4 Best Hilton Credit Cards in 2025: What To Know
Best Hilton Credit Card
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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns our top honors because you get a ton of value for a mid-range annual fee (see rates & fees). From complimentary Gold status, the chance to earn a Free Night Reward and high rewards rates in everyday spending categories, to quarterly hotel credits and a generous welcome offer, the card is solid.
Key takeaways
- Hilton’s selection of co-branded credit cards offer value and perks for all levels of travel, from its no-annual-fee card for light travelers to its top-tier card for frequent travelers looking for VIP benefits to offset the high annual fee.
- Hilton credit cards range from no annual fee on its base card up to $550 per year for the premium card version, with increasing levels of perks and benefits as fees go up.
- Cardmembers can enjoy Hilton-focused perks and benefits, including the opportunity to earn free nights, complimentary elite status and the chance to accelerate faster through the program, plus bonus earnings on Hilton spending and other categories.
- LendingTree values Hilton points at 0.5 cents per point, which is less than Marriott Bonvoy points (valued at 0.9 cents each) and much lower than World of Hyatt points (valued at 2 cents each).
- Best overall Hilton credit card: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Best for complimentary Hilton HonorsTM Diamond status: Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express* (enrollment required)
- Best for no annual fee: Hilton Honors American Express Card (see rates & fees)
- Best for business travel: The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Compare best Hilton rewards credit cards
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
|
Winner: Best Hilton credit card
|
$150 | 155,000 points
Earn 155,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026.
| 3X - 12X points
| |
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*
|
Best for Hilton HonorsTM Diamond status
|
$550 | 175,000 points
Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points
with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026.
| 3X - 14X points
| |
Hilton Honors American Express Card
|
Best for no annual fee
|
$0 | 100,000 points
Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026.
| 3X - 7X points
| |
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
|
Best for business travel
|
$195 | 175,000 points
Limited Time Offer: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 1/14/2026.
| 3X - 12X points
|
Methodology: How we chose the best Hilton credit cards
We take a comprehensive, data-driven approach to identify the best Hilton credit cards and travel cards to use for Hilton. We use an objective rating and ranking system that evaluates over 200 credit cards from more than 50 issuers. All recommendations are made by LendingTree’s editorial team, completely independent of affiliate partnerships or compensation. Every card is selected based on its merit and ability to help people achieve their financial goals. We use the following criteria to make our picks:
We calculate the value of rewards and perks for the average cardholder using Bureau of Labor Statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes the card’s sign-up bonus, annual bonus (including free night certificates) and travel perks like lounge access and travel credits. We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
We consider how easy the rewards are to use, looking at factors like expiration dates, minimum thresholds to redeem, blackout dates and the availability of flexible redemption options like travel statement credits and cash back.
We also compare a card’s benefits, such as purchase protections, travel protections and elite status benefits against benefits from other cards.
Note that our ratings are a starting point for comparing and choosing the best Hilton credit card. However, your needs may be different from the average cardholder. You should consider the amount you’re likely to spend in a card’s bonus categories and which benefits you value to choose the best card for you.
Best overall Hilton credit card
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: 155,000 points
- Excellent welcome offer worth up to several hotel nights
- Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status
- Free Night Reward after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases during a calendar year
- No foreign transaction fees
- $150 annual fee
- High spending requirement ($40,000 on eligible purchases per year) to earn Diamond status (terms and limitations apply)
- Hilton credit is broken into quarterly statement credits
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is our pick because it offers an outstanding welcome offer, generous earning rate and valuable perks — all for a reasonable annual fee. You’ll get access to benefits like a Free Night Reward after $15,000 spent on eligible purchases in a calendar year, up to a $200 Hilton credit annually (up to $50 statement credits per quarter) on eligible purchases, complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status (which includes an 80% points bonus on stays, daily food and beverage credits and more), a pathway to top-tier Diamond status and more.
Plus, since U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations are categories where many people spend a lot, the ability to get 6 points for every dollar spent on those purchases is another nice feature.
Earning Hilton Honors rewards
Earn 155,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026. 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 Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Earn 155,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026.
- 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 Card. Plus, spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. Terms and Limitations apply.
- 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.
