Hilton Honors Surpass vs Capital One Venture: Which Is Better In 2025?

Capital One Venture Rewards Breakdown

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "438", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint" : "High Travel Rewards" } ]]

‍

Why We Like It

‍

Let's break down the key reasons why the Capital One Venture Rewards (See Rates & Fees) card is a top pick for travelers.

‍

• It offers a simple, flat-rate rewards structure that allows you to earn miles on every single purchase.
• You have the flexibility to redeem your miles for travel purchases or transfer them to a wide network of airline and hotel partners.
• The card comes with valuable travel protections and no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for trips abroad.

‍

Pros

‍

• A simple rewards structure that offers a flat rate of miles on every purchase, plus an accelerated rate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
• Highly flexible redemption options, allowing you to either cover recent travel expenses or transfer your miles to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• Essential travel benefits are included, such as no foreign transaction fees and a statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

‍

Cons

‍

• There's an annual fee that isn't waived for the first year.
• Not all of its travel partners offer a 1:1 transfer ratio, which can decrease the value of your miles.
• It lacks some of the high-end travel perks, such as airport lounge access, that come with more premium cards.

Capital One Venture Rewards vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®

‍

Categories

‍

Deciding which is better, Hilton Honors Surpass or Capital One Venture, depends entirely on your personal travel style and loyalty preferences. Each card caters to a different type of traveler, offering unique advantages.

‍

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is tailored for frequent Hilton guests and travelers who want to earn hotel points on everyday spending. It provides a clear path to elite status benefits for those loyal to the Hilton brand.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card is best for frequent travelers who value flexibility and a straightforward rewards structure. It's a great fit for those who want to redeem rewards across various airlines and hotels rather than being tied to a single brand.

‍

Redemption

‍

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for award nights at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. While other options like experiences or airline transfers exist, hotel stays generally provide the most value.

‍

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card's miles provide flexible redemption choices, most notably as a statement credit to erase recent travel purchases made on any airline or at any hotel. You can also transfer miles to a wide array of airline and hotel loyalty partners.

‍

Travel Perks

‍

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card’s travel ecosystem is built around the Hilton portfolio. It offers airport lounge access but may include a fee for foreign transactions. The ecosystem is designed to reward brand loyalty, with miles best used for stays within Hilton's network of properties.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card provides a highly flexible travel ecosystem. It has no foreign transaction fees and includes airport lounge access. Cardholders can book through the Capital One Travel portal or redeem miles against travel purchases made anywhere, offering freedom from brand loyalty.

‍

Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

‍

To make a data-driven decision, you can use a tool like Kudos, which allows you to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your actual spending habits.

‍

• Simulate your potential earnings with any card using your real spending data with the Test Drive feature.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for new cards based on your credit report.
• Take advantage of a welcome offer guarantee, which matches any better offer you find within three months of applying.
• Earn extra rewards (Kudos Boost) on top of your card’s points when you shop at participating stores.
• Unlock $100 in Kickstart+ Rewards just for adding select approved cards to your digital wallet.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?

‍

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an excellent choice for moderate travelers who frequently stay with Hilton but want to avoid the high annual fees of premium cards. These cardholders can maximize value through automatic Hilton Honors Gold status and the ability to earn a Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. It also appeals to everyday spenders who can accumulate points rapidly by taking advantage of the 6x points categories at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Venture Rewards?

‍

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who value simplicity and flexibility in their rewards. Cardholders earn a consistent 2X miles on every purchase, which can then be redeemed for travel or transferred to over 15 airline and hotel partners. This straightforward approach, combined with no foreign transaction fees, makes it ideal for those who want to earn travel rewards on all their spending without juggling complex bonus categories.

Alternatives to Consider

‍

If our Hilton Honors Surpass vs Capital One Venture comparison has left you undecided, don't worry. There are plenty of other travel cards to consider if neither the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card nor the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the right fit for your wallet.

‍

[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["2894", "509"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["2% Cash Back", "Exceptional Value"]} ]]

Tips for Application Success

‍

Before You Apply

‍

• Check your credit score – Most travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spend for the Welcome Offer.
• Know the rules – Be aware of issuer-specific restrictions, like Amex's one-bonus-per-lifetime policy.

‍

Application Strategy

‍

• Research your redemption options – Know how you'll use your points or miles before you apply.
• Check your history with the issuer – Some issuers, like American Express, limit Welcome Offers to once per lifetime per card.
• Time your application strategically – Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.

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

‍

Which card is better for frequent Hilton guests?

‍

The Hilton Honors Surpass Card is specifically designed for travelers who often stay at Hilton properties, offering benefits and rewards tailored to the Hilton Honors loyalty program.

‍

Which card offers more flexible travel rewards?

‍

The Capital One Venture Card provides more flexibility, as its miles can be redeemed for a wide range of travel purchases, not just stays within a single hotel chain.

‍

Can I earn hotel elite status with either of these cards?

‍

Yes, the Hilton Honors Surpass Card typically includes complimentary Hilton Honors elite status as a cardmember benefit, while the Capital One Venture Card does not directly offer hotel-specific status.

‍