The best Hilton credit cards in September 2024
Published 9:16 AM EDT, Thu March 28, 2024
If Hilton is your hotel chain of choice, having a Hilton credit card can help you earn valuable rewards and elevate your hotel experiences. Amex issues four Hilton hotel credit cards and cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards? points you can transfer to Hilton Honors.
We’ll help you navigate the benefits of each Hilton credit card offer to choose the one that best suits your needs. Whether you’re an occasional traveler just looking to earn Hilton points for free stays or a frequent Hilton guest wanting elite status perks, we’ll break down the key factors for you to consider.
Our team of experts reviewed each Hilton Amex credit card as well as cards that earn Membership Rewards points (which you can transfer to Hilton Honors at a ratio of 1 Amex point to 2 Hilton points). We considered factors including rewards, travel benefits, free night opportunities, elite status and select fees. Using a data-based approach, we selected the top five credit cards that scored highly based on our weightings. Read our full methodology below.
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Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: *Best Hilton credit card
The information for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card: *Best for occasional Hilton guests
The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: *Best for small business owners
The information for the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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Hilton Honors American Express Card: *Best for no annual fee
The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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The Platinum Card? from American Express: *Best for earning flexible points
The information for the The Platinum Card? from American Express has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
*The information for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
All information about Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card
*The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
*The information for the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
All information about The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
*The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
The Platinum Card? from American Express
*The information for the The Platinum Card? from American Express has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The CNN Underscored Money editorial team has developed a star rating so you can see the best card for specific categories. While we believe this card excels in this category, its overall star rating may differ.
Our picks at a glance
| Annual fee | Welcome bonus | Best for | Notable feature | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
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The information for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
| $550
| 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of opening an account
| Hilton overall
| Annual free night reward and top-tier Hilton Diamond elite status
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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card
| $150
| 165,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months
| Occasional Hilton guests
| Up to $200 annually in statement credits toward Hilton purchases
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The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
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The information for the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
| $195
| 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months
| Small business owners
| Up to $240 annually in statement credits toward Hilton purchases
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Hilton Honors American Express Card
| $0
| 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months
| No annual fee
| Hilton Honors Silver elite status
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The Platinum Card? from American Express
| $695
| 80,000 Membership Rewards? points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening
| Earning flexible points
| Hilton Honors Gold elite status and premium benefits
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All information about Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Why get a Hilton credit card?
Whether you’re a hard-core Hilton devotee or just enjoy Hilton hotels on the occasional road trip, a Hilton credit card could help you earn bonus points and improve your stays. Hilton’s co-branded credit cards are issued by American Express and come with perks including:
- Earning Hilton Honors points: Card holders have the opportunity to earn points with a welcome bonus and continue to accumulate points with every purchase, which can be used for free hotel stays, room upgrades and more.
- No foreign transaction fees: None of the Hilton credit cards charge foreign transaction fees, making them an ideal choice for international travelers.
- Annual fees to fit every type of traveler: The annual fees on Hilton credit cards vary from $0 to $550, offering a range of benefits to match a variety of budgets and travel preferences.
Hilton credit card benefits
An exceptional feature offered by co-branded Hilton credit cards is the ability to attain Hilton Honors elite status. Card holders receive Hilton Honors Silver, Gold or Diamond status, depending on their card. Elite status affords travelers bonus points on stays, room upgrades when available and a fifth night free on award stays, among other privileges. With no foreign transaction fees, Hilton cards are also ideal for international purchases.
Additionally, Hilton-branded cards offer generous rewards earning rates for spending at Hilton properties, making it easier to rack up points for future trips. Plus, certain Hilton cards offer free night rewards for your card holder anniversary or after you meet certain spending thresholds. The Amex Hilton Aspire Card and Amex Hilton Surpass Card cards also provide statement credits for eligible Hilton purchases, which can offset a substantial portion of each card’s annual fee.
