United Gateway 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 breakdown of why we think the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a top-tier hotel card.

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• The card grants automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status, unlocking premium perks like room upgrades and lounge access.
• It comes with an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), but offers a variety of annual statement credits for flights and Hilton resort stays that help recoup the cost.
• The annual Free Night Award alone can provide enough value to break even on the card's fee, especially when redeemed at a high-end property (publisher-formulated estimate).

_{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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Pros

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• Automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status, the program’s highest elite tier, which provides complimentary food and beverage credits, room upgrades, and executive lounge access.
• An annual Free Night Award redeemable at nearly any Hilton property worldwide, plus a collection of statement credits for flights and resort stays.
• A variety of other travel benefits, including complimentary elite status with a major car rental program and cell phone protection.

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Cons

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• The card has a high annual fee, which may not be worth it for occasional travelers.
• Hilton Honors points are less flexible than transferable points from other programs.
• Annual statement credits are split into increments and have property restrictions, which can make them challenging to use fully.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire vs United Gateway

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Categories

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When deciding which is better United Gateway or Hilton Honors Aspire, it's important to recognize that each card is designed for a distinctly different type of traveler.

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• United Gateway℠ Card is an entry-level option ideal for occasional United Airlines flyers and budget-conscious travelers looking to earn miles without committing to an annual fee.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a premium card best suited for frequent Hilton guests and luxury travelers seeking to maximize their stays with top-tier hotel elite status and benefits.

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Redemption

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United Gateway℠ Card: Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles, which can be redeemed for flights on United and its partner airlines. Miles can also be used for other travel-related purchases like hotel stays and car rentals through the United portal.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Points are redeemed within the Hilton Honors program, primarily for free nights at hotels and resorts across Hilton's global portfolio. You can also use points for unique experiences, on-property rewards, or transfer them to airline partners.

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Travel Perks

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• United Gateway℠ Card: The travel ecosystem is centered entirely on the United MileagePlus program. It offers in-flight savings on United-operated flights but does not include airport lounge access and charges a foreign transaction fee.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: This card provides a more comprehensive travel ecosystem. It includes Priority Pass Select lounge access and offers annual airline fee credits and resort credits at participating properties. There are no foreign transaction fees (Terms Apply).

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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 evaluates nearly 3,000 credit cards to provide personalized recommendations based on your spending.

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• Test drive credit cards: Before you apply, you can simulate potential earnings with a new card using your actual spending data, all without a hard credit pull.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost: Earn additional rewards on top of your card's rewards when shopping at participating stores.
• $100 Kudos Kickstart+: Unlock $100 in rewards when you add certain approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the United Gateway?

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The United Gateway℠ Card is a great fit for occasional United flyers and beginners in the world of travel rewards. Its lack of an annual fee makes it an accessible entry-level option for earning MileagePlus miles without a yearly commitment. Budget-conscious travelers will also appreciate the absence of foreign transaction fees, making it a practical choice for international trips.

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 regularly stay at Hilton properties and want to elevate their experience. This user can maximize the card's value by leveraging automatic top-tier Diamond status and making full use of the annual statement credits, including up to $400 for Hilton resort purchases and up to $200 for flights (Terms Apply). Essentially, if you're a Hilton loyalist who can easily offset the $550 annual fee (See Rates & Fees) through its premium travel perks, the Hilton Aspire Card is a strong contender for your wallet.

Alternatives to Consider

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After reviewing the United Gateway℠ Card vs. Hilton Honors American Express® Aspire Card comparison, you may find neither option is the perfect travel companion. Fortunately, the rewards card landscape is vast, and other cards might offer a more suitable value proposition for your needs.

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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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• Know your credit score, as most rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review issuer-specific rules, as some banks limit eligibility for welcome offers if you've had their cards before.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can meet the welcome offer requirements without overspending.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application wisely - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement naturally.
• Align the card with your habits - Don't chase a card with high spend requirements if a simpler, no-fee option like the United Gateway℠ Card better suits your lifestyle.
• Don't be afraid to walk away - Some issuers, like American Express, may let you see your offer before a hard credit inquiry.

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 are the annual fees for the United Gateway Card and the Hilton Honors Aspire Card?

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The United Gateway℠ Card has a $0 annual fee, while the American Express® Hilton Honors Aspire Card has a $550 annual fee.

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Do both cards offer airport lounge access?

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The American Express® Hilton Honors Aspire Card includes a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership for airport lounge access (Terms Apply), a benefit not offered by the United Gateway℠ Card.

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Which card is better for earning rewards on everyday spending?

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The better card depends on your spending habits; the United Gateway℠ Card offers bonus miles on gas and transit, while the American Express® Hilton Honors Aspire Card provides accelerated points on dining and flights.

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Can I transfer points between United MileagePlus and Hilton Honors?

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No, you cannot directly transfer points between the United MileagePlus and Hilton Honors programs. Each loyalty program operates independently and they are not transfer partners.

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