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Side-by-side

Bilt Blue vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Bilt Blue comes from Bilt / Cardless at $0/yr; the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire from American Express at $550/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 Aspire is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($775 more in estimated value) than the Bilt Blue's. Get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first; revisit the Bilt Blue after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureBilt BlueHilton Honors American Express Aspire
Annual fee$0$550
Sign-up bonus$100 Bilt Cash175,000 points
Bonus value (est.)$100$875
Min spend to unlock bonus$0 in 0 mo$6,000 in 6 mo
IssuerBilt / CardlessAmerican Express
Card categorytravelhotel
Best earning category (Rent)1x1x
Transfer partnersbiltNone
Headline benefits
  • $0 annual fee
  • 1x everywhere, no caps
  • Up to 1.25x on rent
  • Rent Day 2x on the 1st
  • Automatic Diamond status
  • Free weekend night certificate
  • $400 resort credit + $200 flight credit
  • $209 CLEAR + $100 Conrad/Waldorf
Read the full review
Bilt Blue
$0/yr · $100 Bilt Cash
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
$550/yr · 175,000 points

Editorial take: Bilt Blue

The no-fee entry tier of Bilt 2.0, launched February 7, 2026 by Cardless. Flat 1x earn (no bonus categories — those live on Obsidian and Palladium). Best for renters who want the no-fee anchor + full transfer partner access without paying $95+. The 5-transactions-per-cycle minimum from legacy Bilt is gone, and Rent Day still doubles everyday earn on the 1st.

Editorial take: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

Pretty much a no-brainer if you stay at Hilton hotels. The $550 annual fee pays for itself with just the free night reward alone, which can be used at any standard room property, even $1,000+ per night hotels.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Bilt Blue or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has the bigger bonus, 175,000 points, worth roughly $875, versus $100 Bilt Cash (~$100) on the Bilt Blue.
Is the Bilt Blue's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
The Bilt Blue has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's $550 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's benefits to clear $550 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Bilt Blue.
Can I have both the Bilt Blue and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bilt / Cardless and American Express) 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 Bilt Blue or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bilt Blue: $0 spend in 0 months. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire: $6,000 in 6 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.