Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
Annual fees: Bilt Palladium Card $495/yr, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card $150/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Bilt Palladium Card on rent and travel, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card on gas stations.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Bilt Palladium Card | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | 2X | 6X |
| Gas Stations | 2X |
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card wins in 8 of 8 categories. The Bilt Palladium Card leads in 0.
Rent
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 3X vs 1.25X
Mortgage
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 3X vs 1.25X
Travel
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 3X vs 2X
Gas Stations
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X vs 2X
Dining
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X vs 2X
Grocery Stores
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X vs 2X
Online Shopping
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 4X vs 2X
Everyday purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 3X on all other spending vs 2X
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Bilt Palladium Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 3X on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card vs 2X on the other card.
Published annual fees: Bilt Palladium Card $495/yr, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card $150/yr — a $345 difference before welcome offers and credits.
| 6X |
| Grocery Stores | 2X | 6X |
| Online Shopping | 2X | 4X |
| Mortgage | 1.25X | 3X |
| Rent | 1.25X | 3X |
| Travel | 2X | 3X |
| Everything Else | 2X | 3X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
Both scenarios favor the Bilt Palladium Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Bilt Palladium Card | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $528 Credits (our usable estimate): $300 − Annual fee ($495) Ongoing: $333 Year one: $1,433 | Rewards: $202 Credits (our usable estimate): $120 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $172 Year one: $692 | Bilt Palladium Card | Bilt Palladium Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $2,112 Credits (our usable estimate): $300 − Annual fee ($495) Ongoing: $1,917 Year one: $3,017 | Rewards: $806 Credits (our usable estimate): $120 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $776 Year one: $1,296 | Bilt Palladium Card | Bilt Palladium Card |
The Bilt Palladium Card costs $495/yr — that's $345 more than the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card ($150/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $345 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Bilt Palladium Card includes lounge access. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $345 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $345 fee gap means the Bilt Palladium Card needs roughly $345 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on travel and rent and everyday spend.
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card means losing:
Get the Bilt Palladium Card if you:
Get the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card if you:
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
