Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs. Citi Custom Cash® Card

Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026 · Independently reviewed

American Express logo
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®
American Express
4.3

130,000 bonus points. 12x at Hilton. 6x at restaurants, supermarkets, gas.

Full review →
Citi logo
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Citi
4.6

5% cash back on your top eligible category each month.

Full review →
WealthSpott Verdict

Citi Custom Cash® Card wins on more measurable categories — particularly annual cost. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® may still win for your wallet depending on your spending patterns.

Feature
Hilton Honors American
Citi Custom Cash®
Annual Fee
$150/yr
$0 Best
Sign-up Bonus
130,000 points
$200
Rewards Rate
3x-12x
1%-5%
Rewards Type
Points
Cash Back
0% Intro APR
N/A
0% for 15 months
Regular APR
22.49%-29.49% Variable
19.24%-29.99% Variable Best
Foreign Transaction Fee
None Best
Yes
Recommended Credit Score
670-850
670-850
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®
Pros
  • 12x points at Hilton properties
  • 6x at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas
  • Automatic Hilton Gold status
  • Free weekend night after $15k annual spend
Cons
  • $150 annual fee
  • Hilton points worth less per point than rivals
  • Free night requires $15k spend to unlock
Full review
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Pros
  • 5% on top category (up to $500/quarter)
  • No annual fee
  • Categories include gas, groceries, dining
Cons
  • Only one category earns 5% per month
  • Foreign transaction fee
Full review

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