Best Hilton credit cards of September 2025
If you're a fan of Hilton properties, you'll be thrilled to know that you have a wide range of options for selecting the perfect Hilton credit card. Hilton boasts an impressive portfolio of almost 8,000 hotels and resorts across over 125 countries and territories worldwide. Whether you prefer a local staycation or an exotic getaway, Hilton has something to offer everyone.
As a Hilton Honors member, you can choose from an array of properties, ranging from luxurious brands like LXR and Waldorf Astoria to more affordable choices such as Hampton Inn and Embassy Suites. With the flexibility to use Hilton points across properties at various price points, the only task remaining is to decide which credit card suits you best. Here, we present our top recommendations for the finest Hilton credit cards in collaboration with our partners.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Best for occasional Hilton travelers
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: Best for no annual fee
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Best for small business owners
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for premium travel perks and digital entertainment
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Best for Best hotel card for Hilton loyalists
- American Express® Green Card: Best for occasional to frequent travelers
Comparing the best Hilton credit cards
| 12X | Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio. |
| 6X | Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. |
The Hilton Honors Surpass Card stands out in the crowded mid-tier category of cobranded hotel credit cards. It comes with elite-like perks at a reasonable annual fee. Read our full review of the Hilton Honors Surpass Card.
Pros
- High earning rate
- Generous welcome offer
- Automatic Hilton Gold status
Cons
- Free anniversary night requires high spend
- Annual fee
- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That’s up to $200 in statement credits annually.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status with your Card. Plus, spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. Terms and Limitations apply.
- As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you’re enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
| 7X | Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. |
| 5X | Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. |
The Hilton Honors Amex Card is a decent entry-level hotel card with no annual fee. It’s a card that is ideal for beginners and offers an array of perks for those loyal to the Hilton brand. Read our review of the Hilton Honors Amex Card.
Pros
- No annual fee card
- Automatic Hilton Honors Silver status
- Shopping and travel protections
Cons
- Limited redemption options
- Low-tier elite status
- No free night award
- Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver Status with your Card. Silver Status gives you a 20% Bonus on Base Points you earn on every stay, plus, you receive the fifth night free when you book a standard room stay with 100% Points.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- No Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
| 12X | Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. |
| 5X | Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Points thereafter. |
For business travelers who stay with Hilton, there is a lot to love about the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. You’re getting a solid return when you use the card on eligible Hilton purchases, and it comes with a nice array of perks. Read our full review of the Hilton Honors Amex Business Card.
Pros
- Hilton Gold status
- Up to $240 statement credit each year for eligible purchases directly with Hilton
- Complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status (Emerald Club® program is required; enrollment is required)
Cons
- Less useful for non-Hilton loyalist
- Welcome Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X Points thereafter.
- Get up to $60 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. With Hilton Honors™ Gold Status, you can enjoy benefits at hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. As a Gold member, earn an 80% Bonus on all Base Points you earn on every stay.
- You may receive an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year if the total eligible purchases that you spend on your Card Account during a calendar year reach $40,000 or more.
- As a Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you’re enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
- Terms apply.
Best for premium travel perks and digital entertainment
| 5X | Earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. |
The Platinum Card® from American Express has a high annual fee but remains one of the best cards on the market for those who prioritize premium travel experiences. A combination of updated and new statement credits makes the refreshed Amex Platinum an ideal card for frequent travelers and digital entertainment enthusiasts alike.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $600 hotel credit (disbursed as up to $300 in statement credits semiannually; enrollment required)
- Up to $300 digital entertainment credit (disbursed as up to $25 in statement credits per month; enrollment required)
- Earns transferable Membership Rewards points
Cons
- $895 annual fee
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
| 14X | Card Members can earn 14X Points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. |
| 7X | Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants. |
| 3X | Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases. |
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers unparalleled value for frequent Hilton loyalists. It offers automatic top-tier Diamond status, up to $400 in annual Hilton resort statement credits (up to $200 semi-annually) and a Free Night Reward every year. Its rich suite of benefits easily offsets the annual fee for those who stay at Hilton properties even a few times per year.
