Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Head-to-head comparison of every feature, fee, and perk
At a Glance
Annual Fee
$550
vs
$150
Base Rewards
1x
vs
3x
Sign-Up Bonus
$900
vs
$650
Editor Score
9/10
vs
8/10
Detailed Comparison
| Category wins | 4/6 | 2/6 |
| Fees & APR | ||
| Annual Fee | $550✗ Highest | $150★ Lowest |
| Purchase APR | 22.49% – 29.49% | 22.49% – 30.49% |
| Intro APR (Purchases) | ||
| Intro APR (Balance Transfer) | ||
| Foreign Txn Fee | None★ Lowest | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 5% | 3% |
| Rewards | ||
| Rewards Type | Points | Points |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x✗ Lowest | 3x★ Highest |
| Bonus Categories | 10x Hotels (Chase) · 5x Flights (Chase) · 3x Dining | 12x Hilton Purchases · 6x Restaurants · 6x Supermarkets |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $900 value★ Highest | $650 value✗ Lowest |
| Eligibility | ||
| Credit Score | Excellent (750+) | Good (670-749) |
| Network | Visa | American Express |
| At a Glance | ||
| Best For | Frequent luxury travelers | Regular Hilton guests who value Gold status perks |
| Ratings | ||
| User Rating | 4.5 / 5★ Highest | 4.4 / 5✗ Lowest |
| Editor Score | 9 / 10★ Highest | 8 / 10✗ Lowest |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply |
| Full Review | View details → | View details → |
| Pros & Cons | ||
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Our verdict: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/year) and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card ($150/year) compete on different axes. The Chase Sapphire Reserve's strongest category is 10x on Hotels (Chase), while the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card leads with 12x on Hilton Purchases. The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $400 more per year, so you need at least $400 in incremental rewards to justify it over the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. At typical spend levels this breaks even somewhere between $12,000 and $24,000 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 | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $550/year | $150/year |
| Base Reward Rate | 1x on everything | 3x on everything |
| Top Bonus Category | 10x on Hotels (Chase) | 12x on Hilton Purchases |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 60,000 points 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.
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Common Questions
Which is better: Chase Sapphire Reserve or Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card?
It depends on your spending habits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee and earns 1x 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 Chase Sapphire Reserve and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee while the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card has a $150 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $400 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 Chase Sapphire Reserve and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card?
Yes, since these cards are from different issuers (Chase and American Express), you can hold both. Many people pair cards from different banks to maximize bonus category coverage across all their spending.