6 Best Hilton Credit Cards of 2023: What to Know

6 Best Hilton Credit Cards of 2023: What to Know

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express offers elite status benefits and hotel-specific perks — we think it's the best Hilton credit card overall.

Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Citi is an advertising partner.

Top Hilton cards of 2023

Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express

Hilton Honors American Express Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

American Express® Gold Card

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Hilton offers co-branded cards for the occasional guest or Hilton road warrior, including three personal cards and one small business card. Beyond the Hilton co-branded cards, other great credit cards earning flexible points, convertible to Hilton Honors points, can be considered.

The best credit card for frequent Hilton visitors is the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express. Although it has a high annual fee of $450, this card packs a ton of benefits to justify it if you travel a significant amount.

Compare the best Hilton credit cards of 2023

Welcome Offer
Credit Needed
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Annual Fee
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.660 - 850$450
Not available on ValuePenguin
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership660 - 850$95
Not available on ValuePenguin
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 04/05/2023.660 - 850$0 See Rates & Fees.
Apply Now
See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. On American Express' Secure Website
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 Months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/5/23.660 - 850$95
Not available on ValuePenguin
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card<sup>®</sup> from American Express
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.660 - 850$695 See Rates & Fees.
Apply Now
See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. On American Express' Secure Website
American Express® Gold Card
American Express<sup>®</sup> Gold Card
60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.660 - 850$250 See Rates & Fees.
Apply Now
See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. On American Express' Secure Website
Welcome Offer
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership
Credit Score Needed
?
660 - 850
660 - 850
Annual Fee
$450
$95
Not available on ValuePenguin
Not available on ValuePenguin

Best Hilton credit card overall

Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express

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Not available on ValuePenguin

Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.

$450

20.24% to 29.24%

660 - 850

  • 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio worldwide
  • 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and at U.S. restaurants
  • 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status
  • One Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio with your new Card and each year of Card Membership
  • A second Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio after spending $60,000 in purchases on the Card in a calendar year
  • Unlimited Priority Pass™Lounge passes to ease the airport experience, enrollment required
  • $250 Airline incidental fee statement credit
  • $250 Hilton resort statement credit
  • $100 on-property credit at Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts when booking the exclusive Aspire Card package
  • Access to 24/7 American Express concierge
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Terms apply
  • Enjoy automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status (enrollment required)
  • Receive a $250 Hilton resort statement credit and $250 airline fee credit for incidental charges every year (enrollment required)
  • Enjoy a free night award each year of card membership after spending $60,000 with your card
  • Earn Earn 14X per $1 of eligible purchases on your card directly with a participating Hilton hotel or resort, 7X for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com; on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies; & at U.S. restaurants, and 3X for other purchases on your card, the best earning rate of any Hilton credit card
  • Hefty $450 annual fee

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express is a great choice for frequent travelers who want exclusive benefits within Hilton hotels. While this card comes with a $450 annual fee, you'll receive a bevy of benefits like automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status (enrollment required) and an annual $250 Hilton resort credit. A generous welcome offer and earning rate help make this card a top-of-the-wallet option for travel lovers everywhere.


Best Hilton credit card for casual travelers

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

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Not available on ValuePenguin

Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership

$95

20.24% to 29.24%

660 - 850

  • Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn a Weekend Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
  • 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 Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.  
  • Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
  • Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year (enrollment required).
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Automatic elite status

  • Excellent welcome offer worth up to several hotel nights
  • Good category spending bonuses on dining, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations
  • Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required)
  • $95 annual fee
  • High spending requirement of $40,000 per year to get Diamond status (enrollment required)

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a solid choice for Hilton enthusiasts who want some hotel benefits with a reasonable annual fee. The card will only set you back $95 per year, yet its generous welcome offer and earning rate more than make up for it. Premium perks like complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment required) make it a valuable addition to your wallet.


Best Hilton credit card with no annual fee

Hilton Honors American Express Card

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. On American Express' Secure Website

Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 04/05/2023.