Pros
- Complimentary Hilton Diamond status with all the associated perks (including lounge access at select properties, complimentary breakfast and room upgrades when available)
- Annual Free Night Reward (valid at most Hilton properties worldwide)
- Up to $400 in Hilton resort statement credits each year (up to $200 semi-annually)
- Up to $200 in airline fee credits annually (up to $50 in statement credits each calendar year)
- Strong earning rates on Hilton purchases and select travel categories
Cons
- High $550 annual fee
- Perks are heavily Hilton-focused, making them less valuable if you don’t stay at their properties often
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Card Members can earn 14X Points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
- Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
- Enhance your hotel stay with complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status and enjoy a world of hotel privileges and benefits. Get exclusive perks at any of Hilton's 24 hotel brands, like a 100% Bonus on Base Points earned on every stay, Premium Wi-Fi and space-available room upgrades at select properties, and more.
- Enjoy an Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal.
- $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That's up to $400 back annually.
- $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you can earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend an additional $30,000 (for a total of $60,000) in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
- $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: You can receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your eligible Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- $100 Property Credit: How it Works: To receive up to $100 in credits for qualifying hotel charges, book a 2-night minimum stay at participating Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts with your Card through hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page or call Hilton Honors at (855) 292-5757 with the proper booking reference. See Terms & Conditions for further details.
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
Best for occasional to frequent travelers
American Express® Green Card
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® points on all other purchases. |
Pros
- Decent earning rates across popular spend categories
- Annual Clear Plus credit
- Annual LoungeBuddy credit
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $150 annual fee
- May not offer much value if you’re not a frequent traveler
The American Express® Green Card* is a solid choice for both occasional and frequent travelers. Travel booked through AmexTravel.com earns 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent — which is fully transferable to any of Amex’s transfer partners, including Hilton. This means frequent Hilton guests can earn 3 points per dollar spent on bookings through Amex and redeem their points towards future Hilton stays, making this card a solid pick for Hilton guests.
Additionally, the card comes with no foreign transaction fees, annual statement credit for CLEAR and LoungeBuddy. Although it carries a fair $150 annual fee, the reward rates and travel benefits can easily be worth it for a regular Delta flyer. Read our full review of the American Express Green Card.
Comparing the best Hilton credit cards
Credit card | Best for | Intro offer | Earning rate | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
at American Express's secure site | occasional Hilton travelers | Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points Open Intro bonus Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. | 3 - 12X points | $150 |
at American Express's secure site | no annual fee | Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points Open Intro bonus Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. | 3 - 7X points | $0 |
at American Express's secure site | small business owners | Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points Open Intro bonus Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership. | 3 - 12X points | $195 |
+ New Benefits at American Express's secure site | premium travel perks and digital entertainment | As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. Open Intro bonus You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. | 5X points | $895 |
at American Express's secure site | Best hotel card for Hilton loyalists | Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points Open Intro bonus Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. | 3 - 14X points | $550 |
American Express® Green Card * *The information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by ThePointsGuy.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer. Information updated as of 09/18/2025 | occasional to frequent travelers | Earn 40,000 points Open Intro bonus Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express Green Card® within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | 1 - 3X points | $150 |
More details on the best Hilton credit cards
