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Card vs Card Comparison

Amex Hilton Honors
vs
Hilton Honors Aspire.

Updated

Two cards, head-to-head. We break down earning rates, perks, transfer partners, and the real scenarios where each one wins.

American Express

Amex Hilton Honors

Annual fee

Free

Points

Hilton Honors

Signup bonus

100K points after $2K in 6 months

Top earning rates

  • →7x at Hilton properties
  • →5x on dining, US grocery, and US gas
  • →3x on everything else

Top perks

  • →Silver elite status
  • →$0 annual fee
  • →No foreign transaction fee
See Amex Hilton Honors detailsarrow_forward

American Express

Hilton Honors Aspire

Annual fee

$550

Points

Hilton Honors

Signup bonus

175K points after $6K in 6 months

Top earning rates

  • →14x at Hilton properties
  • →7x on flights, car rentals, and dining
  • →3x on everything else

Top perks

  • →Hilton Diamond status (top tier, normally 60 nights to earn)
  • →$250 Hilton resort credit
  • →$200 airline incidental credit
See Hilton Honors Aspire detailsarrow_forward

The verdict

When each card wins.

Amex Hilton Honors wins if

Pick this if you stay at Hilton occasionally and want a free card that still earns 7x at the brand.

Honest downside: Silver status barely moves the needle. No annual free night. Real Hilton fans should upgrade to Surpass or Aspire.

Hilton Honors Aspire wins if

Pick this if you stay at Hilton resorts or want top-tier hotel status from day one.

Honest downside: Hilton points are worth less per point than other programs. The earn rate compensates, but you have to be disciplined about redemptions.

At a glance

Side-by-side spec sheet.

SpecAmex Hilton HonorsHilton Honors Aspire
Annual feeFree$550
Points currencyHilton HonorsHilton Honors
Signup bonus100K points175K points
Top earn category7x at Hilton properties14x at Hilton properties
Second earn category5x on dining, US grocery, and US gas7x on flights, car rentals, and dining
Third earn category3x on everything else3x on everything else
Signature perkSilver elite statusHilton Diamond status (top tier, normally 60 nights to earn)
IssuerAmerican ExpressAmerican Express

Questions

Frequently asked.

Which is better, Amex Hilton Honors or Hilton Honors Aspire?

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Amex Hilton Honors wins if you stay at Hilton occasionally and want a free card that still earns 7x at the brand. Hilton Honors Aspire wins if you stay at Hilton resorts or want top-tier hotel status from day one.

Can I have both the Amex Hilton Honors and the Hilton Honors Aspire?

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Both cards are issued by American Express, so the issuer's application rules apply. Many cardholders carry both if the perks don't overlap, but check your issuer's velocity rules before applying for two cards close together.

Which has the higher annual fee, Amex Hilton Honors or Hilton Honors Aspire?

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Hilton Honors Aspire has the higher annual fee at $550, compared to $0 for Amex Hilton Honors. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.