The Best Hilton Credit Cards of April 2023

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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. Amex is an Insider partner.

Here’s a detailed overview of the best credit 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 Cards of 2023

Hilton Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions

Best for Everyday Earning and Stays

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card represents the best of all worlds — a card with a moderate $95 annual fee that comes with supercharged earning capacity and mid-range elite status. You can currently earn a welcome bonus offer of 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership. 

Insider estimates that Hilton points are worth 0.5 cents each, on average. So this bonus is worth around $650 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 free 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.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card Review

Best for Occasional Hilton Travelers

Hilton Honors American Express Card

While you don’t normally get tons of extra perks from a no-annual-fee travel credit card, the Hilton Honors American Express Card makes up for fewer benefits with a hefty bonus. New applicants can earn a welcome bonus of 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership.

Again, Insider estimates that Hilton points are worth 0.5 cents each — making this points bonus worth $400 in Hilton stays, on average. 

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.

Hilton Honors American Express Card Review

Best for Luxury Benefits

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card charges a $450 annual fee — but it also confers benefits unmatched by the best hotel credit cards. It also offers a substantial welcome bonus: 150,000 points after spending at least $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. That’s worth around $750 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, and double the points a regular member earns on stays.

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. 

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 American Express Travel, and on eligible car rentals, and 3 points per eligible dollar spent on everything else.

Hilton Honors Aspire Card Review

Best for Business Travelers Who Prefer Hilton

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

If you’re a small-business owner and prefer a rewards 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, and when you spend $40,000 on purchases with the card in a calendar year, you’ll receive Diamond status.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is offering a welcome bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card within the first three months of card membership. The points are worth about $650 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 $95 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. 

Amex Hilton Honors Business Card Review

Best for Non-loyalists Who Want Hilton Elite Status

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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 Amex 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 $695 per year, but it comes packed with other valuable benefits that, if put to use, make the annual fee worthwhile.

It currently offers a welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening.

American Express Platinum Card Review

Best for Flexibility and Redeeming Points

American Express® 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 60,000 points after you spend at least $4,000 in your first 6 months of card membership, 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.

Amex Gold Card Review