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Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) comes from Bilt / Wells Fargo 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 ($875 more in estimated value) than the Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo)'s. Get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first; revisit the Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureBilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo)Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Annual fee$0$550
Sign-up bonusClosed to new applicants175,000 points
Bonus value (est.)$0$875
Min spend to unlock bonus$0 in 0 mo$6,000 in 6 mo
IssuerBilt / Wells FargoAmerican Express
Card categorytravelhotel
Best earning category (Dining)3x7x
Transfer partnersbiltNone
Headline benefits
  • Closed to new applicants (Wells Fargo)
  • Existing cards being migrated
  • Apply for Bilt 2.0 (Cardless) instead
  • 100k pt/yr rent cap (legacy)
  • Automatic Diamond status
  • Free weekend night certificate
  • $400 resort credit + $200 flight credit
  • $209 CLEAR + $100 Conrad/Waldorf
Read the full review
Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo)
$0/yr · Closed to new applicants
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
$550/yr · 175,000 points

Editorial take: Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo)

Closed to new applicants. Bilt launched its 2.0 portfolio (Blue / Obsidian / Palladium) on February 7, 2026 with Cardless as the new issuer. Existing Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard holders are being migrated; new applicants should apply for one of the Bilt 2.0 tiers via biltrewards.com.

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 Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has the bigger bonus, 175,000 points, worth roughly $875, versus Closed to new applicants (~$0) on the Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo).
Is the Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo)'s $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
The Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) 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 Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo).
Can I have both the Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bilt / Wells Fargo 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 Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo) or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bilt Mastercard (legacy, Wells Fargo): $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.