Hilton Honors Aspire vs Wells Fargo Autograph: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wells Fargo Autograph Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card.

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• It earns unlimited 3x points on popular spending categories like restaurants, travel, gas, and streaming services.
• This card is a great value with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
• Spending just under $420 per month in the card's bonus categories could earn you $150 in rewards value annually (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• High rewards rate on a wide range of everyday and travel-related purchases.
• No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees make it a budget-friendly choice for use at home and abroad.
• Flexible redemption options include transferring points to travel partners, which is a standout perk for a no-annual-fee card.

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Cons

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• Lacks premium travel perks commonly found on other travel cards, such as airport lounge access or statement credits for expedited security screening.
• The list of airline and hotel transfer partners is less extensive than what's offered by competing rewards programs.
• Approval typically requires a good to excellent credit score, which may be a barrier for some applicants.

Wells Fargo Autograph vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

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Categories

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When deciding which is better Hilton Honors Aspire or Wells Fargo Autograph, it's important to consider your primary spending habits as each card excels in different areas.

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• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: This card is ideal for travelers who frequently stay with Hilton, offering the highest rewards on purchases made directly at Hilton hotels and resorts.
• Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: This card provides strong rewards across a broad spectrum of everyday spending, including restaurants, travel, gas, and popular streaming services.

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Redemption

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire: Points are redeemed through the Hilton Honors loyalty program, primarily for booking hotel stays, securing room upgrades, and other travel experiences within the Hilton portfolio.

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Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: This card offers more versatile redemption options, allowing you to use your points for cash back, travel, gift cards, or as a statement credit through the Wells Fargo Rewards program.

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Travel Perks

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• Airport Lounge Access: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card provides a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, granting access to a global network of airport lounges. In contrast, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card does not include lounge access as a benefit.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are well-suited for international travel, as neither imposes a foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the United States.
• Travel Credits & Elite Status: The Hilton Aspire card comes with a suite of premium perks, including automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status, an annual airline fee credit, and statement credits for eligible Hilton resort stays (Terms Apply). The Wells Fargo Autograph card does not offer these types of travel credits or elite status, focusing instead on its flexible rewards structure, though it does provide benefits like an auto rental collision damage waiver.
• Booking Portals: Travel benefits with the Hilton Aspire card are integrated into the Hilton ecosystem, with redemptions handled through the Hilton Honors program. The Wells Fargo Autograph card offers a more generalized travel portal via Wells Fargo Rewards, allowing for bookings across various airlines, hotels, and rental car companies.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos, which allows you to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards using your own spending data to find the best match.

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• The ability to 'test drive' credit cards by simulating potential earnings based on your actual transaction history, helping you see the net value of a card before you apply.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for new cards based on your credit report.
• Earn extra rewards on top of your regular card rewards when shopping at participating stores with Kudos Boost.
• A welcome offer guarantee that matches any better public offer you find within three months of approval.
• Get personalized card recommendations that are matched to your unique spending patterns to maximize your rewards.

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 consistently choose Hilton properties for their stays, particularly those who visit resort locations at least once or twice a year. This card is best for luxury travelers who can maximize its value through premium perks like automatic Hilton Honors™ Diamond Elite Status and the various statement credits offered for resorts, flights, and CLEAR® Plus membership; terms apply. Essentially, if you're a Hilton loyalist looking to elevate your travel experiences with top-tier benefits, this card is designed for you, as detailed in a comprehensive review.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph?

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The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is an excellent choice for consumers who want to earn significant rewards on everyday spending categories like dining, travel, and gas without paying an annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for those seeking a primary, "front-of-wallet" card that offers straightforward, unlimited 3x points across a broad range of purchases. While it lacks premium travel perks like lounge access, its combination of high earning rates and flexible redemption options makes it a strong contender, as detailed in a comprehensive review.

Alternatives to Consider

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Perhaps our Hilton Honors Aspire vs Wells Fargo Autograph comparison has shown that neither card is quite right for you. If that's the case, here are a few other top travel rewards cards that might be a better match.

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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}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Most premium rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spend requirement for the welcome offer.
• Research transfer partners: Know how you’ll use your points to maximize their value before you even apply.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules: Be aware of policies like the American Express 'once per lifetime' rule that can affect your eligibility for a welcome offer.
• Try different methods: If you don't see the highest offer, try applying through a different browser, device, or referral link.
• Leverage existing relationships: Applying with an issuer you already have a banking relationship with, like Wells Fargo, may sometimes improve your approval odds.

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 credit score do I need for the Hilton Honors Aspire and Wells Fargo Autograph cards?

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Both cards generally require a good to excellent credit score, typically considered to be 700 or higher. However, issuers look at your entire financial profile for approval, including income and existing debt.

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Is the high annual fee on the Hilton Honors Aspire card worth it?

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The American Express® Hilton Honors Aspire Card's annual fee can be easily justified if you frequently stay at Hilton properties and can maximize the card's statement credits and travel benefits. Your personal travel patterns will ultimately determine its value.

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Can I hold both the Hilton Honors Aspire and Wells Fargo Autograph cards?

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Yes, and they can form a powerful combination in your wallet. The Autograph card is excellent for earning rewards on everyday purchases like dining and transit, while the Aspire card provides premium perks and elevated status with Hilton.

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