Head-to-head · 🇺🇸 United States
Apple Card vs Amex Hilton Honors
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
US
Goldman Sachs / Apple
Apple Card
Wins 2 of 10
US
American Express
Amex Hilton Honors
AMERICAN
EXPRESS
EXPRESS
Wins 2 of 10
Verdict
It's a true tie — neither dominates. Pick the one whose boost categories match where you actually spend.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Apple Card | Amex Hilton Honors |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = No annual fee | = No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 3% (shopping) | 7% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 3% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = No welcome bonus — daily cashback model | = 70,000 Hilton points after $2,000 spend in 6 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 660 | · 670 |
| Editorial rating | 4.4/5 | · 4.1/5 |
Benefits compared
Apple Card
- 3% Daily Cash on Apple purchases + select merchants (Uber, Walgreens, T-Mobile)
- 2% Daily Cash on all Apple Pay transactions
- 1% Daily Cash on physical-card purchases
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no late fees
- High-yield savings account at 4.4% APY
- Privacy-first: no purchase data sold
Amex Hilton Honors
- 7x Hilton Honors points at Hilton hotels
- 5x at US restaurants + gas stations
- 3x on everything else
- Hilton Honors Silver status
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees
FAQ
›Apple Card vs Amex Hilton Honors: which is better?
It's a true tie — pick the one whose boost categories match your spend. Apple Card wins on 2 criteria, Amex Hilton Honors on 2.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Apple Card for its best categories, Amex Hilton Honors for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Apple Card: No welcome bonus — daily cashback model. Amex Hilton Honors: 70,000 Hilton points after $2,000 spend in 6 months.