In order for you Hilton perks with out paying an annual price, the Hilton Honors American Express Card (see rates and fees) is the best technique to get began.
This entry-level Hilton card provides automated elite standing, sturdy bonus classes and helpful journey protections — all for no annual price. Whereas it does not include premium assertion credit or free evening awards, it may possibly ship stable worth for informal Hilton visitors.
We advocate that candidates have good to glorious credit to enhance their approval odds.
This is the whole lot you’ll want to determine if the cardboard is correct to your pockets.
Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card score is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Hilton Honors American Categorical Card: The fundamentals
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is an entry-level choice in Hilton’s cobranded card portfolio. It is best suited to vacationers who wish to dip their toes into the Hilton Honors program with out committing to an annual price.
The cardboard earns elevated rewards at Hilton properties and in a number of on a regular basis spending classes, making it accessible for novices constructing a Hilton factors steadiness. Nonetheless, its biggest worth lies instantly in Hilton stays.
We’ll dive into all the cardboard’s advantages additional down, however a couple of standout options embody:
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- Incomes 7 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases made instantly with Hilton hotels and resorts
- Having fun with automated Silver elite standing, which features a 20% bonus on base factors and a fifth evening free on award stays
- Having the chance to earn Hilton Honors Gold standing after spending $20,000 in your card in a calendar yr
That stated, as a result of it has no annual price, it additionally lacks the richer advantages discovered on Hilton’s higher-tier playing cards. For instance:
The Hilton Honors Amex does not compete with these playing cards on premium perks, but it surely additionally does not cost you to hold it.
Associated: 7 ways to redeem points with the Hilton Honors program
Hilton Honors American Categorical Card professionals and cons
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Hilton Honors American Categorical Card advantages
As a no-annual-fee card, the Hilton Honors Amex provides a good mixture of rewards and protections.
Hilton Honors Silver elite standing
Cardmembers routinely obtain Hilton Honors Silver standing, which incorporates:
- A 20% bonus on base factors earned throughout paid stays
- A fifth evening free on award stays
- Elite rollover nights
- Member-exclusive reductions
The fifth-night-free profit can considerably enhance the worth of your factors when redeeming for stays lasting 5 or extra nights.
You’ll be able to earn Hilton Honors Gold elite standing by way of the top of the subsequent calendar yr by spending $20,000 in a calendar yr. Gold standing contains:
- An 80% bonus on base factors earned throughout stays
- Complimentary breakfast at choose properties
- Area-available room upgrades
Nonetheless, it is price noting that different Hilton bank cards provide Gold standing routinely, so spending $20,000 to achieve it is not an excellent worth.
Associated: Hilton Honors elite status: What it is and how to earn it
Amex experiences
By means of Amex Experiences, cardmembers can entry unique ticket presales and cardmember-only occasions, together with Broadway exhibits, live performance excursions and sporting occasions.
Journey and buy protections
Even with out an annual price, the cardboard contains a number of protections (phrases apply):
- Prolonged guarantee*: Provides as much as one yr to an authentic producer’s guarantee of 5 years or much less
- Buy safety*: Covers eligible gadgets for as much as 90 days towards unintentional injury or theft (as much as $1,000 per coated purchases; as much as $50,000 per calendar yr)
- Secondary automotive rental loss and injury protection**: Covers injury or theft whenever you decline the rental firm’s insurance coverage
*Eligibility and profit ranges range by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
**Eligibility and profit ranges range by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Automotive rental loss or injury protection is obtainable by way of American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Associated: Everything you need to know about American Express purchase protection
Easy methods to earn and use your rewards
Incomes factors on the Hilton Honors Amex
With the Hilton Honors Amex, you may earn:
- 7 factors per greenback spent on stays at Hilton resorts and resorts (together with paying to your room and on-site spending at eating places and spas)
- 5 factors per greenback spent at U.S. restaurants (together with takeout and supply)
- 5 factors per greenback spent at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets
- 3 factors per greenback spent on different eligible purchases
Primarily based on TPG’s Might 2026 valuation of Hilton factors at 0.4 cents apiece, you may earn a 2.8% base return at Hilton properties. Nonetheless, with the bonus factors you may obtain with Silver elite standing, you may earn 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible Hilton purchases on prime of your card earnings. This bumps your return to 19 factors per greenback, or a powerful 7.6% return in your spending.
