Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs. Discover it® Cash Back
Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026 · Independently reviewed
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®
American Express
4.3
130,000 bonus points. 12x at Hilton. 6x at restaurants, supermarkets, gas.
Full review →
Discover it® Cash Back
Discover
4.5
5% rotating categories. Cashback Match at end of first year.
Full review →WealthSpott Verdict
Discover it® Cash Back 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
Discover it® Cash
Annual Fee
$150/yr
$0 Best
Sign-up Bonus
130,000 points
Cashback Match
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
18.24%-28.24% 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
Discover it® Cash Back
Pros
- Cashback Match doubles first-year earnings
- 5% rotating categories
Cons
- Quarterly category activation required
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