For those who’re available in the market 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 by means of the ins and outs of each playing cards that will help you determine 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 by means of the top of the subsequent calendar 12 months after spending $40,000 in a calendar 12 months | Hilton Honors Diamond |
| Free nights |
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| Different advantages |
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*Eligibility and profit degree fluctuate by card. Phrases, situations 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 will get with this welcome supply are value $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 keeping with TPG’s August 2025 valuations, this welcome supply can be value $750.
Winner: Aspire. You may earn 20,000 extra bonus factors, however notice 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 possibly can anticipate 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 by means of the top of the subsequent calendar 12 months by spending $40,000 in a calendar 12 months
- Free evening reward to be used at eligible properties after spending $15,000 in a calendar 12 months
- As much as $50 in quarterly assertion credit for purchases made immediately with a property within the Hilton portfolio
Alternatively, 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 12 months and a 3rd after spending $60,000 in the identical timeframe
The place these playing cards drastically differ is the slew of assertion credit the Hilton Honors Aspire card presents, 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 12 months (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 accepted 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 by means of the Emerald Membership program required). Each playing cards supply sturdy journey and buying safety perks, however the Hilton Honors Aspire wins on this class.
Winner: Hilton Honors Aspire. Due to 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 fluctuate by card. Phrases, situations 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 presents 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 by means of 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 prices.
Meaning utilizing your Hilton Honors Surpass on eligible Hilton prices will web 30 factors per greenback, whereas utilizing your Hilton Honors Aspire on eligible Hilton prices will earn 34 factors per greenback. That is an unimaginable incomes charge for any bank card, however do not forget that Hilton factors will not be value as a lot as transferable rewards.
Winner: Hilton Honors Aspire. The upper incomes charges on the cardboard will let you earn factors quicker.
Redeeming factors with the Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire
Each playing cards will let you earn Hilton Honors factors by means of bank card spending, that are mechanically deposited into your Hilton Honors account. You’ll be able to redeem factors for experiences, free nights (no blackout dates), Lyft rides, rental automobiles, 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 resort, room sort, reserving date and journey dates.
The Factors Explorer device supplied by means of Hilton is a wonderful technique 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 device will offer you a listing of outcomes that match your standards.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt was in a position to redeem 256,000 Hilton factors for a keep on the Hilton Sydney the week earlier than Christmas. Due to the Diamond standing his Aspire card awarded him, he was in a position to get his fifth evening free of charge.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards have an identical 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 finest mid-tier resort bank cards on the market and presents outsize worth with a reasonable $150 annual charge. Nonetheless, you possibly can simply get worth out of the upper $550 annual charge on the Hilton Honors Aspire if you happen to maximize its assertion credit and might benefit from Hilton Diamond standing by staying at Hilton properties just a few instances a 12 months.
How one can improve from the Hilton Honors Surpass to the Hilton Honors Aspire
It is easy 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 will let you earn a welcome bonus until you are focused for an improve supply.
This will likely make you ineligible to earn one sooner or later as a consequence of Amex’s one bonus per lifetime coverage. For those who 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 isn’t any means across the upfront $550 annual charge. That stated, frequent vacationers can simply benefit from its advantages.
Conversely, the Hilton Honors Surpass has nice advantages with a decrease annual charge, so it might be a better option for individuals who do not stick with Hilton too usually.
To be taught extra, try our full critiques 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.
