Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Annual fees: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card $150/yr, Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card on gas stations, Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card on grocery stores.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
American Express · $150/yr
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardChase · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card$150Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card$0Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card130,000 pointsMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card45,000 points
- Rewards
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardHilton HonorsMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy
- Foreign transaction fee
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardNoneMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardNone
- Network
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardAmerican ExpressMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card6xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Gas Stations
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card6xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Grocery Stores
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card6xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Online Shopping
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card4xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Cable TV
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Food Delivery
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Ridesharing
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Streaming
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Telecom
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Everything else
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- $200 Hilton property credit
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card— - Dining & delivery
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- DoorDash DashPass
Perks & access— means none on record
- Hotel status & programs
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold Elite Status
- Hilton Honors™ Upgrade to Diamond Status
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status
- 5 Elite Night Credits annually
- Car rental
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card— - Other perks
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Amex Offers
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- $500 trip delay reimbursement
- Baggage
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Baggage insurance
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Up to $3,000 lost luggage coverage per trip
- Up to $100 a day for baggage delays over 6 hours · up to $500
- Rental car
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Car rental insurance
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Auto rental coverage up to $60,000
- Purchase & returns
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Up to $1,000 per item against damage or theft
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Purchase protection for new items · up to $500
- Extended warranty
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Extended warranty adds up to 1 year
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Extended warranty protection for eligible purchases · up to $1
- Other protections
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- 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
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- No annual fee makes it risk-free to hold long-term
- Automatic Silver Elite status with 10% bonus on stays and priority late checkout
- 5 Elite Night Credits annually toward status qualification
- No foreign transaction fees
- 2x earning on everyday categories (groceries, streaming, rideshare, food delivery)
- Cons
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- $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
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Only Silver Elite status (Gold and Platinum provide much better benefits)
- Low 1x earning on non-bonus purchases
- Only 5 Elite Night Credits vs 15-25 on premium cards
- No free night award benefit
- No lounge access or premium travel perks
Expert Analysis
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card's strongest category is Hilton Hotels at 12X, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card leads with 14X on Marriott Hotels. Overall, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card wins in more bonus categories (8 vs 1) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $0/yr vs $150/yr, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is the more accessible option. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card needs to deliver at least $150 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap.
Key Differences
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 12X on Hilton Hotels vs 1X for the other
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X on Gas Stations vs 1X for the other
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X on Dining vs 1X for the other
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card costs $0/yr vs $150/yr — a $150 annual gap
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 1X on non-bonus spending)
- Different networks: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is AMEX, Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is VISA
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$200/month on hilton hotels
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardHilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 12X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 28,800 vs 2,400 points — a 26,400-point advantage.
$150/month on gas stations
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardHilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 10,800 vs 1,800 points — a 9,000-point advantage.
$200/month on marriott hotels
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 14X vs 3X. Over a year, that's 33,600 vs 7,200 points — a 26,400-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardWithout heavy spending in the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card's premium categories, the $150 fee difference is hard to recover. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card delivers better overall value for moderate spenders.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card if:
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on hilton hotels and gas stations and earning more on everyday purchases. At $150/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Get the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card if:
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on marriott hotels and keeping annual costs low. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Cash back simplicity has its own appeal if you prefer straightforward rewards.
Category-by-Category Winner
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card wins in 10 of 10 categories. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card leads in 0.
Gas Stations
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X vs 1X
Dining
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X vs 2X
Online Shopping
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 4X vs 1X
Streaming
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 3X vs 2X
Telecom
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 3X vs 2X
Cable TV
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 3X vs 2X
Ridesharing
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 3X vs 2X
Food Delivery
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 3X vs 2X
Everyday purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 3X on all other spending vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
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 Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card | Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $202 Credits (our usable estimate): $120 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $172 Year one: $692 | Rewards: $97 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $97 Year one: $412 | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $806 Credits (our usable estimate): $120 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $776 Year one: $1,296 | Rewards: $386 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $386 Year one: $701 | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card costs $150/yr — that's $150 more than the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $150 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $150 fee gap means the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card needs roughly $150 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on gas stations and dining and everyday spend.
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
- +Prefer a high flat rate across all spending
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass 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 1X on the other card.
Published annual fees: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card $150/yr, Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card $0/yr — a $150 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card costs $150/yr vs $0/yr for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $150 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use.
- Which card earns more rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
- Should I get the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $150/yr.
Related Comparisons
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.