American Express and Hilton have just launched increased welcome offers on their four co-branded credit cards, and these are among the best deals we’ve seen on the cards. With these lucrative welcome offers, on three of the four cards you can earn both points and an uncapped free night award (valid at properties costing up to 250,000 points per night).
Not only are these great welcome offers, but these cards offer valuable benefits for those who stay at Hiltons with any frequency, so if you travel often, it’s worth having (at least) one of these cards in your wallet. Seriously, though, these offers are phenomenal, and in particular, I love the free night awards, given that they can even be redeemed at top Waldorf Astoria or Conrad hotels, or even Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) properties.
Link: Learn more about the Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
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Hilton Amex Card limited time welcome offer details
For applications through January 13, 2027, Hilton Honors’ co-branded credit cards are offering limited time welcome offers, which are among the best that we’ve ever seen on these cards. In addition to offering bonus points (I value Hilton Honors points at 0.5 cents each, for what it’s worth), three of the cards also include a free night award as part of the welcome offer (and the fourth card offers a free night award as an annual benefit, including the first year).
These are standard Hilton Honors free night awards, which can be redeemed at a vast majority of Hilton Honors properties around the world for a standard room, and they’re valid for 12 months from when they’re issued. I’d consider this to be the single most valuable hotel credit card free night award out there, given that it can be redeemed at a property costing up to 250,000 points per night.
Let’s go over the details of the cards, from least premium to most premium. First, below is a quick chart comparing the Hilton Honors Amex welcome offers (let me emphasize that the welcome offer value doesn’t factor in the free night awards, which arguably make up a majority of the value with these offers).
Hilton Amex card | Welcome offer details | Card annual fee | Welcome offer value |
|---|---|---|---|
70,000 points plus a free night award after spending $2,000 within six months | No annual fee (Rates & Fees) | $350, plus value of free night award | |
130,000 points plus a free night award after spending $3,000 within six months | $150 annual fee (Rates & Fees) | $650, plus value of free night award | |
150,000 points plus a free night award after spending $8,000 within six months | $195 annual fee (Rates & Fees) | $750, plus value of free night award | |
200,000 points after spending $6,000 within six months | $550 annual fee (Rates & Fees) | $1,000 |
Hilton Honors Amex Card: 70,000 points + free night award
The Hilton Honors American Express Card has no annual fee (Rates & Fees), and for applications through January 13, 2027, the card has a limited time welcome offer of 70,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a free night award after spending $2,000 within the first six months.
Beyond the welcome offer, the Hilton Honors Amex Card features the following perks in the long run:
- 7x points for eligible spending at Hilton hotels
- Hilton Honors™ Silver status for as long as you have the card
- Hilton Honors™ Gold status when you make $20,000 in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year
Read a full review of the Hilton Honors Amex Card.
Hilton Honors Surpass Card: 130,000 points + free night award
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has a $150 annual fee (Rates & Fees), and for applications through January 13, 2027, the card has a limited time welcome offer of 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a free night award after spending $3,000 within the first six months.
Beyond the welcome offer, the Hilton Honors Surpass Card features the following ongoing benefits:
- 12x points for eligible spending at Hilton hotels
- Hilton Honors™ Gold status for as long as you have the card
- Hilton Honors™ Diamond status when you make $40,000 in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year
- Up to $200 in Hilton credits per year — get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio
- A Hilton free night reward when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
- National Emerald Club Executive status (Enrollment required)
Read a full review of the Hilton Honors Surpass Card.
Hilton Honors Business Card: 150,000 points + free night award
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has a $195 annual fee (Rates & Fees), and for applications through January 13, 2027, the card has a limited time welcome offer of 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a free night award after spending $8,000 within the first six months.
Beyond the welcome offer, the Hilton Honors Business Card features the following perks in the long run:
- 12x points for spending on eligible Hilton purchases
- 5x points on other purchases made on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year (3x points thereafter)
- Hilton Honors™ Gold status for as long as you have the card
- Hilton Honors™ Diamond status when you make $40,000 in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year
- Get up to $240 back each year on eligible purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio, with up to $60 in statement credits per quarter
Read a full review of the Hilton Honors Business Card.