$0

20.49%-29.49% Variable

660 - 850

  • Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 04/05/2023.
  • Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
  • Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
  • Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
  • No Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Automatic elite status

  • $0 annual fee
  • 5x earning rate at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and U.S. gas stations
  • Low spending requirement for the first portion of the welcome offer
  • Automatic Silver status with a chance to earn Gold (enrollment required)
  • Very few ancillary benefits
  • Rewards on non-bonus categories are weak
  • Other cards offer better welcome offers

The Hilton Honors American Express Card is the only no-fee option from Hilton, which makes it a good choice for infrequent travelers and those who need to keep card costs at a minimum. This card boasts a welcome offer and ongoing earning rate that is especially generous for a $0-annual-fee card. Other perks include complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status (enrollment required) and no foreign transaction fees.

For rates and fees of Hilton Honors American Express Card, please click here.


Best Hilton credit card for business

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

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Not available on ValuePenguin

Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 Months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/5/23.

$95

20.49% - 29.49% Variable

660 - 850

  • Limited Time Offer: Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 3 Months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/5/23.
  • Earn Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card: 12X at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, 6X at U.S. gas stations, on U.S. purchases for shipping, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants, 3X on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card.
  • Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
  • Earn another Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend an additional $45,000 in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
  • Terms apply.
  • Excellent welcome offer
  • Complimentary Hilton Gold status (enrollment required)
  • Good spending bonuses in common business expense categories
  • Free night reward after you spend $15,000 during the calendar year
  • $95 annual fee
  • High spending requirement of $40,000 per year to get Diamond status (enrollment required)

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is an excellent pick for business travelers who frequent Hilton portfolio hotels and want elite status and a huge stash of points. The exceptional rewards rate on paid Hilton stays makes earning rewards a breeze. Cardholders also get sweet perks like Gold elite status (enrollment required) and a free night award after spending $15,000 in purchases each year.


Best card for Hilton and general travel

The Platinum Card® from American Express

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. On American Express' Secure Website

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

$695

See Pay Over Time APR

660 - 850

  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, and other participating providers. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
  • American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back each year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
  • $189 CLEAR® Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Earns transferable points

  • Complimentary Hilton Gold elite status (enrollment required)
  • Ability to transfer Membership Rewards to Hilton Honors points
  • Large suite of other travel benefits
  • $695 annual fee
  • No Hilton-specific card perks aside from Gold elite status (enrollment required)
  • Transferring Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors points isn’t the best use of your rewards

The Platinum Card® from American Express is not a Hilton credit card per se, but it does grant you Hilton Gold status (enrollment required). It also gives you far more flexibility with your rewards, since American Express Membership Rewards points transfer directly to Hilton and other travel partners. While a $695 annual fee applies, you can get more than $1,500 in value with statement credits, including up to $200 in hotel credits and a hotel amenity credit up to $200 for stays through the Fine Hotels & Resorts collection.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

Best card to transfer points to Hilton

American Express® Gold Card

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply. On American Express' Secure Website

60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

$250

See Pay Over Time APR

660 - 850

  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • Terms Apply.

Earns transferable points

  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), and 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Terms apply.
  • Up to $120 in Uber Cash each year ($10 per month) for Uber rides or Uber Eats purchases in the U.S. when you add the card to the Uber app
  • Up to $120 dining credit (up to $10 per month) at the following retailers: Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com Milk Bar and participating Shake Shack locations. You must enroll your card to receive this benefit.
  • $250 annual fee
  • No benefits specifically with Hilton
  • There are better welcome offers available if you're specifically looking for Hilton Honors points

The American Express® Gold Card earns the most points out of any card on this list, thanks to its category bonuses on restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets. Cardholders can earn up to 100,000 Amex Membership Rewards points on U.S. supermarket spending alone each year. You can transfer these points to a variety of airline and hotel programs, including Hilton.

For rates and fees of American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

How much are Hilton points worth?

ValuePenguin pegs Hilton points at 0.5 cents each, so 10,000 Hilton points are worth roughly $50.

If you're receiving around 0.5 cent per point or better for an award stay, it's usually worth using points rather than paying cash.

To determine the value you are getting for your points, use the following formula:

Point value = Cash price (including taxes and fees) ÷ Number of points needed for hotel stay

credit card

Want to maximize your Hilton Honors points? Learn how to fast track to elite status.

How to choose the right Hilton credit card for you

Evaluate the welcome offer value and allotted time period

Many people first consider a card's welcome offer and whether it's attainable when shopping for a new card. The co-branded Hilton American Express cards often have elevated offers of more than 100,000 points, which translates to $500 at ValuePenguin's estimated worth of .5 cents per point. The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card both have welcome offers of Membership Rewards points as well.

