Hilton Surpass Card vs. Hilton Honors Card [Detailed Comparison]

If you’re a Hilton brand loyalist or stay at Hilton properties even a few times a year, you’ve probably considered a Hilton-branded credit card.

Opting for elevated earnings on Hilton stays and everyday purchases is a smart decision. You’ll build rewards quickly and soon enjoy free hotel nights.

Beyond free hotel nights, you’ll find value in the Hilton-related perks you receive with card ownership.

Today’s article highlights 2 key card options popular with Hilton fans. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card provide considerable value for any traveler who stays at Hilton, even occasionally.

Here are all the reasons to have one of these featured cards in your wallet.

Hilton Surpass Card vs. Hilton Honors Card — Overview

Next, we’ll expand on all the features and benefits of the Hilton Surpass card and the Hilton Honors card.

Before we start, let’s look at a helpful side-by-side comparison for an overall view of each card:

The Value of a Welcome Offer

You’ll have a unique opportunity once approved for either the Hilton Surpass card or the Hilton Honors card. After meeting minimum spending requirements within the required period, you can qualify for a welcome bonus offer worth several free hotel nights.

These card snapshots include the most current welcome offers for our featured cards and additional useful information:

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Welcome Offer

Earn 165,000 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. Offer ends 1/8/2025.

165,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$825

Annual Fee

$150

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re someone who loves traveling and loves staying in Hilton hotels, adding a co-branded Hilton hotel card to your wallet is almost a no-brainer. From automatic Hilton elite status to up to $200 in Hilton credits every year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card can be a great fit for Hilton loyalists looking to up their travel game.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels
• 6x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
• 4x points per $1 at U.S. online retail purchases

Cons

• Annual fee of $150 (rates & fees)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 165,000 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. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
• Get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card.
• 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.
• Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club^® program is required. Terms apply.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• $150 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.

100,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$500

Annual Fee

$0

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

You can’t beat a comfy king-sized bed and room service. For many travelers, it’s the hotel that really makes or breaks an experience. If you’re one of those people, you’ve probably stayed at a Hilton hotel.

Whether your visits are for work or pleasure, the Hilton brand has you covered with more than 6,200 locations in 100 counties and territories.

To enjoy a host of great benefits, you may want to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 7x points per $1 on Hilton stays
• 5x points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Not great for those who want multiple redemption options
• Offers the least benefits of all Hilton cards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
• 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.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors Loyalty Program

Bottom Line:

The Hilton Surpass card and the Hilton Honors card each come with a generous welcome offer that can be worth several free hotel nights. You can qualify for the offer by meeting minimum spending requirements within the specified period immediately after card approval.

Earning Potential

One of the key benefits of having either the Hilton Surpass card or the Hilton Honors card is earning bonus points that can be redeemed for free hotel nights.

You’ll have several ways to earn points on every purchase, including elevated earnings at Hilton properties and everyday purchases. This means every purchase you make will earn Hilton Honors points.

Here are all the ways you’ll earn rewards using our featured cards:

The Hilton Surpass card earns significantly more at Hilton properties versus the Hilton Honors card and slightly more on everyday purchases at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations, dining, and online retail.

Although the Hilton Surpass card has an annual fee, the higher earnings on the card can help to offset that fee.

Hot Tip:

You can earn additional Hilton Honors points, American Express Membership Rewards points, and more by referring family and friends for an eligible American Express card. Check out our article that shows you how to maximize this valuable benefit.

Earnings are just a single factor to consider when selecting a Hilton-branded card. Other valuable card features and benefits can help you determine which card is better for you.

Let’s continue as we discuss redemption options and benefits for travel and shopping protection.

Bottom Line:

The Hilton Surpass card and Hilton Honors card earn the most rewards when used at Hilton properties. The Hilton Surpass card has better overall earnings, but it has an annual fee. Earnings are just one of the factors to consider when selecting a card, as there are additional benefits that can add value.

Redemption Options

The Hilton Honors points earned on either the Hilton Surpass card or the Hilton Honors card have equal value at redemption time. Although the best value for your rewards is to redeem them for free hotel nights, you’ll have additional options.

Here are the choices when it’s time to redeem your rewards:

We value Hilton Honors points earned on either of our featured cards at approximately 0.5 cents each. When you redeem your points, you’ll want to strive for a value equal to or greater than this for good value.

One way to maximize your Hilton Honors points is by taking advantage of the fifth-night free benefit.

The benefit is available to all Hilton Honors elite members. The Hilton Surpass card and Hilton Honors card come with complimentary elite status that qualifies you for this benefit.

How the Fifth-Night Free Works

You can book any participating Hilton property with points for 5 consecutive nights and receive 1 of those nights for free. Let’s say you booked the Hilton Garden Inn in Tangier, Morocco, for 20,000 points per night. For 5 nights, you would normally pay a total of 100,000 points (20,000 points x 5 nights). With the fifth-night free, you would pay just 80,000 points (20,000 x 4 nights)!

The credit for the free night is calculated using the average cost of all nights included in the stay. The benefit can be used an unlimited number of times, up to 4 times per stay. For example, a 20-night award stay would result in 4 free hotel nights. It’s a great way to make your points go further.

To learn more about some of the best ways to redeem Hilton Honors points for hotel stays, we have great ideas in our article on this topic.

Transferring Hilton Honors Points to Airline Partners

Transferring your Hilton Honors points to airline partners is also an option. While there are over 2 dozen airline partners, a typical redemption ratio is 10 Hilton Honors points to 1 airline mile, which is not a good value for your rewards.

