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Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
vs. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Updated: March 29, 2024
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Using the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card or The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card can reward you with some fantastic perks at these respective hotel brands. With either card, you’ll receive elite status, complimentary hotel stays and travel protection.
However, the variations in annual fees, rewards structure and other categories are critical to compare before choosing one card over the other. MoneyGeek discusses the differences between the two American Express credit cards to help you decide which is better for you.
Comparison Overview: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card vs. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® CardThe Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card At a Glance
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers outstanding rewards on eligible purchases, especially on Marriott properties where you earn 6X points per dollar. Cardmembers receive complimentary Silver Elite status, one free night at participating Marriott Bonvoy locations every year and the opportunity to redeem points for flights and car rentals. In our estimation, the luxury rewards and ample travel protection more than offsets the card’s $125 annual fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Great for hotel rewards and perks for business spending
- 2–6 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $125Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Earn free night awards
- Significant hotel perks, including Gold Elite status
- Generous welcome offer
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Annual fee
- Modest travel benefits
- No intro APR offers
Introductory Offers
- Earn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $6,000 in the first six months. Each award can be redeemed for up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, for a total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
Rewards
- Earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- Earn 4x points on dining, U.S. gas stations, wireless services from U.S. providers, and U.S. shipping purchases.
- Earn 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a Marriott Bonvoy member and cardholder.
- Receive a Free Night Award annually after card renewal.
- Earn an additional Free Night Award after spending $60,000 in a calendar year.
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- Annual fee of $125. See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card At a Glance
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has a $95 annual fee and generous benefits. Cardholders earn 12X points for every dollar spent with Hilton hotels and resorts, as well as 10 complimentary Priority Pass visits to select airport lounges each year. They are also automatically enrolled as a Hilton Honors Gold Elite member, eligible for room upgrades and more. Additionally, spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in one year with this card will get you a free weekend night stay.
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Great for earning Hilton Honors points
- 3–12 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $195Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Attainable welcome offer
- Hotel perks, including status and free nights
- Variety of earning categories
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Hilton points have a lower value than competitors
- Modest annual fee
Introductory Offers
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $8,000 in the first six months. Offer valid until January 8, 2025.
Rewards
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases.
- Earn 5X points on other purchases up to $100,000 each calendar year, and 3X points thereafter.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status, with an 80% bonus on base points earned during stays.
- Upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond Status if you spend $40,000 or more in a calendar year.
- Receive up to $60 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with Hilton properties.
- Enroll for complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through your American Express online account.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- Annual fee of $195 See Rates and Fees
- APR: 20.24% - 29.24% Variable See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply.
Comparison Summary
MoneyGeek’s Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card vs. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card comparison helps to determine which one is better for you.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection | The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card provides a wide range of insurance coverage including travel accident insurance, rental car theft and damage, flight delay, lost or stolen baggage and travel emergency assistance. It also offers buyers a protection plan that can help if a new covered purchase is damaged or stolen within 90 days. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card provides the same purchase protection plan, in addition to baggage insurance and rental car loss and damage insurance. Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card |
Welcome Bonus | The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers 75,000 bonus points for spending $3,000 in the first three months. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card gives 130,000 bonus points for spending $2,000 in the first three months. Winner: Hilton Honors American Express Business Card |
Rewards | With the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you can earn 6X points for every $1 in card purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, 4X points on eligible gas, travel and dining, and 2X points on all other purchases. Overall, the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offers more points per purchase, allowing you to earn 12X points on direct purchases with Hilton hotels and resorts, 6X points on select business and travel purchases and 3X points for other purchases. Winner: Hilton Honors American Express Business Card |
Annual Fee | The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card annual fee is $150. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card’s annual fee is $95. Winner: Hilton Honors American Express Business Card |
Loyalty Programs | Both cards offer their own hotel-related loyalty programs. Marriott Bonvoy Business Cardholders receive an annual free night award, 15 annual Elite Night credits and can upgrade to Gold Elite status based on yearly purchases. On the other hand, the Hilton Honors Business Card will reward you with 10 complimentary Priority Pass visits to over 1,200 airport lounges each year and status upgrades to Diamond after spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in one year. Winner: Tie |
Which Card Should You Get?
When choosing a hotel credit card, there are several factors to consider, including your financial goals, spending habits, desired benefits and hotel preferences.
Who Should Consider the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card?
Business travelers who frequent Marriott hotels and other properties are the ideal users of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
People who use their card for daily business expenses will also reap ample rewards points on purchases in the U.S.
Individuals who want the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card to complement their other travel credit cards.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card?
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is ideal for small business owners who like to travel and stay at Hilton hotels and resorts.
Modest spenders will enjoy the lower annual fee and zero foreign transaction fees.
Hilton status-seekers will benefit from complimentary Gold Elite status, which they can later upgrade to Diamond with enough spending.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
EXPERT OPINION
Both the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card offer great value to their cardholders. However, the slight edge goes to the Hilton card as you have an opportunity to achieve the highest status with Hilton Honors, and the card has a slightly lower annual fee.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
Despite knowing the difference between the Marriott Bonvoy Business and Hilton Honors Business cards, you may be undecided about which one to choose. Below, MoneyGeek answers some questions that may help you make an informed decision.
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card better than the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card?
If you frequently use Marriott Bonvoy properties and participate in their programs, then the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card may be better than the Hilton Honors Business Card and vice versa.
Can you get the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card if you have the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card?
Yes, you can get both cards simultaneously, which could be beneficial if you frequently stay at both Marriott and Hilton properties. Both have high annual fees, but the combined benefits might outweigh the added expenses in the long run.
Can you transfer points from the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card to the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card?
No. However, you can transfer points from the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card to airline cards as miles.
Can you switch from the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card to the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card?
Yes. However, you may consider keeping both as you can switch back and forth to different hotels you’d like to stay at.
What’s harder to get, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card?
Both cards require a good credit score.
How much do you have to spend for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card vs. the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card to get the welcome bonus?
With the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, you must spend $3,000 within 3 months of card membership to earn the 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points. The Hilton Honors Business Card requires you to spend $3,000 in the first three months of card membership to earn 130,000 bonus points.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
If you’re still undecided between the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, you can check out our top picks of business credit cards and rewards credit cards to see if there are better options for you.
Learn more about credit cards in general
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- American Express. "Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card." Accessed January 7, 2022.
- American Express. "Hilton Honors American Express Business Card." Accessed January 7, 2022.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.