Chase Freedom Flex 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 think the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a top choice for Hilton loyalists.

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• It offers a strong rewards structure, letting you rack up points quickly on Hilton stays, dining, groceries, gas, and U.S. online retail purchases.
• Cardholders automatically receive Hilton Honors Gold status, which unlocks valuable perks like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties.
• The Free Night Reward, earned after spending $15,000 in a calendar year, can easily cover the card's $150 annual fee (See Rates & Fees), especially when redeemed at a high-end property (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status and pay no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
• Receive the fifth night free on award stays of five or more nights and get a path to top-tier Diamond status through card spending.
• Benefit from flexible features like the ability to pool points with other members and elite rollover nights to help maintain status year after year.

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Cons

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• Hilton Honors points tend to have a lower value than points from competing hotel loyalty programs, and the dynamic pricing for award nights can make redemptions unpredictable.
• The Free Night Reward is not an automatic perk; it requires meeting a significant annual spending threshold.
• It lacks some premium travel benefits offered by other cards, such as complimentary airport lounge access and primary rental car insurance.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs Chase Freedom Flex®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Chase Freedom Flex or Hilton Honors Surpass, comes down to your personal spending habits and travel preferences. One offers flexible cash back on everyday purchases, while the other is built for maximizing rewards within a specific hotel loyalty program.

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• Chase Freedom Flex®: This card is best for individuals seeking a versatile cash back card with no annual fee, offering rewards on a variety of spending categories.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®: This card is tailored for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Hilton brand and want to earn hotel-specific points and enjoy elite status benefits.

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Redemption

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Chase Freedom Flex®: Rewards are primarily redeemed for cash back, but can also be used for gift cards and travel purchases through the Chase portal. The points offer great flexibility, especially when combined with other Chase cards to unlock more valuable travel options.

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®: Points are redeemed through the Hilton Honors loyalty program, primarily for free hotel nights across Hilton's portfolio of brands. You can also use points for experiences or transfers to airline partners, though hotel stays typically offer the best value.

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Travel Perks

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• Chase Freedom Flex®:
  • Allows you to book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.
  • Charges a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad.
  • Includes some travel protections, such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance and an auto rental collision damage waiver.
  • Does not provide airport lounge access.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card:
  • Comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, offering perks like space-available room upgrades. Terms apply.
  • Has no foreign transaction fees.
  • Provides a number of complimentary airport lounge visits annually through Priority Pass Select membership. Enrollment is required. Terms apply.
  • Gives you the opportunity to earn a Free Night Reward after meeting an annual spending requirement.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the decision easier, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.

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• Use the Test Drive feature to simulate potential earnings with different cards using your real spending data, all without a hard credit pull.
• Receive personalized card recommendations tailored to your actual spending habits to find the optimal card for you.
• Track your spending, monitor your credit score, and manage all your credit cards in a single platform.
• Get access to exclusive offers and earn extra rewards with Kudos Boost when shopping at your favorite stores.
• Understand your chances of approval for new cards with a detailed analysis based on your credit report.

Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Flex®?

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The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent choice for cardholders who enjoy maximizing their rewards and don't mind activating new bonus categories each quarter. It's particularly valuable for those who frequently spend on dining and at drugstores, or for anyone looking to build a 'Chase trifecta' to pool Ultimate Rewards® points. With its combination of high-earning bonus categories and no annual fee, this card offers significant value, as detailed in this cash back card review.

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 valuable hotel perks like automatic Gold status without paying for a premium card. It also appeals to everyday spenders looking to rack up points quickly on purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Ultimately, as our full card review details, this card is ideal for value-conscious travelers aiming to redeem points for high-end stays.

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.

Alternatives to Consider

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The Chase Freedom Flex® vs. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card comparison highlights two very different types of rewards cards. If neither one is quite right for your wallet, here are a few other top-tier cards to consider.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score. Most premium rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Know the issuer's rules. Be aware of application restrictions like Chase's 5/24 rule or Amex's once-per-lifetime bonus policy.
• 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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• Time your application strategically. Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet any spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Search for elevated offers. Issuers may present better welcome offers through different channels, so it pays to compare before applying.
• Know the issuer's flexibility. Some issuers let you see your offer before a hard credit pull, while others may allow existing customers to product-change to a new 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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Which card is better for everyday spending?

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The Chase Freedom Flex℠ often excels for everyday spending with its rotating 5% cash back categories on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter you activate, then 1%. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, by contrast, focuses its highest rewards on Hilton, travel, and dining purchases.

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What are rotating bonus categories?

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Rotating bonus categories are a key feature of the Chase Freedom Flex℠, offering 5% cash back on specific types of purchases that change every three months. Cardholders must activate these new categories each quarter to earn the bonus rewards on up to $1,500 in spending for that quarter, after which the rate is 1%.

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Can I use Hilton Honors points for things other than hotel stays?

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Yes, while Hilton Honors points deliver maximum value for hotel nights, you can also redeem them for experiences, rental cars, and airline mile transfers. Be aware that redemption values for these non-hotel options are typically lower; Terms apply.

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