American Express® Platinum vs Hilton Honors
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Platinum | Hilton Honors | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $895 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points | |
| Dining | 1x | 5x |
| Groceries | 1x | 5x |
| Gas | 1x | 5x |
| Travel | 5x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 3x |
| Everything else | 1x | 3x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $364 | $1,062 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | 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 household spending, the American Express® Platinum earns about $364 a year in rewards and the Hilton Honors about $1,062, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Platinum charges $895, but carries about $1,229 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Hilton Honors has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Hilton Honors delivers more total value, about $979 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and groceries. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Platinum earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Hilton Honors stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the American Express® Platinum if you will use travel transfers, the Hilton Honors if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Platinum currently has the larger welcome offer. Note that Hilton Honors 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 American Express® Platinum if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the Hilton Honors if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.