Delta SkyMiles® Gold vs Hilton Honors
Side-by-side comparison
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold | Hilton Honors | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | ||
| Dining | 2x | 5x |
| Groceries | 2x | 5x |
| Gas | 1x | 5x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 3x |
| Everything else | 1x | 3x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $382 | $1,062 |
| Points type | Locked to Delta SkyMiles | 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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold earns about $382 a year in rewards and the Hilton Honors about $1,062, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold charges $150, but carries about $200 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 $730 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and groceries. 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 two are currently comparable in size. Note that Delta SkyMiles® Gold and Hilton Honors are 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 Hilton Honors if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.