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.
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Side-by-side
Hilton Honors Surpass vs Bilt Palladium
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Hilton Honors Surpass comes from American Express at $150/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 ($1,125 more in estimated value) than the Hilton Honors Surpass's. Get the Bilt Palladium first; revisit the Hilton Honors Surpass after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Hilton Honors Surpass | Bilt Palladium |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $495 |
| Sign-up bonus | 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points | 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $1,125 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 6 mo | $4,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Bilt / Cardless |
| Card category | hotel | travel |
| Transfer partners | None | bilt |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Hilton Honors Surpass
$150/yr · 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points
Read the full review
Bilt Palladium
$495/yr · 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status
Editorial take: Bilt Palladium
Bilt 2.0's top tier ($495 AF), launched February 7, 2026 by Cardless. Stacks $400 hotel + $200 Bilt Cash + the Obsidian benefit set + Priority Pass with 2 guests. For Bilt loyalists who already hit the rent-day game hard, the math works; for everyone else, Obsidian is plenty.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Hilton Honors Surpass or Bilt Palladium?
- The Bilt Palladium has a public bonus (50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status, worth roughly $1,125), while the Hilton Honors Surpass doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Hilton Honors Surpass's $150 annual fee worth it compared to the Bilt Palladium?
- At $150/yr, the Hilton Honors Surpass 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 Surpass and Bilt Palladium?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Bilt / Cardless) 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 Surpass or the Bilt Palladium first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Hilton Honors Surpass: $3,000 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.