Many prime rewards bank cards embody annual charges. In trade for this up-front price, you’ll be able to unlock increased incomes charges, extra journey perks and annual rewards.
That mentioned, many issuers (and their cobranded loyalty program companions) provide no-annual-fee merchandise that may nonetheless be first rate choices for extra informal vacationers.
In the event you’re on the lookout for a lodge bank card on this class, it is best to know concerning the Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card and the Hilton Honors American Categorical Card. Each of those playing cards get you prompt low-level standing and award you helpful lodge factors with each buy, all with out an annual charge (see charges and charges of the Hilton Honors Amex).
Here is a head-to-head comparability of the Marriott Bonvoy Daring and Hilton Honors Amex that can assist you determine which can be the only option on your wants.
Associated: Finest lodge bank cards
Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex comparability
| Card | Marriott Bonvoy Daring | Hilton Honors Amex |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome provide | Earn 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors and a free evening reward (valued as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $2,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening. Sure accommodations have resort charges. | Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors factors after spending $2,000 in purchases throughout the first six months from account opening. This provide ends Jan. 8, 2025. |
| Annual charge | $0 | $0 (see charges and charges) |
| Incomes charges |
|
|
| Per-point worth (based mostly on TPG’s October 2024 valuations) | 0.85 | 0.6 |
| Advantages |
|
|
*Eligibility and profit ranges range by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
**Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Not all automobile varieties or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by American Categorical Journey Associated Providers Firm, Inc.
Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex welcome provide
Each Marriott and Hilton provide these no-annual-fee playing cards with compelling bonus provides. In the event you’re a giant fan of journey and benefit from the consolation of a name-brand lodge, you could wish to think about one in every of these profitable bonuses.
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In the event you use the free evening award for the total 50,000 factors, the Daring’s welcome bonus is price $935, per TPG’s October 2024 valuations. That is a stable worth for a card with no annual charge.
The Hilton Honors Amex is at the moment providing new cardholders 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus factors after they spend $2,000 in purchases throughout the first six months from account opening. This provide ends on Jan. 8, 2025.
The Hilton Honors Amex’s welcome bonus is price $600, per TPG’s October 2024 valuations. We have beforehand seen 130,000 whole bonus factors provided on this card, however this was earned in increments of 80,000 factors after spending $1,000 within the first three months of card membership, after which 50,000 extra bonus factors after spending $5,000 whole within the first six months. (Supply not out there.)
Contemplating that this 100,000 factors bonus kicks in after spending $2,000 in six months, the present provide is less complicated to earn than the very best we have discovered up to now.
Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Daring. It is at the moment providing a extra helpful welcome bonus, particularly for those who make the most of the welcome provide’s free evening award for the total 50,000-point allotment.
Associated: This month’s greatest welcome provides
Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex advantages
The Hilton Honors Amex contains complimentary Silver standing for all cardholders. Like Marriott, Hilton Silver can be considerably unexciting, supplying you with a 20% level bonus and elite rollover nights. Nonetheless, Hilton’s fifth evening free on award stays can be solely out there to elite members, so this perk alone will be helpful if in case you have sufficient factors (and trip time) for a keep of no less than 5 nights.
Plus, each the Daring and Hilton Amex provide pathways to increased tiers.
The Daring provides you 5 elite evening credit per 12 months that can assist you work towards increased standing and extra perks when staying with Marriott. With the Hilton Amex, you get automated Gold standing after spending $20,000 on the cardboard in a 12 months. For anybody who plans to make use of both card regularly, this is usually a nice choice to unlock an elite tier that is rather more profitable. Nonetheless, you could be sacrificing worth by not making these purchases with a card that is good for on a regular basis spending.
Each playing cards include no overseas transaction charges (see charges and charges for the Hilton Honors Amex), so you should utilize the cardboard when touring outdoors the U.S. with out incurring charges. Past that, the playing cards include a reasonable listing of journey and buy advantages — although one card stands out on this class.
The Marriott Bonvoy Daring and Hilton Honors Amex each embody buy safety*. The place they differ is that the Daring card contains baggage delay insurance coverage, misplaced baggage reimbursement and journey delay reimbursement protection – a stable bundle of additional perks for a card with no annual charge. The Hilton Honors Amex provides prolonged guarantee* and automotive rental insurance coverage.**
*Eligibility and profit ranges range by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
**Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Not all automobile varieties or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by American Categorical Journey Associated Providers Firm, Inc.
Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Daring. It has extra journey protections and a better path to increased elite standing.
