6 Best Hilton Credit Cards of [date:custom:Y]: What to Know
The [data-lightrail id="1302"]{name}[/data-lightrail] offers an excellent welcome offer, strong earning rate and premium travel benefits — making it our top pick.
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Best Hilton cards
[visual-toc-creditcards ids="1302,1828,923,1155,54,1304" links="#Winner,#Luxury,#No,#Business,#General,#Transfer"]Winner | Luxury benefits | No annual fee | Business travel | General premium travel | Transfer points to Hilton[/visual-toc-creditcards]Hilton offers a variety of credit cards that can help you earn rewards to use toward free night stays at one of their more than 7,000 properties worldwide. So whether you’re an occasional guest or a Hilton road warrior, there’s likely a Hilton Honors credit card for you.
These cards offer generous rewards rates, valuable welcome offers, free night stays, complimentary elite statuses and more. But keep in mind, the more robust the benefits and higher the rewards rate, the higher the annual fee will be. Also, the best Hilton card for you may not be an actual Hilton-branded credit card, but instead a travel card — like [data-lightrail id="54"]{name}[/data-lightrail] —- that provides the flexibility to transfer your points to the Hilton Honors program at a solid rate.
Compare the best Hilton credit cards of [date:custom:Y]
[table-creditcard-roundup ids="1302,1828,923,1155,54,1304" links="#Winner,#Luxury,#No,#Business,#General,#Transfer" max_default_rows="30"]Winner | Hilton points | No annual fee | Business | General Travel | Transfer points to Hilton[/table-creditcard-roundup]Winner
[affiliate-lightrail id="1302" view="benefits_box" featured_title="Winner" signupbonus="true" /] [data-lightrail id="1302"]{signUpBonus}. {rewardsRateDesc}
The {name} is our pick because it offers an outstanding welcome offer, generous earning rate and valuable perks — all for a reasonable annual fee. You’ll get access to benefits like a Free Night Rewards after $15,000 spend in a calendar year, 10 free visits to Priority Pass™ Select lounges, automatic Hilton Honors Gold status (which includes an 80% points bonus on stays, daily food and beverage credits and more, enrollment required), a pathway to top-tier Diamond status and more. Along with an accel and great travel benefits. Dining, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations are categories where many people spend a lot, so the ability to get 6 points for every dollar spent is a nice feature. You'll also get Hilton Gold elite status (enrollment required) and a spending pathway to get top-tier Diamond status.
Luxury benefits
[affiliate-lightrail id="1828" view="benefits_box" featured_title="Luxury benefits" signupbonus="true" /] [data-lightrail id="1828"]The {name} is Hilton's luxury credit card that comes with its highest level of benefits and rewards earning rate. {rewardsRateDesc}. You'll also get the following welcome offer: {signUpBonus}
While the {name} does come with a {fee.annual.text} annual fee, it’s also packed full of benefits, including top-tier Hilton Diamond elite status (which comes with a 100% points earning bonus on stays, executive lounge access, premium Wi-Fi and much more), Priority Pass airport lounge access and a free night award every year.
Plus, you can more than make up for the annual fee just by taking advantage of the card’s resort credit, airline fee credit and $100 property credit each year.
No annual fee
[affiliate-lightrail id="923" view="benefits_box" featured_title="No annual fee" signupbonus="true" /] [data-lightrail id="923"]The {name} offers a lower welcome offer and earning rate than the mid-level and premium Hilton Honors cards; however, it’s also the only Hilton card that doesn’t charge with a {fee.annual.text} annual fee. {signUpBonus} {rewardsRateDesc}
If you want to boost your balance of Hilton Honors points without paying an annual fee, you might want to look at the {name}. The card offers mediocre travel benefits compared to the other Hilton cards, but its {fee.annual.text} annual fee and solid rewards rate can still make this card worth your while.
Business travel
[affiliate-lightrail id="1155" view="benefits_box" featured_title="Business travel" signupbonus="true" /] [data-lightrail id="1155"]If you’re a small business owner who travels on a regular basis, you should consider The {name}. You can get the following welcome offer: {signUpBonus} Plus, {rewardsRateDesc}
If you want to earn rewards to help offset the cost of business travel and you frequently stay at Hilton properties, you should look at The {name}. Similar to the [data-lightrail id="1302"]{name}[/data-lightrail], it comes with a generous welcome offer, Hilton Honors Gold status, 10 complimentary airline lounge visits, the ability to earn a free night reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year and a {fee.annual.text} annual fee.
