If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Ascent. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has quickly become a cult favorite amongst travel rewards junkies. This broad appeal is less common for a cobranded hotel card, given that its rewards are mostly only useful to travelers who stay with Hilton regularly. But with a long list of high-value perks that more than make up for the card's moderately high annual fee (see rates and fees), it's not surprising that people love it. Find out more in this Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card review.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.99% to 29.99%, variable
Rewards 14 points per $1 at Hilton properties, 7 points per $1 on flights booked directly with the airline, rental cars booked through certain agencies, and dining in eligible U.S. restaurants, 3 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases
3X - 14x points
Annual Fee
$550
Welcome Offer 150,000 Hilton Honors points by spending $6,000 in the first six months of card opening
150,000 Hilton Honors points
This card comes with a high annual fee, but if you travel frequently and love to stay with Hilton, the benefits of the card can easily outweigh the fee.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
20,000 ThankYou® Points Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | Up to 2% cash back 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
||
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
||
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
This credit card is a good fit for: Frequent guests of Hilton Hotels who want to significantly upgrade their travels. Consumers who stay at Hilton's higher-end properties will get the most out of this card.
These are the top perks of this card:
You'll earn 150,000 Hilton Honors points if you can spend $6,000 in the first six months of card opening. You can squeeze upwards of $800 in value out of this welcome bonus. Terms apply.
See more: Best American Express Cards
You'll earn 14 points per $1 spent at Hilton properties. Those points add up quickly if you're a Hilton loyalist. This card also gets you 7 points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with the airline or AmexTravel.com, rental cars booked directly with certain companies, and dining in eligible U.S. restaurants. Even given the low value of Hilton Honors points, this is a pretty good earn rate. The same is true of the 3 points you'll earn on all other purchases. Terms apply.
Read more: Best Rewards Credit Cards
As a premium travel credit card, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers generous annual statement credits. Here's a rundown of the various statement credits:
Like most premium travel credit cards, this one also comes with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership with enrollment. The membership grants access into over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide for you and two guests. Terms apply.
See more: Best Credit Cards With Airport Lounge Access
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is the only major hotel credit card that gives you automatic status at the highest tier possible. With Diamond status, you'll get 100% bonus points on stays, complimentary breakfast, executive lounge access, and suite upgrades, among other perks, when you're enrolled. Terms apply.
You'll get one free weekend night award on each cardmember anniversary, plus another free night award if you spend $60,000 in a calendar year. Terms apply.
To learn more about the card perks offered, check out our guide on Hilton Honors Aspire Card benefits.
There are some areas that could be improved upon:
At $550, this card is far from cheap. However, it's still lower than other premium travel credit cards. The benefits easily make up for the annual fee. It's only a good card if you stay with Hilton often enough to take full advantage of the rewards, though. (See rates and fees)
Read more: Best Credit Cards
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
You'll need good to excellent credit -- a FICO® Score of at least 670 -- to have a good shot at qualifying for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Aim for a credit score above 700. This is Hilton's premium credit card, so credit score requirements reflect its status. You should also be aware of some important American Express application rules.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card seems like a no-brainer for Hilton-loyal frequent travelers. Folks who can't see themselves using the Hilton Resort credit or the on-property credit for Waldorf and Conrad properties might find it harder to justify the annual fee. Even then, it can be easily recouped through the automatic Diamond status, free weekend night, and complimentary airport lounge access. As long as you stay with Hilton enough to make use of your Diamond status and the premium points on Hilton purchases, this card may prove valuable.
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
The minimum starting credit limit for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is $3,100. American Express based your credit limit on your income, credit profile, and other factors, so it's possible to receive a much higher limit. Some applicants have reported limits of $20,000 or more.
It's usually not hard to get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card if you have good credit. Applicants should aim for a FICO® Score of 670 or higher.
Yes, you can use the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card internationally, and it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here
The Motley Fool recommends Amex.