Hilton Honors
The Hilton Honors from American Express earns up to 2.5% effective value on dining in Madeen's catalog snapshot. It has no annual fee. New applicants may see: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.. Madeen compares this card against the cards you already carry — no bank login required.
- Top category
- Dining
- Effective value
- 2.5%
- Annual fee
- $0
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Madeen compares public issuer terms with its card-rule catalog. Issuer pages control rewards, fees, benefits, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice.
What does the Hilton Honors earn in each category?
Dining is the strongest category at 2.5% effective value (5x points at about 0.5 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 64% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Dining is the strongest category at 2.5% effective value (5x points at about 0.5 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 64% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category.
| Category | Earn rate | Effective value |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Restaurants, cafes, takeout | 5x points | 2.5% Top category |
| Grocery Supermarkets and grocery stores | 5x points | 2.5% |
| Gas Gas stations and fuel | 5x points | 2.5% |
| Travel Flights, hotels, transit | 3x points | 1.5% |
| Other General everyday spend | 3x points | 1.5% |
Madeen values Hilton Honors at about 0.5 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.
What are the Hilton Honors reward caps and conditions?
The Hilton Honors has 3 notable cap or condition rule(s) in Madeen's catalog, including activation windows, spend limits, and category exclusions. Review each bullet below before assuming unlimited earn rates. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- 5X points on dining At U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- 5X points on gas At U.S. gas stations
- 5X points on groceries At U.S. supermarkets
Who should get the Hilton Honors?
The Hilton Honors fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 5x points. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 5x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.
Hilton Honors fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 5x points. Madeen ranks its dining effective rate higher than about 64% of the catalog in that category. Compare it against cards you already carry with Madeen — no bank login required.
Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 5x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.
Compare it against simpler no-fee cards if you want minimum complexity.
Best for dining-heavy spend when you want to avoid an annual fee; confirm issuer terms before applying. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Pros
- Strongest Madeen category is dining at about 2.5% effective (5x points).
- No annual fee in our catalog snapshot.
- No foreign transaction fee listed.
- Welcome bonus may add value if you can meet spend requirements.
Cons
- Multiple caps, activations, or exclusions may limit headline earn rates.
- Hilton Honors value depends on how you redeem, not straight cash back.
Does the Hilton Honors have an annual fee, and what's the welcome bonus?
The Hilton Honors has an annual fee of $0 and a foreign transaction fee of None. New applicants may see: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.. Confirm current issuer terms before applying.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Signup bonus
- Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
What benefits come with the Hilton Honors?
The Hilton Honors includes Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance, Global Assist® Hotline, Hilton Honors Silver Status in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
Getting into your Rental Vehicle can be the start of a great vacation. When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the Rental Company counter, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
- Global Assist® Hotline
Sometimes the unexpected happens when you travel. A passport is lost. You come down with a sudden illness. A lawyer is needed. Being a Card Member can make things easier. Global Assist® Hotline‡ can help you prepare for your trip with customs information and more. And while you're traveling more than 100 miles from home, coordination and assistance services such as lost passport replacement assistance, translation services, missing luggage assistance, and emergency legal and medical referrals are a phone call away.
- Hilton Honors Silver Status
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
- Purchase Protection
Sometimes your favorite new purchase gets stolen or accidentally damaged. But when you use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases, your Membership can help protect them for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date, subject to the Coverage Limits.
- ShopRunner
Get free 2-day shipping on eligible items at a growing network of 100+ online stores with ShopRunner.
What annual spend bonuses does the Hilton Honors offer?
- Hilton Honors Gold status - spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year
Common questions about the Hilton Honors
Does the Hilton Honors have an annual fee?
The Hilton Honors carries an annual fee of $0 in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Issuer terms can change, so confirm the current fee on the issuer's site before you apply. Madeen does not predict approval or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What category earns the most with the Hilton Honors?
Dining is the strongest Madeen category for the Hilton Honors at about 2.5% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Does the Hilton Honors charge foreign transaction fees?
The Hilton Honors does not charge a foreign transaction fee in Madeen's catalog snapshot, which can make it stronger for purchases outside the U.S. Issuer terms still control international acceptance and other fees. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What is the Hilton Honors welcome bonus?
The Hilton Honors welcome offer in our snapshot: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change.
What credit score do you need for the Hilton Honors?
Madeen's catalog lists a typical credit range of Good to Excellent for the Hilton Honors. Issuers decide approval using their own criteria; Madeen does not predict approval odds or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
How do you redeem rewards on the Hilton Honors?
Rewards on the Hilton Honors post as Hilton Honors. Redemption value depends on how you use Hilton Honors (statement credit, travel, transfers, or issuer portals). Madeen shows effective cash-equivalent rates using standard valuations. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
How does the Hilton Honors compare to similar cards?
Compare the Hilton Honors against Hilton Honors American Express Aspire (3.5% on Dining, $550 fee); Hilton Honors American Express Surpass (3% on Dining, $150 fee); Hilton Honors Business (3% on Dining, $95 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.
| Card | Top category | Effective value | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Hilton Honors This card | Dining | 2.5% | $0 |
American Express | Dining | 3.5% | $550 |
American Express | Dining | 3% | $150 |
American Express | Dining | 3% | $95 |
American Express | Dining | 2.8% | $250 |
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