Incomes factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex
With each swipe, faucet, dip or on-line buy with both card, you’ll be able to earn factors redeemable without cost lodge nights (amongst different redemption choices, which we’ll focus on later). Each works a bit in a different way right here.
Nonetheless, take into account that the three factors per greenback you earn with the Daring on Marriott purchases are added to the ten factors per greenback you earn as a Marriott Bonvoy member and one other 1 level per greenback you get with automated Silver standing, which brings the entire factors per greenback spent with Marriott to 14 while you use the cardboard. That is an 11.9% return in your spending when utilizing TPG’s October 2024 valuation of Marriott Bonvoy factors at 0.85 cents per greenback.
In the meantime, the Hilton Honors Amex awards 7 factors per greenback on eligible purchases made straight with Hilton Resorts and Resorts. This contains paying on your room and on-site spending at eating places and spas.
Just like the Daring with Marriott purchases, nevertheless, the Hilton Honors Amex really earns greater than the bottom fee while you transact with Hilton. Along with the 7 factors per greenback netted with the Hilton Honors Amex, cardholders will get an extra 12 factors per greenback spent, because of the complimentary Hilton Honors Silver standing. Thus, you are taking a look at a complete of 19 factors per greenback, or an 11.4% return in your spending when utilizing TPG’s October 2024 valuation of Hilton Honors factors at 0.6 cents per greenback.
The Hilton Amex actually shines compared to the Daring on the subject of non-hotel spending. You may earn 5 factors per greenback at U.S. eating places (together with takeout and supply), U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gasoline stations and three factors per greenback in all places else.
Winner: Hilton Honors Amex. It comes with a lot better earnings charges in fashionable spending classes.
Associated: The perfect no annual charge bank cards
Redeeming factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex
TPG managing editor Matt Moffitt lately redeemed 78,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors for a two-night keep at Caro & Selig Tegernsee, a mountain city an hour south of Munich.
Marriott makes use of a dynamic pricing mannequin, which implies that redemption charges fluctuate based mostly on numerous components, together with money charges. You should use a mix of Marriott Bonvoy factors and money on your subsequent keep by using the Marriott Money + Factors fee, which might provide deal for those who’re low on factors or if it gives higher worth than reserving with solely factors.
In the event you’re redeeming factors for 5 consecutive nights underneath the identical reservation on the similar Marriott lodge, you will be eligible for the “Keep for five, Pay for 4” profit, which permits Marriott Bonvoy members to get the bottom point-value free for each 5 consecutive nights redeemed with Marriott Bonvoy factors. This perk is routinely utilized to eligible bookings and may also help you stretch your factors for longer stays if in case you have the power to take action.
Hilton Honors redemptions aren’t all that completely different from Marriott’s. Free stays at Hilton sometimes fluctuate, so it is essential to do your analysis to seek out the very best worth on your factors.
Much like Marriott, your fifth evening is free on award stays with Hilton elite standing, which is an automated perk on the Hilton Honors Amex and may stretch your factors additional.
TPG bank cards editor Emily Thompson maximized her Hilton Honors factors by making the most of the loyalty program’s fifth-night free perk on her journey to London.
Hilton Honors additionally provides the choice to ebook with factors and money for those who desire — however in any case, it is best to seek the advice of this system’s Factors Explorer device to get a really feel for a way a lot your award stays will price.
You threat getting a a lot decrease worth per level while you redeem Marriott or Hilton factors for something apart from free nights, so remember to crunch the numbers to ensure you get the very best worth per level on each redemption.
Winner: This one is a tie. Since each loyalty packages make the most of dynamic reward pricing and provide related advantages with these playing cards, it is as much as you to find out for those who get extra worth from stays at Marriott or Hilton properties.
Ought to I get the Marriott Bonvoy Daring or Hilton Honors Amex?
Associated: How to decide on a lodge bank card
Backside line
For no-annual-fee journey rewards playing cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Daring Credit score Card and Hilton Honors American Categorical Card ship ongoing worth by helpful advantages and helpful redemption alternatives.
In the event you’re a fan of one in every of these loyalty packages however do not wish to pay an out-of-pocket price for a cobranded card, both of those playing cards could possibly be decide. Nonetheless, frequent vacationers might discover that it is price making use of for a cobranded card with the next annual charge to entry many extra advantages.
To be taught extra, learn our full critiques of the Marriott Bonvoy Daring and the Hilton Honors Amex.
Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Daring
Apply right here: Hilton Honors Amex
For charges and charges of the Hilton Honors Amex, please click on right here.
