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Hilton Honors American Express Business Card vs Mastercard Black Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card comes from American Express at $195/yr; the Mastercard Black Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $699/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($650 more in estimated value) than the Mastercard Black Card's. Get the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card first; revisit the Mastercard Black Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureHilton Honors American Express Business CardMastercard Black Card
Annual fee$195$699
Sign-up bonus130,000 pointsNo public welcome offer
Bonus value (est.)$650$0
Min spend to unlock bonus$6,000 in 6 mo$0 in 0 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressBarclays (Luxury Card)
Card categoryhoteltravel
Best earning category (Hilton)12x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
  • 12x at Hilton
  • Free night cert after $15k spend
  • Second free night after $60k
  • Hilton Gold status
  • $200 airline credit
  • $100 dining credit
  • Priority Pass Select
  • 1.5cpp cash back, 2cpp airfare
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
$195/yr · 130,000 points
Read the full review
Mastercard Black Card
$699/yr · No public welcome offer

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: Mastercard Black Card

The mid tier of the Barclays Luxury Card lineup. The $200 airline + $100 dining credits offset $300 of the $699 AF before lounge value, and the 1.5cpp cash-back rate is the best of the Luxury Card tiers. Still hard to beat Sapphire Reserve or Venture X on transferable-points flexibility, but the all-stainless body and concierge appeal to some.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Hilton Honors American Express Business Card or Mastercard Black Card?
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has the bigger bonus, 130,000 points, worth roughly $650, versus No public welcome offer (~$0) on the Mastercard Black Card.
Is the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card's $195 annual fee worth it compared to the Mastercard Black Card?
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 Mastercard Black Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card and Mastercard Black Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Barclays (Luxury Card)) 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 Mastercard Black Card 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. Mastercard Black Card: $0 in 0 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.