Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +No annual fee with solid category rewards
• +3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000/year ($180 max annual value)
• +Up to $84/year Disney Bundle credit for streaming subscriptions
• +0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (3 months longer than Preferred)
• +As high as $200 cash back welcome offer after $2,000 spend in 6 months (offers vary)

• +Automatic Hilton Gold status with room upgrades and breakfast at select properties
• +Earn Diamond status through $40,000 annual spend (extends through end of next year)
• +$200 annual Hilton credit ($50 per quarter) covers most of the annual fee
• +Free Night Reward earned after $15,000 annual spend
• +Strong earning at 12X at Hilton, 6X at restaurants/supermarkets/gas

Cons

• −3% grocery rate is half of Blue Cash Preferred's 6%
• −2.7% foreign transaction fee makes it unsuitable for travel
• −2% gas rate is below Preferred's 3%
• −1% back on non-category purchases is below average
• −$6,000 annual cap on grocery bonus limits heavy spenders

• −$150 annual fee with no first-year waiver
• −Quarterly credits require spending at Hilton properties (use-it-or-lose-it each quarter)
• −Points locked to Hilton program with no transfer flexibility
• −Amex network less accepted than Visa/Mastercard internationally
• −Diamond status requires significant $40,000 spend threshold