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Citi Simplicity Card vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Citi Simplicity Card comes from Citi 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 Citi Simplicity Card's. Get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first; revisit the Citi Simplicity Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Citi Simplicity Card | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $550 |
| Sign-up bonus | No welcome bonus; product is a 0% intro APR balance-transfer card with no late fees, no penalty APR, and no rewards program | 175,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $875 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | - | $6,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Citi | American Express |
| Card category | hotel | |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
Citi Simplicity Card
$0/yr · No welcome bonus; product is a 0% intro APR balance-transfer card with no late fees, no penalty APR, and no rewards program
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, Citi Simplicity Card or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire has a public bonus (175,000 points, worth roughly $875), while the Citi Simplicity Card doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Citi Simplicity Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Citi Simplicity Card 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 Citi Simplicity Card.
- Can I have both the Citi Simplicity Card and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Citi 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 Citi Simplicity Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Citi Simplicity Card: 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.