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 Hilton Honors American Express Card leads on hotels; the Rakuten American Express Card on dining.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
American Express
First Electronic Bank
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Rakuten American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels | 7X | 1X |
| Dining | 5X | 2X |
| Gas Stations | 5X | 1X |
| Grocery Stores | 5X | 2X |
| Everything Else | 3X | 1X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
The Hilton Honors American Express Card wins in 5 of 5 categories. The Rakuten American Express Card leads in 0.
Hotels
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 7X vs 1X
Dining
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 2X
Grocery Stores
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 2X
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.
Ongoing value favors the Rakuten American Express Card; year-one value favors the Hilton Honors American Express Card.
| Scenario | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Rakuten American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|
Ongoing value favors the Rakuten American Express Card; year-one value favors the Hilton Honors American Express Card.
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $182 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $182 Year one: $502 | Rewards: $234 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $234 Year one: $334 | Rakuten American Express Card | Hilton Honors American Express Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $730 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $730 Year one: $1,050 | Rewards: $936 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $936 Year one: $1,036 | Rakuten 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.
