Points Panda has partnered with a variety of financial companies including CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. Points Panda and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. For more information please read our full Advertiser Disclosure.
If you’re a member of the Hilton Honors loyalty program, you should know that staying at hotels isn’t the only way to earn Hilton points. Having a Hilton Honors American Express card can help you stack up thousands of points through card spending at hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and even gas stations.
Depending on your spending habits, the types of benefits you want, and whether you want to pay annual fees or not, there are various Amex Hilton credit cards that suit your needs.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into what these Hilton credit cards are and help you find the best one for you.
Read More: Is Hilton Diamond Status Worth The Effort?
The Best Hilton American Express Credit Cards
There are multiple hotel credit cards being offered in the market, but the best thing about Hilton credit cards are the premium travel perks like statement credits, Priority Pass access, elite status, and anniversary reward nights.
Here’s what to expect from Amex’s lineup of Hilton cards.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
If you want to earn points on multiple spending categories without having to pay annual fees, the Hilton Honors American Express Card is the perfect card for you.
It’s great for people who just want to be casual customers at Hilton hotels and don’t want to be loyal to one Hotel program.
Card Highlights
- Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, you can earn up to $100 in Statement Credits on eligible purchases made on the Card at any of the Hilton family hotels in the first 12 months of Membership.
- Earn 7X points per dollar spent on eligible direct purchases with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 5X points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases on your card.
- Zero foreign transaction fees.
- Get automatic Hilton Honors Silver status with your card.
- Be eligible for a status accelerator. 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 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply; see Rates and Fees.
Hilton Honors Silver Status Benefits
Since the card comes with a complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, you’ll have more travel benefits such as:
- Guaranteed Hilton Honors Discount rate
- Points toward free nights, travel partners, and more
- No resort fees on reward stays
- Digital Check-in
- Digital Check-out
- Choose Your Room
- Digital Key
- Free WiFi*
- Access to Exclusive Hilton Honors Experiences
- 20% Points earning Bonus on stays
- Free bottled water
- Fifth night free
- Elite Rollover Nights
Who Can Benefit From This Card?
People who aren’t a fan of annual fees yet want to stack up on Hilton points are the perfect cardholders of the Hilton Honors American Express Card. While it might be a hotel card, you can earn points on everyday expenses such as groceries, gas, and dining out, so you can earn points a lot faster.
It’s also a great card for big families who want to spend long holidays abroad. Not only will you have zero transaction fees on purchases made overseas, but the guaranteed discount rates from your Silver status can also save you hundreds of dollars in travel expenses.
Read More: The Ultimate Guide To Hilton Lifetime Diamond Membership
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Just as the name suggests, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is made for business owners. The card allows you to earn Hilton points on expenses that you’d typically spend on.
It also comes with airport lounge access and free hotel nights, which is the perfect 1-2 punch benefit for business owners who go on multiple business trips in a year.
Card Highlights
- Earn 130,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first three months of card membership.
- Earn 12X points on eligible direct hotel or resort bookings within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 6X points on:
- U.S. gas stations
- U.S. purchases for shipping
- U.S. restaurants.
- Wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
- Flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel
- Car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
- Earn 3x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Zero foreign transaction fees.
- Earn a free weekend night reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year and a second reward night after spending an additional $45,000 in the same calendar year.
- Get 10 free airport lounge visits each calendar year after a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass Select.
- Get complimentary Gold status.
- Diamond status for the following year after spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
- Annual fee: $95
- Terms apply; see Rates & Fees.
Hilton Honors Gold Status Benefits
Since the card comes with a complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, here are the benefits that you’ll get:
- Guaranteed Hilton Honors Discount rate
- Points toward free nights, travel partners, and more
- No resort fees on reward stays
- Digital Check-in
- Digital Check-out
- Choose Your Room
- Digital Key
- Free WiFi*
- Access to Exclusive Hilton Honors Experiences
- Free bottled water
- Fifth night free
- Elite Rollover Nights
- 80% Points earning Bonus on Stays
- Space-available room upgrades
- Daily Food & Beverage Credit (U.S. hotels only) or Continental Breakfast (non-U.S. hotels)
Who Can Benefit From This Card?
Business owners who fly multiple trips a year and frequently stay at Hilton hotels are the perfect cardholders for the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. With an affordable annual fee of $95, they can get premium travel perks like Priority Pass access and free night rewards.
Not to mention, the card’s earning categories on business expenses can help you rack up thousands of points within just one calendar year. You can then use these points to redeem award nights in your future business travels.
Read More: AMEX Platinum Card Review – Premium Travel Perks + Generous Welcome Bonus
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Surpass card is a step up from the Hilton Honors card. It has a bigger welcome bonus and higher earning rates on personal rewards categories – but with only a small annual fee increase (This card is currently unavailable on Points Panda).
Card Highlights
- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first three months of card membership.
- Earn a Weekend Night Reward after spending $15,000 on purchases within a calendar year.
- Earn 12X points on eligible purchases made directly at Hilton hotels or resorts.
