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.
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card leads on travel; the Hilton Honors American Express Card on hotels.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
Capital One
American Express
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Hilton Honors American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels | 1X | 7X |
| Dining |
The Hilton Honors American Express Card wins in 5 of 6 categories. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card leads in 1. 1 more category depend on booking channel or caps.
Travel
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3X (3X without restrictions)
Entertainment
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 5X vs 3X
Hotels
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 7X vs 1X
Dining
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 1X
Gas Stations
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 1X
Everyday purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3X on all other spending vs 1X
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.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
| 1X |
| 5X |
| Entertainment | 5X | 3X |
| Gas Stations | 1X | 5X |
| Grocery Stores | 1X | 5X |
| Everything Else | 1X | 3X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
| Scenario | Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $65 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $185 Year one: $385 | Rewards: $182 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $182 Year one: $502 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Hilton Honors American Express Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $65 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $545 Year one: $745 | Rewards: $730 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $730 Year one: $1,050 | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Hilton Honors American Express Card |
Get the Hilton Honors American Express 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.
