MoneyGeek's Take

Best Hotel Credit Cards for Hilton Loyalists in 2023

The best credit cards for Hilton loyalists come with sizable spend-based welcome bonus offers. These cards let you earn points faster when you spend at properties within the Hilton portfolio and on applicable bonus categories.

Quality Verified

Reviewed By |

This article is part of our larger series on Best Hotel Credit Cards

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Last Updated: 5/2/2023

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

American Express provides co-branded Hilton Honors credit cards for personal and business customers alike. It also offers a no-annual-fee option for people who aren’t looking for much in the way of added perks.

The points you stand to earn per dollar spent varies based on the card you get. For example, while you may earn up to 7x points per dollar on category-based spending with the Hilton Honors American Express Card, this changes to up to 12x points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

Using any Hilton Honors card outside of the U.S. is ideal as none of the existing ones charge foreign transaction fees. Travel- and Hilton-specific benefits vary from one card to the next. The APR that applies to your card also needs your attention when making a selection.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Our Top 3 Picks
Summarized List of All Winners
Tips for Comparing Credit Cards

This article is part of our larger series on
Best Hotel Credit Cards

MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 3 Hilton Honors Credit Cards

Quick Summary

All the top Hilton Honors credit cards give you the ability to earn higher points when you spend across different bonus categories, although they come with different reward rates. Welcome offers also vary based on the card you select. Other factors that need your attention when choosing a card from this segment include hotel- and travel-related perks, annual fees and APRs.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- 3–12 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $95Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a powerful tool for businesses, particularly those with frequent travel or dining needs. Its standout benefits are the generous welcome offer and robust hotel perks, which include status upgrades and free nights. Its diverse earning categories make accumulating points easy and rewarding, and no foreign transaction fees make it a great companion for international travel. While the value of Hilton Honors points might be lower than some competitors, the card's high earning rates can offset this if they align with your typical business spending. Lastly, its annual fee is modest and can easily be justified considering the rich rewards and perks, delivering both practical value and a touch of luxury for your business.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- 3–12 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $95Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a fantastic option for people who stay at Hilton properties frequently. This card offers 12X points on purchases at properties in the Hilton portfolio, 6X points on dining at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, and 3X points on all other eligible purchases.
New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $2,000 in the first three months of card membership.
With this card, you’ll receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and stand to earn Hilton Honors Diamond status by spending $40,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
While the card does charge an annual fee, $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 after that, it comes with no foreign transaction fees, making it perfect to use outside the U.S.
Other key benefits include an annual spend-based weekend night reward, complimentary airport lounge visits, and car rental loss and damage insurance.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
- 3–7 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We love the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card because it lets you earn reward points faster when you spend across Hilton properties. It also comes with a sizeable spending-based welcome offer.
Eligible spending at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio comes with 7X points. You earn 5X points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, as well as on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and on gas at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases come with 3X points.
This card is ideal for international use, as it charges no overseas transaction fees.
All cardholders get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status. This card offers car rental loss and damage insurance and access to Global Assist Hotline.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Summary of the Best Hotel Cards for Hilton Loyalists

Take a quick look at this Hilton Honors cards comparison table to determine which of the top cards might work best for you based on factors such as who these cards are best suited for, annual fees, points per dollar rates and the creditworthiness needed to apply.

>> MORE: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR MARRIOTT LOYALISTS IN 2022

Credit Card
Best For
Avg. Reward Rate
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Great for earning Hilton Honors points
3–12 Points per $1*
$95
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
An excellent credit card for earning Hilton Honors points
3–12 Points per $1*
$95
Hilton Honors American Express Card
A good travel rewards card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts
3–7 Points per $1*
$0
Hilton Honors American Express Card
A good travel rewards card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts
3–7 Points per $1*
$0

MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Even if you only travel a few times a year, the higher-end Hilton cards may be worth the extra fee. These cards provide automatic elite status, which may qualify you for free breakfast, lounge access, upgraded rooms and late check-out, which might otherwise cost hundreds of dollars per trip. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.

How to Compare Hotel Credit Cards & Intro Offers

While the top credit cards for Hilton loyalists come with some similarities, there are a few differences you should know about as well. Only then will you be able to select a card that works well for you.

Welcome offer

The number of welcome bonus points you may earn as a new cardholder depends on the card you get. For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Card offers 80,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional 50,000 bonus points if you spend a total of $5,000 on purchases the first six months. Other Hilton Honors cards come with similar offers, but the points received and/or spend-based requirements differ.

Rewards rate

The points-per-dollar rate and applicable bonus categories are not the same across all the top Hilton Honors cards. The Amex Hilton Honors Surpass Card offers 12x points on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio; 6x points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, and on gas purchases at U.S. gas stations; and 3x miles on all other categories. The Amex Hilton Honors Aspire Card offers 14x points on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio; 7x points on flights you book through AmexTravel or directly with airlines and on car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies; 7x points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery; and 3x points on all other purchases.

Annual fee

The Amex Hilton Honors Card makes for a good no-annual-fee option, especially if you’re not looking for much in the way of features and perks. On the other end of the spectrum is another card on our list of the best credit cards for Hilton Loyalists — the Amex Hilton Honors Aspire Card — which has a $450 annual fee.

Hilton-specific benefits

These largely depend on the annual fee you’re prepared to pay. For example, the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors card comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status. The Hilton Honors Surpass Card, which has a $95 annual fee, gives you complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and spend-based weekend night rewards. The Hilton Honors Aspire Card, on the other hand, offers complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status, Hilton Resort statement credit, Hilton on-property credit and spend-based weekend night rewards in exchange for a $450 annual fee.

APR

If you plan to carry balances over from one billing cycle to the next, you might be better off getting a low APR card instead of one that offers rewards.

Foreign transaction fee

None of the existing credit cards for Hilton loyalists charge foreign transaction fees, although this is not the case with all American Express cards.

Added features/perks

Other card-specific features and benefits might come in the form of return protection, complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, airline fee credit and travel insurance coverage. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card lets you get additional employee cards and gives you access to different expense management tools.