A couple of non-Hilton branded cards offer valuable Hilton benefits. For example, the Amex Platinum provides Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required) along with its other premium travel perks. Plus, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio, offering another way to boost your Hilton points balance.
Maximizing points with Hilton credit cards
Maximizing the points you can earn with Hilton credit cards is about understanding each card’s perks and using your card strategically.
Most importantly, you need to leverage your Hilton credit card’s bonus spending categories. These categories vary by card but can include spending on eligible dining, travel and Hilton stays. Make the most of these spending bonuses by using your Hilton card when paying for these types of expenses.
The elite status provided by each Hilton card (status level varies by card) will also earn you bonus points on Hilton stays — plus perks such as room upgrades (when available).
Additionally, make sure to register for any Hilton Honors points promotions. You can check your Hilton Honors account and watch your email to ensure you don’t miss out on limited-time offers to earn more points on certain stays.
Lastly, you’ll need to pay any balance off on time and in full every month to make the most of your card. Interest charges that accrue when you carry a balance can quickly overtake the value of any rewards you earn.
How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you
Before you decide on a Hilton credit card, you should ask yourself these questions about your travel style, day-to-day spending and willingness to pay an upfront cost:
How often do you stay with Hilton?
Are you a frequent traveler? Do you spend a lot of time on the road for work? If so, you’ll likely benefit more from one of the more premium Hilton credit cards (Amex Hilton Surpass Card or Amex Hilton Aspire Card). While these cards come with higher annual fees than other Hilton cards, they offer better bonus earning rates, higher level elite status and free night rewards (terms apply), making them more valuable for anyone regularly checking in to Hilton properties.
On the other hand, if you’re only an occasional traveler and don’t consider yourself a Hilton loyalist, you’ll likely find that one of Hilton’s low or no annual fee credit cards is perfectly sufficient (the Amex Hilton Card or Amex Hilton Business Card).
What benefits are important to you?
For example, if you love complimentary hotel breakfast (who doesn’t?) and upgrades to better rooms, those elite status benefits can easily make a higher annual fee worthwhile. If you’re more focused on racking up points and couldn’t care less about fancy card perks, a low or no annual fee card is likely a better fit. The essential piece is evaluating whether a card’s perks align with your travel preferences and if the value you’ll get from those perks offsets the annual fee.
Evaluate your spending habits
If you spend a lot on dining and travel, for example, a card with bonuses for those categories will help you accumulate points more quickly. Paying your balance off on time and in full every month is crucial to avoid fees and interest, which will quickly destroy any value you’d be getting from your rewards. Overall, prioritize managing your credit responsibly and finding a card that aligns with your spending habits and travel goals.
How to apply for a Hilton credit card
Applying for a Hilton credit card is a straightforward process, but it’s wise first to check your credit score to see if you’re likely to qualify. Hilton credit cards typically require a good to excellent credit score (on FICO’s model, this is a score of 670 or higher). You can often check your credit score for free with a lender you already have an account with. Your credit score isn’t the sole factor Amex will consider when making a lending decision, but it’s a good place to start.
Next, fill out an application online or over the phone. Be ready to provide basic information including your full name, address, Social Security number and income.
Finally, double-check everything for accuracy and submit the application. If you’re applying over the phone, the customer service representative will do this on your behalf. You’ll often get an instant decision. Sometimes, decisions can take longer, and you’ll have to wait for further communication from Amex.
Hilton credit cards vs. other hotel rewards cards
If you have a preference for Marriott or have a favorite Hyatt hotel you frequent, choosing a card affiliated with those particular chains would make more sense. Also consider each hotel chain’s property portfolio, as some chains have more hotels in a broader range of locations that make it easier to redeem your rewards.
If you’re not loyal to a particular hotel chain, consider cards that earn rewards you can use to book travel. Amex Membership Rewards points-earning cards allow you to transfer the rewards you earn to Hilton (and other transfer partners), for example. The flexibility these rewards cards provide can be incredibly valuable.
