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 Capital One Spark Cash
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Hilton Honors Surpass comes from American Express at $150/yr; the Capital One Spark Cash from Capital One at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Capital One Spark Cash is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,000 more in estimated value) than the Hilton Honors Surpass's. Get the Capital One Spark Cash first; revisit the Hilton Honors Surpass after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Hilton Honors Surpass | Capital One Spark Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points | $1,000 cash bonus |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $1,000 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 6 mo | $10,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Capital One |
| Card category | hotel | business |
| Best earning category (Hilton) | 12x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
Hilton Honors Surpass
$150/yr · 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points
Read the full review
Capital One Spark Cash
$95/yr · $1,000 cash bonus
Editorial take: Capital One Spark Cash
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Hilton Honors Surpass or Capital One Spark Cash?
- The Capital One Spark Cash has a public bonus ($1,000 cash bonus, worth roughly $1,000), 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 Capital One Spark Cash?
- 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 Capital One Spark Cash's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Hilton Honors Surpass and Capital One Spark Cash?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Capital One) 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 Capital One Spark Cash first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Hilton Honors Surpass: $3,000 spend in 6 months. Capital One Spark Cash: $10,000 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.