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: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card $550/yr, Rakuten American Express Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card on hotels, 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 Aspire Card | Rakuten American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels | 14X | 1X |
| Car Rentals |
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card wins in 6 of 6 categories. The Rakuten American Express Card leads in 0.
Hotels
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 14X vs 1X
Car Rentals
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 1X
Flights
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 1X
Dining
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 2X
Grocery Stores
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 3X vs 2X
Everyday purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire 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.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Published annual fees: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card $550/yr, Rakuten American Express Card $0/yr — a $550 difference before welcome offers and credits.
| 7X |
| 1X |
| Dining | 7X | 2X |
| Flights | 7X | 1X |
| Grocery Stores | 3X | 2X |
| Everything Else | 3X | 1X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
| Scenario |
|---|
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card |
|---|
| Rakuten American Express Card |
|---|
| Ongoing winner |
|---|
| Year-one winner |
|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $173 Credits (our usable estimate): $545 − Annual fee ($550) Ongoing: $168 Year one: $768 | Rewards: $234 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $234 Year one: $334 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $691 Credits (our usable estimate): $545 − Annual fee ($550) Ongoing: $686 Year one: $1,286 | Rewards: $936 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $936 Year one: $1,036 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use |
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card costs $550/yr — that's $550 more than the Rakuten American Express Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $550 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes travel credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, complimentary hotel status. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $550 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $550 fee gap means the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card needs roughly $550 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and car rentals and everyday spend.
Get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card if you:
Get the Rakuten 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.