- Rates & Fees
Best for complimentary Hilton HonorsTM Diamond status
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: 175,000 points
- Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond status (enrollment required)
- Up to $400 Hilton resort credit (up to $200 semi-annually)
- Up to $200 airline fee credit for incidental charges (up to $50 each quarter, enrollment required)
- One free night award each year
- $0 foreign transaction fee
- $550 annual fee
- Fine print on annual statement credits
While the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express does come with a $550 annual fee, it’s also packed full of benefits — including top-tier Hilton Honors™ Diamond status* (which comes with a 100% points earning bonus on stays), up to $400 (up to $200 semi-annually) in statement credits for Hilton resort purchases, executive lounge access, premium Wi-Fi, a free night award every year and much more. Cardholders also get up to $209 each year in statement credits toward CLEAR® Plus membership*, up to $200 per year ($50 quarterly) in incidental flight credits* and a $100 on property credit for eligible two-night stays at participating Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Hotels and Resorts properties (must book exclusive Aspire package).
You can more than make up for the annual fee if you utilize the generous cardholder benefits, and remember that you also earn generous rewards with this card on paid Hilton hotel stays, airfare, car rentals and more.
Earning Hilton Honors rewards
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express is Hilton’s luxury credit card that comes with its highest level of benefits and rewards earning rate: Earn 14X points on eligible purchases at hotels or resorts in the Hilton Portfolio, 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and U.S. restaurants and 3X points on other purchases. You’ll also get the following welcome offer: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026.
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio worldwide
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and at U.S. restaurants
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status (enrollment required)
- One Free Night Reward in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal
- Up to $400 Hilton Resort credit (up to $200 semi-annually)
- Up to $200 flight credit (up to $50 per quarter, enrollment required)
- Up to $209 CLEAR credit (enrollment required)
- $100 on-property credit at Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts when booking the exclusive Aspire Card package
- National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® Status (enrollment required)
- Access to 24/7 American Express concierge
- No foreign transaction fees
- Terms apply
Best for no annual fee
Hilton Honors American Express Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: 100,000 points
- $0 annual fee
- Valuable welcome offer
- Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver Status
- No foreign transaction fees
- Mediocre benefits
- Welcome offer is lower than that of other Hilton cards
- No free night award
If you want to boost your balance of Hilton Honors points without paying an annual fee, you might want to look at the Hilton Honors American Express Card. It offers mediocre travel benefits compared to the other (much pricier) Hilton cards, but you’ll be able to earn a solid rewards rate without paying an annual fee and get complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver Status.
Earning Hilton Honors rewards
The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers a lower welcome offer and earning rate than the mid-level and premium Hilton Honors cards; however, it’s also the only Hilton card that doesn’t charge an annual fee. Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations AND 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Why it’s in my wallet
“A family member was able to get several nights at the Waldorf Astoria on Maui with card points, so I signed up. The next year, I used points to halve my Manhattan hotel bill during a December trip. It’s nice that when you’re looking for a stay, you can see the points cost per night at various hotels all on one page. Once you pick a place, you can use a slider to select how many points you want to spend.”
–Jenn Jones, Senior Writer
What isn’t working
“I haven’t gotten as much use out of it as planned. Hilton didn’t have any stay options in the European cities I visited this year. And getting an Airbnb when traveling with friends offers more bang for your buck regarding privacy and a kitchen.”
–Jenn Jones, Senior Writer
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026.
- 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. Silver Status gives you a 20% Bonus on Base Points you earn on every stay, plus, you receive the fifth night free when you book a standard room stay with 100% Points.
- 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.
- Rates & Fees
→ Check out LendingTree’s picks for best no-annual fee travel credit cards
Best for business travel
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: 175,000 points
- Generous rewards on eligible Hilton purchases
- Excellent welcome offer
- Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status with a chance to upgrade to Diamond
- Complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status (enrollment required)
- No foreign transaction fees
- $195 annual fee
- Requires an eligible small business
- High spending requirement of $40,000 per year on eligible purchases to get Diamond status
- No free night award
If you want to earn rewards to help offset the cost of business travel and you frequently stay at Hilton properties, you should look at The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. Similar to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, it comes with a generous welcome offer, complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status and bonus rewards in a range of categories.
Cardholders also get the chance to move up to Hilton Honors™ Diamond status with $40,000 in eligible purchases charged to their card within a calendar year. The card also comes with up to $240 in Hilton statement credits each year (up to $60 quarterly) when used for direct purchases at Hilton properties worldwide.
Earning Hilton Honors rewards
If you’re a small business owner who travels on a regular basis, you should consider The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. You’ll 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. Terms & Limitations Apply.
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 1/14/2026.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- 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 next calendar year if the total eligible purchases that you spend on your Card Account during a calendar year reach $40,000 or more.
- Terms apply.
- Rates & Fees
→ Check out LendingTree’s picks for best business travel credit cards
Alternatives: General travel cards that are best for Hilton hotel rewards
Best for general premium travel
American Express Platinum Card®
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: As high as 175,000 points
- Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status (enrollment required)
- Ability to transfer Membership Rewards® to Hilton Honors points
- Large suite of other travel and luxury benefits
- Valuable travel credits
- No foreign transaction fees
- $895 annual fee
- No Hilton-specific card perks aside from Gold elite status (enrollment required)
- Some statement credits are awarded monthly or require activation
If you’re looking for a premium card with luxury benefits but want one that’s more flexible than the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, the American Express Platinum Card® is a good option. Along with redeeming your Membership Rewards® points for travel, statement credits and more, points can be transferred to American Express travel partners — which include the Hilton Honors loyalty program.
While the American Express Platinum Card® does come with a hefty $895 annual fee, it also comes with Hilton Honors™ Gold status (enrollment required), access to the Global Lounge Collection® and a variety of valuable travel credits.
Earning Hilton Honors rewards
Because you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards® points to Hilton Honors points at a rate of 1:2, the four Hilton American Express cards are not your only options for boosting your Hilton Honors point balance. You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Also, earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Terms apply.
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.*Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
Best to transfer points to Hilton
American Express® Gold Card
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: As high as 100,000 points
- Membership Rewards® points can be transferred to Hilton Honors points
- Excellent earning rate on popular spending categories
- Uber and dining benefits (enrollment required)
- Variety of travel and shopping protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- $325 annual fee
- No benefits specifically with Hilton
- Statement credits can be difficult to use
If you prefer earning flexible rewards instead of being tied down to only earning Hilton points, but can’t justify the high fee of the American Express Platinum Card®, you may want to consider the American Express® Gold Card. This card offers exceptional rewards for a variety of food purchases, and it comes with a generous welcome offer to boot.
The American Express® Gold Card also lets you transfer your rewards to a variety of airline and hotel programs, including Hilton. However, the card doesn’t offer any Hilton-specific benefits.
Earning Hilton Honors rewards
The American Express® Gold Card is another card that earns Membership Rewards® points that can be transferred to Hilton Honors at a rate of 1:2. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.
There’s also a great welcome offer: You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
Which Hilton credit card is best for you?
Choosing the best Hilton credit card comes down to how often you stay with Hilton in a typical year. If you only vacation once or twice, a no-annual-fee card or a card with a lower fee will likely meet your needs, while people who travel many times over the course of a year can justify paying more for higher-level benefits. Be sure to consider the elite status level that each card starts you at, and how you might be able to earn a free night award.
The chart below gets into the card specifics and the type of traveler and Hilton-stayer who would be a good fit for each.
| Consider this card | If you… | Elite status | Free Night Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | Stay at Hilton properties a couple of times per year at least, the mid-tier fee (see rates & fees) could be worth it, especially if you earn the free night award. | Hilton HonorsTM Gold status | One Free Night Reward after you spend $15,000 during a calendar year |
| Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express* | Are a frequent Hilton guest who wants to enjoy an upgraded experience and higher status, this card comes with elevated perks and benefits. | Hilton HonorsTM Diamond status | One Free Night Reward per year if you spend $30,000, plus an additional night if you reach $60,000 |
| Hilton Honors American Express Card | Are the once-a-year traveler who doesn’t want to deal with an annual fee (see rates & fees) but still wants to enjoy some Hilton perks. | Hilton HonorTM Silver status | N/A |
| The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | Are a business owner who travels for work and likes staying at Hilton properties, you can get a good return on your investment. | Hilton HonorsTM Gold status | N/A |
Hilton hotel credit cards vs. other hotel credit cards
While Hilton offers an array of card options for different travel styles, if you’re not 100% sure that Hilton is your hotel chain of choice, there are other hotel credit cards to explore. Hilton’s main advantage is its large global footprint and wide selection of properties, ranging from luxury resorts to small boutique hotels to budget brands. Hilton also offers a fifth night free perk for Silver status and above. On the downside, Hilton Honors points are not as valuable as that of other rewards programs.