The best co-branded Hilton credit card in terms of a welcome offer is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, as it lets you earn the following: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership

Consider the earning rate categories and decide if they fit your spending habits

The ongoing earning rate is another critical feature to consider when choosing a credit card, and the co-branded Hilton credit cards all have a standard earning rate of 3X Hilton Honors points per $1. The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card both earn 1X Membership Rewards points per $1 in non-bonus categories, which is effectively 2X Hilton points. If you're looking strictly for Hilton points, any of the four co-branded cards might be a better choice.

However, it's important to factor in bonus categories: All of the Hilton credit cards obviously offer elevated earning rates ranging from 5X in select categories to 14X points at Hilton hotels.

All of the Hilton branded credit cards also have U.S. restaurants as a bonus category. The Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and American Express® Gold Card all offer increased earning rates on spend at U.S. restaurants, a common household expense category.

Learn your redemption options

The co-branded Hilton cards all earn Hilton Honors points that you can redeem for free nights or in other ways — check out our guide to the Hilton Honors loyalty program for all the ways you can redeem your Honors points. No matter which of these cards you pick, you have the same redemption options with any credit card that earns straight Hilton Honors points.

The two cards that earn flexible Membership Rewards points — the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express — are different. With these cards, you can certainly transfer your points to Hilton Honors points at a ratio of 1,000:2,000. However, you can also use them to book travel through Amex Travel, shop at Amazon or transfer them to any of the other hotel and airline partners.

Decide if the annual fee is worth it (it often is)

The cost of the annual fee is often a deciding factor for some consumers. Some consumers prefer to avoid an annual fee altogether. However, an annual fee shouldn't be an automatic deterrent if you're searching for the best option for you. Annual fee credit cards often net much better rewards and more valuable perks. You should weigh the value of the rewards and benefits against the card's cost — you may find that you come up much farther ahead with an annual fee card than with a no-annual-fee card.

Look for a Hilton 5th night free benefit

Look for free night vouchers

There are multiple Hilton credit cards that offer a free night reward as a cardholder perk:

  • Two require you to reach a spend threshold of $15,000 to earn a free night: the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
  • As the premium card option, the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express offers this night outright every account anniversary.
  • Finally, the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card lets you earn a second free night if you spend $60,000 on your card in a calendar year.

The best Hilton credit card for free weekend night rewards is the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, as it provides one free night after approval and after every account anniversary and gives you the option of earning a second after spending $60,000 on your card.

Look for travel credits

Hilton Honors offers a fifth night free benefit on award stays to its elite members as a 20% discount off the total number of points required for the stay. All co-branded Hilton credit cards provide some level of Hilton elite status, from lowly Silver with the Hilton Honors American Express Card to top-tier Diamond status from the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, so picking any Hilton credit card will allow you to take advantage of the Hilton fifth night free benefit.

The Platinum Card® from American Express also provides Gold elite status, which will trigger this perk as well. The only card that doesn't provide Hilton elite status is the American Express® Gold Card.

Look for the opportunity to earn elite status and the benefits that come with it

Only the more premium Hilton credit cards offer travel credits as a perk:

  • The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express comes with multiple travel credits, including an annual $250 resort credit, an annual $250 airline incidental credit (enrollment required) and a $100 on-property credit for two or more nights at Conrad and Waldorf Astoria properties.
  • The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a number of travel credits as well, including up to a $100 Global Entry/TSA Precheck application fee credit, two $50 semi-annual Saks credits (enrollment required), and up to $200 per year ($15 per month and a bonus $20 in December) in Uber Cash for U.S. Uber rides and U.S. Uber Eats purchases when you add the card to the Uber app.

The Hilton aficionado will likely find the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express the most compelling in terms of travel credits. With both a $250 Hilton resort credit and $250 airline incidental credit every year (enrollment required), the card stands head and shoulders as the best Hilton credit card for travel credits.

Hilton credit card referral bonus

American Express has a strong referral program for many of their cards, including Hilton credit cards. You can earn bonus Hilton Honors points by referring friends and family for a Hilton credit card. The cool thing is that they don't necessarily have to pick the same Hilton card that you have for you to still receive the referral bonus.

