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The Best Credit Cards for Hilton Hotels in 2024

With nearly 8,000 properties, Hilton Hotels and Resorts are everywhere. From budget stays with the Hampton Inn or DoubleTree to luxury options like Waldorf Astoria, there’s a Hilton for everyone. If you frequently choose this hotel chain, a Hilton credit card can help enhance your experience with complimentary elite status and boosted point-earning capabilities. Multiple options are available, including a card with no annual fee and another that isn’t even technically a Hilton card.

Read on to learn which Hilton credit cards we recommend and why you may want to have one in your wallet.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Our top picks for the best Hilton credit cards of 2024

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Best overall

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Up to 12X Reward Rate

Earn 12X points on eligible purchases made directly with Hilton hotels and resorts, 6X points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. supermarkets, 4X points on U.S. online retail purchases, and 3X points on all other eligible purchases.

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Annual Fee
$150
Welcome Offer
130,000 points
Regular APR
20.99% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is ideal for travelers who stay with Hilton at least a few times yearly. It comes with a $50 statement credit per quarter for Hilton purchases (up to $200 per year), which is more than enough to cover the annual fee. Pile on complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold elite status and a solid earning rate, and this card is a winner for the Hilton loyalist.
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Card Details

More card info

  • Enjoy up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases when you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
  • After you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors.
  • Cardholders can benefit from complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with their Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
  • If you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
  • Enroll in the complimentary Emerald Club® program, and you can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status. Terms apply.
  • Swipe your card freely while abroad with no Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Terms Apply.
Pros
  • Automatic Hilton Gold status
  • Ability to earn a free night with enough spending
  • Up to $200 in Hilton statement credits (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter)
Cons
  • Has an annual fee
  • High spending requirement for Free Night Award
  • Limited redemption options

Best for no annual fee

Hilton Honors American Express Card

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Up to 7X Reward Rate

Earn 7X Hilton Honors Points on eligible Hilton purchases, 5X points on eligible U.S. restaurant, U.S. supermarket, and U.S. gas station purchases, and 3X on all other eligible purchases.

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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
80,000 Points
Regular APR
20.99% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
It lacks many perks held by the other cards on this list, but the Hilton Honors American Express Card is a solid no-annual-fee option for occasional Hilton guests, with complimentary Silver elite status, a decent reward rate, and a great welcome offer.
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Card Details

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  • With your Hilton Honors American Express Card, you can benefit from complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status. Plus, if you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees, so you can use your card freely while abroad.
  • Terms Apply.
Pros
  • No annual fee
  • Automatic Hilton Silver status
  • 20% bonus points on eligible stays
Cons
  • Low point redemption value
  • Need good or excellent credit to qualify
  • Fewer perks than some travel cards

Best for additional perks

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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Up to 5X Reward Rate

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, and 1X points on other eligible purchases.

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Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer
80,000 points
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
With The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel and transfer those points to Hilton. On top of that, you’ll get complimentary Hilton Honors Gold elite status and a mountain of additional travel perks.
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Card Details

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  • $200 Hotel Credit: Receive up to $200 back in statement credits each year for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when paying with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Receive up to $20 back in statement credits every month when you make eligible purchases with your Platinum Card®. This offer applies to Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • Escape the hectic nature of the airport with the American Express Global Lounge Collection®. With complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries, you can enjoy more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer. As of 03/2023.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Maximize savings on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership using your Platinum Card® and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one eligible airline and then get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when you are charged incidental fees by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Receive Uber VIP status and get up to $200 annually ($15 per month, plus a $20 bonus in December) in Uber Cash on Rides or Eats orders in the U.S. Uber Cash and VIP status are only available to Basic Card Members. To receive this benefit you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible Card must be a method of payment on your Uber account. This benefit may only be used in the United States. Terms apply.
  • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Get to your gate faster at over 50 airports nationwide with CLEAR® Plus and receive up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership when you use your card. Subject to auto-renewal. CLEARLanes are available at over 100 airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
  • Enjoy either a $100 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee every 4 years or a statement credit of up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also get access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Use your Platinum Card® to receive up to $100 in statement credits for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com annually (Up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually). Enrollment is required.
  • Add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile and enjoy access to exclusive reservations and unique dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy
  • Terms Apply.
Pros
  • Excellent rewards rate for travel purchases
  • Qualify for $1,500+ in statement credits
  • Very generous welcome offer
Cons
  • High annual fee of $695
  • Many statement credit offers are too specific and hard to use
  • Non-travel-perks aren’t spectacular

Best for business travelers

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

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Up to 12X Reward Rate

Earn 12X points on eligible Hilton purchases, 5X points on other eligible purchases on the first 100K spent per year, then 3X points, and 3X points on all other eligible purchases.

