Editorial take: Bilt Mastercard
The only card that earns points on rent with no fees. Pair it with Rent Day on the 1st of each month for bonus earning, then transfer to top partners like Hyatt at 1:1. A must-have for renters.
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Side-by-side
Bilt Mastercard vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Bilt Mastercard 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 ($750 more in estimated value) than the Bilt Mastercard's. Get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first; revisit the Bilt Mastercard after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Bilt Mastercard | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $550 |
| Sign-up bonus | No public offer | 150,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $0 | $750 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 0 mo | $6,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Bilt / Wells Fargo | American Express |
| Card category | travel | hotel |
| Best earning category (Dining) | 3x | 7x |
| Transfer partners | bilt | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Bilt Mastercard
$0/yr · No public offer
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
$550/yr · 150,000 points
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 or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has the bigger bonus — 150,000 points, worth roughly $750, versus No public offer (~$0) on the Bilt Mastercard.
- Is the Bilt Mastercard's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Bilt Mastercard 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.
- Can I have both the Bilt Mastercard 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 or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bilt Mastercard: $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.