Best credit card at Hilton
According to Kiwii, which ranks cards by computed math rather than commissions, the best card at Hilton for a typical $1,500/year shopper is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass, netting about $158 per year after fees.
+$158/yr
net back per year with Hilton Honors American Express Surpass
| Card | Rate hereRate | Annual feeFee | CreditsCred. | Net / yearNet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.2% (12x pts) | $150 | $200 | $158 | Learn more | |
| 4.2% (7x pts) | None | — | $63 | Learn more | |
| 3% | None | — | $45 | Learn more |
Figures computed from issuer terms including earning caps and annual fees, at typical yearly spend for this merchant. Figures updated August 11, 2026. Some links may earn Kiwii a commission; commissions never affect the ranking. How Kiwii makes money
This math assumes $1,500/year at Hilton and an empty wallet.
Your real answer depends on everything you spend and the cards you already carry. Kiwii Match runs this same math across your actual spending and tells you which card or combo earns you the most, and what you're missing per year with the cards you have now.
Free, no account, about 60 seconds.
- Below about $50,100/year, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass wins. Above that, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's 8.4% rate overtakes its $550 annual fee.
- The 7.2% rate at Hilton depends on how this merchant is coded by the card network, which can change.
- Requires a Costco membership, $65 per year and up, which is not counted in the math above.
- Point cards are valued at their cash redemption rate (Hilton Honors at 0.6¢ per point). Transfer or portal redemptions can be worth more; that upside is not counted.
- Stay with Hilton often? Hilton's own cards add perks like free nights and elite status that this cash-back math doesn't count. Run your match to see if they win for your full spending.
Hilton is categorized as Hotels for rewards purposes, which is what determines the bonus rate most cards pay here.