Hilton Honors Aspire Card: 200,000 points
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a $550 annual fee (Rates & Fees), and for applications through January 13, 2027, the card has a limited time welcome offer of 200,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $6,000 within the first six months.
While not explicitly being marketed as part of the welcome offer, keep in mind the card always offers a free night award on an annual basis, including the year in which you open the card. So for all practical purposes, think of the welcome offer as being 200,000 points plus a free night award.
Beyond the welcome offer, the Hilton Aspire Card features the following ongoing benefits:
- 14x points for spending at Hilton hotels
- Hilton Honors™ Diamond status for as long as you have the card
- Up to $400 in Hilton resort credits annually — get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton resorts
- Up to a $200 flight credit annually — up to a $50 statement credit for flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel once per quarter
- Up to a $219 CLEAR+ credit annually — enroll in CLEAR+ and charge it to your card, and you’ll be reimbursed up to $219 per year
- A Hilton free night reward every year, a second one when you spend $30,000 on the card in a year, and a third one if you spend $60,000 on the card in a year (the annual free night reward is even awarded in the year in which you open the card)
- National Emerald Club Executive status (Enrollment required)
Read a full review of the Hilton Aspire Card.
Are you eligible for Hilton Honors Amex cards?
Anecdotally Hilton Honors Amex cards are pretty easy to be approved for:
- Each of these cards is considered a separate product, so you’re eligible for the welcome offer on each card, within the typical “once in a lifetime” rule
- The standard American Express card application rules apply, including that you’re generally limited to having five Amex credit cards at a given point (this doesn’t include charge cards and hybrid cards)
- For those with excellent credit, I find Amex credit cards to be among the easiest to be approved for
- If you are worried about Chase’s 5/24 rule, applying for the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card won’t count as a further card toward that limit
Which Hilton Honors Amex offer is best?
If you’re trying to decide which of these offers makes the most sense, here are a few considerations:
- If you’ve already had a Hilton Honors Amex card, pick up a card that you haven’t had before, so you’re eligible for the welcome offer
- If you’re looking for a personal card, you really can’t go wrong with the Hilton Honors American Express Card or Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card; I’d say the latter is worth the annual fee, given the better bonus and incremental perks
- Personally I think the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is worth the fee, especially if you stay at Hilton resorts at least once every six months
- If you’re looking for a business card, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is your best bet, and fortunately, it’s a great card with a solid bonus
Hilton Amex Card welcome offer FAQs
Bottom line
For applications through January 13, 2027, Hilton Honors’ co-branded credit cards are offering limited time welcome offers. Three of the four cards are offering points plus a free night award, while the most premium card is offering a best-ever offer in terms of the number of points you can earn.
If you’re looking for a no annual fee card, then the Hilton Honors American Express Card is for you. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a card with stronger perks and an even better bonus, I recommend the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is also a good option for small businesses.
Do you plan on picking up a Hilton Honors Amex with these bonuses?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Hilton Honors American Express Card (Rates & Fees), The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (Rates & Fees), Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (Rates & Fees), and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (Rates & Fees).
Does the Surpass card potentially provide 2 FNCs the first year, 1 with the SUB and 1 at $15k of spend?
@ Samar -- Yep, you got it exactly right!
Thanks! I was debating the next card to pick up, but this makes the decision easy.
We're getting to the point where 70,000 Hilton points are not even yielding 2 nights at a Hampton Inn. The only sweet spots are hotels at 60k-70k points ceiling during peak times where cash rates are $400+.
@ Trey -- I hear you, but that's also why these offers are so valuable, since they include a free night award, which does actually get you a stay at a great property.
Hilton's inclusion of many super-pricy SLH properties is a new 'sweet' spot for these free night certificates (if you can find Standard rates). I recall Ben posted about that $4K/night RiverView Ranch in Montana back in 2024 https://onemileatatime.com/deals/redeem-hilton-points-montana-ranch/ (though, I don't think he's been yet.) And, Greg at FM just stayed 2 nights there on points https://frequentmiler.com/loving-riverview-ranch-coffee-break-ep121-9-9-26/ Talk about 'aspirational' properties! Haven't been but would like to, some day.
