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Card vs Card Comparison

Hilton Honors Aspire
vs
Hilton Honors Surpass.

Updated

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

American Express

Hilton Honors Aspire

Annual fee

$550

Points

Hilton Honors

Signup bonus

Currently around 175K points after spend, see issuer for the current offer

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

American Express

Hilton Honors Surpass

Annual fee

$150

Points

Hilton Honors

Signup bonus

130K points after $3K in 6 months

Top earning rates

  • →12x at Hilton properties
  • →6x on dining, US grocery, and US gas
  • →3x on everything else

Top perks

  • →Hilton Gold status (80% bonus points, breakfast at select properties)
  • →Free night reward after $15K in annual spend
  • →10 Priority Pass visits per year
See Hilton Honors Surpass detailsarrow_forward

The verdict

When each card wins.

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.

Hilton Honors Surpass wins if

Pick this if you stay at Hilton 5+ nights a year and want Gold status without earning it.

Honest downside: Hilton points are worth less per point than other programs, so the earn rate carries the value.

At a glance

Side-by-side spec sheet.

SpecHilton Honors AspireHilton Honors Surpass
Annual fee$550$150
Points currencyHilton HonorsHilton Honors
Signup bonusCurrently around 175K points130K points
Top earn category14x at Hilton properties12x at Hilton properties
Second earn category7x on flights, car rentals, and dining6x on dining, US grocery, and US gas
Third earn category3x on everything else3x on everything else
Signature perkHilton Diamond status (top tier, normally 60 nights to earn)Hilton Gold status (80% bonus points, breakfast at select properties)
IssuerAmerican ExpressAmerican Express

Questions

Frequently asked.

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

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Hilton Honors Aspire wins if you stay at Hilton resorts or want top-tier hotel status from day one. Hilton Honors Surpass wins if you stay at Hilton 5+ nights a year and want Gold status without earning it.

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

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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, Hilton Honors Aspire or Hilton Honors Surpass?

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Hilton Honors Aspire has the higher annual fee at $550, compared to $150 for Hilton Honors Surpass. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.