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If you stay at Hilton hotels often, it makes a lot of sense to carry a Hilton co-branded credit card to boost your points-earning potential and enjoy benefits such as elite status and award stays every year. You can also get good value from non-Hilton cards that earn points and offer perks you can enjoy on stays.
Here’s a detailed overview of the best cards for travelers who stay with Hilton, and which one might be the best for you.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Compare the best Hilton credit cards
The best Hilton credit card reviews
Hilton’s co-branded credit cards come in a wide variety, from a simple everyday earner without an annual fee, all the way up to a premium card that confers perks like top-tier Diamond elite status and up to $250 per year in statement credits toward airline incidental fees. And the current Hilton credit card bonuses are incredibly valuable. If you play your cards right, you could receive $1,000+ in value from each of these bonuses.
Hilton Honors points are worth, on average, 0.5 cents apiece based on Insider’s points and miles valuations — but the exact value you’ll get varies depending on where and when you redeem your points.
Best for everyday earning and stays: Hilton Honors Surpass card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card represents the best of all worlds — a card with a moderate Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card annual fee that comes with supercharged earning capacity and mid-range elite status. You can currently earn a welcome bonus offer of Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Insider estimates that Hilton points are worth 0.5 cents each, on average. So this bonus is worth around Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in Hilton hotel stays.
This card earns 12 Hilton points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases and 6 points per eligible dollar spent in a variety of categories, including U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations, and 3 points per eligible dollar spent on everything else. That means you can rack up thousands of points simply by using your card for everyday purchases.
If you spend $15,000 or more on purchases with your card in a calendar year, you’ll score a free night reward that you can use at almost any Hilton property worldwide. Cardholders automatically get Hilton Honors Gold status — which comes with perks like room upgrades, bonus earning on stays, and complimentary breakfast (currently awarded as a food and beverage credit in the US) — but can bump up to Diamond status with $40,000 in card spending in a calendar year.
Here’s our Amex Hilton Honors Surpass card review to help you decide if this card is the right fit for your travel style. And be sure to read our guide to earning and redeeming Hilton points to find out the best ways to maximize your hard-earned rewards.
Best for occasional Hilton travelers: Amex Hilton Honors card
While you don’t normally get tons of extra perks from a no-annual-fee card, the Hilton Honors American Express Card makes up for fewer benefits with a hefty bonus. Right now, new applicants can earn 80,000 points after you spend at least $1,000 on eligible purchases in your first 3 months of account opening.
Again, Insider estimates that Hilton points are worth 0.5 cents each — making this points bonus worth Hilton Honors American Express Card in Hilton stays, on average. You can read more in our Hilton Honors American Express card review.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 7 Hilton points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases and 5 points per eligible dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
Like other Hilton co-branded cards, it earns 3 points per eligible dollar spent on everything else. Cardholders receive entry-level Silver elite status but can spend their way up to Gold with $20,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year.
Best for luxury benefits: Hilton Aspire card
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card charges a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card annual fee — but it also confers benefits unmatched by other hotel credit cards. It also offers a substantial welcome bonus: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. That’s worth around Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in stays, based on Insider’s valuations.
Cardholders receive up to $250 in statement credits each account year for purchases made at participating Hilton Resorts, and up to another $250 in airline fee credits each calendar year for things like checked bags and seat assignments on your selected airline.
When you book a qualifying two-night stay at participating Waldorf Astoria or Conrad properties, you’ll get up to a $100 credit for eligible charges. Cardholders enjoy automatic top-tier Diamond status, with benefits like the best chance at room upgrades, club lounge access, complimentary breakfast (currently awarded as a food and beverage credit in the US), and double the points a regular member earns on stays.
You can double-dip by stacking the Hilton free night award and resort credit on a single stay — it’s a great way to splurge on extras without breaking the bank. Find out if this card is right for you in our Hilton Aspire review.
Hilton Aspire cardmembers get a free night reward when they open the account and reach their account anniversary and renew (it’s not part of the bonus), and can earn an additional one after spending $60,000 on the card in a calendar year. They can also enroll in Priority Pass membership for access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. You can now use Hilton free night awards on any day of the week.
The earning is pretty extraordinary, too — 14 Hilton points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases, 7 points per dollar at eligible U.S. restaurants, on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and on eligible car rentals, and 3 points per eligible dollar spent on everything else.
