Capital One Quicksilver Secured vs Hilton Honors Surpass: Which Is Better In 2026?

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down the key reasons why we're fans of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (See Rates & Fees).

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• The card grants automatic Hilton Honors elite status, unlocking valuable on-property perks (Terms Apply).
• It offers a robust rewards structure that benefits both frequent Hilton guests and everyday spenders (Terms Apply).
• Cardholders can earn a Free Night Reward through eligible spending, providing significant value that can easily offset the annual fee (Terms Apply).

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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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• Automatic Gold Status: Cardholders receive Hilton Honors Gold status, unlocking on-property perks like potential room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties (Terms Apply).
• Travel-Ready Perks: The card eliminates foreign transaction fees on international purchases and includes complimentary elite status with National Car Rental (Terms Apply).
• Path to Diamond Status: Cardholders have a direct way to earn top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status through eligible spending, which provides access to the program's best benefits (Terms Apply).

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Cons

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• The value of Hilton Honors points can be inconsistent due to the program's dynamic pricing for award nights.
• Key travel perks like an automatic annual free night award and airport lounge access are not included with this card (Terms Apply).

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Capital One Quicksilver Secured or Hilton Honors Surpass, depends entirely on your financial goals and spending habits.

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• Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is designed for individuals looking to build or rebuild their credit. It offers a way to earn rewards on purchases while establishing a positive credit history.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is best for frequent or moderate travelers who are loyal to the Hilton brand. The card provides benefits tailored to enhance stays at Hilton properties and reward everyday spending.

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Redemption

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Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards: Rewards are earned as cash back on every purchase, which you can redeem for a statement credit or a check.

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: You earn Hilton Honors points on your spending, which can be redeemed for free nights and other rewards at Hilton hotels and resorts.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To eliminate the guesswork from choosing a new card, a financial companion like Kudos can help you compare thousands of options and find the best fit for your unique spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Simulate a card’s potential earnings and net value using your real transaction history before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
• Personalized recommendations: Get data-driven card matches based on your actual spending patterns.
• Approval odds analysis: See a detailed analysis of your approval odds 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, Kudos will match it.
• Bonus tracking: Monitor your progress toward earning new card sign-up bonuses for free.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards?

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The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals looking to build or rebuild their credit history. It allows cardholders to earn a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases while establishing responsible credit habits, with the potential to graduate to an unsecured card over time. With a required security deposit and no annual fee, it's ideal for those who can pay their balance in full each month and want a straightforward path to better credit without extra costs.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a strong contender for frequent Hilton guests who can maximize the automatic Gold elite status and its associated perks, like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties. It also appeals to moderate travelers and everyday spenders by offering elevated rewards on common purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Ultimately, this card is ideal for value-conscious travelers who want meaningful hotel benefits without paying the premium annual fee often associated with top-tier travel cards. Terms apply.

Alternatives to Consider

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After this Capital One Quicksilver Secured vs Hilton Honors Surpass comparison, what if neither the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card nor the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card feels like the right fit? Fortunately, there are many other cards to consider that might better align with your spending habits and financial goals.

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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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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Know the issuer’s rules – Issuers often have restrictions on welcome offer eligibility or how frequently you can apply.
• Have a spending plan – Ensure you can meet any minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer without overspending.

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Application Strategy

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• Look for pre-approval tools – Many issuers let you check your eligibility with a soft inquiry that won’t affect your credit score.
• Understand issuer restrictions – Some issuers limit welcome offers to once per lifetime or restrict how many cards you can apply for in a short period.
• Time your application – Apply before a planned large purchase to help meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer more easily.

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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What is a secured credit card?

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A secured credit card requires a refundable cash security deposit to open an account, and this deposit typically determines your credit limit. These cards are designed to help individuals build or rebuild their credit history through responsible use.

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Which card is better for building credit?

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The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is specifically designed for those looking to build credit. In contrast, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card generally requires a good to excellent credit score for approval.

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Is an annual fee worth it for a credit card?

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An annual fee can be worthwhile if the value you get from the card's rewards and benefits, such as hotel elite status or statement credits, exceeds the cost of the fee. You should evaluate your spending habits to determine if it makes sense for you.

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