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Capital One Spark Cash Plus vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Capital One Spark Cash Plus comes from Capital One at $150/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 Capital One Spark Cash Plus's. Get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first; revisit the Capital One Spark Cash Plus after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Capital One Spark Cash Plus | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $550 |
| Sign-up bonus | $4,000 cash bonus | 175,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $875 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | - | $6,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Capital One | American Express |
| Card category | business | hotel |
| Best earning category (Hotels_capital_one) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
$150/yr · $4,000 cash bonus
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
$550/yr · 175,000 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, Capital One Spark Cash Plus or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has a public bonus (175,000 points, worth roughly $875), while the Capital One Spark Cash Plus doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus's $150 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- At $150/yr, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus 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 Capital One Spark Cash Plus and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Capital One 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 Capital One Spark Cash Plus or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Capital One Spark Cash Plus: no published min spend. 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.