Depending on your travel preference, it’s worth comparing Hilton to Marriott, Hyatt and IHG – and their respective credit cards – to see which is best suited to you.
| Hotel | Average value per point |
|---|---|
| World of Hyatt | $0.017 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | $0.009 |
| Hilton Honors | $0.005 |
| IHG | $0.005 |
→ See LendingTree’s Hilton Honors Rewards Guide to learn more about the rewards program.
Hilton vs. Marriott Bonvoy credit cards
What makes Marriott better than Hilton?
If you’re trying to select the best hotel chain and corresponding credit card, Marriott does have some advantages over Hilton. To start, it has over 9,300 properties across 144 countries compared to the 8,800+ properties in 139 countries that Hilton has. Marriott Bonvoy points are also more valuable, worth an estimated 0.9 cents each compared to the 0.5 cent per point value for Hilton*. While both chains have a wide range of property types that appeal to different budget and travel styles, Marriott may have more high-end options.
→ See LendingTree’s Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Guide to learn more about the rewards program.
What makes Hilton better than Marriott?
If you’re a status climber, it’s a bit easier to get to the highest tier with Hilton, which requires staying 60 nights, while Marriott’s highest tier requires 100 nights plus $23,000 in qualifying spend, or 75 nights if you’re aiming for the tier below that. Hilton’s bonus points by tier level is also more generous. For example, at Hilton HonorsTM Silver, you’ll earn 20% more points, while Marriott’s Silver Elite tier offers just 10%.
Hilton points are easier to earn, and higher status is more attainable. But Marriott’s points have a higher value and may be more appealing for those looking for upscale travel.
→ See LendingTree’s picks for best Marriott credit card
Hilton vs. Hyatt credit cards
What makes Hyatt better than Hilton?
As far as loyalty programs go, World of Hyatt offers one of the highest point values around, so it could be the better choice strictly by the numbers. Some travelers also like that Hyatt uses a fixed award chart rather than dynamic pricing, so there aren’t any giant price swings during peak times.
→ See LendingTree’s Hyatt Rewards Guide to learn more about the rewards program.
What makes Hilton better than Hyatt?
Hilton has a much bigger footprint compared to Hyatt’s 1,450 properties in 80 countries. Also, Hilton gives you a fifth night free when you book an award stay, but Hyatt does not have that perk. You’ll also get several credit card options that can help you earn Hilton points, including one with no annual fee; Hyatt only offers the World of Hyatt Credit Card, which has a $95 fee, and the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card for a $199 annual fee.
Hyatt is the clear winner if you’re looking for a lot of points value, but Hilton has a much broader range of hotel options and credit card choices.
→ See LendingTree’s picks for best Hyatt credit card
Hilton vs. IHG credit cards
What makes IHG better than Hilton?
IHG and Hilton points have the same 0.5 cent per point value*. But there are a couple of key perks for IHG One Rewards members that stand out, including that you get a fourth night free if you book three nights with points and carry its no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. As an IHG One member, you also get milestone rewards at each 10-night stay interval, so there is some incentive in between the big status jumps.
→ See LendingTree’s IHG Rewards Guide to learn more about the rewards program.
What makes Hilton better than IHG?
Hilton does have more properties than IHG’s 6,600 in over 100 countries. There’s also a premium credit card version for Hilton loyalists who want to fast-track to bigger benefits, whereas IHG just has two card levels plus a business version.
Hilton rewards may be better for those looking for elevated perks and tier status, while IHG cards could help more budget-conscious travelers score free nights.
→ See LendingTree’s picks for best IHG credit card
The bottom line
Choosing the best hotel chain and best hotel credit card really comes down to personal preference, travel style and what you hope to gain from the program. If you’re someone who travels often and favors a particular brand, look into the various cards available, and if there is more than one, see which level might be best suited for you.
- Hilton offers a wide selection of properties at different price points for various travel styles and has cards to appeal to different spending/staying levels.
- Marriott offers the largest number of properties around the world and has co-branded cards with both American Express and Chase.
- Hyatt’s superior point value and fixed award chart make it easy to get a lot of value from their rewards program, but it has the fewest properties of the chains we compared.
- IHG offers the fourth night free to its cardholders booking award stays, and a big selection of budget and moderate hotels, which bumps up its value for family travel.