Moreover, you may obtain a 2% return on spending at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. fuel stations and U.S. eating places (together with takeout and supply) and a 1.4% return on all different eligible purchases.
For those who’re in search of larger incomes alternatives masking a wider swath of journey purchases, together with flights and rental automobiles, you will not get that with this card. Usually, we do not advocate utilizing a resort card for non-hotel purchases until you are working towards a welcome bonus or you’ll want to prime off your factors steadiness. As a substitute, contemplate a transferable factors bank card.
Associated: Which credit card should you use for Hilton stays?
Redeeming factors on the Hilton Honors Amex
You may usually get the most effective worth redeeming Hilton points for resort stays. Award pricing is dynamic, so redemption charges range by property and date.
The Points Explorer tool can present you what different visitors have paid just lately, supplying you with an thought of how a lot a given award keep may cost.
It’s also possible to switch your Hilton Honors factors to over 25 airline loyalty packages worldwide, however switch ratios are usually poor. Except you are topping off an airline account for a selected award, resort redemptions will present higher worth.
You may do even higher whenever you redeem factors for a keep of 5 nights or longer. That is since you get a fifth night free on points stays, due to your Hilton Silver standing.
Eric Rosen, TPG’s director of journey content material, used the fifth-night-free profit to maximise the worth of his factors for a keep on the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal in Mexico. Because of this function, he saved 120,000 Hilton factors on his keep.
Associated: How (and why) you should earn transferable credit card points
Potential drawbacks to the Hilton Honors American Categorical Card
Though the Hilton Honors Amex provides stable worth for a no-annual-fee card, it is clearly an entry-level product.
In order for you, automated Gold or Diamond standing, annual free evening awards, assertion credit and better Hilton incomes charges, I like to recommend trying into Hilton’s mid-tier or premium playing cards, the place you may extract extra worth — albeit at a price.
Associated: How to choose the best credit card for you
Is the Hilton Honors American Categorical Card price it?
You may assume the Hilton Honors Amex is price it by default because it has no annual price, however the true query is whether or not you may use its Hilton-specific advantages.
It is a good match in the event you:
- Keep at Hilton properties at the very least a few instances per yr
- Need entry-level elite standing with out paying a price
- Are new to resort rewards playing cards
It is much less compelling in the event you:
- Hardly ever keep at Hilton properties
- Need instantaneous premium perks like complimentary breakfast
- Choose versatile, transferable factors
Associated: The best no-annual-fee hotel credit cards
When to use for the Hilton Honors American Categorical Card
New Hilton Honors Amex Card members can earn 100,000 bonus factors and a $100 assertion credit score after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
In response to TPG’s Might 2026 valuations, Hilton factors are price 0.4 cents apiece, making the factors portion of this welcome provide price $400. Mixed with the $100 assertion credit score, the provide has a complete worth of $500.
Do not forget that Amex solely means that you can earn one welcome bonus per card, per lifetime, so it is crucial to use on the proper time. Amex will warn you earlier than submitting an utility in the event you’re not eligible for a welcome bonus.
Associated: Best time to apply for Hilton American Express cards based on offer history
Different playing cards to think about if you do not need the Hilton Honors American Categorical Card
The Hilton Honors Amex has pure rivals with “Hilton” of their names, however a normal journey rewards bank card can also do higher in your pockets. Listed here are a couple of of the choices you must contemplate.
For extra choices, see our listing of the best hotel credit cards, the best Hilton credit cards and the best American Express credit cards.
Associated: Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Amex: Is it worth paying $150 for extra perks?
Backside line
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is greatest seen as a no-frills technique to earn Hilton factors and revel in entry-level perks with out paying an annual price.
It will not wow frequent vacationers with premium advantages, however for informal Hilton visitors who wish to earn rewards and unlock the fifth-night-free perk for free of charge, it is a good, low-risk addition to your pockets.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors American Express Card
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass Card, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors Amex Aspire Card, click on here.
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