Card comparison · American Express
Hilton Surpass vs Hilton Aspire
The Hilton Surpass ($150 annual fee) ranks #72 and the Hilton Aspire ($550) ranks #23 of the 294 credit cards we score. Here they are side by side, from our card database.
Side by side
| Hilton Surpass | Hilton Aspire | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | American Express | American Express |
| Annual fee | $150 | $550 |
| Welcome offer | Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass(R) Card after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. | Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. |
| Rewards |
|
|
| Intro APR | — | — |
| Ongoing APR | — | — |
| Balance transfer fee | — | — |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Our overall score | 57 (#72 of 294) | 65 (#23 of 294) |
| Grocery ranking | #39 of 57 | not in this list |
| Gas ranking | #40 of 43 | not in this list |
| Dining ranking | #64 of 67 | #13 of 67 |
| Hotel ranking | #5 of 23 | #3 of 23 |
| Apply now | Apply now |
Offers, fees and APRs are shown as stored in our database and can change at any time; terms apply. Always confirm current terms on the issuer’s site before applying. Not financial advice. Partner links, where they exist, never change the order. Affiliate disclosure.
Which one fits you
- Higher overall score: Hilton Aspire (65 vs 57). Our score weighs rewards value, fees, the welcome offer and APR; see how we score cards.
- Lower annual fee: Hilton Surpass, by $400 a year ($150 vs $550). The pricier card has to earn at least $400 more in rewards or credits you actually use to come out ahead.
- Grocery: only Hilton Surpass is in our grocery ranking (#39 of 57).
- Gas: only Hilton Surpass is in our gas ranking (#40 of 43).
- Dining: Hilton Aspire ranks higher in our dining ranking (#13 vs #64 of 67).
- Hotel: Hilton Aspire ranks higher in our hotel ranking (#3 vs #5 of 23).
How we compared them
Every figure comes from our card database (checked against each issuer’s site) as of October 21, 2026 and is shown as stored, without our own estimates. Ranks use our overall score and, for categories, the score each category ranking is built on. Neither card can pay to rank higher, and partner links never change a score or an order. Terms apply; confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hilton Surpass better than the Hilton Aspire?
By our overall score the Hilton Aspire ranks higher (65 vs 57), but the better card is the one that fits your spending: compare the rewards rows above with where you spend most, and whether you'd use enough of the higher-fee card's benefits to cover its fee.
Which has the lower annual fee, Hilton Surpass or Hilton Aspire?
The Hilton Surpass: $150 vs $550, as stored in our database.
What are the welcome offers on the Hilton Surpass and Hilton Aspire?
Hilton Surpass: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass(R) Card after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Hilton Aspire: Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offers change often; terms apply.
Which is better for everyday categories like dining, groceries or travel?
Grocery: only Hilton Surpass is in our grocery ranking (#39 of 57). Gas: only Hilton Surpass is in our gas ranking (#40 of 43). Dining: Hilton Aspire ranks higher in our dining ranking (#13 vs #64 of 67). Hotel: Hilton Aspire ranks higher in our hotel ranking (#3 vs #5 of 23).