Hilton Honors vs Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Side-by-side comparison
| Hilton Honors | Capital One Spark Cash Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $150 |
| Welcome offer | $2,000 cash back | |
| Advertising | 3% | 2% |
| Shipping | 3% | 2% |
| Office supplies | 3% | 2% |
| Phone & internet | 3% | 2% |
| Travel | 1% | 2% |
| Everything else | 3% | 2% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $1,338 | $900 |
| Points type | Locked to Hilton Honors | Pools with Capital One → transferable |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*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 Hilton Honors earns about $1,338 a year in rewards and the Capital One Spark Cash Plus about $900, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Hilton Honors has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Capital One Spark Cash Plus charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Hilton Honors delivers more total value, about $588 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and advertising. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Capital One Spark Cash Plus 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 Capital One Spark Cash Plus if you will use travel transfers, the Hilton Honors if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Capital One Spark Cash Plus 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 Hilton Honors if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies. Pick the Capital One Spark Cash Plus if your spending leans toward travel.