Amex Platinum vs Hilton Honors Surpass: Which Is Better In 2025?

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we like the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® card (See Rates & Fees).

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• Cardholders receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, unlocking valuable perks like potential room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit.

• It offers generous reward rates on purchases made directly with Hilton, as well as at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.

• You can earn a Free Night Reward each calendar year after meeting a spending requirement on eligible purchases.

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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.

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Pros

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• Provides a pathway to top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status through eligible card spending.

• Cardholders receive a fifth night free on award stays of five or more consecutive nights, adding significant value to point redemptions.

• It comes with other travel-friendly benefits, including no foreign transaction fees and complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status (enrollment required).

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Cons

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• Hilton Honors points generally have a lower value compared to points from other hotel loyalty programs.

• Earning a Free Night Reward requires meeting a significant annual spending threshold, unlike some competing cards that offer one automatically.

• The card lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access, which are available on higher-tier cards.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs American Express Platinum Card®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Amex Platinum or Hilton Honors Surpass, depends entirely on your travel style and spending habits. Both cards offer compelling benefits, but they cater to very different types of travelers.

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• The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card designed for frequent travelers who value luxury perks. It is best for those who can take full advantage of its extensive airport lounge access, hotel benefits, and various travel-related statement credits.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a co-branded hotel rewards card ideal for frequent Hilton guests. This card is best for travelers who want to earn Hilton Honors bonus points on everyday spending and enjoy enhanced benefits during their stays at Hilton properties.

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Redemption

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The Platinum Card® from American Express: Points earned with this card offer great flexibility, as they can be transferred to a wide network of airline and hotel partners or used to book travel directly through American Express.

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: As a co-branded card, its points are redeemed within the Hilton portfolio, primarily for award nights at Hilton hotels and resorts worldwide.

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Travel Perks

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• The Platinum Card® from American Express: This card provides a comprehensive travel ecosystem. Cardholders enjoy access to an extensive network of airport lounges worldwide. It also confers elite status with multiple hotel and car rental loyalty programs. There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad. Miles offer significant flexibility, with the option to transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners or book travel through the American Express portal.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: The travel benefits for this card are centered around the Hilton portfolio. The primary perk is complimentary Hilton Honors elite status, enhancing stays at Hilton properties. It includes a limited number of airport lounge visits annually. This card also has no foreign transaction fees. Miles are earned on spending and are primarily used for stays within the global network of Hilton hotels and resorts.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the decision even clearer, a financial tool like Kudos lets you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the perfect match for your spending habits.

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• Test drive a credit card: Simulate how much you could earn with a new card using your actual transaction history, all before you apply and without a hard credit pull.
• Personalized approval odds: Get a detailed analysis of your likelihood of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of being approved, Kudos will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when shopping at partner stores.
• Actionable insights: Track your spending, monitor your credit score, and get personalized recommendations to maximize your card perks.

Who Should Choose the American Express Platinum Card®?

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The American Express Platinum Card® is tailored for the frequent traveler who values luxury experiences and can maximize a suite of premium benefits. An ideal user is someone who regularly takes advantage of extensive airport lounge access, elite hotel status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, and various statement credits for travel, dining, and entertainment. Ultimately, it's the perfect fit for a cardholder whose spending habits naturally align with the card's perks, allowing them to easily offset the annual fee and unlock exclusive access (Terms Apply).

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an excellent choice for frequent Hilton guests and moderate travelers who want to elevate their stays with automatic Gold elite status. It also appeals to everyday spenders looking to rack up points on purchases at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, all for a modest annual fee. Ultimately, the card is ideal for those saving up for a special trip, as it allows them to maximize redemptions with benefits like the fifth night free on award stays (Terms apply).

Alternatives to Consider

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So, you've reviewed the Amex Platinum vs. Hilton Honors Surpass comparison and neither card is quite the right fit? Let's explore a few other top travel cards that could be a better match for your goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - You will generally need good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending - Ensure you can naturally meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome offer.
• Know the restrictions - Be aware of issuer rules, like the once-per-lifetime policy on welcome offers for many American Express cards.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application - Applying early in the calendar year can allow you to use some annual statement credits twice in your first year of membership.
• Enroll in benefits - Many premium card perks, like statement credits and hotel elite status, require manual activation after you are approved.
• Leverage unique features - Look for card-specific perks like points pooling to help maximize rewards with family and friends.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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Can I have both the American Express® Platinum Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card?

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Yes, you can hold both cards simultaneously. Many travelers pair a general travel rewards card with a co-branded hotel card to maximize benefits across different types of spending.

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Which card is better if I'm not loyal to one hotel brand?

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If you don't have a strong preference for one hotel chain, a general travel rewards card often provides more flexibility. Its points can typically be used for a wider variety of travel bookings, including different hotels and airlines.

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How do I decide which card's benefits are more valuable to me?

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Evaluate your personal travel and spending habits against each card's suite of benefits. Consider which perks, such as lounge access, elite status, or statement credits, you would realistically use most often.

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