For example, you could redeem 100,000 Hilton Honors points for a 5-night hotel stay or transfer those points to Delta Air Lines and receive just 10,000 Delta SkyMiles. We value Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents per mile, which would give your 10,000 miles a value of $120 — far less than a 5-night hotel stay.

Bottom Line:

The best value for Hilton Honors points earned on the Hilton Surpass card and the Hilton Honors card is to redeem them for free hotel nights. Utilizing the fifth-night free benefit makes your points go even further. You can also transfer Hilton Honors points to airline partners, shop with select partners, or redeem points for travel, gift cards, or experiences.

Travel Protections and Benefits

Travel protections can provide added value should you experience a covered loss during your travels. Benefits can provide a better travel experience or save you money on travel-related purchases.

Here are the travel protections and benefits you’ll find on both the Hilton Surpass card and the Hilton Honors card, plus lists of those that are unique to each card.:

• Car Rental Insurance: Use your card to reserve and pay for your entire rental, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW insurance, and receive coverage for damage and theft. The coverage is secondary, which means you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage applies.
• Access to Premium Protection Car Rental Insurance: For 1 low price ($12.25 to $24.95) that covers an entire rental period of up to 42 consecutive days, you’ll receive primary car rental insurance and expanded coverage.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Hilton hotels are available worldwide. Pay for your stays or any purchase during your travels with no worries of being charged foreign transaction fees.

Hilton Surpass Card

• Baggage Insurance: You can receive up to $1,250 per covered person for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage.
• Earn a Free Hotel Night Certificate: After spending $15,000 on your card in a calendar year, you’ll receive a free night certificate.
• Hilton Honors Elite Status: Receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status with your card. Spend $40,000 on your card and receive top-level Diamond status.
• Hilton Statement Credits: Receive up to $200 annually in statement credits ($50 each quarter) for purchases made with your card at Hilton properties.
• Car Rental Program Elite Status: Receive complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status. Enrollment is required, and terms apply.

Hot Tip:

Hilton free night certificates are valuable, as they can be redeemed for a standard hotel room anywhere in the world. It’s possible to use the certificate to book a hotel night at a luxury property that can cost upwards of $1,000 per night.

Hilton Honors Card

• Hilton Honors Elite Status: Receive complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your card. You’ll earn Hilton Honors Gold status once you’ve spent $20,000 on the card within a calendar year.

Bottom Line:

The Hilton Surpass card and Hilton Honors card come with secondary car rental coverage with access to Premium Protection. Neither card charges foreign transaction fees. The Hilton Surpass card comes with Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton statement credits, while the Hilton Honors card comes with Silver status.

Shopping Protections and Benefits

When you use the Hilton Surpass card or the Hilton Honors card to make an eligible purchase, you could receive coverage if something goes wrong with the item.

Shopping benefits can provide statement credits for associated purchases or help you earn additional Hilton Honors points.

Here are the shopping protections and benefits you’ll find on both of our featured cards:

• Purchase Protection: Purchase an eligible item with your card and receive coverage for theft or damage for up to 90 days from the purchase date. There is a limit of $1,000 per item, up to $50,000 per eligible card.
• Extended Warranty: For items purchased with your card with original manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less, the warranty coverage will be extended for 1 year. Coverage is provided for up to $10,000 per covered item and up to $50,000 per card.
• Amex Offers: Access your online card account to view up to 100 Amex Offers. Add the offers you will use to your card, make the associated purchase, and receive a statement credit or earn additional Hilton Honors points.

Bottom Line:

The Hilton Surpass card and Hilton Honors card come with purchase protection and extended warranty coverage for eligible items purchased with either card. Both cards also offer Amex Offers that can save you money or help you earn additional Hilton Honors points.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

As you make a card selection, consider any fees you might have to pay for holding a particular card. Knowing these fees in advance will help determine if you’ll receive sufficient value to offset the fees.

The Hilton Surpass card charges an annual fee of $150, and the Hilton Honors card has a $0.

There are no fees for adding authorized users to either card.

Elevate Your Hilton Honors Status

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership

175,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$875

Annual Fee

$550

APR

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

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Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• 7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other eligible purchases

Cons

• High annual fee of $550

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership
• Earn 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio
• Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible travel purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
• Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• Earn 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for other eligible purchases on your card
• Enjoy up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio
• Enjoy complimentary Diamond status
• $550 annual fee

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

For those who appreciate having top-level Hilton Honors Diamond status plus other premium Hilton benefits, the Hilton Aspire card should be a consideration.

It’s rare to find a card with this level of complimentary elite status. Plus, you’ll receive up to $400 each year in Hilton resort credits ($200 for January to June and $200 for July to December), up to $200 in airline credits ($50 per quarter), and up to $199 in CLEAR Plus credits. Add in a free hotel night certificate each card anniversary year and the card could make sense for Hilton loyalists.

If you own a business and stay at Hilton properties, you’ll also want to check out The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.

Final Thoughts

The Hilton Surpass card is the better card for overall earnings and Hilton Honors elite status compared to the Hilton Honors card. The card has an annual fee, but if you frequent Hilton properties and utilize the Hilton statement credits, you’ll receive greater value.

The Hilton Surpass card also provides the opportunity to earn a valuable free hotel night certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year on the card. Even if all of those purchases earned just 3x points, you’d earn another 45,000 Hilton Honors points to use for an additional free hotel night.

Regardless of the hotel brand you frequent, with a hotel-branded card, you’ll always receive elevated earnings, hotel-related perks, and a faster path to free hotel nights. If you’d like to learn more about some of the best hotel credit cards available, we’ve put together a great list of options.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.