Plus, you can earn a second free night reward after spending $60,000 in a calendar year.
General premium travel
[affiliate-lightrail id="54" view="benefits_box" featured_title="General premium travel" signupbonus="true" /] [data-lightrail id="54"]Because you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors points at a rate of 1:1, the four Hilton American Express cards are not your only options for boosting your Hilton Honors point balance.
{signUpBonus} Plus, {rewardsRateDesc}
If you're looking for a premium card with luxury benefits but want one that is more flexible than the [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail], the {name} is a good option. Along with redeeming your Membership Rewards points for travel, statement credits and more, points can be transferred to American Express travel partners — which includes the Hilton Honors loyalty program.
While the {name} does come with a hefty {fee.annual.text} annual fee, it also comes with Hilton Honors Gold elite status (enrollment required), the largest collection of airport lounges around and a variety of valuable travel credits.
Transfer points to Hilton
[affiliate-lightrail id="1304" view="benefits_box" featured_title="Transfer points to Hilton" signupbonus="true" /] [data-lightrail id="1304"]The {name} is another card that earns Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to Hilton Honors at a rate of 1:1.
{rewardsRateDesc} Plus, {signUpBonus}
If you prefer earning flexible card rewards instead of being tied down to only earning Hilton points, but can't justify the high fee of [data-lightrail id="54"]{name}[/data-lightrail], you may want to consider the {name}.
The {name} lets you transfer your rewards to a variety of airline and hotel programs, including Hilton. However, the card doesn’t offer any Hilton-specific benefits or complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership.
Pros and cons of Hilton credit cards
Pros
Cons
Who should get a Hilton Honors card?
If you’re loyal to Hilton-branded hotels and properties, you may want to consider a Hilton credit card, since they offer Hilton Honors elite status and let you earn a high earning rate on Hilton stays. Before deciding if a Hilton card is right for you, think about the following:
Consider this card | If you… |
|---|---|
| [data-lightrail id="1302"]{name}[/data-lightrail] | Want to earn a generous amount of Hilton points with only a reasonable annual fee. |
| [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail] | Plan to take advantage of the card’s premium benefits to help offset the card’s high annual fee. |
| [data-lightrail id="923"]{name}[/data-lightrail] | Want to boost your Hilton Honors rewards balance without paying an annual fee |
| [data-lightrail id="1155"]{name}[/data-lightrail] | Are a small business owner who regularly travels for work. |
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
Want to maximize your Hilton Honors points? Learn how to fast track to elite status.
What do you get with Hilton Elite status?
All of the Hilton-branded credit cards offer automatic Hilton Honors status. Depending on which card you get, you will receive a different level of status, and/or the ability to earn a higher-tier status by reaching a certain spending threshold.
Hilton Honors member status
Hilton Honors Silver status
- 20% Points earning bonus on stays
- Fifth night free on reward stays
- Two free bottles of water at select hotels
- The ability to rollover elite nights to get a headstart on next year's elite status
Hilton Honors Gold status
Both the [data-lightrail id="1302"]{name}[/data-lightrail] and [data-lightrail id="1155"]{name}[/data-lightrail] offer complimentary Gold elite status (enrollment required). You can also upgrade to top-tier Diamond elite status after spending $40,000 in a calendar year. Gold elite members get all of the benefits of Silver status and also get the following benefits:
- 80% Points earning bonus on stays
- Daily Food and Beverage Credit or Continental Breakfast (varies by brand and region)
- Space-available room upgrades
- 10,000 Bonus Points every 10 nights after you’ve stayed 40 nights in a calendar year
Hilton Honors Diamond status
The [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail] offers automatic Diamond elite status (enrollment required), which is the highest status that Hilton offers. Diamond elite members get the benefits of all lower levels of status, and also receive the following:
- 100% Points earning bonus on stays
- Executive lounge access where available
- 48-hour room guarantee
- The ability to gift elite status to another member once you hit 60 nights in a calendar year.
