Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Amex: Should you pay $150 for more perks or stick with no annual fee?
Editor's Note
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is the mid-tier option, and the Hilton Honors American Express Card is the entry-level option for those looking to open a personal Hilton Honors credit card.
For those trying to decide between these two excellent card options, here are the major points of difference and factors to remember as you decide which is best for your wallet.
Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Amex comparison
| Card | Hilton Surpass | Hilton Amex |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 (see rates and fees) | $0 (see rates and fees) |
| Welcome offer | Earn 170,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership. | Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership |
| Earning rates | 12 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases
6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, 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 | 7 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases
5 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases |
| Elite status | Hilton Honors Gold; upgrade to Diamond by spending $40,000 in a calendar year | Hilton Honors Silver |
| Free nights | Free night reward after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year | None |
| Other benefits | No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
Car rental insurance (secondary, but can upgrade to premium car rental protection)* Extended warranty protection** Theft and accidental damage purchase protection** Baggage insurance** Complimentary ShopRunner membership Enrollment is required for select benefits | No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
Car rental insurance (secondary, but can upgrade to premium car rental protection)* Complimentary ShopRunner membership Enrollment is required for select benefits |
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Amex welcome offer
The Hilton Surpass is currently offering new applicants 170,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after they spend $3,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership. TPG values Hilton points at 0.6 cents each, so the welcome offer is worth $1,020 toward travel.
The Hilton Amex is currently offering 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership. TPG values Hilton points at 0.6 cents each, so the welcome offer is worth $600 toward travel.
Winner: Hilton Surpass
Related: Gold status for $150 a year: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card review
Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Amex benefits
Both cards are geared toward those who stay at Hilton portfolio properties, so you can expect to find a variety of benefits relating to Hilton property stays, among other benefits as well.
The Hilton Surpass comes with 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. You can get upgraded to Diamond status by spending $40,000 in a calendar year. You also receive a free night reward for use at eligible properties after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.
On the contrary, the Hilton Amex has no annual fee and provides complimentary Silver status, which provides a 20% bonus on all base points earned at Hilton portfolio properties. Both cards are similar in their benefits of no foreign transaction fees, car rental insurance for damage and theft, and a complimentary ShopRunner membership, but the Surpass has more shopping and travel protections.
Winner: Hilton Surpass
Related: Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Aspire: Which card is right for you?
Earning points with the Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Amex
The Hilton Surpass earns 12 points per dollar on eligible purchases of hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. The card also earns 6 points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases and earns 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases
The earning potential of the Hilton Amex is slightly less, however, still competitive for a card without an annual fee. It earns 7 points per dollar on eligible purchases of hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. The card also earns 5 points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations while earning 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases
Winner: Hilton Surpass
Related: 16 best ways to earn more Hilton Honors points
Redeeming points with the Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Amex
Both cards earn Hilton Honors points whenever the cards are used for purchases, and the points are deposited into your Hilton Honors account. Points can be redeemed for free nights (no blackout dates), Lyft rides, rental cars, transfers to airline partners, shopping, and experiences.
Hilton removed their award chart for hotel redemptions sometime ago. Therefore, the points you need for a free night vary depending on the hotel, room type, booking and stay dates.
The Points Explorer Tool that Hilton offers is an excellent way to determine how many points you'll need for a stay. Just enter 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.
Winner: Tie
Should I get the Hilton Surpass or the Hilton Amex?
The Hilton Surpass is one of the best mid-tier hotel credit cards out there and offers outsized value for its low $150 annual fee. However, if you don't need Hilton Honors Gold or Priority Pass lounge visits and want a no-annual-fee card to help you establish loyalty with Hilton, then the Hilton Amex is right for you.
How to upgrade from the Hilton Amex to the Hilton Surpass?
Upgrading from the Hilton Amex to the Hilton Surpass is simple by calling American Express customer service. However, switching to the Hilton Surpass 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.
Bottom line
The Hilton Surpass card provides Hilton Honors Gold status, lounge passes, the chance to earn a free night reward after meeting a spending requirement, and a lucrative earning structure for a humble annual fee of $150. However, if you are starting out with Hilton Honors, you might want to opt for the Hilton Amex to earn a bonanza of bonus points and enjoy Silver status without worrying about an annual fee. Then, you can always upgrade to the Hilton Honors Surpass later. Additionally, if you aren't eligible for the Surpass bonus again, as you have already had it, the Hilton Honors Amex can be the better option.
Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Card
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.