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Annual Fee
$195
Welcome Offer
130,000 points
Regular APR
20.99% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
Businesspeople who frequent Hilton hotels can enjoy a multitude of Hilton-centric perks with The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. Complimentary Gold elite status, up to $240 back each year for eligible Hilton purchases, and a great reward-earning rate can easily offset the $195 annual fee.
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Card Details

More card info

  • Get up to $240 back annually for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton.
  • Receive complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card and enjoy benefits at hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. As a Gold member, you’ll earn an 80% bonus on all Base Points for every stay, helping you reach free nights faster.
  • Upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the calendar year if your total eligible purchases on your Card Account reach $40,000 or more within a calendar year.
  • Enjoy courtesy National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status. Enrollment in the Emerald Club® program is required.
  • Terms apply.
Pros
  • Automatic Hilton Gold status
  • 10 airport lounge visits each year with Priority Pass (enrollment required)
  • Ability to earn a free night with enough spending
Cons
  • Can only redeem points at Hilton hotels
  • Need good or excellent credit to qualify
  • No complimentary free night

Comparing the best Hilton credit cards

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More info on the best Hilton credit cards

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is pretty solid for a mid-range co-branded card, with generous rewards on purchases, complimentary Gold elite status, and a hefty welcome offer. Its $150 annual fee is significant, though, and may be difficult to justify if you don’t stay with Hilton numerous times per year.

Elite status: Hilton Honors™ Gold

Hilton points: Earn 12 Hilton Honors points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases. This is on top of the 18 points per dollar you earn from being a Gold Elite member, for a grand total of 30 bonus points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases.

Note: All information for The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has been collected independently by LA Times Compare. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

▶︎ Read more: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass review

Hilton Honors American Express Card

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If you have a hard time justifying paying an annual fee for a hotel credit card, the Hilton Honors American Express Card may be a worthy option. It has no annual fee but still comes with complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status and a valuable welcome offer.

Elite status: Hilton Honors™ Silver

Hilton points: Earn 7 Hilton Honors points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases. Add that to the 12 bonus points you get with Silver status and you earn a total of 19 points per dollar at Hilton.

▶︎ Read more: Hilton Honors American Express Card review

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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Its $695 annual fee is outrageous, but The Platinum Card® from American Express is piled high with valuable benefits in return. It’s not exclusively a Hilton card, but it does come with complimentary Hilton Gold status and points can be transferred directly to Hilton.

Elite status: Hilton Honors™ Gold

Hilton points: Since this isn’t a Hilton-branded card, you’ll only earn 18 points per dollar from being a Hilton Honors™ Gold member.

▶︎ Read more: Amex Platinum Card review

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

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If your business travels take you to Hilton hotels frequently, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card may be a good option. With up to $240 back on direct Hilton purchases and complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status, this card can help you elevate your next business trip experience.

Elite status: Hilton Honors™ Gold

Hilton points: Earn 12 Hilton Honors points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases. This is on top of the 18 points per dollar you earn from being a Gold Elite member, for a grand total of 30 bonus points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases.

▶︎ Read more: Hilton Honors Business Card review

How much are Hilton points worth?

Hilton points aren’t worth as much as some other hotel chains, like Marriott, at a base value of roughly 0.5 cents apiece. Some redemption options can value your points higher than this while others may value them lower. You’ll often get the best value when using your points for hotel rooms at luxury properties.

How to calculate Hilton point value

To calculate the value of your points per stay, divide the cash value of the hotel stay by the amount of points it would take to book that stay. For example, if it says the rate is either $705 or 75,000 points:

$705 / 75,000 = 0.0094, or 0.9 cents per point.

This would be a fantastic use of your points since it values them higher than the standard 0.5-cent rate.

