If you happen to’re available in the market for a private Hilton card and prepared to pay an annual charge to obtain nice advantages, you could be questioning whether or not to use for the mid-tier Hilton Honors American Specific Surpass® Card or the premium Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card.
Let’s stroll by way of the ins and outs of each playing cards that will help you determine which is best for you.
The knowledge for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire comparability
| Hilton Honors Surpass | Hilton Honors Aspire | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual charge | $150 (see charges and costs) | $550 |
| Welcome provide | Earn 130,000 bonus factors plus a free night time reward after spending $3,000 within the first six months of cardmembership. This provide ends on April 29. | Earn 175,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 within the first six months of cardmembership. The provide ends on April 29.
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| Incomes charges |
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| Assertion credit |
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| Elite standing | Hilton Honors Gold; improve to Diamond by spending $40,000 in a calendar yr; phrases apply | Hilton Honors Diamond; phrases apply |
| Free nights |
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| Different advantages |
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*Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire welcome provide
The factors you will get with this welcome provide are value $780 since TPG’s March 2025 valuations place Hilton factors at 0.6 cents per level. That is not together with the potential worth of your free night time reward.
In the meantime, new Hilton Honors Aspire cardmembers can earn 175,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 within the first six months of card membership. This provide ends on April 29.
Utilizing our valuations, this welcome provide is value $1,050 towards journey.
Winner: Hilton Honors Aspire. The factors from its welcome provide are extra useful. That stated, you could possibly get better worth out of the Surpass’s welcome provide should you maximize the free night time reward.
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Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire advantages
Each playing cards are geared towards those that keep at Hilton properties, so you’ll be able to look forward to finding quite a lot of advantages catered to Hilton property stays, amongst different advantages.
The Hilton Honors Surpass has a $150 annual charge and supplies:
- Complimentary Gold standing, which incorporates perks like a fifth night time free on customary room stays and an 80% bonus on all base factors
- Capability to improve to Diamond standing by spending $40,000 in a calendar yr
- Free night time reward to be used at eligible properties after spending $15,000 in a calendar yr
- As much as $200 yearly in assertion credit for purchases made straight with a property within the Hilton portfolio, break up up into quarterly increments of as much as $50
- Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply
Then again, the Hilton Honors Aspire has a $550 annual charge and supplies:
- Complimentary Diamond standing, which supplies free premium Wi-Fi, a 100% bonus on base factors and space-available room upgrades, amongst different perks
- A free night time reward after every account anniversary
- Obtain a second free night time award after spending $30,000 in a calendar yr and a 3rd after spending $60,000 in the identical timeframe
- Phrases apply
The place these playing cards tremendously differ is the slew of assertion credit the Hilton Honors Aspire card affords. These embrace:
- As much as $200 in assertion credit for airline purchases each calendar yr (as much as $50 quarterly)
- As much as $400 in Hilton resort assertion credit (as much as $200 semi-annually) every calendar yr legitimate at taking part resorts
- An up-to-$100 property credit score on eligible stays of two or extra nights at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad lodges
- Up-to-$199 assertion credit score for a Clear Plus membership every calendar yr
- Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply
The cardboard additionally supplies cellphone safety that reimburses you for restore or substitute. Cardmembers are restricted to 2 accepted claims each 12 months with a restrict of $800 per declare. That is additionally topic to a $50 deductible.*
In the meantime, each playing cards don’t have any international transaction charges and provide elite standing with Nationwide Automobile Rental. Each playing cards provide sturdy journey and purchasing safety perks, however the Aspire wins on this class.
Winner: Hilton Honors Aspire. Because of its slew of assertion credit, computerized Diamond elite standing and journey protections, it takes the lead forward of the Hilton Honors Surpass.
*Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
Incomes factors with the Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire
The Hilton Honors Surpass earns:
The Hilton Honors Aspire affords barely higher incomes charges in sure classes.
Cardmembers can anticipate:
- 14 factors per greenback on eligible purchases at lodges and resorts within the Hilton portfolio
- 7 factors per greenback on eating at U.S. eating places (together with takeout and supply), choose journey, together with flights booked straight with airways or AmexTravel.com and automobile leases booked straight with automobile rental firms
- 3 factors per greenback on different eligible purchases
It is value noting that the Gold and Diamond standing the Hilton Honors Surpass and Hilton Honors Aspire present, respectively, will earn you further factors on eligible Hilton fees.
Meaning utilizing your Hilton Honors Surpass on eligible Hilton fees will web 30 factors per greenback whereas utilizing your Hilton Honors Aspire on eligible Hilton fees will earn 34 factors per greenback. That is an unbelievable incomes fee for any bank card, however keep in mind that Hilton factors are nonetheless not value as a lot as transferable rewards.
Winner: Hilton Honors Aspire. The upper incomes charges on the cardboard permit you to earn factors quicker.
Redeeming factors with the Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Honors Aspire
Each playing cards permit you to earn Hilton Honors factors by way of bank card spending, that are mechanically deposited into your Hilton Honors account. You may redeem factors without spending a dime nights (no blackout dates), Lyft rides, rental automobiles, transfers to airline companions, purchasing and experiences.
We advocate redeeming your factors for lodge stays, as that is the place you will discover the best worth to your factors.
Hilton Honors would not have an award chart for lodge redemptions. Subsequently, the variety of factors you want varies relying on the lodge, room sort, reserving and keep dates.
The Factors Explorer instrument supplied by way of Hilton is a superb method to decide what number of factors you want. Plug in what number of factors you are working with, the place you want to journey or a vacation spot sort and the instrument will offer you a listing of outcomes that match your standards.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt was capable of redeem 256,000 Hilton factors for a keep on the Hilton Sydney the week earlier than Christmas. Because of the Diamond standing his Aspire card awarded him, he was capable of get his fifth night time without spending a dime.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards have an identical redemption choices.
Ought to I get the Hilton Honors Surpass or the Hilton Honors Aspire?
improve from the Hilton Honors Surpass to the Hilton Honors Aspire
It is easy to improve from the Hilton Honors Surpass to the Hilton Honors Aspire by calling American Specific customer support. Nonetheless, switching to the Hilton Honors Aspire will not permit you to earn a welcome bonus until you are focused for an improve provide.
This may increasingly make you ineligible to earn one sooner or later as a result of Amex’s one-bonus per-lifetime coverage. If you happen to want to downgrade the Aspire to the Surpass, name the quantity on the again of your card.
Backside line
The Hilton Honors Aspire has an extremely compelling worth proposition and will pay for itself (after which some) over time, however there is no method across the upfront $550 annual charge.
That stated, frequent vacationers can simply make the most of its advantages. The Hilton Honors Surpass has nice advantages with a decrease annual charge, so it could be a more sensible choice for individuals who do not stick with Hilton too usually.
To study extra, take a look at our full evaluations of the Hilton Honors Surpass and Hilton Honors Aspire.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors Surpass
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors American Specific Surpass Card, click on right here.
