Hilton Honors American Express Card vs Southwest Plus
Compare fees, current offers, and listed rewards. Add your preferences to see which card may fit better.
Hilton Honors American Express Card leads on the listed facts.
Hilton Honors American Express Card leads on 3 of 4 headline comparisons: annual fee, estimated welcome bonus, highest listed earn rate, and annual listed credits. This is a starting point; category restrictions and the benefits you actually use can change the better fit.
Best if your main priority is the larger current welcome offer.
Best if this rewards ecosystem fits the cards and travel programs you already use.
This comparison has not assessed your spending or eligibility. Listed credits are potential benefits, not savings; earn-rate caps and redemption choices can change their value.
What leads on the listed facts
- Hilton Honors American Express Card wins 3 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: Hilton Honors American Express Card reaches 7x; Southwest Plus reaches 2x.
- Annual fee: Hilton Honors American Express Card is no annual fee; Southwest Plus is $99/yr.
- Current public bonus values are approximately $700 and $0.
Headline comparison · not personalized
This comparison has not assessed your spending or eligibility. Listed credits are potential benefits, not savings; earn-rate caps and redemption choices can change their value.
Why you can trust this answer
CardCurator compares measurable card economics first, then uses deeper rewards intelligence from program data, transfer partners, award charts, and live bonuses when a decision depends on the ecosystem behind the card rather than the card headline alone.
Personalize this answer without sharing sensitive data
Start with a few signals that usually decide close matchups: rough monthly spend, your top category, annual-fee tolerance, and whether you already hold either card.
This step is meant to break close ties without asking for uploads, account creation, or exact spending data.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Assumptions: default assumptions
No personal inputs have been applied. Add your spending focus, fee preference, or current cards to explore how the comparison changes.
- hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio 7x
- Dining At U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, Groceries At U.S. supermarkets, Gas At U.S. gas stations 5x
- All Other Purchases 3x
- Southwest Purchases 2x
- Gas Stations and Grocery Stores 2x
- All Other Purchases 1x
- Hilton Honors Silver Status
- United MileagePlus
Quick summary
A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.
Hilton Honors American Express Card leads on 3 of 4 headline comparisons: annual fee, estimated welcome bonus, highest listed earn rate, and annual listed credits. This is a starting point; category restrictions and the benefits you actually use can change the better fit. On raw upside, Hilton Honors American Express Card tops out at 7x versus 2x for Southwest Plus. Current signup bonus values are roughly $700 for Hilton Honors American Express Card and $0 for Southwest Plus. Summary generated May 28, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/hilton-honors-american-express-card-vs-southwest-plus
- Hilton Honors American Express Card wins 3 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: Hilton Honors American Express Card reaches 7x; Southwest Plus reaches 2x.
- Annual fee: Hilton Honors American Express Card is no annual fee; Southwest Plus is $99/yr.
- Current public bonus values are approximately $700 and $0.
Common Questions: Hilton Honors American Express Card vs Southwest Plus
Is the Hilton Honors American Express Card or Southwest Plus better for dining?
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5x on dining; Southwest Plus has no dining bonus.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
Hilton Honors American Express Card currently offers 70,000 points (spend $2,000 in 6 months). Southwest Plus offers No current bonus. Hilton Honors American Express Card has the larger bonus.
Which card is better for international travel?
Hilton Honors American Express Card: no foreign transaction fee listed. Southwest Plus: no foreign transaction fee listed. Check the issuer's current terms before using a card abroad.
Can I hold both the Hilton Honors American Express Card and the Southwest Plus?
In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Hilton Honors American Express Card is from American Express and Southwest Plus is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.
Keep Researching
If this matchup is close, the stronger next step is usually to read the full card reviews or use a broader ranking page instead of comparing random pairs one by one.