Is the Hilton Honors American Express Card Worth It?
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Written by
Katie Oelker
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a no-annual-fee hotel credit card that can offer tremendous value for those looking for perks without paying for them. It’s part of the Hilton Honors American Express suite of cards, which includes the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
For Hilton fans, the American Express Hilton Honors Card offers complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status and 7x points on Hilton hotel purchases made directly through Hilton. The card also earns 5x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, and 3x points on everything else.
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Quick Verdict
For Hilton enthusiasts with good-to-excellent credit, the Hilton Honors American Express Card is a strong choice for earning Hilton points and enjoying Silver status at no extra cost. The card is currently offering 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening. While the Hilton Surpass and Hilton Aspire cards offer higher welcome offers, the Amex Hilton Honors Card is a great starting point if you prefer a no-annual-fee travel credit card.
For those who want more complimentary benefits than the Hilton Honors Card offers, consider another card within the Hilton Honors suite. Hilton Surpass benefits include complimentary Gold status for a $150 annual fee, while the $550 annual fee on the Hilton Aspire can be worth it for perks such as Diamond status and an annual free night award.
Hilton Honors Amex Card: At a Glance
Here’s a breakdown of the Hilton Honors Amex Card:
- Annual fee: $0
- Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026.
- Rewards structure: Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Statement credits and perks: Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status, no foreign transaction fees
- Estimated value: $500 to $800, depending on how you redeem your rewards
Who Should Consider the Hilton Honors Amex?
Those who want to enjoy Hilton Honors Amex perks and earn Hilton points along the way, without paying an annual fee, are great candidates for this card. It’s hard to beat a co-branded card that offers complimentary Silver status and increased earnings in categories beyond hotel spending.
If you have at least a good credit score and plan to use your card at restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations in the U.S., the Hilton Honors Card is a great way to earn even more points in these categories. These points can then be redeemed for free or discounted nights through Hilton.
Who Should Skip the Hilton Honors Amex?
Those looking for even more benefits than the Hilton Honors no-annual-fee card offers should consider one of Hilton’s other co-branded cards. The Hilton Surpass and Hilton Aspire both come with higher annual fees but also offer higher welcome offers, more elevated spending categories, free night awards and statement credits.
However, those who aren’t Hilton loyalists and would rather earn points with other hotel chains or airlines, or who want flexible points to use elsewhere, should pass on the Hilton Honors Amex. There are plenty of alternatives that allow credit card users to earn points toward hotel and airline spending without paying an annual fee.
For example, you might consider an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards® points, such as the American Express Platinum Card® or American Express® Gold Card, both advertising partners. You can transfer points to over a dozen Amex airline and hotel partners, including Hilton Honors (1 Amex point = 2 Hilton points). Plus, the Amex Platinum also comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status after enrollment.
How To Maximize the Hilton Honors American Express Card’s Value
If you’re going to apply for the Hilton Honors Amex, here are a few tips to get the most out of the card.
Earn the Welcome Offer
If you apply for the card and are approved, be sure to spend at least $2,000 within the first six months of card opening to unlock the 100,000-point welcome offer. Those points could get you multiple award nights at lower-tier Hilton hotels or a night or two at fancier Hilton properties.
Use the Card for Bonus Category Spending Whenever Possible
The Hilton Honors Amex Card earns 5x points on U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, so it’s best to use this card at those places as often as possible. This will ensure you earn even more points to boost your rewards balance quickly.
Don’t Forget To Use the Card When You Book Hilton Properties
This sounds like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget. I once had to book a last-minute Hilton hotel over the phone and didn’t have my Hilton card on me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to earn the 7x points on that booking, which was a complete bummer.
Final Verdict on the Hilton Honors Honors Amex Card
The Amex Hilton Honors Card is worth it for those who want an easy way to earn Hilton points without paying an annual fee. However, I don’t recommend opening the credit card unless you can meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome offer. Don’t make the mistake I did — use the card for everything once you open it until you hit that minimum amount!
Although I missed the welcome offer years ago, I still hold this card and use it to earn points when I know I’ll be staying at a Hilton. I also use it to book Hilton hotels to earn 7x points. As a cardholder with Silver status, I am often invited to a Hilton Grand Vacations ownership presentation that includes a significantly discounted stay at a Hilton property. My husband and I have done this in both Las Vegas and Orlando.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hilton Honors Honors Card
How many points do you need to redeem for a Hilton Honors hotel night?
Hilton points can be redeemed for award stays starting at 5,000 points per night and going all the way up to 650,000 points per night. Many properties can be booked for 60,000 to 80,000 points per night.
Is it hard to get a Hilton Honors Amex card?
The Hilton Honors card can be challenging to obtain if you do not have good to excellent credit. You must also be at least 18 to apply and need a valid SSN or ITIN.
Is the Hilton Honors American Express card a good card?
The Hilton Honors American Express is a sound card for those who don’t want to pay an annual fee, but are looking to earn Hilton points from everyday spending and get complimentary Silver status. Those looking for more perks, including Gold and Diamond status, may want to consider a Hilton annual-fee card, such as the Hilton Surpass or Hilton Aspire.
What are the benefits of the Hilton Honors Amex Card?
Hilton Honors Amex Card benefits include elevated earning rates at Hilton hotels, U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. It offers complimentary Hilton Silver status, which unlocks the fifth night free on standard points award stays and comes with a handful of other perks.
Does the American Express Hilton Honors Card have an introductory APR offer?
No, the Hilton Honors Amex does not offer an introductory 0% APR like some other no-annual-fee cards do. It charges a 19.74%-28.74% Variable APR on purchases.
