stays and the fifth night free when you book a stay of five or more nights with points. (You can also move up to Hilton Honors™ Gold status after spending $20,000 on the card in a year.)
$0 annual fee.
Terms apply.
Unlike many other hotel credit cards, this offer doesn't include an automatic free night, nor does it have a way to earn one through spending.
Terms apply.
Our pick for: Regular Hilton guests
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
- Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
- As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you're enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $150 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
If you'll be staying at Hilton properties multiple times a year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card easily pays for itself. You'll earn tons of points on everyday spending, enjoy automatic elite status and receive credits that can more than make up for the annual fee.
Rewards: 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases with Hilton; 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases; 3 points per dollar on other purchases.
Welcome offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
$200 a year in statement credit for Hilton purchases with your card, awarded in $50 increments per quarter. This alone is enough to cover the annual fee.
Automatic Hilton Honors™ Gold status. Benefits include an 80% bonus on Hilton Honors base points earned on stays; complimentary breakfast and room upgrades (when available) at select hotels; and the fifth night free when you book a stay of five or more nights with points. (You can also move up to Hilton Honors™ Diamond status after spending $40,000 on the card in a year.)
Terms apply.
Unlike some other hotel cards (including a few cheaper ones), this card doesn't give you an automatic free night each year, although you can earn a free night by putting $15,000 on the card in a year.
The $150 annual fee is pricier than comparable cards from other hotel chains.
Terms apply.
Our pick for: Point transfers and VIP perks
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- With American Express Global Lounge Collection® you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
Although it's not a Hilton-branded card, The Platinum Card® from American Express earns points that can be transferred to Hilton, gives you automatic elite status with Hilton and is packed with perks that make travel easier and more comfortable. It's not cheap, though.
Rewards: 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 in spending per year; 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com; 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Points can be transferred to partner airlines and hotel programs, including Hilton. (Transfer rate: 1 AmEx point becomes 2 Hilton points.) Other options include redeeming for travel.
You get automatic Gold elite status with Hilton when you enroll.
Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
Hundreds of dollars a year in travel, shopping, lifestyle and entertainment credits, including $200 a year for incidental fees on an airline you choose, as well as reimbursement for the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
Access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, including AmEx's Centurion Lounges and multiple partner networks.
Terms apply.
No two ways around it: The $695 annual fee is a considerable upfront commitment.
While the perks are lavish, the rewards you earn can be rather poor if you don’t spend a lot on travel.
Terms apply.
Our pick for: Business travelers
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Welcome Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases.
- Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter.
- Get up to $60 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. With Hilton Honors™ Gold Status, you can enjoy benefits at hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. As a Gold member, earn an 80% Bonus on all Base Points you earn on every stay.
- You may receive an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the calendar year if the total eligible purchases on your Card Account during a calendar year reach $40,000 or more.
- As a Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you’re enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
- Terms apply.
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers a strong value proposition for business people on the go, with a high rewards rate, an annual statement credit (at Hilton properties) and automatic elite status with Hilton. (For other options, see our list of the best hotel cards for small business.)
Rewards: 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases with Hilton; 5 points per dollar on non-Hilton purchases (up to $100,000 in spending annually); 3 points per dollar on other purchases.
Welcome offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.
Automatic Gold Elite status. Benefits include an 80% bonus on Hilton Honors base points earned on stays; complimentary breakfast and room upgrades (when available) at select hotels; and the fifth night free when you book a stay of five or more nights with points. (You can also move up to Diamond status after spending $40,000 on the card in a year.)
Terms apply.
You don't get an automatic annual free night.
There's a $195 annual fee. This is higher than other cards in its class but can be deductible as a business expense. Still, it's something to consider if you don't travel enough to get your money back through the card's benefits.
Terms apply.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR HILTON HOTELS
Before applying, confirm details on issuer's website.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Our pick for: Regular Hilton guests
If you're loyal to hotels under the Hilton umbrella, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card can more than pay for itself despite relatively low rewards-point values. You’ll be able to hold on to your automatic Hilton Honors™ Gold status as long as you’re a cardholder, making it easier to rack up rewards and earn free stays. Read our review.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Our pick for: Dedicated Hilton loyalists
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card comes with a steep annual fee, but its rich rewards (especially on travel and dining) and generous perks make it near-must for hardcore Hilton loyalists. Enjoy airline and resort credits, airport lounge access, automatic elite status, free weekend night awards and much more. Read our review.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Our pick for: No annual fee
The Hilton Honors American Express Card earns bonus rewards on Hilton stays and in common everyday categories. You also get automatic Hilton Honors™ Silver status. Terms apply. Read our review.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Our pick for: Point transfers and VIP perks
The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty annual fee, but travelers who like to go in style (and aren't afraid to pay for comfort) can more than get their money's worth. Enjoy extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars a year in travel and shopping credits, hotel benefits and more. That's not even getting into the high rewards rate on eligible travel purchases and the rich welcome offer for new cardholders. Read our review.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Our pick for: Business travelers
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is an outstanding small-business hotel credit card — if you frequent Hilton properties. The card features rich ongoing rewards, automatic elite status with Hilton and an annual statement credit for purchases at Hilton properties. But there's no free night award (a standard perk of hotel cards with annual fees) and AmEx scrapped the card's complimentary Priority Pass perk. Terms apply. Learn more and apply.