With the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, you can enjoy substantial rewards when staying at Hilton properties, along with the added benefit of automatic Hilton Gold elite status. This status grants you complimentary breakfast or a daily food and beverage credit at some Hilton brands, enhanced earnings and the possibility of space-available upgrades during your Hilton stays at select brands. Considering its valuable perks, the card’s annual fee becomes easily justifiable.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card is an excellent choice for those seeking to accumulate and utilize Hilton points. This card offers attractive benefits for individuals aspiring to become loyal Hilton guests. Cardholders enjoy the privilege of complimentary Hilton Gold status, entailing a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. hotels or a continental breakfast at non-U.S. hotels. Additionally, they can take advantage of the fifth night free when booking with points, an 80% bonus on earnings during stays and the possibility of room upgrades to standard suites, subject to availability at select brands. The Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card also includes a complimentary night reward (after spending $15,000 each calendar year), no foreign transaction fees and the opportunity to attain top-tier Diamond status by spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
“Even if you only stay with Hilton a few times each year, having the Hilton Surpass Card can be worth it. It offers solid earnings at Hilton properties and automatic Hilton Gold elite status. Hilton Gold is one of my favorite mid-tier hotel statuses as it gets you complimentary breakfast or food and beverage credits and space-available room upgrades.” — Benji Stawski, former senior reporter
The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card is Hilton’s premier offering, granting automatic top-tier Diamond status as a valuable perk. Despite its annual fee of $550 (see rates and fees), the significant benefits of Diamond status, valued at over $3,000 annually by TPG, make this fee worthwhile. Cardholders are rewarded with a complimentary night on each account anniversary, and they have the opportunity to earn two additional free nights by spending $30,000 and $60,000 on their card during a calendar year. Additionally, the card provides statement credits for various expenses, including up to $200 in airline fees per year, up to $400 in Hilton resort credits and up to $100 in Hilton on-property credits. For a comprehensive analysis of the Amex Hilton Aspire card, refer to our detailed review.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card serves as Hilton's introductory product, offering a no-annual-fee option. With its attractive benefits of earning 7 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases and complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, this card presents a reliable choice for new cardholders who are devoted to the hotel brand or prefer to avoid annual fees. However, it is worth noting that other travel cards provide greater flexibility in earning and redeeming points, along with more substantial perks.
With the Hilton Honors American Express card, you receive complimentary Silver elite status, which can be upgraded to Gold by spending $20,000 or more on the card in a calendar year. Additionally, you have the opportunity to earn bonus points not only on Hilton hotel stays but also on essential everyday purchases. These accumulated Hilton Honors points can then be redeemed for complimentary nights at your preferred properties, allowing you to make the most of your rewards.
“Long considered to be the best no annual fee hotel cobranded credit card, you can use Hilton Silver elite status to unlock the fifth night free on standard Hilton award stays. It’s one of the only ways to unlock elite status no annual fee. You can also earn bonus points on popular categories like Hilton hotels, U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. gas stations.” — Kyle Olsen, former points and miles reporter
By using the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, you can enjoy a generous earning rate of 12 points per dollar on eligible purchases spent at Hilton hotels. As an added benefit, the card grants automatic Gold status, providing you with valuable perks. Moreover, by making $15,000 worth of purchases in a calendar year, you have the opportunity to earn a complimentary night reward. The card also offers up to $200 in statement credits annually towards Hilton purchases, up to $50 per quarter.
Considered one of the most advantageous hotel business cards available, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers exceptional value. With its valuable mid-tier Hilton Gold elite status, this card provides a range of premium benefits while maintaining a reasonable $195 annual fee. If Hilton is the preferred hotel chain for your company, adding this card to your wallet is a highly recommended choice.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business card provides an excellent balance of benefits while maintaining a low annual fee. Cardholders can enjoy various perks, including complimentary Gold Elite status and valuable travel protections. It's worth noting that the card offers the highest earning potential for points on Hilton purchases, as is common with cobranded cards. Please keep in mind that enrollment may be required for certain benefits.
“With generous perks like Gold status and the ability to unlock top-tier Diamond status with $40,000 of spend in a calendar year, the Hilton Honors Business Card is all about giving you perks beyond your money’s worth with a reasonable annual fee.” — Kyle Olsen, former points and miles reporter.
