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Bilt Palladium vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Bilt Palladium comes from Bilt / Cardless at $495/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

These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.

FeatureBilt PalladiumHilton Honors American Express Aspire
Annual fee$495$550
Sign-up bonus50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status175,000 points
Bonus value (est.)$1,125$875
Min spend to unlock bonus$4,000 in 3 mo$6,000 in 6 mo
IssuerBilt / CardlessAmerican Express
Card categorytravelhotel
Best earning category (Dining_or_groceries)3x1x
Transfer partnersbiltNone
Headline benefits
  • $400 Bilt Travel hotel credit
  • $200 Bilt Cash bonus
  • Priority Pass + 2 guests
  • All Obsidian-tier benefits
  • Automatic Diamond status
  • Free weekend night certificate
  • $400 resort credit + $200 flight credit
  • $209 CLEAR + $100 Conrad/Waldorf
Read the full review
Bilt Palladium
$495/yr · 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
$550/yr · 175,000 points

Editorial take: Bilt Palladium

Bilt 2.0's top tier ($495 AF), launched February 7, 2026 by Cardless. Stacks $400 hotel + $200 Bilt Cash + the Obsidian benefit set + Priority Pass with 2 guests. For Bilt loyalists who already hit the rent-day game hard, the math works; for everyone else, Obsidian is plenty.

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 Palladium or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
The Bilt Palladium has the bigger bonus, 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status, worth roughly $1,125, versus 175,000 points (~$875) on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire.
Is the Bilt Palladium's $495 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
At $495/yr, the Bilt Palladium is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Bilt Palladium 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 Palladium or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bilt Palladium: $4,000 spend in 3 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.