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American Express issues four co-branded Hilton credit cards, but only one — the
Hilton Credit Card Review: Is It the Best Card for You?
The
You can also earn bonus points in everyday spending categories, whether you're traveling or staying close to home. Along with 7 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases,
This card offers automatic Hilton Honors Silver elite status, which is the brand's lowest elite tier. It doesn't offer the widest range of benefits, but it does unlock one lucrative perk. Any Hilton elite status member (including Silver) qualifies for the fifth night free on award stays of five nights or more, so if you redeem points for longer stays, this can add up to significant savings.
Standard award nights at Hilton hotels start at 5,000 points and usually top out at 95,000 points for the most luxurious resorts (with a few exceptions) — so depending on where you redeem your rewards, the welcome bonus offer from the
If you stay at Hilton hotels even a couple of times a year, be sure to compare the benefits you'll receive from the other Hilton cards. For example, the
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Hilton Honors Credit Card Rewards
Hilton Honors Credit Card Welcome Bonus Offer
The
Insider considers Hilton points to be worth 0.5 cents each, on average. The points from this bonus, therefore, are worth around
How to Earn Points With the Hilton Honors Card
The
Cardholders earn:
- 7x points on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels
- 5 points per dollar spent at eligible US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations
- 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
The points you'll earn at eligible Hilton hotels are in addition to what you'd normally earn for paid Hilton stays (10x points at most brands) and any elite status bonus points you qualify for.
For example, with Silver elite status (which comes automatically with the card), you'll get a 20% bonus on base points for your stay, or a total of 12 points per dollar at most brands. Plus, when you use your
How to Use Points from the Hilton Credit Card
The Hilton Honors program includes over 7,000 hotels in 123 countries, so it's easy to redeem your points just about anywhere you go. You can earn and use Hilton points at 19 brands:
You'll usually get the best value from Hilton points by redeeming them for award nights, either for a completely free hotel stay or by combining points and cash. Hilton doesn't have a standard award chart; instead, the price of an award night at a particular hotel varies based on demand, cash price, and season.
Standard award nights start at 5,000 Hilton points and go all the way up to 150,000 points per night (though the cap for the vast majority of five-star hotels is 95,000 points). Premium awards (for better rooms, suites, or high-demand dates) can cost much more. Keep in mind the lowest-priced Hilton hotels are usually budget-friendly brands (like Tru by Hilton or Hampton Inn) located off the beaten path; upscale hotels in big cities or luxury resorts will cost more points.
For example, you can book an overwater villa at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island for 120,000 points a night instead of paying over $1,300 with cash. Or, you can stretch your points at hotels like the Hampton Inn Niagara Falls, which starts at 19,000 points per night. Always be sure to compare the cash price to the award rate, because sometimes the paid rate is so low it's better to save your points for a higher-value redemption.
The Silver elite status you automatically receive with the
Transfer Hilton points to airlines
Hilton Honors partners with over two dozen airlines, and you can transfer points at varying ratios depending on the program. This typically won't result in the best value, but if you won't be using points for stays it's an option for other types of travel.
Redeem Hilton points for experiences, events, merchandise, and more
Other options for redeeming Hilton points also won't get you the highest value, but they could be helpful in certain circumstances:
- Hilton experiences — Use points for exclusive events, dining, and tours
- Use Hilton points for event credits — Starting at 25,000 points for a $50 credit
- Redeem Hilton points at Amazon — A poor value; you'll get just 0.2 cents per point
- Donate Hilton points to charity — For every 10,000 points you donate, Hilton will send $25 to a charity of your choice
- Use Hilton points toward Lyft rides — Again, not the best value; you'll typically get around 0.2 cents per point
- Pool or transfer Hilton points to a friend — Send up to 2 million points per year to friends or family with no fee, or pool your points with up to 11 people to save for a redemption
Hilton points expire if there's no activity in your account for 24 months. Spending on a Hilton credit card like the
Hilton Credit Card Benefits and Features
The
Automatic Hilton Silver elite status
Cardholders receive Hilton Silver status as long as their card is open and in good standing. As Hilton's lowest elite tier, Silver status isn't exceptional, but it does come with a few handy perks:
- Fifth night free on award stays of five nights or more
- 20% points bonus on paid stays
- Free bottled water
- Elite rollover nights
However, suppose you spend $20,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year with your Hilton Honors American Express Card. In that case, you'll get upgraded to Hilton Gold elite status through the end of the following calendar year. Hilton Gold status is much more valuable and includes benefits like free breakfast at Hilton hotels (currently awarded as a food and beverage credit at US hotels), an 80% points bonus on paid stays, room upgrades when available, and milestone bonuses.
