Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a premium hotel credit card with well over $800 in yearly benefits, on top of an annual Free Night Reward upon card renewal. If you expect to stay with Hilton more than a couple of times a year, this card is worth consideration.
Let's take a closer look at the Hilton Aspire's welcome bonus, ongoing perks and alternative cards, so you can decide if it's the right credit card for you.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card grants you complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status and a Free Night Reward every year.
- Earn up to $889 in statement credits every year
- Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status
- Free Night Reward every year
- High annual fee
- Additional Free Night Rewards have high spending requirements
- Some credits are only earned quarterly or semi-annually, which makes them more complicated to fully maximize
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/26.
- Enjoy an Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal.
- Card Members can earn 14X Points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
- Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
- $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That's up to $400 back annually.
- $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $209 per calendar year in statement credits, when you pay for a CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you can earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend an additional $30,000 (for a total of $60,000) in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
- $100 Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a 2 night minimum stay with your Card at HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page, or call Hilton Honors at 855-292-5757 with the proper booking reference.
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
- Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Premium Global Assist® Hotline§ is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical, legal, and financial referrals. Emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost only if approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline. Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
- Points don't expire while your Hilton Honors American Express Card is active and in good standing.
- $550 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card review
Welcome bonus
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is currently offering 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/26. This offer gives you plenty of time to meet the spending requirement, which makes it a fairly easy bonus to earn.
Benefits and perks
This card has an incredible array of benefits. Even if you don't fully utilize all of them, it's not hard to justify the Hilton Aspire's annual fee with perks, such as:
- Hilton Honors Diamond status: You'll receive complimentary Hilton Diamond status, which is the second-highest elite status tier.
- Free Night Rewards: Every year after you renew the card, you'll receive a Free Night Reward that's valid at nearly any Hilton property. You can earn up to two additional free nights, one after spending $30,000 on your card in a calendar year and another after spending a total of $60,000 on purchases on your card in the same calendar year.
- Up to $400 in Hilton resort credit: Every year, you can receive up to $400 in statement credits for purchases at participating Hilton Resorts. You can earn up to two $200 credits semiannually (up to $200 in January through June and up to $200 in July through December).
- Up to $200 in flight credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for flight purchases made directly with an airline or through Amextravel.com using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- Up to $100 Waldorf and Conrad property credit: Receive up to $100 in credits for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts (two-night minimum stay required).
- $209 CLEAR+ credit: You can receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year when you pay for a CLEAR+ membership with your card (subject to auto-renewal).
How to earn and redeem Hilton Honors points
Earning Hilton Honors points
The Hilton Aspire card has several valuable spending categories. Purchases you make with this card earn:
- 14X points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
- 7X points on select travel, including flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com and rental cars booked directly with select car rental companies
- 7X points on dining at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
- 3X points on all other eligible purchases
Redeeming Hilton Honors points
The best way to use Hilton points is to book award stays at any of Hilton's 9,000+ locations. But figuring out how many points you'll need can be tricky. Hilton Honors prices award nights dynamically, which means the cost changes based on a variety of factors. You can use Hilton's points explorer tool to see typical price ranges for specific hotels.
While Hilton hotels can have outrageous point prices, especially if no lower-priced standard nights are available, there are ways to mitigate this cost. For example, all Hilton members with Silver status or higher can take advantage of a Fifth Night Free on award stays. You can utilize this perk on an unlimited number of stays for up to four free nights on a single stay.
You can also convert Hilton points to airline miles. However, the transfer ratios are awful, and you'll usually get far less value with this option.
Rates and fees
The Hilton Aspire has a $550 annual fee and does not charge foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).
Card comparison
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium card with similar costs and benefits. If you're open to moving at least some of your hotel stays to Marriott, the Bonvoy Brilliant could fulfill your need for free nights and elite status.
You'll receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status and a Free Night Award every year after you renew the card (valid for standard guest rooms costing 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or less). It also comes with up to $300 in dining credits every year (up to $25 per month in statement credits) and up to $100 in property credits for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book directly using a special rate (two-night minimum stay required).
The Bonvoy Brilliant also rewards high spenders with a Brilliant Earned Choice Award. You can earn this every calendar year after you spend $60,000 or more on eligible purchases with your Bonvoy Brilliant card. This perk allows you to choose to receive either five one-night upgrade awards, one Free Night Award (valid for standard guest rooms costing 85,000 Marriott points or less) or 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium hotel card that gives you high-level elite status, dining credits and a Free Night Award every year.
- Up to $300 in dining credit every year
- Free Night Award every year worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status
- High annual fee
- Marriott doesn't publish an award chart and the rewards are typically less valuable compared to the top travel cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 50% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) is an incredible travel credit card, and if you're brand agnostic, it can provide a lot of value for hotel stays.
The card has an annual $300 travel credit that's automatically earned when you make eligible purchases, including hotels and much more. You also receive complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum status (through Dec. 31, 2027), with the opportunity to earn IHG Diamond status (and many other benefits) after spending $75,000 on your card in a calendar year.
The card earns 8X points on Chase Travel℠ bookings (including hotels) and 4X points on directly-booked hotels. Every year, you'll receive up to $500 in credits for prepaid stays with Chase's The EditSM collection (up to $250 twice per year; two-night minimum stay required). You'll also receive up to $250 in statement credits for select prepaid Chase Travel hotel bookings (valid through Dec. 31, 2026; two-night minimum stay required).
While the Sapphire Reserve has a high $795 annual fee, you can receive over $1,000 in credits that can be applied to hotel stays in the first year. And that's on top of its long list of other benefits for dining, delivery, rideshare, entertainment and more (worth well over $1,400 a year).
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $288 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Is the Hilton Aspire card right for you?
The Hilton Aspire isn't for everyone, but if you stay with Hilton at least twice a year, you can justify its cost. The annual Free Night Rewards don't have a price cap, so that alone may be worth it, and the Diamond status you receive only increases your value with each stay.
However, this card's $550 annual fee (see rates and fees) is a commitment. Hilton has a large portfolio of properties, but if you prefer to price shop, you may find yourself with Aspire card benefits you are unable to use. In that case, a general travel card that earns flexible rewards or has hotel benefits may be a better fit.
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X to stay up to date.
Read more
For rates and fees for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors Aspire card, click here
