If you're in the market for a personal Hilton card and are willing to pay an annual fee to receive great benefits, you may be wondering whether to apply for the mid-tier Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or the premium Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
Let's walk through the ins and outs of both cards to help you decide which is right for you.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire comparison
| Hilton Honors Surpass | Hilton Honors Aspire | |
|---|---|---|
| <strong>Annual fee</strong> | $150 (see <a href="/tc/220312354?pid=220312354&name=Hilton%20Honors%20American%20Express%20Surpass%C2%AE%20Card&data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>) | $550 (see <a href="/tc/7559?pid=7559&name=Hilton%20Honors%20American%20Express%20Aspire%20Card&data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>) |
| <strong>Welcome offer</strong> | Earn 130,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. | Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. |
| <strong>Earning rates</strong> | <ul> <li>12 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases</li> <li>6 points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations</li> <li>4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases</li> <li>3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases</li> </ul> | <ul> <li>14 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases</li> <li>7 points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), select flights booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel and car rentals booked directly from select car rental agencies</li> <li>3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases</li> </ul> |
| <strong> Statement credits</strong> | <ul> <li>Up to $50 quarterly Hilton statement credit</li> </ul> | <ul> <li>Up to $200 biannual Hilton resort statement credit on purchases made with Hilton Resorts</li> <li>Up to $100 property credit on eligible stays of two or more nights at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotels</li> <li>Up to $209 Clear Plus membership statement credit each calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)</li> <li>Up to $50 quarterly credit for eligible flight purchases</li> <li>(Enrollment required for select benefits)</li> </ul> |
| <strong>Elite status</strong> | <a href="https://ift.tt/u4Le5lw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hilton Honors Gold</a>; upgrade to Diamond through the end of the next calendar year after spending $40,000 in a calendar year | <a href="https://ift.tt/C0o69VD" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hilton Honors Diamond</a> |
| <strong>Free nights</strong> | <ul> <li><a href="https://ift.tt/IU8ipA0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free night reward</a> after spending $15,000 in a calendar year</li> </ul> | <ul> <li>One free night reward within your first cardmember year and another every year after you renew</li> <li>A second free night reward after spending $30,000 in a calendar year, and a third free night reward after spending $60,000 in a calendar year</li> </ul> |
| <strong>Other benefits</strong> | <ul> <li>National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status (enrollment through the Emerald Club program required)</li> <li>No foreign transaction fees (see <a href="/tc/220312354?pid=220312354&name=Hilton%20Honors%20American%20Express%20Surpass%C2%AE%20Card&data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> <li>Travel and shopping protections</li> </ul> <p> </p> | <ul> <li>National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status (enrollment through the Emerald Club program required)</li> <li>No foreign transaction fees (see <a href="/tc/7559?pid=7559&name=Hilton%20Honors%20American%20Express%20Aspire%20Card&data-testid=ratesFees" target="_blank">rates and fees</a>)</li> <li>Travel and shopping protections</li> <li>Cellphone protection (up to $800 per claim, subject to a $50 deductible, limit two approved claims per 12-month period) when you pay your eligible wireless bill with your card*</li> </ul> |
*Eligibility and benefit level vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire welcome offer
New Hilton Honors Surpass cardmembers can earn 130,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
The points you'll get with this welcome offer are worth $650 since TPG's August 2025 valuations place Hilton points at 0.5 cents per point.
Meanwhile, new Hilton Honors Aspire cardmembers can earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
According to TPG's August 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is also worth $750.
Winner: Aspire. You'll earn 20,000 additional bonus points, but note that it has double the minimum spending requirement.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire benefits
Both cards are geared toward those who stay at Hilton properties, so you can expect to find a variety of benefits catered to Hilton property stays, among other benefits.
