Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Hilton Honors Aspire: Which Is Better In 2025?

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we’re fans of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

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• Cardholders automatically receive top-tier Hilton Honors™ Diamond Elite Status, unlocking premium perks like room upgrades and executive lounge access.
• The card’s statement credits, including up to $400 for Hilton resorts and up to $200 for flights, can substantially offset the $550 annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
• A single redemption of the annual Free Night Award at a luxury property can often cover the majority of the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Automatic top-tier elite status: Cardholders receive Hilton Honors Diamond status, unlocking perks like room upgrades, executive lounge access, and daily food and beverage credits (Terms Apply).
• Valuable statement credits: The card offers annual credits for use at Hilton resorts, on flights, and for CLEAR® Plus membership, which can significantly offset the annual fee (Terms Apply).
• Annual Free Night Award: Receive a Free Night Award each year that can be redeemed at most Hilton properties worldwide, including high-end resorts (Terms Apply).

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Cons

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• High annual fee: The card’s high annual fee can be a significant hurdle for those who don’t travel frequently enough to maximize its benefits.
• Limited point flexibility: Hilton Honors points lack the flexibility of transferable rewards, as they can only be redeemed within the Hilton portfolio.
• Restrictive credits: Key statement credits are limited to specific property types and are split into semi-annual or quarterly periods, making them challenging to use fully (Terms Apply).

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Hilton Honors Aspire, depends entirely on your travel habits and goals. One serves as a great all-around travel card, while the other is a powerhouse for hotel brand loyalists.

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a top choice for entry-level travel. It's ideal for frequent travelers who want strong, flexible rewards and travel protections without committing to a premium card.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is best for frequent Hilton travelers. This card is designed for those who regularly stay at Hilton properties and want to maximize elite benefits and rewards within that hotel family.

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Redemption

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Chase Sapphire Preferred®: Points earned with this card offer great flexibility, as they can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners or used to book travel directly through Chase's portal. You can also redeem them for cash back or statement credits, making them versatile for any type of spender.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Rewards are primarily redeemed within the Hilton portfolio of hotels and resorts for free nights. The points are best used by those who frequently stay with the brand to get the most value out of their earnings.

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Travel Perks

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This card's ecosystem is built around flexibility. Cardholders can book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, often at an increased value. It features no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid choice for international travel. While it lacks comprehensive airport lounge access, it excels with a strong suite of travel protections, including primary auto rental collision damage waiver and trip cancellation insurance.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: This card's travel ecosystem is deeply integrated with the Hilton brand. It grants automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status, unlocking premium perks like room upgrades and executive lounge access. For broader travel, it includes a Priority Pass™ Select membership for airport lounge access worldwide and has no foreign transaction fees. The card also provides annual statement credits for incidental airline fees and purchases at eligible Hilton resorts.

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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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To cut through the noise and find the card that truly fits your spending, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards using your own data.

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• Test drive cards: The platform’s standout feature allows you to “test drive” cards before applying. By securely connecting your bank accounts, Kudos analyzes your real spending to project your potential earnings with different cards, showing you the net value after annual fees.
• Maximize rewards: Kudos automatically selects and fills in the best card to use at checkout to ensure you’re maximizing rewards on every purchase. You can also earn extra rewards, called Kudos Boost, at participating stores.
• Personalized recommendations: Instead of relying on generic lists, you get data-driven card recommendations based on your unique spending habits across categories like dining, travel, and groceries.
• Manage finances: Keep track of your credit score, spending, and progress toward welcome offer bonuses all in one dashboard.
• Exclusive offers: Account holders get access to special perks, including a welcome offer guarantee that matches any better public offer you find within three months of approval.

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want to earn significant rewards without committing to a premium annual fee. It's also a strong contender for those whose spending is concentrated on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries, as these categories earn valuable bonus points. Overall, this card serves as a perfect entry-level travel card for anyone looking to dive into travel rewards, offering robust benefits and flexible redemption options.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?

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The Hilton Honors American Express® Aspire Card is tailor-made for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Hilton portfolio and can maximize the card's extensive suite of luxury benefits. This cardholder typically stays at Hilton properties multiple times per year, especially resorts, making it easy to take full advantage of perks like automatic Diamond status, an annual Free Night Award, and various statement credits. In short, if you're looking to elevate your Hilton stays and can easily offset the annual fee through the card's built-in value, this premium card is a compelling choice, as detailed in our Hilton Aspire Card Review.

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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If the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Hilton Honors Aspire comparison has left you feeling that neither card is the right choice, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards that might be a better match for your wallet and your travel style.

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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.
• Review issuer application rules – Be aware of policies that may affect your eligibility for a new card or its welcome offer.
• Have a plan for the benefits – Research how you will use the card's rewards and perks to maximize their value.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application – Align your application with large, planned expenses to help meet any spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Know the unwritten rules – Be mindful of issuer-specific policies, like Chase's 5/24 rule, that could affect your approval odds.
• Hunt for the best offer – Some issuers, like American Express, may present different welcome offers, so it's worth checking for the highest one.

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 transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hilton Honors?

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Yes, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hilton Honors, as Hilton is one of Chase's hotel transfer partners. It's wise to check the current transfer ratio before moving your points, as it may not be a 1:1 value.

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Which card is better if I'm loyal to the Hilton brand?

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If you frequently stay at Hilton properties, the Hilton Honors Aspire Card is specifically designed to maximize your loyalty. It offers benefits like automatic elite status and rewards tailored to stays within the Hilton portfolio.

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Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred a good first travel rewards card?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred is widely regarded as a strong choice for those new to travel rewards. Its flexible points, broad earning categories, and moderate annual fee provide a versatile entry point into earning and redeeming for travel.

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