For both the frequent traveler and the occasional vacationer, leveraging a hotel-branded credit card can significantly enhance your travel experience. Among the myriad of hotel chains, Hilton stands out with its diverse portfolio of 19 brands encompassing a wide array of property types and price tiers such as DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, and Hampton Inn. With over 7,000 properties sprawled across 100 countries, the best Hilton credit card not only opens the door to a world of travel possibilities but is also a treasure trove for credit card churners.
The acclaimed Hilton Honors loyalty program is a gateway to earning and redeeming points for a slew of enticing rewards like complimentary room nights, all while enjoying a host of other privileges. This program’s synergy with Hilton’s credit card offerings makes it an appealing option for those venturing into the realm of credit card churning.
Note From John: With my two Aspire cards from Hilton, I reap the benefit of two free night rewards annually, which I typically redeem for stays in high-end rooms that would otherwise cost $800+ per night. A notable indulgence was at the Casa Marina in Key West, where the room rate was $1,100 per night at the time of booking.
Best Cards for Credit Card Churning by Brand
Our Picks For The Best Hilton Credit Card for Churning
In collaboration with American Express, Hilton has curated a selection of three consumer-centric card options along with a business card, each laden with unique benefits and associated fees. Delve further to discover which card aligns best with your lifestyle and spending patterns, optimizing your rewards accumulation.
Ultimately, each of these credit cards serves as a robust vehicle for credit card churning enthusiasts, keen on propelling their travel rewards to new heights. However, identifying the most suitable Hilton credit card hinges on your individual spending habits and specific needs.
Note From John: If you’re on the lookout for stellar Hilton hotels to spend your points and rewards, I’ve compiled a comprehensive review of dozens of them on my extensive Hilton Reviews page.
1: Hilton Honors Card from American Express
- Welcome Bonus: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors Card from American Express in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Annual Fee: $0
- APR: 20.99% to 29.99% variable APR on purchases.
- Credit Score: Excellent/Good (670 – 850)
Best Hilton Credit Card Benefits
The Hilton Honors Card from American Express is the best Hilton credit card for travelers who stay at Hilton-branded hotels a few times a year. With no annual fee, you won’t have any pressure to spend to justify the cost of owning it. If you’re able to earn the welcome bonus, you’ll instantly have enough points for a short reward stay.
Note from John: I’ve seen Hampton Inn properties in places like New Mexico bookable for 20,000 points. With Hilton’s Fifth Night Free promo, you can stay at one of these properties for five nights with the 80,000 point welcome bonus.
The biggest draw of the Hilton Honors Card from American Express is that it doesn’t charge an annual fee, yet offers significant value for travelers. Cardholders also automatically acquire elite Silver Status in the Hilton Honors program. This confers benefits like free Wi-Fi, no resort fees on reward stays, late checkout, complimentary bottled water, and a free fifth night on a reward stay.
As a Hilton Honors member, your spending will elevate you to higher levels of the rewards program with even more lucrative rewards. This makes it the best Hilton credit card for those testing the waters of Hilton properties. However, if you spend a lot on your card or travel frequently, you may want to consider one of the upgraded Hilton cards outlined below.
Earning Points
Take advantage of the built-in benefits of the Hilton Honors Card. Cardmembers enjoy automatic Silver Status and no foreign transaction fees. Plus, earn an upgrade to Gold Status through the end of the next calendar year after spending $20,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
Note from John: If you spend over $20,000 on purchases with the base Hilton card, in my opinion, you are better off upgrading to a Surpass or Aspire card below.
Additional earning opportunities exist with Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors Card from American Express.
- 7 bonus points per dollar spent at Hilton Hotels.
- 5 bonus points per dollar spent at United States-based restaurants, gas stations, and supermarkets.
- 3 bonus points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Welcome Offer
Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases on your Hilton Honors Card from American Express in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Pros and Cons
As with any credit card, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Hilton Honors Card from American Express. I cover these below, in comparison to other best Hilton credit card offerings.
Pros
- Cardholders receive a free subscription to ShopRunner, a service that provides free two-day shipping from more than 100 online retailers.
- When you pay with your Hilton Honors American Express, you won’t be charged a fee for transactions in foreign currencies.
- Reserving and paying for a rental car with your Hilton Honors American Express provides you with secondary coverage if the car is damaged or stolen.
- American Express will add as much as two years to eligible manufacturers’ warranties of five years or less.
Cons
- The flexibility on redemptions is somewhat limited compared to some of the higher-tier cards below, or equivalent-tier cards at competing hotel brands.
- Although there is no annual fee on this card, there is also no annual free night reward, an option offered with the Aspire card below.
- Immediately obtaining Silver status with Hilton Honors is nice, but the associated rewards are minimal compared to Gold or Diamond status.
