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Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card vs Hilton Honors Surpass
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card comes from Alliant at $0/yr; the Hilton Honors Surpass from American Express at $150/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.
| Feature | Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card | Hilton Honors Surpass |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $150 |
| Sign-up bonus | No welcome bonus | 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $0 | - |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 0 mo | $3,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Alliant | American Express |
| Card category | cashback | hotel |
| Best earning category (All_purchases) | 1.5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card
$0/yr · No welcome bonus
Read the full review
Hilton Honors Surpass
$150/yr · 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points
Editorial take: Hilton Honors Surpass
The sweet spot in the Hilton lineup. Gold status gets you free breakfast worth $30-50 per stay, and the free weekend night after spend typically covers a $300+ stay.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card or Hilton Honors Surpass?
- The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card has a public bonus (No welcome bonus, worth roughly $0), while the Hilton Honors Surpass doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors Surpass?
- The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Hilton Honors Surpass's $150 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Hilton Honors Surpass's benefits to clear $150 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card.
- Can I have both the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card and Hilton Honors Surpass?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Alliant and American Express) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card or the Hilton Honors Surpass first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card: $0 spend in 0 months. Hilton Honors Surpass: $3,000 in 6 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.