Here is a list of current Hilton credit card referral bonuses:

How to maximize your Hilton credit card

  1. Know the category bonuses for your particular credit card to maximize your rewards
  2. Continuously track your progress toward your free night award on americanexpress.com
  3. Use your card whenever you stay with Hilton to earn Honors points for hotel charges, like dining, laundry and other incidentals charged to your room

Hilton credit card FAQs

You will generally need at least a 660 - 850 FICO credit score to qualify for an Hilton Honors American Express Card issued directly by the network, which includes the lineup of Hilton cards. Good FICO Scores start at 660, the minimum you may need to be approved. Application approval is always dependent on each individual's overall credit profile.

Apply for a Hilton Honors credit card by using any of the links on this page, calling American Express or applying directly through the American Express website. Create a Hilton Honors account upon application. After applying, American Express will check your credit score and profile to see if you qualify and potentially instantly approve you for a new card, sometimes even offering an instant card number.

American Express will check your credit score and profile upon application to see if you qualify for the specific card you applied for. Depending on the situation, American Express may instantly approve you for a new card, sometimes even offering an instant card number.

You will be required to provide your basic contact information, a valid Social Security number and your annual income when you apply for a Hilton card.

It's difficult to select one credit card as best due to the differing needs of each individual consumer. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is generally a good choice for the typical consumer who wants to earn Hilton points, while the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express is likely the best choice for frequent guests of Hilton hotels due to the Diamond status, free night and annual resort credit it offers.

If you’ve held your Hilton Honors Credit Card for at least 12 months, you may be able to upgrade it to either the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express. If you have held your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card for at least 12 months, you may be able to upgrade it to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express. You cannot upgrade the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express or the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. American Express often sends out upgrade offers for their Hilton credit cards.

If you’re declined for a Hilton credit card, it is best to give American Express customer service a call. Give these numbers a try: 800-528-4800 (general customer service), 888-297-1244 (new card applications) or 877-239-3491 (check application status).

Hilton Honors credit cards are issued by American Express, which is both a card issuer and a card network.

The Hilton Honors loyalty program and the co-branded credit cards issued by American Express can be an excellent choice for consumers looking to earn points for free hotel stays. The cards offer the ability to earn valuable Hilton points, and some cards even come with a variety of other perks with Hilton.

American Express will issue a credit limit on the Hilton credit card that is specific to each cardholder.

The value of a particular hotel loyalty program is highly dependent on the preference of each individual consumer. Hilton Hotels has a much bigger global footprint than Hyatt, making them a good choice if your travels take you to every corner of the globe. That being said, World of Hyatt points are more valuable on a 1:1 basis, but you earn Hilton Honors points from both stays and credit card spend more quickly.

The value of Hilton versus Marriott is highly dependent on each individual's particular needs. Both Hilton and Marriott have expansive worldwide hotel portfolios, both issue co-branded credit cards and both offer elite status programs and perks — so it really comes down to personal preference.

Hilton Hotels are part of Hilton Worldwide and are not associated with either Hyatt Hotels or the Marriott Corporation.

The partnership between Citi and Hilton ended prior to November 2017 when American Express and Hilton became exclusive partners and released a new suite of credit cards.

Hilton has a dedicated landing page where you can buy, gift, pool or transfer points. You'll need to have an open Hilton Honors account to be able to buy Hilton points for yourself.

Recap of the best Hilton credit cards for 2023

Methodology

To make choosing the right card easier, we've looked at credit cards reviewed on ValuePenguin as well as cards on major issuer sites to compile a list of the best credit cards for Hilton. Our recommendations are based on the additional value you can earn with the cards — including the rewards value, cost of ownership and value of benefits such as Hilton elite status and travel credits. Our choices are not influenced by our advertisers.

For rates and fees of Hilton Honors American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

The information related to Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been independently collected by ValuePenguin and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply to American Express credit card offers. See americanexpress.com for more information.

These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Advertiser Disclosure: The products that appear on this site may be from companies from which ValuePenguin receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). ValuePenguin does not include all financial institutions or all products offered available in the marketplace.

How We Calculate Rewards: ValuePenguin calculates the value of rewards by estimating the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using the card less any associated annual fees. These estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone, not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.

Example of how we calculate the rewards rates: When redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards, Chase Sapphire Preferred points are worth $0.0125 each. The card awards 2 points on travel and dining and 1 point on everything else. Therefore, we say the card has a 2.5% rewards rate on dining and travel (2 x $0.0125) and a 1.25% rewards rate on everything else (1 x $0.0125).