2: Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express
- Welcome Bonus: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Annual Fee: $95
- APR: 20.99% to 29.99% variable APR on purchases.
- Credit Score: Excellent/Good (670 – 850)
Best Hilton Credit Card Benefits
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is perfect for occasional travelers who want access to high-end benefits without high annual fees. With just the upgrade from Hilton Honors Silver to Gold status, cardholders will reap more than $1,000 in additional perks for a mere $95 per year, including the ability to earn points at a much higher rate on many purchases.
For a modest annual fee of $95, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card offers several benefits not available with the basic Hilton Honors Card. Instead of automatic Hilton Silver status, Surpass cardholders are upgraded to Gold status. This upgrade comes with all Silver benefits, plus an 80 percent points bonus on paid stays, milestone bonuses, space-available room upgrades at certain properties, free breakfast, and other amenities.
These benefits are estimated to be worth more than $1,200 per year and easily outweigh the cost of the annual fee.
It is worth noting that the American Express Platinum Card (which isn’t affiliated with Hilton) does provide many of the same benefits as the Surpass card, including automatic Hilton Gold status and Priority Pass membership. Ao if you already have the Platinum Card, Surpass may not be the most valuable option for you. As a note, I own both cards and can attest to this.
Earning Points
Get more perks with the Hilton Honors Card. Enjoy Automatic Gold Status, no foreign transaction fees, and a Free Night Reward after you spend $15,000 in purchases in a calendar year. Plus, receive an extra Free Night Reward after you spend $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year, and 10 complimentary lounge visits each year of Priority Pass Select membership, once enrolled.
Maximize your rewards with the Hilton Honors Card by earning Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases. Additionally, you get 12 Bonus Points with purchases made directly at Hilton hotels.
You will also earn 6X Bonus Points at U.S. gas stations and U.S. restaurants, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on U.S. purchases for shipping, on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, and on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies. Additionally, earn 3X Bonus Points on all other eligible charges.
Welcome Offer
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Pros and Cons
As with any credit card, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express. I cover these below, in comparison to other best Hilton credit card offerings.
Pros
- Spend at least $15,000 on your Surpass card and you’ll score a free weekend rewards night at nearly any Hilton property.
- Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases within a year and you’ll move to elite Hilton Honors Diamond status, which includes privileges like Executive Lounge access, complimentary premium internet, a 48-hour room guarantee, and a 100 percent points bonus. In total, Diamond perks add up to about $3,000 over the course of a year.
- The Surpass card includes 10 free airport lounge visits per year via Priority Pass Select.
Cons
- Currently, there are no associated credits provided for frequent travel.
- The benefits associated with the Surpass Card are far exceeded with the Aspire card below if you can warrant the far higher annual fee with the upgraded credit card.
3: Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
- Welcome Bonus: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Annual Fee: $450
- APR: 20.99% to 29.99% variable APR on purchases.
- Credit Score: Excellent/Good (700 – 749)
Note from John: I have two Hilton Aspire cards that I use myself. However, I don’t use them for a wide variety of purchases, just a few automatic monthly ones that help keep the card in use. I started one with the standard Hilton Honors Card and upgraded twice, and the other one was a Surpass that I upgraded once. I also have a Hilton Honors American Express Business Credit Card.
Best Hilton Credit Card Benefits
For frequent travelers who consistently stay at Hilton properties, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card delivers outstanding value. The free weekend night alone almost justifies the annual fee, and the instant Diamond status and other luxury perks are worth thousands more each year. With the Aspire Card, you can treat yourself to room upgrades, spa pampering, and other indulgences without a hint of guilt.
If you can get past the hefty $450 annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card delivers the greatest bang for the buck for most travelers. It comes with $500 in annual travel incentives: $250 toward incidental airline fees like checked baggage, flight change fees, and in-flight refreshments with a single qualifying airline and another $250 to spend on indulgences like spa treatments, activities, and dining at Hilton resorts.
Additionally, it comes with $100 in credits at Conrad and Waldorf-Astoria properties. Most importantly, the Aspire Card vaults you to Diamond status and the long list of perks that come with it. I have personally utilized these Diamond perks over and over again to great success.
Earning Points
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card allows you to enjoy exclusive privileges and rewards – like Automatic Diamond Status, no foreign transaction fees, and the ability to earn a Free Night Reward each year of Card Membership.
Plus, get an additional Free Night Reward after spending $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year. Enjoy unlimited Priority Pass Select lounge visits once enrolled and up to $250 in statement credits for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts each anniversary year.
You can also take advantage of the $250 Airline Fee Credit – just select one qualifying airline to receive up to $250 per calendar year in statement credits for incidental fees charged by the airline to your Card.