Which hotel brands are part of Hilton?

There are 18 Hilton hotel brands, including:

Pros and cons of Hilton credit cards

Pros
Cons
  • Silver status perks are limited
  • Points have a low base value
  • Little value outside of Hilton

What do you get with Hilton Elite status?

There are different levels of Hilton Elite status: Silver, Gold, and Diamond. Anyone can sign up for the Hilton Honors program (for free!) and get Member status, so it’s not an elite tier, but we’ll add the list of perks for your reference anyway.

Member status

Member status is free for anyone to enroll in and includes:

Hilton Honors™ Silver status

Ways to earn:

  1. Complimentary with the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card
  2. All Hilton Honors members can earn Silver status with 10 nights, 4 stays, or 25,000 base points

Hilton Silver status comes with all of the benefits of Member status, plus the following benefits:

Hilton Honors™ Gold status

Ways to earn:

  1. Complimentary with The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and The Platinum Card® from American Express
  2. Hilton Honors American Express Card members can upgrade to Gold status after spending $20,000 in a year
  3. All Hilton Honors members can earn Gold status with 40 nights, 20 stays or 75,000 Base Points

Hilton Gold status comes with all of the benefits of Member and Silver, plus the following benefits:

Hilton Honors™ Diamond status

Ways to earn:

  1. Complimentary with the Honors American Express Aspire Card*
  2. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and Hilton Honors American Express Business Card members can earn Diamond Status after charging $40,000 to their card in a calendar year
  3. All Hilton Honors members can earn after 60 nights, 30 stays or 120,000 Base Points

Hilton Diamond status comes with all of the benefits of Member, Silver, and Gold, plus the following benefits:

Is it worth it to get a Hilton credit card?

It may be worth it to get a Hilton card if you stay at Hilton hotels often and like the idea of earning hotel-specific rewards. If you’re not loyal to this particular hotel chain and prefer to change up where you stay without being tied down to one brand, a general travel card with hotel benefits or a different hotel credit card may be more up your alley.

• • • • •

All information for The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has been collected independently by LA Times Compare. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

All information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by LA Times Compare. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

• • • • •

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please visit this page.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please visit this page.

For rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, please visit this page.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this page.

Hilton credit cards: FAQ

How much are 130,000 Hilton points worth?

We value Hilton Honors points at 0.5 cents apiece, making 130,000 points worth approximately $650. However, certain award redemptions can increase this value substantially.

What credit card gives you Hilton Gold status?

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and The Platinum Card® from American Express all offer complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status.

What credit score do you need for a Hilton credit card?

Hilton credit cards require good to excellent credit to qualify for, or a FICO score of 670 to 850.

Is the Hilton Surpass card worth it?

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card can be a great card for Hilton loyalists who stay with the chain enough to utilize the $50 per quarter Hilton statement credit and various complimentary Hilton Gold status perks.

Which bank has Hilton Honors credit cards?

Hilton Honors credit cards are all issued by American Express.

Is it worth transferring AmEx points to Hilton?

Transferring your American Express points to Hilton isn’t always a great deal. Amex points can be worth over 2 cents apiece, so the 0.5 cents of Hilton points greatly depreciates their value.

About the Author

Jaiden Hart
Jaiden Hart Writer & Content Manager, Credit Cards

Jaiden Hart serves as a credit card writer and content manager at LA Times Compare. Beginning her career as an intern on the Compare team, she has since amassed considerable expertise and passion in the credit card industry. 

Jaiden’s primary objective is to simplify the process of choosing and managing a credit card through engaging and honest content so individuals can more effectively maximize their benefits and meet their financial goals.

About the Reviewer

Blake Esken
Blake Esken Los Angeles Times

Blake Esken has over 15 years of experience in product management and has been a member of the Los Angeles Times staff for over five years.

As part of his role at the Los Angeles Times Commerce Team, Blake acts as the in-house reviewer and fact checker for LA Times Compare. He supervises all content for compliance and accuracy and puts to use skills he has honed through years of experience managing high-stakes projects for a range of industry-leading companies.

He has a strong background in data analysis, compliance, and communication, which allows him to support LA Times Compare through fact-checking in an effort to provide up-to-date and factual information across our content.

* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.

All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.

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