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 | Column N.A. |
| Card category | hotel | travel |
| Best earning category (Hilton) | 12x | 1x |
| 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 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 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 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 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.