Capital One Venture X Rewards vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Head-to-head comparison of every feature, fee, and perk
VS
At a Glance
Annual Fee
$395
vs
$150
Base Rewards
2x
vs
3x
Sign-Up Bonus
$750
vs
$650
Editor Score
10/10
vs
8/10
Detailed Comparison
| Category wins | 4/6 | 2/6 |
| Fees & APR | ||
| Annual Fee | $395✗ Highest | $150★ Lowest |
| Purchase APR | 19.99% – 29.99% | 22.49% – 30.49% |
| Intro APR (Purchases) | ||
| Intro APR (Balance Transfer) | ||
| Foreign Txn Fee | None★ Lowest | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | None | 3% |
| Rewards | ||
| Rewards Type | Miles | Points |
| Base Rewards Rate | 2x✗ Lowest | 3x★ Highest |
| Bonus Categories | 10x Hotels & Cars (Capital One) · 5x Flights (Capital One) | 12x Hilton Purchases · 6x Restaurants · 6x Supermarkets |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $750 value★ Highest | $650 value✗ Lowest |
| Eligibility | ||
| Credit Score | Excellent (750+) | Good (670-749) |
| Network | Visa | American Express |
| At a Glance | ||
| Best For | Premium travelers seeking maximum value | Regular Hilton guests who value Gold status perks |
| Ratings | ||
| User Rating | 4.8 / 5★ Highest | 4.4 / 5✗ Lowest |
| Editor Score | 10 / 10★ Highest | 8 / 10✗ Lowest |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply |
| Full Review | View details → | View details → |
| Pros & Cons | ||
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
Our verdict: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards ($395/year) and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card ($150/year) compete on different axes. The Capital One Venture X Rewards's strongest category is 10x on Hotels & Cars (Capital One), while the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card leads with 12x on Hilton Purchases. The Capital One Venture X Rewards costs $245 more per year, so you need at least $245 in incremental rewards to justify it over the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. At typical spend levels this breaks even somewhere between $7,350 and $14,700 in bonus-category purchases annually. Our scoring model gives the edge to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card — it leads on 4 of the 5 key dimensions we evaluate. That said, this ranking is algorithmic; your specific spending pattern can flip the answer.
Leads on 4 of 5 key comparison dimensions
Dimension-by-dimension
| Dimension | Capital One Venture X Rewards | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $395/year | $150/year |
| Base Reward Rate | 2x on everything | 3x on everything |
| Top Bonus Category | 10x on Hotels & Cars (Capital One) | 12x on Hilton Purchases |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in 3 months | 130,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $3,000 in 6 months |
| Credit Score Required | excellent | good |
Green checkmark indicates the card that leans stronger on that dimension. Our scoring model evaluates these quantitatively — your specific needs may shift the answer.
Unlock Full Comparison Report
Share to unlock
Related Comparisons
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture X RewardsCapital One Venture X Rewards vs Chase Sapphire ReserveAmerican Express Platinum vs Capital One Venture X RewardsHilton Honors American Express Surpass Card vs Marriott Bonvoy BoundlessCapital One Venture X Rewards vs American Express Gold Card
Common Questions
Which is better: Capital One Venture X Rewards or Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card?
It depends on your spending habits. The Capital One Venture X Rewards has a $395 annual fee and earns 2x base rewards. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card has a $150 annual fee and earns 3x base rewards. Compare their bonus categories above to see which aligns better with your spending.
What is the annual fee difference between Capital One Venture X Rewards and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card?
The Capital One Venture X Rewards has a $395 annual fee while the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card has a $150 annual fee. The Capital One Venture X Rewards costs $245 more per year, so it needs to deliver that much extra value in rewards and perks to justify the difference.
Can I have both the Capital One Venture X Rewards and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card?
Yes, since these cards are from different issuers (Capital One and American Express), you can hold both. Many people pair cards from different banks to maximize bonus category coverage across all their spending.