In case you’re out there for a private Hilton card and are keen to pay an annual charge to obtain nice advantages, you might be questioning whether or not to use for the mid-tier Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card or the premium Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card.
Let’s stroll via the ins and outs of each playing cards that will help you resolve which is best for you.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire comparability
| Hilton Honors Surpass | Hilton Honors Aspire | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual charge | $150 (see charges and costs) | $550 (see charges and costs) |
| Welcome supply | Earn 130,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. | Earn 150,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. |
| Incomes charges |
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| Assertion credit |
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| Elite standing | Hilton Honors Gold; improve to Diamond via the top of the following calendar yr after spending $40,000 in a calendar yr | Hilton Honors Diamond |
| Free nights |
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| Different advantages |
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*Eligibility and profit degree differ by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire welcome supply
New Hilton Honors Surpass cardmembers can earn 130,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
The factors you may get with this welcome supply are price $650 since TPG’s August 2025 valuations place Hilton factors at 0.5 cents per level.
In the meantime, new Hilton Honors Aspire cardmembers can earn 150,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
In line with TPG’s August 2025 valuations, this welcome supply can also be price $750.
Winner: Aspire. You may earn 20,000 extra bonus factors, however be aware that it has double the minimal spending requirement.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire advantages
Each playing cards are geared towards those that keep at Hilton properties, so you’ll be able to look forward to finding quite a lot of advantages catered to Hilton property stays, amongst different advantages.
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The Hilton Honors Surpass has a $150 annual charge and gives:
- Complimentary Gold standing, which incorporates perks like a fifth evening free on normal room stays and an 80% bonus on all base factors
- Capacity to improve to Diamond standing via the top of the following calendar yr by spending $40,000 in a calendar yr
- Free evening reward to be used at eligible properties after spending $15,000 in a calendar yr
- As much as $50 in quarterly assertion credit for purchases made immediately with a property within the Hilton portfolio
However, the Hilton Honors Aspire has a $550 annual charge and gives:
- Complimentary Diamond standing, which gives free premium Wi-Fi, a 100% bonus on base factors and space-available room upgrades, amongst different perks
- A free evening reward after every account anniversary
- Obtain a second free evening award after spending $30,000 in a calendar yr and a 3rd after spending $60,000 in the identical timeframe
The place these playing cards vastly differ is the slew of assertion credit the Hilton Honors Aspire card gives, together with:
- As much as $200 in biannual Hilton resort assertion credit, legitimate at taking part resorts
- As much as $50 in quarterly assertion credit for airline purchases
- As much as a $209 assertion credit score for a Clear Plus membership every calendar yr (topic to auto-renewal)
- An up-to-$100 property credit score on eligible stays of two or extra nights at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad motels
(Enrollment required for choose advantages)
The cardboard additionally gives cellphone safety that reimburses you for restore or alternative. Cardmembers are restricted to 2 accredited claims each 12 months with a restrict of $800 per declare. That is additionally topic to a $50 deductible.*
In the meantime, each playing cards haven’t any overseas transaction charges and supply elite standing with Nationwide Automobile Rental (enrollment via the Emerald Membership program required). Each playing cards supply strong journey and buying safety perks, however the Hilton Honors Aspire wins on this class.
Winner: Hilton Honors Aspire. Because of its slew of assertion credit, automated Diamond elite standing and journey protections, it takes the lead forward of the Hilton Honors Surpass.
*Eligibility and profit degree differ by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
Incomes factors with the Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire
The Hilton Honors Surpass earns:
The Hilton Honors Aspire gives barely higher incomes charges in sure classes:
- 14 factors per greenback on eligible purchases at motels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio
- 7 factors per greenback on eating at U.S. eating places (together with takeout and supply), choose journey, together with flights booked immediately with airways or via Amex Journey and automobile leases booked immediately with automobile rental corporations
- 3 factors per greenback on different eligible purchases
Gold standing from the Hilton Honors Surpass and Diamond standing from the Hilton Honors Aspire every earn you extra factors on eligible Hilton fees.
Which means utilizing your Hilton Honors Surpass on eligible Hilton fees will internet 30 factors per greenback, whereas utilizing your Hilton Honors Aspire on eligible Hilton fees will earn 34 factors per greenback. That is an unbelievable incomes fee for any bank card, however keep in mind that Hilton factors should not price as a lot as transferable rewards.
Winner: Hilton Honors Aspire. The upper incomes charges on the cardboard help you earn factors quicker.
Redeeming factors with the Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire
Each playing cards help you earn Hilton Honors factors via bank card spending, that are routinely deposited into your Hilton Honors account. You possibly can redeem factors for experiences, free nights (no blackout dates), Lyft rides, rental vehicles, buying and transfers to airline companions.
Hilton Honors makes use of dynamic award pricing, so the variety of factors required for a keep varies based mostly on the lodge, room sort, reserving date and journey dates.
The Factors Explorer software provided via Hilton is a wonderful method to decide what number of factors you want. Plug in what number of factors you are working with, the place you want to journey, or a vacation spot sort and the software will give you a listing of outcomes that match your standards.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt was capable of redeem 256,000 Hilton factors for a keep on the Hilton Sydney the week earlier than Christmas. Because of the Diamond standing his Aspire card awarded him, he was capable of get his fifth evening at no cost.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards have equivalent redemption choices.
Ought to I get the Hilton Honors Surpass or the Hilton Honors Aspire?
The Hilton Honors Surpass is without doubt one of the greatest mid-tier lodge bank cards on the market and gives outsize worth with a reasonable $150 annual charge. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to simply get worth out of the upper $550 annual charge on the Hilton Honors Aspire if you happen to maximize its assertion credit and may reap the benefits of Hilton Diamond standing by staying at Hilton properties just a few occasions a yr.
Tips on how to improve from the Hilton Honors Surpass to the Hilton Honors Aspire
It is simple to improve from the Hilton Honors Surpass to the Hilton Honors Aspire by calling American Categorical customer support. Nonetheless, switching to the Hilton Honors Aspire will not help you earn a welcome bonus except you are focused for an improve supply.
This will likely make you ineligible to earn one sooner or later on account of Amex’s one bonus per lifetime coverage. In case you want to downgrade the Aspire to the Surpass, name the quantity on the again of your card.
Backside line
The Hilton Honors Aspire has an extremely compelling worth proposition and pays for itself (after which some) over time, however there is not any method across the upfront $550 annual charge. That mentioned, frequent vacationers can simply reap the benefits of its advantages.
Conversely, the Hilton Honors Surpass has nice advantages with a decrease annual charge, so it could be a more sensible choice for many who do not stick with Hilton too typically.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full evaluations of the Hilton Honors Surpass and Hilton Honors Aspire.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors Surpass
Apply right here: Hilton Honors Aspire
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors Surpass Card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors Aspire, click on right here.
