The Centurion® Card from American Express vs HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard®
Side-by-side comparison
| The Centurion® Card from American Express | HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $5000 | $495 |
| Welcome offer | No current offer | 60,000 bonus points |
| Dining | 1x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 5x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $292 | $394 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | The Centurion® Card from American Express | HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard® |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Not available — invitation only (the 'Black Card') | 60,000 bonus points |
| To earn it | No minimum spend | $4,000 in the first 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $-4,708 | $1,279 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $-4,708 | $679 |
The HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard® wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | The Centurion® Card from American Express | HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard® |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | Yes — Centurion, Priority Pass | Yes — Priority Pass |
| Annual credits | 3 listed credits | ~$780/yr (4 credits) |
| Points & redemptions | Transferable to airline & hotel partners | Transferable to airline & hotel partners |
On perks and redemptions, the HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard® carries the heavier credit stack (about $780 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Only the The Centurion® Card from American Express earns transferable points. Its Amex Membership Rewards move to Delta, ANA, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, plus Hilton and Marriott, where a point can be worth several cents on a premium-cabin redemption, far above its cash value. The HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard® pays flat cash back, worth about a cent, so its ceiling is nearer a penny per point no matter how you redeem.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the The Centurion® Card from American Express earns about $292 a year in rewards and the HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard® about $394, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The The Centurion® Card from American Express charges $5000, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard® charges $495, but carries about $780 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard® delivers more total value, about $4,997 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel and dining. Both earn transferable points rather than flat cash, so the deciding factor is whose transfer partners reach the airlines and hotels you would actually book. On the sign-up bonus, the HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the HSBC Elite World Elite Mastercard® if your spending leans toward dining, travel.