Should you’re out there for a private Hilton card and are keen to pay an annual charge to obtain nice advantages, it’s possible you’ll be questioning whether or not to use for the mid-tier Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or the premium Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
Let’s stroll by way of the ins and outs of each playing cards that can assist you resolve which is best for you.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire comparability
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Earn 155,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Provide ends Jan. 14. |
Earn 175,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Provide ends Jan. 14. |
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Hilton Honors Gold; improve to Diamond by way of the tip of the subsequent calendar yr after spending $40,000 in a calendar yr
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*Eligibility and profit degree range 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 provide
New Hilton Honors Surpass cardmembers can earn 155,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Provide ends Jan. 14.
The factors you’ll get with this welcome provide are value $775, since TPG’s January 2026 valuations place Hilton factors at 0.5 cents per level.
In the meantime, new Hilton Honors Aspire cardmembers can earn 175,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Provide ends Jan. 14.
Based on TPG’s valuations, this welcome provide is value $875.
Winner: Aspire. You will earn 20,000 extra bonus factors, however word that it has double the minimal spending requirement.
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Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire advantages
Each playing cards are geared towards those that keep at Hilton properties, so you may look forward to finding a wide range of advantages catered to Hilton property stays, amongst different advantages.
The Hilton Honors Surpass has a $150 annual charge and supplies:
- Capability to improve to Diamond standing by way of the tip of the subsequent calendar yr by spending $40,000 in a calendar yr
- Complimentary Gold standing, which incorporates perks like a fifth evening free on commonplace room stays and an 80% bonus on all base factors
- Free evening award to be used at eligible properties after spending $15,000 in a calendar yr
- As much as $50 in quarterly statement credits for purchases made straight with a property within the Hilton portfolio
Then again, the Hilton Honors Aspire has a $550 annual charge and supplies:
- Complimentary Diamond standing, which supplies free premium Wi-Fi, a 100% bonus on base factors and space-available room upgrades, amongst different perks
- A free evening award 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 time-frame
The place these playing cards enormously differ is the slew of assertion credit the Hilton Honors Aspire card affords, together with:
- As much as a $209 assertion credit score for a Clear Plus membership every calendar yr (topic to auto-renewal)
- As much as $200 in semi-annual Hilton resort assertion credit, legitimate at collaborating resorts
- An up-to-$100 property credit score on eligible stays of two or extra nights at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotels
- As much as $50 in quarterly assertion credit for airline purchases
(Enrollment required for choose advantages)
The cardboard additionally supplies 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 provide elite standing with Nationwide Automobile Rental (enrollment by way of the Emerald Membership program required).
Each playing cards provide sturdy journey and procuring 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 range 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 affords barely higher incomes charges in sure classes:
- 14 factors per greenback on eligible purchases at resorts 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 straight with airways or by way of Amex Journey and automotive leases booked straight with automotive 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 expenses.
Meaning utilizing your Hilton Honors Surpass on eligible Hilton expenses will internet 30 factors per greenback, whereas utilizing your Hilton Honors Aspire on eligible Hilton expenses will earn 34 factors per greenback.
That is an unbelievable incomes charge for any bank card, however keep in mind that Hilton factors will not be value as a lot as transferable rewards.
Winner: Hilton Honors Aspire. The upper incomes charges on the cardboard permit you to earn factors sooner.
Redeeming factors with the Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire
Each playing cards permit you to earn Hilton Honors factors by way of bank card spending, that are robotically deposited into your Hilton Honors account. You possibly can redeem factors for experiences, free nights (no blackout dates), Lyft rides, rental vehicles, procuring 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 resort, room sort, reserving date and journey dates.
The Points Explorer tool provided by way of Hilton is a superb option to decide what number of factors you want. Plug in what number of factors you’re working with, the place you want to journey, or a vacation spot sort and the instrument 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 free of charge.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards have similar redemption choices.
Ought to I get the Hilton Honors Surpass or the Hilton Honors Aspire?
The Hilton Honors Surpass is likely one of the finest mid-tier resort bank cards on the market and affords outsize worth with a average $150 annual charge.
Nevertheless, you may simply get worth out of the upper $550 annual charge on the Hilton Honors Aspire in the event you maximize its assertion credit and may make the most of Hilton Diamond standing by staying at Hilton properties a number of occasions a yr.
Methods to improve from the Hilton Honors Surpass to the Hilton Honors Aspire
It’s straightforward to improve from the Hilton Honors Surpass to the Hilton Honors Aspire by calling American Specific customer support. Nevertheless, switching to the Hilton Honors Aspire received’t permit you to earn a welcome bonus except you’re focused for an improve provide.
This will likely make you ineligible to earn one sooner or later resulting from Amex’s one bonus per lifetime policy. Should 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 will pay for itself (after which some) over time, however there’s no method across the upfront $550 annual charge. That stated, frequent vacationers can simply make the most of its advantages.
Conversely, the Hilton Honors Surpass has nice advantages with a decrease annual charge, so it might be a more sensible choice for many who don’t stick with Hilton too typically.
To study extra, learn our full opinions 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, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors Aspire, click on here.
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