American Express

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

American Express and related product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Madeen is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of American Express. Madeen is an independent credit-card comparison and education service. Issuer websites control current terms, fees, and eligibility.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire3.5%
Dining at 3.5%$550 annual feeWelcome bonus
Top 92% for Dining
Highest earn rate in Dining at 3.5% effective value

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire from American Express earns up to 3.5% effective value on dining in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Its annual fee is $550. New applicants may see: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership..

Top category
Dining
Effective value
3.5%
Annual fee
$550
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card art

Best for dining-heavy spend when the $550 fee fits your usage; confirm issuer terms before applying. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 7x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement. Travel perks may add value beyond the earn rate.

Madeen analysis

What does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire earn in each category?

Dining is the strongest category at 3.5% effective value (7x points at about 0.5 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 92% of the 2,850 cards we track in that category. The five-category effective-rate table on this page shows how Hilton Honors American Express Aspire compares across dining, grocery, gas, travel, and other spend. Catalog spend signals highlight.

Dining is the strongest category at 3.5% effective value (7x points at about 0.5 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 92% of the 2,850 cards we track in that category. The five-category effective-rate table on this page shows how Hilton Honors American Express Aspire compares across dining, grocery, gas, travel, and other spend.

Category Earn rate Effective value
Dining
Restaurants, cafes, takeout
7x points 3.5% Top category
Grocery
Supermarkets and grocery stores
3x points 1.5%
Gas
Gas stations and fuel
3x points 1.5%
Travel
Flights, hotels, transit
7x points 3.5%
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.

Reward rules

What are the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire reward caps and conditions?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has 2 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.

  • 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com
  • 7X points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
Madeen take

Who should get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 7x points. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 7x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement. Travel perks may add value beyond the earn rate.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 7x points. Madeen ranks its dining effective rate higher than about 92% 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 7x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement. Travel perks may add value beyond the earn rate.

Compare it against simpler no-fee cards if you want minimum complexity.

Best for dining-heavy spend when the $550 fee fits your usage; confirm issuer terms before applying.

Pros

  • Strongest Madeen category is dining at about 3.5% effective (7x points).
  • That dining rate ranks higher than about 92% of cards we track in the category.
  • No foreign transaction fee listed.
  • Welcome bonus may add value if you can meet spend requirements.

Cons

  • $550 annual fee requires enough spend in bonus categories to offset.
  • Hilton Honors value depends on how you redeem, not straight cash back.
Welcome bonus

What is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire welcome bonus?

In Madeen's catalog snapshot, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire welcome offer is Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change — confirm on the.

Offer
175k Hilton Honors (~$875 estimated)
Terms (catalog snapshot)
Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Minimum spend
$6,000
Window
6Months
Fees

Does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire have an annual fee?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has an annual fee of $550 and a foreign transaction fee of None. Confirm current fees on the issuer page before applying.

Annual fee
$550
Foreign transaction fee
None
Travel perks

What travel perks does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire include?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire includes Trusted traveler credit, Free hotel night, $100 Property Credit, $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit and more in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them.

  • Trusted traveler credit

    $189 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Hilton Honors Aspire Card

  • Free hotel night

    Annual Free Night Reward - Enjoy one Free Night Reward with your new Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and every year after renewal

Benefits

What benefits come with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?

Madeen estimated annual value~$965
8 benefits summed · 8 coverage limits · 2 not valued
  • $400 Hilton Resort Credit

    $400/yr

    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.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $400/yr annual face value. Card-specific overrides recommended where amounts differ.

  • $200 Flight Credit

    $200/yr

    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 an airline or through amextravel.com using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from issuer terms — $50/quarter × 4 = $200/yr.

  • Concierge

    $150/yr

    is a complimentary service, for eligible Card Members. Our Lifestyle concierges provide expertise on what matters to you and can assist you with finding the best restaurants or buying tickets to upcoming events.

    How we value this

    Premium concierge service — editorial expected value $150/yr (not lounge-access proxy).

  • $100 Property Credit

    $100/yr

    With your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, book a 2 night minimum stay at hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com and get up to $100 in credits for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts.

    How we value this

    Statement credit face value from title — $100 (annualized where frequency is stated in title).

  • Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

    $40/yr

    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.

    How we value this

    Expected value of primary rental car coverage vs buying CDW at counter.

  • Free Night Reward

    $25/yr

    Earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after making $30,000 in purchases and another after making $60,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.

    How we value this

    Conservative expected value for insurance/protection benefits based on typical claim likelihood.

  • Global Dining Access by Resy

    $25/yr

    Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card to your Resy profile.

    How we value this

    Conservative expected value for insurance/protection benefits based on typical claim likelihood.

  • Premium Global Assist® Hotline

    $25/yr

    You have access to 24/7 medical, legal, financial, and other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles from home. Premium Global Assist® Hotline can direct you to medical and legal professionals and help with prescription replacement coordination, emergency hotel check-ins and cash wires, missing luggage, and more. 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.

    How we value this

    Conservative expected value for insurance/protection benefits based on typical claim likelihood.

  • Purchase Protection

    Up to $50,000 coverage

    Sometimes your favorite new purchase gets stolen, accidentally damaged, or lost. 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.

    How we value this

    Insurance coverage limit up to $50,000 per claim — informational; not summed into annual value (realized only on a successful claim).

  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

    Up to $20,000 coverage

    Despite our best efforts, sometimes things happen that are out of our control. If you purchase a round trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance can help reimburse your non-refundable expenses purchased with the same Eligible Card, up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

    How we value this

    Insurance coverage limit up to $20,000 per claim — informational; not summed into annual value (realized only on a successful claim).

  • Extended Warranty

    Up to $10,000 coverage

    Why is it that as soon as a Manufacturer's Warranty runs out, something always seems to happen? Use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases and you can have warranty protection for longer. Extended Warranty matches the Original Manufacturer's Warranty for up to one additional year when you use your Eligible Card. Applies to warranties of 5 years or less on Covered Purchases in the United States or its territories or possessions.

    How we value this

    Insurance coverage limit up to $10,000 per claim — informational; not summed into annual value (realized only on a successful claim).

  • Baggage Insurance Plan

    Up to $2,000 coverage

    Travel more comfortably knowing you can be covered for lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage when you purchase the Entire Fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) on an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, which includes up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to $1,000 for any High Risk Items such as jewelry and electronics, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.

    How we value this

    Insurance coverage limit up to $2,000 per claim — informational; not summed into annual value (realized only on a successful claim).

Spend bonuses

What annual spend bonuses does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire offer?

  • One Free Night Reward after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year

Common questions about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

Where do cardholders spend most with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?

Madeen's RewardsCC catalog snapshot shows the strongest bonus categories on coffee (7x), fast food (7x), other food and drink (7x) for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire. These are anonymized issuer category signals, not individual cardholder transactions. Route everyday spend through categories that match your habits, then compare effective rates with Madeen at checkout.

Is the Amex Hilton Aspire card worth it?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire from American Express earns up to 3.5% effective value on dining in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Its annual fee is $550. New applicants may see: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership..

How much is 42,000 Hilton points worth?

Dining is the strongest Madeen category for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire at about 3.5% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page.

Does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire have an annual fee?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire carries an annual fee of $550 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.

What category earns the most with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?

Dining is the strongest Madeen category for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire at about 3.5% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page.

Does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire charge foreign transaction fees?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire 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.

Compare

How does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire compare to similar cards?

Compare the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire against Hilton Honors American Express Surpass (3% on Dining, $150 fee); Hilton Honors Business (3% on Dining, $195 fee); Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express (2.8% on Dining, $250 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.

CardTop categoryEffective valueAnnual fee
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
This card
Dining3.5%$550
Dining3%$150
American Express
Dining3%$195
Dining2.8%$250
American Express
Dining2.8%$125
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Reviewed by Madeen editorial review
Catalog snapshot 2026-05-01
Updated 2026-07-18
Data source Madeen catalog analysis

American Express and related product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Madeen is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of American Express. Madeen is an independent credit-card comparison and education service. Issuer websites control current terms, fees, and eligibility.

Madeen compares cards you add to your wallet using published catalog rules — no bank login required. Issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice. Apply links are temporarily hidden on madeen.app. Affiliate disclosure

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