Additional Hilton credit card benefits
Hilton credit cards come with valuable travel benefits, like elevated rewards on Hilton hotel stays, no foreign transaction fees, car rental loss and damage insurance and Global Assist hotline. Here are a few of the Hilton credit card benefits you might be interested in:
- Up to $250 airline fee credit — The [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail] comes with a $250 airline fee credit that you can use for incidental charges like seat selection fees, baggage fees or in-flight refreshments after choose a designated airline at the beginning of the year
- $100 property credit — The [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail] also offers a $100 property credit when you book a stay at participating Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts.
- Priority Pass™ Select membership (enrollment required) — Several of the Hilton credit cards give you access to select airline lounges through the Priority Pass™ Select program. With the [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail], you get unlimited visits throughout the year, while the [data-lightrail id="1155"]{name}[/data-lightrail] and [data-lightrail id="1302"]{name}[/data-lightrail] give you 10 complimentary visits each year.
- Free night reward — You can earn free night awards with several of the Hilton cards as well. The [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail] gives one free night award each year as well as the ability to earn a second award if you spend $60,000 on your card in a calendar year. The [data-lightrail id="1302"]{name}[/data-lightrail] and [data-lightrail id="1155"]{name}[/data-lightrail] both give one free night award if you spend $15,000 on your card in a calendar year.
- Baggage insurance — The [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail] offers baggage insurance of up to $3,000 for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage.
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. [data-lightrail id="54"]{name}[/data-lightrail] and the [data-lightrail id="1304"]{name}[/data-lightrail] both have welcome offers of Membership Rewards points as well.
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. [data-lightrail id="54"]{name}[/data-lightrail] and the [data-lightrail id="1304"]{name}[/data-lightrail] 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 [data-lightrail id="923"]{name}[/data-lightrail], [data-lightrail id="1302"]{name}[/data-lightrail] and [data-lightrail id="1304"]{name}[/data-lightrail] 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 [data-lightrail id="1304"]{name}[/data-lightrail] and [data-lightrail id="54"]{name}[/data-lightrail] — 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 [data-lightrail id="1302"]{name}[/data-lightrail] and The [data-lightrail id="1155"]{name}[/data-lightrail].
- As the premium card option, the [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail] offers this night outright every account anniversary.
- Finally, The [data-lightrail id="1155"]{name}[/data-lightrail] 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 [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail], 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 after you enroll in the Hilton Honors program, from lowly Silver with the [data-lightrail id="923"]{name}[/data-lightrail] to top-tier Diamond status from the [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail], so picking any Hilton credit card will allow you to take advantage of the Hilton fifth night free benefit.
The best Hilton credit card for free weekend night rewards is the [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail], 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 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 [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail] comes with multiple travel credits, including an annual $250 resort credit, an annual airline incidental credit of up to $250 (enrollment required) and a $100 on-property credit for two or more nights at Conrad and Waldorf Astoria properties.
- [data-lightrail id="54"]{name}[/data-lightrail] offers a number of travel credits as well, including up to a $100 Global Entry/TSA Precheck application fee credit (enrollment required), 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 [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail] the most compelling in terms of travel credits. With both a $250 Hilton resort credit and an airline incidental credit up to $250 every year (enrollment required), the card stands head and shoulders as the best Hilton credit card for travel credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will generally need at least a [data-lightrail id="923"]{creditScore.neededLabel}[/data-lightrail] FICO credit score to qualify for an [data-lightrail id="923"]{name}[/data-lightrail] 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.
It's difficult to select one credit card as best due to the differing needs of each individual consumer. The [data-lightrail id="1302"]{name}[/data-lightrail] is generally a good choice for the typical consumer who wants to earn Hilton points, while the [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail] 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 [data-lightrail id="1302"]{name}[/data-lightrail] or the [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail]. If you have held your [data-lightrail id="1302"]{name}[/data-lightrail] for at least 12 months, you may be able to upgrade it to the [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail]. You cannot upgrade the [data-lightrail id="1828"]{name}[/data-lightrail] or the The [data-lightrail id="1155"]{name}[/data-lightrail]. American Express often sends out upgrade offers for their Hilton credit cards.
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 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.
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.
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.
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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).