Hilton's inclusion of many super-pricy SLH properties is a new 'sweet' spot for these free night certificates (if you can find Standard rates). I recall Ben posted about that $4K/night RiverView Ranch in Montana back in 2024 https://onemileatatime.com/deals/redeem-hilton-points-montana-ranch/ (though, I don't think he's been yet.) And, Greg at FM just stayed 2 nights there on points https://frequentmiler.com/loving-riverview-ranch-coffee-break-ep121-9-9-26/ Talk about 'aspirational' properties! Haven't been but would like to, some day.
Do you have a life outside of infesting travel blogs?
So, you do care...
Ah, I knew when I saw Hilton in the title that 1990 would show up.
How can you say things lie this:
“If you can find Standard Rates”
Yeah, like that is so easy, NOT!
https://loyaltylobby.com/2026/08/08/reader-comment-hilton-standard-room-rewards-becoming-practically-unavailable-worldwide/
And you know the better part of 100 properties are explicitly forbidden from FNC.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-files-trademark-for-marriott-bonvoy-brilliant-business/
And how many devaluations have they had in the last year and a half?
https://upgradedpoints.com/news/hilton-honors-lower-tier-devaluation-2026/
So you are online all day by your own...
Ah, I knew when I saw Hilton in the title that 1990 would show up.
How can you say things lie this:
“If you can find Standard Rates”
Yeah, like that is so easy, NOT!
https://loyaltylobby.com/2026/08/08/reader-comment-hilton-standard-room-rewards-becoming-practically-unavailable-worldwide/
And you know the better part of 100 properties are explicitly forbidden from FNC.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-files-trademark-for-marriott-bonvoy-brilliant-business/
And how many devaluations have they had in the last year and a half?
https://upgradedpoints.com/news/hilton-honors-lower-tier-devaluation-2026/
So you are online all day by your own admission.
You rag on other brands and typically with nonsense, although it is true there have been devaluations.
But you say unjustified good things about Hilton and ignore their constant devaluations.
The most obvious answer is you are a Hilton plant.
Fondueisgood, if you’re tracking my ‘hot takes,’ I also repeated say how Aspire is dead the second Hilton caps FNCs. As far as Standard awards, I donno where you’re looking, but they’re available at ample aspirational properties. Sometimes you need to book way in-advance, other times check last-minute. The other programs (IHG, Hyatt, Marriott, even Accor) have their sweet spots, too. I got bones to pick with the 85K certificates (even with the new +25K...
Fondueisgood, if you’re tracking my ‘hot takes,’ I also repeated say how Aspire is dead the second Hilton caps FNCs. As far as Standard awards, I donno where you’re looking, but they’re available at ample aspirational properties. Sometimes you need to book way in-advance, other times check last-minute. The other programs (IHG, Hyatt, Marriott, even Accor) have their sweet spots, too. I got bones to pick with the 85K certificates (even with the new +25K add-on), because they’re still too limiting when properties will just start at 111K to avoid redemptions. IHG Premier’s 40K is an easy breakeven because it’ll just reduce by that. Hyatt’s Cat 1-4 free nights are done for me; they moved nearly everything worthwhile to Cat 5+ especially after their recent devaluations this year. Accor is fair, I guess, in that it’s set rate, but then there’s little opportunity for optimization. Where are you finding the arbitrage these days? You one of these GHA people? (Other than Ben and Gary, hadn’t even heard of the much before the blogs). Or maybe you’re an Amex FHR or Chase The Edit coupon credit aficionado. Fondue, or fon-dont?
Just because a hotel charges 4000 per night doesn't mean it's worth that.
This seems to always be overlooked but the Aspire card always includes a FNC as part of its sign up bonus.
@ ML97 -- Yep, you're absolutely right and it's a great point, it's just not technically marketed as part of the card welcome offer.
Do you get a free night on the aspire card upon approval in addition to the points? I thought I read it is not part of the sign up bonus but part of the card so it is not called out separately. I know you receive one after year one. I received my 175k bonus based on the spending but have not received a free night. The first statement has not dropped and I have not paid the annual fee. Yes I made the spending quickly.
@ Andrew -- With the Hilton Aspire Card you do get a free night award the first year, and it typically posts within a couple of months of opening the card. It's not technically marketed as part of the welcome offer, since it's a core card perk, but you absolutely do get it the first year as well.