The Hilton Honors Surpass has a $150 annual fee and provides:
- Complimentary Gold status, which includes perks like a fifth night free on standard room stays and an 80% bonus on all base points
- Ability to upgrade to Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year by spending $40,000 in a calendar year
- Free night reward for use at eligible properties after spending $15,000 in a calendar year
- Up to $50 in quarterly statement credits for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio
On the other hand, the Hilton Honors Aspire has a $550 annual fee and provides:
- Complimentary Diamond status, which provides free premium Wi-Fi, a 100% bonus on base points and space-available room upgrades, among other perks
- A free night reward after each account anniversary
- Receive a second free night award after spending $30,000 in a calendar year and a third after spending $60,000 in the same time frame
Where these cards greatly differ is the slew of statement credits the Hilton Honors Aspire card offers, including:
- Up to $200 in biannual Hilton resort statement credits, valid at participating resorts
- Up to $50 in quarterly statement credits for airline purchases
- Up to a $209 statement credit for a Clear Plus membership each calendar year (subject to auto-renewal)
- An up-to-$100 property credit on eligible stays of two or more nights at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotels
(Enrollment required for select benefits)
The card also provides cellphone protection that reimburses you for repair or replacement. Cardmembers are limited to two approved claims every 12 months with a limit of $800 per claim. This is also subject to a $50 deductible.*
Meanwhile, both cards have no foreign transaction fees and offer elite status with National Car Rental (enrollment through the Emerald Club program required). Both cards offer robust travel and shopping protection perks, but the Hilton Honors Aspire wins in this category.
Winner: Hilton Honors Aspire. Thanks to its slew of statement credits, automatic Diamond elite status and travel protections, it takes the lead ahead of the Hilton Honors Surpass.
*Eligibility and benefit level vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Earning points with the Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire
The Hilton Honors Surpass earns:
- 12 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
- 6 points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations
- 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases
- 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases
The Hilton Honors Aspire offers slightly better earning rates in certain categories:
- 14 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
- 7 points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), select travel, including flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel and car rentals booked directly with car rental companies
- 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases
Gold status from the Hilton Honors Surpass and Diamond status from the Hilton Honors Aspire each earn you additional points on eligible Hilton charges.
That means using your Hilton Honors Surpass on eligible Hilton charges will net 30 points per dollar, while using your Hilton Honors Aspire on eligible Hilton charges will earn 34 points per dollar. That's an incredible earning rate for any credit card, but remember that Hilton points are not worth as much as transferable rewards.
Winner: Hilton Honors Aspire. The higher earning rates on the card allow you to earn points faster.
Redeeming points with the Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire
Both cards allow you to earn Hilton Honors points through credit card spending, which are automatically deposited into your Hilton Honors account. You can redeem points for experiences, free nights (no blackout dates), Lyft rides, rental cars, shopping and transfers to airline partners.
Hilton Honors uses dynamic award pricing, so the number of points required for a stay varies based on the hotel, room type, booking date and travel dates.
The Points Explorer tool offered through Hilton is an excellent way to determine how many points you need. Plug in how many points you're working with, where you wish to travel, or a destination type and the tool will provide you with a list of results that match your criteria.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt was able to redeem 256,000 Hilton points for a stay at the Hilton Sydney the week before Christmas. Thanks to the Diamond status his Aspire card awarded him, he was able to get his fifth night for free.
Winner: Tie. Both cards have identical redemption options.
Should I get the Hilton Honors Surpass or the Hilton Honors Aspire?
The Hilton Honors Surpass is one of the best mid-tier hotel credit cards out there and offers outsize value with a moderate $150 annual fee. However, you can easily get value out of the higher $550 annual fee on the Hilton Honors Aspire if you maximize its statement credits and can take advantage of Hilton Diamond status by staying at Hilton properties a few times a year.
How to upgrade from the Hilton Honors Surpass to the Hilton Honors Aspire
It's easy to upgrade from the Hilton Honors Surpass to the Hilton Honors Aspire by calling American Express customer service. However, switching to the Hilton Honors Aspire won't allow you to earn a welcome bonus unless you're targeted for an upgrade offer.
This may make you ineligible to earn one in the future due to Amex's one bonus per lifetime policy. If you wish to downgrade the Aspire to the Surpass, call the number on the back of your card.
Bottom line
The Hilton Honors Aspire has an incredibly compelling value proposition and can pay for itself (and then some) over time, but there's no way around the upfront $550 annual fee. That said, frequent travelers can easily take advantage of its benefits.
Conversely, the Hilton Honors Surpass has great benefits with a lower annual fee, so it may be a better choice for those who don't stay with Hilton too often.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Hilton Honors Surpass and Hilton Honors Aspire.
Apply here: Hilton Honors Surpass
Apply here: Hilton Honors Aspire
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Surpass Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Aspire, click here.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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