• • •
HOW MUCH IS A HILTON POINT WORTH?
NerdWallet values Hilton points at 0.6 cent each. This is drawn from real-world data, but it's not a maximized value. In other words, you should aim for award redemptions that offer 0.6 cent or more in value from your Hilton points.
Redemption options (beyond using your points at Hilton, of course) include transferring points to Hilton's airline partner programs and redeeming for car rentals or credit at Amazon.com, among others. For more analysis about the best and worst redemption choices, see NerdWallet's review of the Hilton Honors loyalty program.
Which hotel brands are part of Hilton?
Eighteen hotel brands belong to the Hilton portfolio. About 6,800 properties offer guests budget and luxury accommodation across six continents.
Hilton hotel brands
Canopy.
Conrad Hotels & Resorts.
Curio Collection.
DoubleTree.
Embassy Suites.
Hampton.
Hilton Garden Inn.
Hilton Grand Vacations.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
Home2 Suites.
Homewood Suites.
LXR Hotels & Resorts.
Motto.
Signia.
Tapestry Collection.
Tempo.
Tru.
Waldorf Astoria.
• • •
NERDWALLET'S GUIDE TO CHOOSING A HILTON CREDIT CARD
Frequent guests of the hotel brands in the Hilton group can bolster their rewards earnings by using a Hilton-branded credit card on Hilton stays and everyday purchases. Each card offers elite status, which, among other things, automatically allows booking five award nights for the price of four.
American Express offers three different Hilton personal credit cards — one with no annual fee, a midrange card and a premium card. Here's a look at those cards to help you choose the right Hilton Honors credit card for you.
In addition to issuing Hilton's branded credit cards, American Express allows you to transfer its own Membership Rewards points to the Hilton program. The exchange rate for such transfers is 1:2, meaning that for every Membership Rewards point you transfer from an AmEx card, you get 2 Hilton Honors points.
The cheat sheet: Hilton Honors AmEx vs. Surpass vs. Aspire
The three cards in the Hilton consumer portfolio each target a different kind of customer. Before getting too far into the weeds, here's a quick overview of when each card might make sense for you:
Hilton Honors American Express Card: If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee sidekick card
With hotel cards, you might want a card that plays a supporting role, rather than one you use every day. In that case, the Hilton Honors American Express Card is your card. The $0-annual-fee card features a solid welcome offer, a robust ongoing rewards rate and automatic Hilton Honors™ Silver Elite status. (Terms apply.) And because the card doesn't charge an annual fee, you'll come out ahead on rewards no matter how often you use it.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: If you want some perks, but not a huge annual fee
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has a $150 annual fee, which you can earn back with $200 a year (available at $50 per quarter) in statement credit for Hilton purchases. You can earn a free night reward when you spend more than $15,000 on your card in a calendar year. You'll also get automatic Hilton Honors™ Gold Elite Status, strong rewards on common everyday spending categories, and a large welcome offer. (Terms apply.) For folks who want perks without an outsize annual fee, it's a good fit.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: If you're willing to pay more to travel in style
Even with an annual fee of $550 a year, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card could be a great deal for frequent travelers who stay at Hilton properties regularly. That’s because it comes with a complimentary night reward included each year (regardless of how much you spend), a $250 airline fee credit, a $250 Hilton resort credit, automatic Hilton Honors™ Diamond status and a bevy of other top-flight benefits. For travelers who can take advantage of all those perks, the card’s benefits far outweigh its annual fee. Terms apply.
