Hilton Honors Aspire vs Hilton Honors Surpass

Every figure below is from the same dataset Miles computes its recommendations from. Rows the two cards agree on are collapsed at the bottom.

Economics

Dollar figures are per year unless the row says otherwise. Ongoing annual value is Miles' estimate of what the card adds per year after its annual fee: statement credits discounted for realistic use, benefits, and earning above a strong flat-rate card on a typical spending profile. First-year value is a separate net figure that includes the welcome bonus. A welcome bonus shown at its advertised maximum may not be available to every applicant; that figure is not marked as stronger. ★ marks the stronger comparable figure on other rows, and no row is marked when either figure is unknown.
Figure	Hilton Honors Aspire American Express	Hilton Honors Surpass American Express
Annual fee	$550	Best: $150 $400/yr less
Ongoing annual value, after fee	Best: $863 $587/yr more	$276
First-year value	$947	—Unknown
Authorized user fee	$0	—Unknown

Sign-up Bonus

The current welcome offer as recorded in the dataset. No winner is marked: a bonus is points times a valuation times a spend requirement you may or may not clear, and the first-year value above already prices it.
Offer	Hilton Honors Aspire American Express	Hilton Honors Surpass American Express
Current offer	Limited Time Offer: 200K after $6K spend on eligible purchases in the first 6 months of card membership. Free night certificate every year	Limited Time Offer: 130K bonus points plus a free night reward after you spend $3K in purchases within the first six months of card membership. Terms apply. (Offer Expires 1/13/2027)

Earning

Percentages are the return on a dollar spent: the multiplier times what Miles values those points at. ★ marks the higher return on a row. Categories only one card earns a bonus on are marked for that card; the other earns its base rate.
Category	Hilton Honors Aspire American Express	Hilton Honors Surpass American Express
Flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel	Best: 7X2.4%	—Unknown
Select car rental companies	Best: 7X2.4%	—Unknown
US Gas Stations	—Unknown	Best: 6X2.1%
US Grocery Stores	—Unknown	Best: 6X2.1%
US online retail purchases	—Unknown	Best: 4X1.4%
Hilton purchases	Best: 14X4.9%	12X4.2%
US Dining	Best: 7X2.4%	6X2.1%

Benefits

Statement credits, lounge access and elite status as listed in the dataset; protections are counted, not listed. No winner is marked: twelve small credits are not more than two large ones, and the row that prices them, ongoing annual value, is under Economics.
Benefit	Hilton Honors Aspire American Express	Hilton Honors Surpass American Express
Statement credits	CLEAR Plus: $219 (Annual Calendar Year) Airline: $50 (Quarterly Calendar Year) Hilton Resorts: $200 (Semi Annual Calendar Year) Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Property: $100 (Annual Calendar Year)	Hilton: $50 (Quarterly Calendar Year)
Lounge access	—Unknown	—Unknown
Elite status	Hilton Honors Diamond	Hilton Honors Gold Hilton Honors Diamond
Protections	9	4

The same on both cards (6)

Rows where both cards state the same figure or the same earning rate. Nothing is marked, because there is no stronger side.
Fact	Hilton Honors Aspire	Hilton Honors Surpass
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Issuer	American Express	American Express
Rewards currency	Hilton Honors	Hilton Honors
Card type	Personal	Personal
Network	American Express	American Express
All other purchases	3X1%	3X1%

Which one is right for you

This page shows the difference. It does not pick: the winner depends on what you spend and what you already hold, and adding these figures up without knowing that would be a guess dressed as a verdict. Ask Miles and it computes the answer against your own wallet.

Ask Miles which to get