How to maximize Hilton Honors points
Hilton Honors points, like most travel rewards programs, can give you extra value if you use them wisely. That means doing a little bit of legwork before you redeem to figure out how much money you’re saving with a particular redemption. When booking a stay, the points value can vary depending on the property you choose, the room level and the dates.
Here’s a closer look at how you can make the most of your Hilton Honors points by leveraging earning categories, taking advantage of redemption perks and understanding transfer options.
Book directly with Hilton
Booking stays directly with Hilton is the best way to earn Hilton Honors points. As a member, you’ll get 10 Hilton Honors Base Points (or 5 Base Points for Home2 Suites by Hilton™ and Tru by Hilton™ hotels) for every dollar spent on your room rate and eligible room charges like room service. You can also earn additional points if you have higher tier status: 20% more for Silver, 80% more for Gold and 100% more for Platinum members.
Finally, if you use a Hilton credit card to book your stay, you will get even more bonus points. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card awards 12 points per dollar on eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio, for instance.
Use Hilton credit card categories to earn more
Hilton credit cards also award bonus points in other spending categories.
- The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers 5 points per dollar spent at at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. gas stations.
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers 6 points per dollar spent atat U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express* offers 7 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and at U.S. restaurants.
Take advantage of Hilton redemption perks
How you redeem your Hilton points also matters, and you can usually get the best value if you book Hilton stays. Look to the Hilton credit cards’ features for additional benefits as well. For example, if you book a four-night award stay, you get a fifth night free. You can also earn free night awards if you reach a certain minimum spend within a calendar year, depending on which card you have. Finally, Hilton may offer seasonal promos that allow you to take your points further or earn bonus points for certain bookings.
Transfer Amex Membership Rewards®
If you have a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards®, transferring some of those points to Hilton could be another way to add more Hilton points to your stockpile. The best time to do this is if Amex is offering a limited time transfer bonus opportunity, where your points could be worth 25% more, for example. Because you have flexibility with your Amex rewards, other redemptions or transfers could be more valuable, however.
Should you upgrade, downgrade or switch Hilton cards?
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When to upgrade
Upgrading to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card makes sense if you find yourself traveling more than once per year and would enjoy the bump up to complimentary Gold status plus the free night award.
Upgrading to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express* makes sense if you’re a frequent traveler who spends enough time at Hilton properties to warrant the higher fee. It could be worthwhile for the Diamond status perks, and if you’re certain you’ll earn the hotel and airline statement credits that can offset the fee.
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When to downgrade
You’ll want to downgrade to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card if you’re no longer able to justify the higher annual fee on the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*. For example, if you found that you weren’t using the Diamond perks (like the room upgrades or executive lounge access), or you don’t have enough trips planned to earn the semi-annual and quarterly travel credits.
You’ll want to downgrade to the no-annual-fee card if you still enjoy a Hilton stay or two per year but don’t spend/stay enough to earn a free night or the quarterly statement credit.
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When to switch cards
If you feel “stuck” with your Hilton credit card and want more flexibility, you might be better served by finding a more general travel rewards card that has several redemption options. You can still carry the Hilton Honors American Express Card if you only plan on staying at Hilton hotels occasionally, but it’s probably not worth paying for one of the more expensive cards if you plan on staying at multiple hotel chains.
→ See LendingTree’s picks for best travel rewards credit cards
The information related to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
Frequently asked questions
You can earn a free night award on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*.
Each of the Hilton credit cards provide an automatic status upgrade. You’ll move to Silver status on the Hilton Honors American Express Card, Gold status on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card and Diamond status on the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*.
It can still be worth getting a Hilton credit card even if you only plan to stay occasionally, especially if you go with the no-annual-fee version. The upfront welcome offers alone could be worth it if you’re on the fence. But if you don’t have any upcoming travel plans or prefer a different hotel chain, then it may not be the best option.
The average Hilton point value is currently lower than that of Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt points.
Yes, you are allowed to have more than one Hilton credit card. However, you’ll want to keep in mind that opening a new credit card generates a hard inquiry, which can cause a temporary drop in your credit score. Your credit score will typically rebound within a few months, but the inquiry will stay on your credit report for two years.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- American Express Platinum Card®
- American Express® Gold Card
The information related to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, World of Hyatt Credit Card, World of Hyatt Business Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
