5 reasons you should get the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors Amex Card
Editor's Note
Quick summary
The entry-level Hilton Honors American Express Card can be a surprisingly great addition to anyone's wallet, whether you're a seasoned traveler or a complete newbie.
Even if you don't frequently stay at Hilton properties, this no-annual-fee card (see rates and fees) can help you rack up bonus points on your everyday purchases. Then, you can unlock award nights at thousands of properties worldwide.
Here are five reasons you should consider applying for this card right now.
Valuable welcome offer
New Hilton Honors Amex cardmembers can earn 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points and a $100 statement credit after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
This is an easy welcome bonus to hit; virtually anyone can spend $2,000 in six months.
The bonus points are worth up to $600 including the statement credit (according to TPG's June 2025 valuations).
As a reminder, American Express restricts applicants from earning a welcome offer on a card more than once per lifetime. So, this card could be a terrific alternative for those who've previously held other Hilton Honors cards and thus aren't eligible for another welcome offer on those cards.
Fortunately, Amex will let you know if you're ineligible for a welcome offer during your application, so you won't receive a hard inquiry on your credit report.
Related: The best credit card welcome offers this month
No annual fee
The Hilton Honors Amex is the baseline card in the Hilton credit card portfolio.
While the card isn't packed with many ongoing perks, it's still a great option if you're looking for something that doesn't charge an upfront fee.
Related: TPG's 10 commandments of credit card rewards
Free elite status
How often does a card with no annual fee come with complimentary elite status? The Hilton Honors Amex confers Hilton Silver status. (Terms apply.)
Although Silver won't get you too many perks, it unlocks a key benefit that's a must-have for award travelers: You'll get your fifth night free on award stays (for stays of up to 20 nights). The savings add up if you're staying at expensive properties.
Other perks of Silver elite status include a 20% points bonus on stays and two complimentary bottles of water per stay at most properties.
And if you spend $20,000 or more on eligible purchases with your Hilton Honors Amex in a calendar year, you'll receive Gold elite status through the end of the next calendar year. Gold grants you extra perks like daily food-and-beverage credits and preferred room upgrades upon availability. (Terms apply.)
Related: Hilton Honors elite status: What it is and how to earn it
Complements other Amex cards
Other Hilton Honors cards
If you already carry another Hilton Honors card in your wallet (or have in the past), why not add this no-annual-fee card for the welcome offer alone? We all want the opportunity to get more bonus points, and the Hilton Honors Amex offers just that.
Related: Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Amex
Amex Platinum and Business Platinum
The Hilton Honors Amex isn't just for beginners. In fact, I'd argue that it's a good fit for those who already carry premium rewards cards — namely, The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Both the consumer and business Amex Platinum cards offer complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status to cardmembers (enrollment is required; terms apply).
So, while the complimentary Silver elite status from the Hilton card isn't needed, it actually offers earning rates that complement these two Amex cards well.
If you use your Hilton Amex to pay for stays at Hilton properties and have Hilton Gold status through either Amex Platinum card, here's how many points you'll earn:
- Base earnings: 10 points per dollar
- Gold status bonus: 8 points per dollar
- Card bonus: 7 points per dollar
In other words, you'll take home 25 points for every dollar you spend at Hilton properties, a return of 12.5% based on TPG's June 2025 valuations. And even this doesn't take into account any promotions that may be in effect at the time of your stay.
Beyond that, the Hilton Honors Amex offers a nice array of everyday bonus categories that pair nicely with the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum:
- 5 points per dollar spent on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- 5 points per dollar spent on groceries at U.S. supermarkets
- 5 points per dollar spent on gas at U.S. gas stations
- 3 points per dollar spent on all other purchases
And if you ever need to top off your Hilton Honors points balance, remember that Hilton is a transfer partner of American Express. For every 1 Membership Rewards point you transfer, you'll get 2 Hilton Honors points.
Related: Guide to Marriott and Hilton elite status with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum
Targeted upgrade offers
Anecdotally, American Express is known for being generous in targeting Hilton Honors members for upgrade offers.
In the future, you may be offered bonus points for upgrading your Hilton Honors Amex to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, which is a mid-tier card, or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which is the most premium Hilton card.
There's no guarantee here, but in the past, we've seen upgrade offers of up to 150,000 bonus points.
That means you could potentially upgrade your card, snag a great haul of bonus points and enhance your benefits — all without filling out a whole new card application (and receiving a hard pull on your credit report).
The information for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
It's not often that we recommend applying for a no-annual-fee card over its counterparts that do have annual fees. However, there are many valid reasons why the Hilton Honors Amex is a good deal.
Now for the harder decision: Where will you travel with your new stash of points?
To learn more, check out our full review of the Hilton Honors Amex.
Apply here: Hilton Honors Amex
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click here.