Get 14X Bonus Points at Hilton hotels, 7X Bonus Points on flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel, car rentals from select companies and U.S. restaurants, and 3X Bonus Points on all other eligible charges when you use your Card for purchases. Plus, earn Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card.
Welcome Offer
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Pros and Cons
As with any credit card, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express. I cover these below, in comparison to other best Hilton credit card offerings.
Pros
- The Aspire card gifts you one free weekend night per year at virtually any Hilton property, and you’ll earn a second one if you spend $60,000 with the card in a calendar year.
- The cardholder and two guests will enjoy unlimited access to the Priority Pass network, which includes more than 1,300 airport lounges, mini-suites, and airport restaurants around the globe (and more than three dozen in the U.S.).
- When you use the Aspire card, you’ll get a complimentary secondary collision/damage waiver with rental cars and lost baggage insurance.
- The automatic Diamond upgrade is well worth the annual fee itself if utilized properly.
Cons
- This card has no introductory APR for associated balance transfers.
- This card has an extremely high annual fee of $450 per year.
4: Hilton Honors Business Card from American Express
- Welcome Bonus: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card from American Express in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Annual Fee: $95
- APR: 24.00%-26.24%
- Credit Score: Excellent/Good (700 – 749)
Best Hilton Credit Card Benefits
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers many of the same benefits as the Surpass Card, with an identical annual fee of $95 per year. However, Business cardholders may find it easier to spend the $40,000 annually needed to achieve the Diamond status upgrade. With $15,000 in annual spending, you’ll earn a free weekend night at any Hilton property along with 10 Priority Pass visits per year.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a good choice for business owners who spend substantial amounts each year on flights, stays at Hilton properties, and other business-related expenses.
Earning Points
With the Hilton Honors Business Card, you get Automatic Gold Status, no foreign transaction fees, a Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 in purchases in a calendar year, and an additional Free Night Reward after spending $60,000 on purchases each year.
Plus, enjoy 10 complimentary lounge visits each year of Priority Pass Select membership once enrolled. You also have access to built-in benefits like 12X Bonus Points at Hilton hotels, 6X Bonus Points at U.S. gas stations and U.S. restaurants, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, U.S. purchases for shipping, flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel and car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies – and 3X Bonus Points on all other eligible charges when you use your Card for purchases.
Welcome Offer
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Pros and Cons
As with any credit card, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Hilton Honors Business Card from American Express. I cover these below, in comparison to other best Hilton credit card offerings.
Pros
- Like the other Hilton Honors American Express cards, the Business Card doesn’t charge an additional fee for transactions in foreign currencies.
- Make a purchase within three months of opening your Hilton Honors American Express Business Card account and earn a $100 statement credit.
- The Business card includes 10 free airport lounge visits per year via Priority Pass Select.
Cons
- Currently, there are no associated credits provided for frequent travel.
- The benefits associated with the Surpass Card are far exceeded with the Aspire card below if you can warrant the far higher annual fee with the upgraded credit card. Unfortunately, there is no business credit card for this level with Hilton, unlike Delta.
- If you and your business members are not staying consistently at Hilton properties, a different card may be a better option for you.
Maximizing Points with Hilton Credit Cards
If your primary goal is to rack up as many Hilton Honors points as possible, you might consider carrying more than one of these co-branded American Express cards.
While standard American Express cards cap welcome bonuses at one per lifetime for each card type, that rule doesn’t apply to the Hilton Honors cards, meaning you could apply for all three personal cards and score 350,000 points (and an additional 125,000 if you add the business card as well).
Just keep in mind that American Express limits individuals to five open credit accounts at any given time (including non-Hilton cards).
Best Cards for Churning by Airline or Hotel
Our Verdict: The Best Hilton Credit Card for Churning
If your hospitality brand loyalty lies with Hilton, holding at least one of these Hilton Honors American Express cards is a no-brainer. For corporate cardholders, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card delivers serious value with business expenses.
If you don’t mind covering the $450 annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers the highest level of benefits per dollar spent and includes lucrative perks that the other cards don’t. Even the Surpass Card and basic Hilton Honors card can help you earn great rewards for the money you’re already spending with low or no annual fees.
No matter which card you choose, you’ll get outstanding customer service and standard cardholder perks for which American Express is known.
Looking for some additional resources? Check these out:
- Manufactured Spending: A Comprehensive Guide For 2023
- Potential Credit Card Churning Risks For 2023 and Beyond
- How To Improve Credit Score: The Ultimate Guide For 2023
- What is Credit Card Churning? The Ultimate Guide For 2023
- About Churning: Learning To Travel For Free In 2023
- Credit Card Churning Pros and Cons: Our Take For 2023