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Hilton Honors American Express Business Card vs Bilt Palladium

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card comes from American Express at $195/yr; the Bilt Palladium from Bilt / Cardless at $495/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Bilt Palladium is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($618 more in estimated value) than the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card's. Get the Bilt Palladium first; revisit the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureHilton Honors American Express Business CardBilt Palladium
Annual fee$195$495
Sign-up bonus130,000 points50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status
Bonus value (est.)$507$1,125
Min spend to unlock bonus$6,000 in 6 mo$4,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressColumn N.A.
Card categoryhoteltravel
Best earning category (Hilton)12x1x
Transfer partnersNonebilt
Headline benefits
  • 12x at Hilton
  • Free night cert after $15k spend
  • Second free night after $60k
  • Hilton Gold status
  • $400 Bilt Travel hotel credit
  • $200 Bilt Cash every year
  • Priority Pass + 2 guests
  • Flat 2x on everyday spend
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
$195/yr · 130,000 points
Read the full review
Bilt Palladium
$495/yr · 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status

Editorial take: Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

If you stay at Hiltons, this is the underrated middle tier, the $60/quarter credit + the $15k-spend Free Night routinely cover the $195 fee, and Gold status is real value at any Hilton property.

Editorial take: Bilt Palladium

Bilt 2.0's top tier ($495 AF), launched February 7, 2026 with Column N.A. as issuer and Cardless as servicer. A flat 2x everyday card that stacks $400 of Bilt Travel hotel credit, $200 of Bilt Cash a year, and Priority Pass with 2 guests. It does not have Obsidian's 3x category, so it wins on credits and lounge access rather than on multipliers. For Bilt loyalists who use the hotel credit and the lounges, the math works; for everyone else, Obsidian is plenty.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Hilton Honors American Express Business Card or Bilt Palladium?
The Bilt Palladium has the bigger bonus, 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status, worth roughly $1,125, versus 130,000 points (~$507) on the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
Is the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card's $195 annual fee worth it compared to the Bilt Palladium?
At $195/yr, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Bilt Palladium's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card and Bilt Palladium?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Column N.A.) 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 Hilton Honors American Express Business Card or the Bilt Palladium first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: $6,000 spend in 6 months. Bilt Palladium: $4,000 in 3 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.