Unlike some other cards, the American Express® Business Gold Card does not provide hotel status. However, it offers the advantage of earning American Express Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to Hilton or utilized with a wide range of hotel and airline partners. This flexibility allows cardholders to maximize their rewards by choosing with diverse options beyond just Hilton.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a great travel companion thanks to perks like no foreign transaction fees and enhancements like a generous up to $600 hotel credit (disbursed as up to $300 in statement credits biannually). Now, it also features more lifestyle credits that cardmembers can take advantage of to help offset its hefty annual fee. Enrollment required.
Frequent travelers and digital entertainment subscribers will enjoy travel perks like lounge access and an up to $209 Clear Plus statement credit in addition to an up to $300 digital entertainment credit (disbursed as up to $25 per month in statement credits). Enrollment may be required and you may be subject to auto-renewal.
Adding this card to your rotation makes sense if you can use its perks and statement credits to offset its $895 annual fee.
If you want a premium travel and lifestyle card that’s not nearly $900, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It features a $795 annual fee — which is still a big figure — but offers several similar perks and credits that offset this fee, and it earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points, one of the most valuable reward currencies on the market.
Exceptional hotel perks, including Hilton Diamond status, an annual Free Night Reward and generous travel credits.
Travelers who frequently stay at Hilton hotels and want luxury-level benefits without elite-qualifying stays.
The combination of high-value credits, elite status and premium travel benefits can far outweigh the $550 annual fee if you maximize them.
For Marriott loyalists, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card delivers premium hotel perks within the Marriott portfolio, including an annual free night award and automatic Platinum Elite status, with a slightly higher annual fee. The World of Hyatt Credit Card is ideal for Hyatt loyalists, providing solid value through free nights, elite status and bonus points on Hyatt stays. For a mid-tier option within the same hotel family, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card provides valuable Hilton perks at a more moderate annual fee.
The Amex Green Card* gives you access to the Amex Membership Rewards program with solid travel perks at an affordable annual fee.
*The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
This card is a great option for travelers who want to earn transferable Amex Membership Rewards points without a premium annual fee.
If you’re getting into the credit card rewards game, this could be a great starter card to help you get used to earning and redeeming Membership Rewards points — a valuable transferable currency.
If you are looking for a more premium travel card that is packed with travel perks and benefits, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express.
How we rate cards
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What's your favorite Hilton card — and why?
How to choose the best Hilton credit card
- Our best Hilton credit cards feature generous sign-up offers with a variety of required spending so that you can earn your bonus with any budget. It is important to choose a card that you can easily reach the minimum spend threshold of since a large part of a card’s value is its sign-up bonus.1Welcome offer
- We chose cards with no annual fees that offer solid benefits and cards with lofty annual fees that offer premium perks so that any consumer can find the best Hilton card for their wallet.2Annual fee
- The best Hilton credit cards feature a variety of bonus categories and choosing one that best aligns with your spending habit will help you earn even more points towards your next stay.3Bonus categories
Pros + cons of Hilton credit cards
Pros
- Using a Hilton credit card can help you earn points towards your next stay
- Many Hilton credit card features additional perks like travel and shopping protection
- Some Hilton credit cards feature premium perks like automatic elite status and free night certificates
Cons
- Irresponsible usage of Hilton credit cards can negatively impact your credit score
- Hilton uses a dynamic pricing model for point redemption which makes it difficult to pre-plan points needed for a trip
- Most Hilton cards are only worthwhile if you regularly stay at Hilton properties
Frequently asked questions
The ideal Hilton Honors credit card choice depends on your specific requirements. The no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card is great for beginners (see rates and fees), while those looking for more benefits should explore the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
Obtaining a Hilton Honors card can be advantageous if its benefits outweigh the annual fee. It’s ultimately up to you to review the perks and benefits of each card and decide if the annual fee is worth it for you.
You can apply for Hilton Honors cards by clicking the hyperlinked card names on our page.
You'll typically need good credit — a credit score of at least 670 — to be approved for a Hilton Honors credit card.
Hilton Honors Points expire after 24 consecutive months of inactivity.
Yes, all Hilton credit cards that are open to new applicants are issued by American Express.