- Earn 6X points on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X bonus points on all other eligible purchases.
- Zero foreign transaction fees.
- Get 10 complimentary airport lounge visits each calendar year after a one-time enrollment in Priority Pass Select.
- Earn complimentary Gold status.
- 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.
- Annual fee: $95
- Terms apply
Hilton Honors Gold Status Benefits
These are the benefits you’ll get with your Hilton Gold status:
- Guaranteed Hilton Honors Discount rate
- Points toward free nights, travel partners, and more
- No resort fees on reward stays
- Digital Check-in
- Digital Check-out
- Choose Your Room
- Digital Key
- Free WiFi*
- Access to Exclusive Hilton Honors Experiences
- Free bottled water
- Fifth night free
- Elite Rollover Nights
- 80% Points earning Bonus on Stays
- Space-available room upgrades
- Daily Food & Beverage Credit (U.S. hotels only) or Continental Breakfast (non-U.S. hotels)
Who Can Benefit From This Card?
If you want a mid-tier card that comes with solid earning rates and benefits yet at a fairly affordable price, then the Hilton Surpass card is for you. The $95 annual fee isn’t a high price to pay given the plethora of benefits the card comes with.
A business owner or a luxury traveler who flies and stays at Hilton hotels at least 10 times a year can definitely benefit from the card’s complimentary Priority Pass access and free night rewards.
Read More: Why The Hilton Aspire Credit Card Might Be Worth It
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is the most premium card offering amongst the Hilton hotel cards.
The card comes with premium travel benefits, statement credits, lounge access, and free hotel nights. Not to mention, it also comes with a complimentary Hilton Diamond status, the highest tier in the Hilton Honors loyalty program (This card is currently unavailable on Points Panda).
Card Highlights
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership.
- Enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every succeeding card renewal.
- A 2nd Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio after spending $60,000 within a calendar year.
- Unlimited Priority Pass™Lounge passes to ease the airport experience; enrollment required
- 24/7 access to the American Express concierge
- Earn 14X points at participating Hilton Portfolio hotels or resorts.
- Earn 7X points on:
- Direct flight bookings with airlines or amextravel.com.
- Direct car rental bookings from select car rental companies.
- U.S. restaurants.
- Earn 3X points on all other purchases.
- Get automatic Diamond status.
- Earn up to $250 in Hilton Resort Credits each anniversary year when you stay at participating Hilton resorts.
- Earn a $250 Airline incidental fee statement credit
- Get up to $100 credit for qualifying incidentals when you book at least two nights at Waldorf Astoria or Conrad properties on HiltonHonors.com/aspirecard.
- Zero foreign transaction fees
- $450 annual fee.
- Terms apply
Hilton Honors Diamond Status Benefits
These are the benefits you’ll get with your Hilton Honors Diamond status.
- Guaranteed Hilton Honors Discount rate
- Points toward free nights, travel partners, and more
- No resort fees on reward stays
- Digital Check-in
- Digital Check-out
- Choose Your Room
- Digital Key
- Free WiFi*
- Access to Exclusive Hilton Honors Experiences
- 20% Points earning Bonus on stays
- Free bottled water
- Fifth night free
- Elite Rollover Nights
- 80% Points earning Bonus on Stays
- Space-available room upgrades
- Daily Food & Beverage Credit (U.S. hotels only) or Continental Breakfast (non-U.S. hotels)
- 100% Points earning Bonus on stays
- Space-available room upgrades
- Executive lounge access
- Diamond status extension
- Premium WiFi
- 48-hour room guarantee
- Elite status gifting
Who Can Benefit From This Card?
If you’re a Hilton loyalist, then this card is for you! This means that wherever you travel, Hilton Hotels should always be your go-to hotel.
And you shouldn’t just be an ordinary traveler, but you should be someone who travels more than 10 times a year so you can maximize your unlimited Priority Pass access.
Overall, if you want the “best of the best” travel perks from Hilton, get the Aspire card.
Read More: The Complete Guide To IHG One Rewards Club
Bottomline: Which Amex Hilton Card Is The Best?
While the Hilton Aspire card might have the most (and premium) benefits of all the Hilton American Express cards, it’s not necessarily the best.
Each of these hotel cards caters to a specific target market, so always choose the card that aligns with your spending patterns. For example, a business owner might not be able to get the most value if he was to get an Amex Hilton Surpass card instead of an Amex Hilton Business card.
To sum it up:
- The Hilton Honors American Express Card has no annual fees, so it’s perfect for casual travelers who aren’t loyal to one hotel loyalty program.
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is for business owners who want to earn points on their business expenses while being able to have travel perks such as free lounge access when they travel.
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is for people who want upgraded benefits from the Hilton Honors card – higher earning rates, lounge access, and Gold status.
- The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is for the frequent traveler who wants premium travel perks at hotels and airports.
Advertiser Disclosure
PointsPanda Deal of the Week!
Looking for the best flight deals? Each week we'll send you updates with the best deals on flights and hotels both using points and cash.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.