Ultimately, the hotel rewards credit card you choose should align with your spending habits and travel goals. Be sure to evaluate each card’s annual fees and benefits to ensure the cost of the card is worthwhile and that you find value in the perks provided.
Methodology
Our money and data analytics teams reviewed 13 credit cards that earn Hilton points or American Express Membership Rewards points. To choose the best Hilton credit cards, we gave each a star rating out of five, based on the following factors and our editorial judgment:
Welcome bonus value (25%)
The best travel rewards credit cards offer bonus points after you spend a certain amount in the first months with the card. We determined how much each card’s bonus is worth using The Points Guy’s points and miles valuations, and ranked cards that offer more value highly.
Rewards value (25%)
We used spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and The Points Guy’s February 2024 estimate of Hilton points value at 0.6 cents each to determine which cards reward you the most for your everyday purchases.
Select fees (20%)
Cards that charge no or low annual fees got better grades in this category than cards with higher fees.
Benefits (20%)
Cards that offer travel benefits such as higher tiers of elite status and airport lounge access did well here. We also considered perks such as trip delay insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, purchase protections and cell phone insurance in scoring this category.
Annual credits and free nights (10%)
Hilton credit cards that offer statement credits for spending at Hilton hotels or in other categories got a leg up in this category. We also gave cards that offer free reward nights (automatically or for meeting spending thresholds) a boost.
What didn’t make the cut
While we've highlighted the top Hilton credit cards, there are a couple of notable options that didn't quite make it to our list:.
- American Express? Green Card * The information for the American Express? Green Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : Even with a solid 3x points earning rate on travel, transit, and dining (equivalent to 6x Hilton points when transferring Membership Rewards to Hilton), it still falls short in terms of Hilton-centric perks.
- American Express? Gold Card: While it boasts an excellent earning rate at U.S. supermarkets and on dining and flights, it lacks Hilton-specific benefits.
All information about American Express? Green Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The Hilton Honors loyalty program is the rewards program of Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Membership to the program is free, and by joining and staying with Hilton or using a Hilton credit card, you can earn points to redeem for free hotel stays. Hilton has over 7,350 properties across more than 120 countries and territories, so Hilton Honors members have plenty of options.
Yes, you can use your Hilton Honors points for things other than hotel stays. Hilton points can be transferred to airline partners for flights or upgrades. You can also redeem Hilton points for car rentals, Amazon purchases, and select experiences such as concerts and sporting events. That said, you’ll usually get the most value using them for free hotel stays.
Yes, you can hold multiple Hilton credit cards at once. Although American Express typically has a once-per-lifetime rule regarding welcome bonuses, it considers each Hilton card a separate product. That means you can hold and earn the welcome bonus on multiple Hilton cards. For example, you might use the Amex Hilton Surpass Card card for everyday spending to rack up Hilton points and hold the Amex Hilton Aspire Card card for elite benefits.
Yes, each Hilton credit card offers some form of travel insurance, including car rental insurance. However, the specific coverage and terms vary depending on the card. The higher-end Amex Hilton Aspire Card, for example, carries travel protections including trip delay, interruption and cancellation insurance, while the no annual fee Hilton Honors American Express Card card doesn’t. It’s best to review each card’s terms and conditions if this is an important card feature for you.
Yes, you can use Hilton credit cards overseas without having to worry about paying extra fees. That’s because none of the four Hilton-branded cards charge foreign transaction fees.
To view rates and fees for Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
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The information for the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for The Platinum Card? from American Express, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Hilton Honors American Express Card, please visit this page.
All information about American Express? Green Card, Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines, hotel chain, or other commercial entity and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of such entities.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended and should not be understood to constitute financial, investment, insurance or legal advice. All individuals are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified financial professional before making any financial, insurance or investment decisions.
Note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed or may no longer be available.
