Perhaps you already have a travel credit card or two. Maybe your cards, like the Chase Ultimate Rewards® card, earn flexible point currencies. Or maybe you have a card that earns airline miles. Whatever the case, now you’re considering adding a Hilton credit card to the mix.

The only problem? You’re not familiar with Hilton cards — and there are a lot of them. So, let’s take a beginner-friendly look at Hilton credit cards so you can find the card that best suits your needs.

An overview of Hilton credit cards

Like many other hotel chains, Hilton features a handful of co-branded credit cards. These cards, issued by American Express, offer benefits when staying at Hilton properties. There are a total of four Hilton credit cards, including one small-business option. Annual fees and perks vary from one card to the next.

As the annual fee increases, you’ll find correspondingly better benefits. Your situation will dictate which card you can afford.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

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Rates & Fees

The Hilton Honors American Express Card comes with few ongoing benefits, but does include a generous welcome offer: Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

The card also gives you complimentary Silver elite status, which entitles you to additional bonus points, your fifth night free on award redemptions, and free bottled water.

You’ll earn 7 points per $1 spent at Hilton and 5 points per $1 spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. All other eligible purchases earn 3 points per $1 spent.

All this for a $0 annual fee. Terms apply.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

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Rates & Fees

The second of Hitlon’s consumer credit cards, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, charges a $150 annual fee. Earn 170,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Not only will you earn 12 points per $1 spent at Hilton, 6 points per $1 spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations and 4 points per $1 spent on U.S. online retail, you’ll also be granted Gold elite status as long as you hold the card. Terms apply.

Hilton’s Gold status is substantially more rewarding than Silver, entitling you to room upgrades and daily food and beverage credits for you and a guest.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card also comes with 10 complimentary visits per year to Priority Pass airport lounges around the world. Note that existing cardholders who enrolled in Priority Pass on or before Jan. 31, 2023, will no longer have a membership as of Feb. 1, 2024. Cardholders who enroll between Feb. 1, 2023 and Jan. 31, 2024, will continue to have membership through Oct. 31, 2024. Terms apply.

Finally, if you’re a heavy spender, you also have the ability to earn a free night certificate when you use the card for $15,000 in spending in a calendar year.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

With Hilton’s premium credit card offering, you’ll be on the hook for a $550 annual fee. Don’t rule it out, though. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes a bevy of benefits that can more than make up for the annual fee if you're a savvy traveler.

First off, there's the welcome bonus: Earn 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 1/17/2024. Terms apply.

But that’s not all. Cardholders also enjoy:

Complimentary Diamond elite status.

An annual free night award.

Up to $400 of resort credit annually.

Up to $200 of airfare credit annually.

$189 Clear membership credit.

Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership.

Terms apply.

These benefits are industry-leading; no other credit card offers top-tier elite status to its cardholders.

You’ll also receive 14 points per $1 spent on eligible Hilton purchases, 7 points per $1 spent on select airfare and rental cars and at U.S. restaurants, and 3 points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

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Rates & Fees

The only small-business card that Hilton offers, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card charges a $95 annual fee.

The benefits that come with this $95 annual fee mimic many of those from the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. Those benefits include:

Gold elite status.

Priority Pass visits.

Free night rewards with qualifying spend.

The ability to spend your way to higher status.

Like the other cards on this list, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card comes with a welcome bonus. Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first three months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Comparing Hilton credit cards

Here's the CliffsNotes version of the personal Hilton credit cards available.

How many points are needed for a free night?

Hilton has done away with its award chart in favor of dynamic pricing. The minimum number of Hilton points you’ll need to book a standard room is 5,000, but the cost to book a room at a high-end property can reach upward of 120,000.