The details: Hilton Honors AmEx vs. Surpass vs. Aspire
Now for a closer look at the specific details:
Empty Table Header | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Annual fee | $0. | $150. | $550. |
New cardholder offer | Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply. | Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply. | Earn 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 1/17/2024. |
Points earned on Hilton purchases | 7x. | 12x. | 14x. |
Points earned on other spending |
|
|
|
Free night reward? | No. | Yes, after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. | Yes, one per year of card membership, plus another after spending $30,000 in a calendar year. |
Elite status | Automatic Hilton Honors™ Silver status. Earn Hilton Honors™ Gold status after spending $20,000 in a calendar year. | Automatic Hilton Honors™ Gold status. Earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond status after spending $40,000 in a calendar year. | Automatic Hilton Honors™ Diamond status. |
Priority Pass Select membership | No. | 10 visits per year. Enrollment required. Existing cardholders who enrolled in Priority Pass on or before Jan. 31, 2023 will no longer have a membership as of Feb. 1, 2024. Cardholders who enroll between Feb. 1, 2023 and Jan. 31, 2024, will continue to have membership through Oct. 31, 2024. Terms apply. | Unlimited visits for you and two guests. Enrollment required. Existing cardholders who enrolled in Priority Pass on or before Jan. 31, 2023 will no longer have a membership as of Feb. 1, 2024. Cardholders who enroll between Feb. 1, 2023 and Jan. 31, 2024, will continue to have membership through Oct. 31, 2024. Terms apply. |
Fifth reward night free | Yes, with Hilton Honors Silver status. | Yes, with Hilton Honors™ Gold status. | Yes, with Hilton Honors™ Diamond status. |
Foreign transaction fees | No. | No. | No. |
Terms apply. | Terms apply. | Terms apply. |
Key difference: Bonus points at Hilton Hotels
When you use a Hilton-branded credit card to book stays at Hilton properties, you earn two different kinds of points — base points and bonus points. Base points are what you get simply for being a member of the Hilton Honors program; bonus points are what you get for using the card.
Hilton Honors members start out earning 10 base points per dollar spent on eligible Hilton purchases. If you have elite status — which comes automatically with a Hilton card — you earn additional points based on your status level:
At the Silver level, the bonus is 20% of base points. That's an extra 2 points per dollar spent, for a total of 12 per dollar.
At the Gold level, the bonus is 80% of base points. That's an extra 8 points per dollar spent, for a total of 18 per dollar.
At the Diamond level, the bonus is 100% of base points. That's an extra 10 points per dollar spent, for a total of 20 per dollar.
Points earned from the credit card come on top of those. So:
The Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 7 points per dollar at Hilton. Add that to the 10 base points plus the 2 points you get for the automatic Silver status that comes with the card, and you earn a total of 19 points per dollar spent with the card. (If you bump up to Hilton Honors™ Gold status, it becomes 25 points per dollar.)
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns 12 points per dollar at Hilton. Add that to the 10 base points plus the 8 points you get for the automatic Gold status that comes with the card, and you earn a total of 30 points per dollar spent with the card. (If you bump up to Hilton Honors™ Diamond status, it becomes 32 points per dollar.)
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 14 points per dollar at Hilton. Add that to the 10 base points plus the 10 points you get for the automatic HIlton Honors™ Gold status that comes with the card, and you earn a total of 34 points per dollar spent with the card.
Key difference: Hilton Honors elite status
The Hilton Honors American Express Card comes with low-tier Silver status for cardholders. Silver Hilton Honors members receive a 20% rewards bonus on stays and free bottled water at check-in. With this card, you have an option to upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status by spending $20,000 in a calendar year. Terms apply.
Since Hilton Honors™ Silver status benefits are slim, you’d probably be better off going for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card if you want automatic perks for a low annual fee. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is notably the only hotel card that currently offers the highest level of elite status through a credit card. Terms apply.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers cardmembers automatic Gold Elite status with Hilton. The benefits include an 80% rewards bonus on stays, upgrades (when available), complimentary breakfast (internationally) or a food and beverage credit (at U.S. hotels) and milestone bonuses. With this card, you can spend your way up to Hilton Honors™ Diamond status by charging $40,000 to your card in a calendar year. Terms apply.
The premium Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card already comes with complimentary top-tier Hilton Honors™ Diamond Elite status, which offers 100% rewards bonus on stays, upgrades (when available), executive lounge access, premium Wi-Fi, 48-hour room guarantee and the ability to gift elite status. Terms apply.
Perks that are the same across cards
Fifth night free on award stays: The fifth-night free perk applies to reservations made with points only. Redeem four nights’ worth of points and receive a fifth night for no extra points. The benefit is available to all elite members of the Hilton Honors program. And because every card in the Hilton portfolio comes with some kind of status, you get the perk automatically.
No foreign transaction fees: Many credit cards charge a fee — typically around 3% — on purchases made outside the U.S., but you don’t have to worry about those fees when using any Hilton card abroad.
Terms apply.
Perks unique to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Annual $400 resort credit: Earn up to $400 back as a statement credit when you use the card at a participating Hilton resort.
Annual $200 flight credit: Earn up to $200 back as a statement credit when you use the card to book flights directly with an airline or through AmEx Travel.
Annual $189 Clear membership credit: Earn up to $189 back as a statement credit when you use the card to purchase or renew Clear Plus membership.
Annual $100 on-property credit: Earn up to $100 resort credit when you use the card to book two nights at participating Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotels at hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com.
Terms apply.
• • •
Anya Kartashova , Elina Geller and Claire Tsosie contributed to this article.
To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, see this page. All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet. To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, see this page.
Last updated on April 30, 2025
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
About the author
Craig Joseph
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