Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +Automatic Hilton Diamond status - highest published tier with room upgrades and executive lounge access
• +$400 Hilton resort credit ($200 semi-annually) covers significant portion of annual fee
• +$200 airline fee credit ($50 quarterly) for incidentals
• +$209 CLEAR Plus credit for expedited airport security
• +Up to 3 free night awards annually (anniversary + $30K and $60K spend milestones)

• +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

• −$550 annual fee is substantial even with credits
• −Resort credit only valid at Hilton resort properties, not standard hotels
• −Hilton points valued lower than Hyatt at ~0.5 cents per point
• −Diamond Reserve tier introduced in 2026 means Diamond is no longer the absolute top
• −Welcome bonus of 150K points lower than previous 175K elevated offer

• −$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

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +Automatic Hilton Diamond status - highest published tier with room upgrades and executive lounge access
• +$400 Hilton resort credit ($200 semi-annually) covers significant portion of annual fee
• +$200 airline fee credit ($50 quarterly) for incidentals
• +$209 CLEAR Plus credit for expedited airport security
• +Up to 3 free night awards annually (anniversary + $30K and $60K spend milestones)

• +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

• −$550 annual fee is substantial even with credits
• −Resort credit only valid at Hilton resort properties, not standard hotels
• −Hilton points valued lower than Hyatt at ~0.5 cents per point
• −Diamond Reserve tier introduced in 2026 means Diamond is no longer the absolute top
• −Welcome bonus of 150K points lower than previous 175K elevated offer

• −$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

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +Automatic Hilton Diamond status - highest published tier with room upgrades and executive lounge access
• +$400 Hilton resort credit ($200 semi-annually) covers significant portion of annual fee
• +$200 airline fee credit ($50 quarterly) for incidentals
• +$209 CLEAR Plus credit for expedited airport security
• +Up to 3 free night awards annually (anniversary + $30K and $60K spend milestones)

• +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

• −$550 annual fee is substantial even with credits
• −Resort credit only valid at Hilton resort properties, not standard hotels
• −Hilton points valued lower than Hyatt at ~0.5 cents per point
• −Diamond Reserve tier introduced in 2026 means Diamond is no longer the absolute top
• −Welcome bonus of 150K points lower than previous 175K elevated offer

• −$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