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Hilton Honors Surpass vs Capital One Savor: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is ideal for travelers looking to quickly accumulate Hilton Honors points from both hotel stays and everyday spending on dining, groceries, and gas.
- The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great option for earning cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at the specific benefits that make the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® (See Rates & Fees) a standout choice for travelers.
- The card grants automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, unlocking valuable perks like room upgrades and daily food and beverage credits at U.S. properties.
- Cardholders can rapidly accumulate points through generous rewards on both Hilton purchases and everyday spending at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.
- It provides a complimentary night on longer award stays and the opportunity to earn an additional Free Night Reward through annual spending.
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.
Pros
- Immediate access to Hilton Honors Gold status, which unlocks valuable hotel perks like room upgrades and daily food and beverage credits without needing to meet annual stay requirements.
- Generous rewards on purchases made directly with Hilton, plus enhanced earning on everyday spending categories like U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
- The ability to earn a Free Night Reward through annual spending, plus a fifth night free on longer award stays, adding significant value for loyal Hilton guests.
Cons
- Hilton Honors points are generally considered less valuable than points from other hotel programs, and the card’s limited airline transfer partners and dynamic award pricing can reduce redemption flexibility.
- A Free Night Reward is not an automatic annual benefit; it must be earned by meeting a substantial annual spending requirement.
- The card lacks premium travel benefits found on other mid-tier travel cards, such as airport lounge access and primary rental car insurance.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at the features that make the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards (See Rates & Fees) one of our top picks.
- It earns elevated cash back on popular spending categories like dining, entertainment, streaming services, and at grocery stores.
- Cardholders can enjoy unique perks, including access to exclusive entertainment events.
- Cashing in your rewards is easy, with flexible and straightforward redemption options.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees, making it a great option for use abroad.
- Includes valuable travel protections and purchase coverage.
- Cash back rewards can be converted to miles with an eligible Capital One travel card.
Cons
- You’ll likely need a good to excellent credit score to be approved.
- Bonus cash back categories have some exclusions, such as purchases at superstores and wholesale clubs.
- The card lacks a 0% intro APR offer for new purchases, a perk offered by some competitors.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®
Categories
Deciding which is better, Hilton Honors Surpass or Capital One Savor, comes down to your primary spending habits and travel preferences. Each card excels in a different arena, catering to distinct types of consumers.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is built for frequent Hilton guests and value-conscious travelers looking to maximize rewards and benefits specifically at Hilton properties.
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card is best suited for food enthusiasts and entertainment seekers who spend a significant amount on dining out and events.
Redemption
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Rewards are earned as Hilton Honors Bonus Points, which are redeemed within the Hilton ecosystem for things like free nights and room upgrades. Points can also be used for other travel-related rewards through Hilton's partners.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: This card earns cash back that can be redeemed with great flexibility. You can easily apply your rewards as a statement credit or receive them as a check.
Travel Perks
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card’s travel ecosystem is built around the Hilton portfolio. It grants cardholders elite status with the hotel chain and offers a number of complimentary airport lounge visits annually. For travel outside the U.S., it has no foreign transaction fees. While its rewards are primarily for Hilton stays, they can be transferred to airline partners and converted to miles for flight redemptions. Terms Apply.
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: The Savor card offers straightforward travel perks. It features no foreign transaction fees, making it a good companion for international dining. While it doesn't offer lounge access or hotel status, its rewards are flexible. Cash back can be used to book travel through the Capital One portal or, for avid travelers, converted to miles when paired with a Capital One miles-earning card.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
Kudos is a financial technology tool that helps you compare thousands of credit cards to find the best options for your specific spending habits.
- Test Drive Cards: The platform’s “Test Drive” feature lets you simulate your potential earnings with a new card based on your actual spending history—all before you apply and without a hard credit pull.
- Approval Odds Analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval chances for different cards based on your credit report.
- Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card rewards when you shop at your favorite stores through the platform.
- Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card, Kudos will match it.
- Personalized Recommendations: By connecting your bank accounts through a secure Plaid integration, Kudos can analyze your real spending patterns to provide precise, personalized card recommendations.
Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an ideal match for frequent guests of Hilton properties. It provides immediate value through automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, which unlocks valuable perks like space-available room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at hotels in the U.S. These benefits, combined with an accelerated 12x points earning rate on Hilton purchases, make every stay more rewarding and help fund future trips faster.
Who Should Choose the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards?
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is tailor-made for consumers who frequently spend on dining and entertainment, such as urban professionals or active families. It's best for those looking to maximize returns on everyday activities, earning unlimited 3% cash back on everything from restaurant meals and grocery store runs to movie tickets and popular streaming services. Furthermore, with no foreign transaction fees, it's a strong contender for travelers who want to keep earning rewards while abroad.
Alternatives to Consider
If this Hilton Honors Surpass vs Capital One Savor comparison has you feeling like neither card is the perfect fit, you're in luck. There are plenty of other excellent rewards cards on the market that might be a better match for your wallet.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score, as most rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
- Review the issuer’s application rules, such as any once-per-lifetime welcome offer restrictions.
- Identify how the card’s primary benefits align with your spending habits and travel goals.
Application Strategy
- Time your application before a large planned purchase to help meet any welcome offer spending requirements.
- Be aware of issuer-specific rules, like the once-per-lifetime welcome offer policy from American Express.
- If your application isn't instantly approved, consider calling the issuer’s reconsideration line for a potential second review.
Our Methodology
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.
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
How do I choose between a hotel co-branded card and a cash-back card?
Your choice depends on your lifestyle and spending habits. If you are loyal to a specific hotel brand and travel frequently, a co-branded card can offer significant value through brand-specific perks, while a cash-back card provides more flexibility since you can use your rewards for anything.
Can I hold both the Hilton Honors Surpass and Capital One Savor cards?
Yes, it is possible to have both cards, as they are issued by different banks. Holding both could be a strategic way to maximize rewards across different spending categories, such as travel and dining.
What type of spender is each card best for?
The Hilton Honors Surpass card is generally best for travelers who frequently stay with Hilton and want to earn hotel-specific benefits and status. The Capital One Savor card is geared towards individuals who prioritize earning flexible cash back on everyday spending like dining and entertainment.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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