Hilton Honors American Express Business Card vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard

Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
VS
PayPal Cashback Mastercard
The short answer: The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

Hilton Honors American Express Business CardPayPal Cashback Mastercard
Annual fee$195No annual fee
Welcome offer130,000 pointsNo current offer
Advertising3%1.5%
Shipping5%1.5%
Office supplies3%1.5%
Phone & internet5%1.5%
Travel5%1.5%
Everything else3%1.5%
Est. yearly rewards*$1,638$675
Points typeLocked to Hilton HonorsCash back only
NetworkAmexMastercard

*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 American Express Business Card earns about $1,638 a year in rewards and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard about $675, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card charges $195, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card delivers more total value, about $768 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and travel. 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 Hilton Honors American Express Business Card currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping, office supplies.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card or the PayPal Cashback Mastercard better?
On typical business spending, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card comes out ahead after its annual fee, by roughly $768 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the PayPal Cashback Mastercard can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card or the PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
As of June 2026, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers 130,000 points and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard offers no current offer. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.