Car rental loss and damage insurance
When you pay for your car rental with the
Extended warranty
American Express cards are well known for offering excellent purchase protections, and the
When you use the card to pay for an eligible purchase, Amex will extend the manufacturer's warranty up to one additional year on original manufacturer's warranties of five years or less. You're covered for up to $10,000 per eligible purchase and up to $50,000 per account, per calendar year.
Purchase protection
If you pay for an eligible item with your
Global Assist Hotline
This service can provide help with issues like lost passport replacement, translation services, missing luggage assistance, and emergency legal and medical referrals, but you'll be responsible for any third-party costs incurred.
Amex Offers
Like other American Express cards, the
Hilton Credit Card Annual Fee and Other Costs
The
As with most other cards, other fees may apply to certain situations, including.
- Cash advance fee
- Late payment fee
- Returned payment fee
How the Hilton Credit Card Compares
Hilton Honors Credit Card vs Other American Express Hilton Cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 5 points per dollar spent at eligible US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 6 points per dollar spent at eligible US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 14 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 7 points per eligible dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, on car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies, and at eligible US restaurants 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
Welcome bonus offer | |||
Travel benefits | Hilton Silver elite status Upgrade to Gold status after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year | Hilton Gold elite status Upgrade to Diamond status after you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Free night certificate after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership** with 10 free visits per year | Hilton Diamond elite status Free night certificate each year on your card anniversary Another free night certificate after you spend a total of $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership Up to $250 in airline incidental fee credits per calendar year** Up to $250 in Hilton resort credits each cardmember year Up to $100 in on-property credits for minimum stays of two nights at participating Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties |
Other card benefits | Secondary car rental insurance Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers** No foreign transaction fees | Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees | Secondary car rental insurance Baggage insurance plan Premium Global Assist Hotline American Express Concierge Return protection Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees |
Review |
Hilton Honors Credit Card vs Other No-annual-fee Hotel Credit Cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 7 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels 5 points per dollar spent at eligible US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 3x points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels 2x points on other travel purchases 1 point per dollar on everything else | 5x points at IHG Hotels and Resorts 3x points on monthly bills, gas stations, and restaurants 2 points per dollar on everything else |
Welcome bonus offer | |||
Travel benefits | Hilton Silver elite status Upgrade to Gold status after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year | 15 elite night credits each calendar year | Fourth reward night free on award stays of three or more nights IHG Gold elite status when you spend $10,000 or more on purchases in a calendar year |
Other card benefits | Secondary car rental insurance Global Assist Hotline Purchase protection Extended warranty Access to discounts and bonus points through Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees | Lost luggage reimbursement Baggage delay insurance Trip delay reimbursement Purchase protection Visa Signature concierge No foreign transaction fees | Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Cell phone protection Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Travel accident insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Baggage delay insurance Travel and emergency assistance services Purchase protection Extended warranty 20% discount on IHG point purchases with your card No foreign transaction fees |
Review |
Hilton Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Hilton Credit Card worth it?
If you don't stay with Hilton very often, the
However, if you stay at Hilton hotels with any regularity, a card like the
Is the Hilton Amex free?
The
Does the Hilton Amex have foreign transaction fees?
The
Is the Hilton Amex a good card for beginners?
The
When does Hilton charge your card?
Hilton charges your card based on the rate you choose. If you book a prepaid rate (generally the cheapest), your card will be charged immediately. If you book a flexible rate, you often won't be charged until your stay.
If you book with points, your card won't be charged at all — unless there are taxes and fees associated with your stay. Points stays reap the benefits of flexible rates, as you can usually cancel them up to a few days before your stay for free. Just note that there are exceptions to this, and some hotels demand you cancel weeks in advance.
Methodology: How we reviewed the Hilton Credit Card
Insider's credit cards team compared the
We assessed several factors in our review, including:
- Ease of use — Is the card's reward structure easy to understand? Are there complex award charts to navigate, or is redeeming points straightforward?
- Rewards earning — Does the welcome bonus offer a value that's as good or better than similar cards? If there are bonus categories, do they appeal to a wide variety of users? Are any categories capped at a maximum spending limit?
- Fees — On no-annual-fee cards, are there other fees to be aware of, like foreign transaction fees or a high APR? And if the card charges an annual fee, do its benefits justify the cost?
- Benefits — Does the card come with money or time-saving perks that can upgrade your travel experience? Do any benefits stand out?
You can read our article on how we rate credit cards at Insider for a full breakdown of our methodology.