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Amex Gold vs Hilton Honors Surpass: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
American Express® Gold Card: This card is ideal for earning premium rewards on dining at restaurants worldwide and spending at U.S. supermarkets.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is great for frequent Hilton guests looking to earn points on hotel stays and everyday purchases like at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
American Express® Gold Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of what makes the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) a compelling choice for many cardholders.
It offers generous rewards on everyday spending categories like dining at restaurants, buying groceries, and booking flights (Terms Apply).
Cardholders receive valuable monthly statement credits for dining and Uber, which can help offset the annual fee (Terms Apply).
The card includes useful travel benefits, such as no foreign transaction fees and flexible point redemption options with various airline and hotel partners (Terms Apply).
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Pros
Earns bonus points on two major spending categories: dining out and U.S. supermarkets (Terms Apply).
Offers annual credits for dining and Uber that are easy to use for many cardholders (Terms Apply).
Provides flexible travel redemption options, including valuable airline and hotel transfer partners, and has no foreign transaction fees (Terms Apply).
Cons
Carries a notable annual fee.
Benefits like annual credits are distributed in monthly increments, and some perks require enrollment to use (Terms Apply).
Acceptance is more limited than Visa or Mastercard, which can be an issue with some merchants.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here's a detailed look at why we're fans of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® (See Rates & Fees).
- The card comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, unlocking elite travel perks like room upgrades.
- It features a valuable Welcome Offer and strong rewards on everyday purchases like dining and groceries.
- You can earn a Free Night Reward annually and get your fifth night free on award stays, stretching your points further.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Pros
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status unlocks valuable perks like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties.
- A strong Welcome Offer for new cardmembers and high earning potential on both Hilton stays and everyday purchases.
- Valuable travel benefits, including an annual Free Night Reward after meeting spending requirements, a fifth-night-free perk on award stays, and no foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- The value of Hilton Honors points can be inconsistent, as the program uses a dynamic pricing model for award nights.
- Unlike some premium cards, a Free Night Reward isn't automatic and requires meeting a high annual spending threshold.
- It lacks some top-tier travel benefits, such as airport lounge access and primary rental car insurance.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs American Express® Gold Card
Categories
When deciding which is better, Amex Gold or Hilton Honors Surpass, it's essential to understand that each card is designed for different spending habits and travel styles.
- American Express® Gold Card is best for individuals who spend a lot on dining at restaurants and buying groceries, as well as for travelers who book flights directly with airlines.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is tailored for frequent guests of Hilton portfolio hotels and everyday spenders who want to earn hotel rewards on common U.S. purchases.
Redemption
American Express® Gold Card: Points earned with this card are part of the Membership Rewards program, offering flexible redemption options like transferring to airline and hotel partners. You can also use points for statement credits, gift cards, or booking travel directly through American Express.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Rewards are earned as Hilton Honors Bonus Points, which are primarily redeemed for free nights and room upgrades across the Hilton portfolio. Points can also be used for exclusive experiences or with select travel partners.
Travel Perks
- American Express® Gold Card: Features a flexible travel ecosystem via the Membership Rewards program, allowing reward transfers to various airline partners for miles. While it has no foreign transaction fees, it does not offer complimentary broad airport lounge access as a core perk. Terms Apply.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Its travel ecosystem is focused on the Hilton portfolio of hotels. Cardholders receive a Priority Pass membership that grants a number of complimentary airport lounge visits annually. This card also comes with no foreign transaction fees. Terms Apply.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
Kudos is a financial companion that evaluates nearly 3,000 credit cards, helping you find the best match for your unique spending habits.
- Test Drive Cards: Before applying, you can test drive a card to see personalized calculations of your potential earnings based on your actual spending history.
- Approval Odds Analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your chances of approval for different cards based on your credit report.
- Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, they will match it.
- Kudos Boost: Earn additional rewards on top of your credit card rewards when you shop at participating stores.
- Track Your Finances: Monitor your transactions, spending, and credit score all in one place.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?
The American Express® Gold Card is primarily designed for foodies and frequent travelers who can maximize its rewards structure. It's an ideal choice for those who spend significantly on dining out and at U.S. supermarkets, as the card offers 4X points in these categories, with the supermarket rewards capped at $25,000 per year, then 1X. Consumers who can also leverage the up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in Uber Cash will find the card's benefits can easily outweigh its annual fee.
Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an excellent choice for frequent Hilton guests who want to elevate their stays without committing to a premium annual fee. This card is ideal for the value-conscious traveler who can take full advantage of the automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, which provides valuable perks like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit. Furthermore, it appeals to everyday spenders looking to accumulate points quickly through generous rewards on purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Amex Gold vs Hilton Honors Surpass comparison has left you undecided, or you feel neither card quite fits your wallet, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent rewards cards on the market that might be a better match for your spending style and travel goals.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - You will generally need good to excellent credit for the best approval odds.
- Plan your spending - Make sure you can naturally meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.
- Review bonus eligibility - American Express has restrictions that may prevent you from earning a welcome offer.
Application Strategy
- Search for the best offer - Welcome Offers can vary, so try different methods to find the highest one available to you.
- Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement more easily.
- Note post-approval tasks - Some benefits, like statement credits or automatic elite status, may require enrollment after you get the card.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to have a hotel-specific credit card or a general travel rewards card?
This depends entirely on your travel habits and brand loyalty. A hotel-specific card offers deep benefits and status with one brand, while a general travel card provides more flexibility in how you earn and redeem rewards across different airlines and hotels.
Who is the ideal cardholder for a flexible rewards card versus a co-branded hotel card?
Travelers who value flexibility and dine out frequently may prefer a flexible rewards card. Loyalists of a specific hotel chain who want to earn elite status and property-specific perks will benefit more from a co-branded hotel card.
Can I use points from a hotel card for other travel expenses like flights?
While some hotel loyalty programs allow you to transfer points to airline partners, the transfer rates are often not favorable. It is generally best to use hotel points for hotel stays to maximize their value.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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