Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card vs Hilton Honors Surpass®
Side-by-side comparison
| Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card | Hilton Honors Surpass® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $295 | $150 |
| Welcome offer | $1,500 cash back | |
| Advertising | 2% | 3% |
| Shipping | 2% | 3% |
| Office supplies | 2% | 3% |
| Phone & internet | 2% | 3% |
| Travel | 2% | 1% |
| Everything else | 2% | 3% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $900 | $1,380 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Locked to Hilton Honors |
| Network | Amex | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of business spending, the Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card earns about $900 a year in rewards and the Hilton Honors Surpass® about $1,380, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card charges $295, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Hilton Honors Surpass® charges $150, but carries about $200 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Hilton Honors Surpass® delivers more total value, about $725 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and advertising. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card currently has the larger welcome offer. Note that Hilton Honors Surpass® is running a limited-time offer above the usual amount, so that edge may not last. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the Hilton Honors Surpass® if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies.