Capital One Quicksilver Student vs Hilton Honors Business Card: Which Is Better In 2026?

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here's a breakdown of why we like The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (See Rates & Fees).

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• Cardholders automatically receive elite status with Hilton, unlocking valuable in-hotel perks.
• It offers business-centric features like complimentary employee cards and expense management tools to help streamline operations.
• The card enhances business travel with valuable perks like complimentary car rental status and benefits for international trips.

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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 Hilton Honors Gold status provides valuable in-hotel benefits such as room upgrades and food and beverage credits.
• Earn statement credits for purchases made directly with properties in the Hilton portfolio.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.

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Cons

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• The annual fee may not be worth it for businesses that don't frequently stay at Hilton properties.
• Points have a relatively low value and limited transfer options to airline partners.
• It lacks premium travel protections like trip cancellation and delay insurance.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business vs Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Capital One Quicksilver Student or Hilton Honors Business Card, depends entirely on your financial profile and goals. These two cards serve vastly different purposes, one tailored for students building credit and the other for business travelers loyal to a specific hotel brand.

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• Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards - This card is best for students looking to establish and build their credit history with a straightforward rewards card. It is also well-suited for students who plan to travel or study abroad.
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business - This card is designed for small business owners who travel often for work and prefer to stay within the Hilton portfolio of hotels. It excels at providing business-specific perks and rewards on company expenses.

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Redemption

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Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards: Rewards are earned as straightforward cash back, which can be redeemed at any time and for any amount, typically as a statement credit or a check.

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The Hilton Honors American Express Business: Points are redeemed through the Hilton Honors loyalty program, primarily for free nights at Hilton properties, but can also be used for other travel rewards or transferred to airline partners.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a comprehensive tool that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards, offering personalized, data-driven recommendations to find the best options for your specific spending patterns.

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• Test drive credit cards: Simulate your potential earnings with any card using your real spending data before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
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Who Should Choose the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards?

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The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards card is an excellent choice for students looking to build their credit history, as responsible use is reported to all three major credit bureaus. It's also particularly well-suited for international students or those planning to study abroad, thanks to having no foreign transaction fees. Additionally, students who travel frequently can take advantage of the 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Who Should Choose the The Hilton Honors American Express Business?

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The American Express® Hilton Honors Business Card is tailor-made for small business owners and entrepreneurs who frequently travel for work and are loyal to the Hilton portfolio of hotels. It's particularly beneficial for companies with moderate to high travel budgets looking to maximize rewards and manage employee spending with no-fee additional cards. These businesses will value the automatic Hilton Gold Status and the ability to earn 5X points on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, then 3X points thereafter (Terms apply).

Alternatives to Consider

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If this Capital One Quicksilver Student vs Hilton Honors Business Card comparison shows that neither card is the right fit for your wallet, there are several other excellent options to consider.

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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: Ensure your credit profile aligns with the card’s typical requirements.
• Plan your spending: Have a strategy to meet any minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Review eligibility rules: Some cards have specific requirements, such as being a student or business owner.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application:Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet any spending thresholds for a welcome offer.
• Know the issuer's rules:Be aware of issuer-specific policies regarding application frequency or welcome offer eligibility.
• Confirm specific requirements:Some cards are only for certain applicants, such as students for the Quicksilver Student Card or business owners for the Hilton Amex Business Card.

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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Who is the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card for?

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The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is designed for students with fair or limited credit who want to build their credit history while earning flat-rate cash back on every purchase.

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Who is The Hilton Honors American Express® Business Card for?

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This card is aimed at small business owners who frequently stay at Hilton properties and want to earn hotel points and enjoy elite status benefits. You'll generally need good to excellent credit to qualify.

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Can a student apply for a business credit card?

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Yes, students can qualify for business credit cards if they have income from a side hustle or small business, like freelancing or selling items online. Issuers typically consider both personal and business income during the application process.

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