Best for business travelers who prefer Hilton: Amex Hilton Business card
If you’re a small-business owner and prefer a business credit card that can help you maximize expenses both at home and on the road, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card checks all the boxes. Cardholders automatically receive Hilton Honors Gold status, which makes stays better thanks to perks like free breakfast and welcome amenities. And when you spend $40,000 on purchases with the card in a calendar year, you’ll receive Diamond status.
Right now, the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is offering an elevated bonus of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. The points alone are worth about The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card in stays, based on Insider’s valuations.
It’s also an exceptional earner, offering 12 Hilton points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases, and 6 points per eligible dollar spent at U.S. restaurants and U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. wireless services and shipping, flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and eligible car rentals. It earns 3 points per eligible dollar spent on everything else, which is decent for a card with just a The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card annual fee.
When you spend $15,000 on purchases with the card in a calendar year, you’ll earn a free night reward — and if you spend a total of $60,000 in the same year, you’ll get a second night reward. Check out our Hilton Honors American Express Business Card review for the full rundown.
You don’t need to own a huge corporation to qualify for a small-business credit card — even if you have a side gig or do freelance work, you could be eligible. Here’s our guide to the best small-business credit cards to learn more.
Best for non-loyalists who want Hilton elite status: Amex Platinum
While the Hilton Honors Aspire Card comes with automatic Diamond status, if you’re not a hardcore Hilton loyalist, you might want to consider a card that comes with elite status but earns points that transfer to other partners. The Platinum Card® from American Express fits the bill because cardholders can activate complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status (and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, too).**
Hilton Gold status gets you a fair shot at room upgrades, 18 points per eligible dollar on stays instead of the normal 10, welcome amenities, and even complimentary continental breakfast at most properties.
With the Platinum card, you’ll earn American Express Membership Rewards points which transfer to Hilton at a 1:2 ratio, so you’re effectively earning double Hilton points on everyday spending. The card costs $550 per year, but it comes packed with other benefits that, if put to use, make the annual fee worthwhile.
It currently offers a welcome bonus of The Platinum Card® from American Express. Read our Amex Platinum card review to find out more.
Best for flexibility and redeeming points: Amex Gold card
You won’t enjoy Hilton Honors elite status with the American Express® Gold Card, but you will earn a phenomenal number of points in several everyday spending categories that you can then transfer to your Hilton account.
Along with a welcome bonus offer of American Express® Gold Card, this card earns 4 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, as well as on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar). It earns 3 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Remember that 1 American Express Membership Rewards point converts to 2 Hilton points, so you’re essentially doubling those earning rates if you plan to transfer your points to Hilton Honors. You’ll also have the flexibility to transfer your points to other American Express Membership Rewards partners, like Delta, JetBlue, and Marriott.
You can read our American Express Gold Card review to learn why the card is a terrific choice for foodies, travelers, and even rewards beginners.
Hilton credit card frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is the best Hilton credit card?
The Hilton credit card with the most valuable benefits is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. It comes with $1,000+ in value each calendar year from perks such as a free Night Reward upon account opening — and another reward after each account anniversary (and paying the annual fee), Priority Pass membership which offers access to 1,300+ airport lounges, and up to a $250 annual resort credit valid at Hilton resorts.
If you travel regularly or stay at a fancy Hilton hotel once per year, these benefits could easily offset its Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card annual fee.
Can I use my points at Hilton Garden Inn?
You can use your Hilton points for stays at any Hilton brand. At over a century old, Hilton is one of the largest hotel chains, and now comprises 18 brands with over 6,500 properties in 119 countries. Familiar labels like luxurious Waldorf Astoria, budget-friendly DoubleTree, and unique Curio Collection properties are all under Hilton’s umbrella. The Hilton Honors loyalty program has over 100 million members, all of whom can earn and redeem their points around the world.
Is my Hilton Honors login the same as the Hilton credit card login?
Your credit card account and your hotel account are completely different. When you earn rewards with your Hilton credit card, they will automatically deposit into your Hilton account.
To log into your Hilton credit card account, you’ll sign in to your American Express account. You will not go through the Hilton website. Your credentials will likely be completely different.
Is Hilton Honors Wi-Fi free with Hilton credit cards?
Hilton offers free standard Wi-Fi to regular members or those with Silver or Gold elite status, but only Diamond elite members receive free high-speed premium Wi-Fi. The only card that automatically gets you Diamond status is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.