Which card has a lower annual fee, Citi Double Cash Card or Hilton Honors American Express Card?

The Citi Double Cash Card has no annual fee, compared to $0 for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.

Which card earns more cash back, Citi Double Cash Card or Hilton Honors American Express Card?

The Citi Double Cash Card earns 2.0% base cash back, while the Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3.0%. The best choice depends on your spending habits. Use the calculator to see which card earns you more.

Is the Citi Double Cash Card better than the Hilton Honors American Express Card?

It depends on your spending. If you spend more on categories where the Citi Double Cash Card offers higher rewards, it may be better. Use our calculator to compare based on your actual monthly spending.

Citi Double Cash® Card vs Hilton Honors American Express Card: Which Card Wins for Your Spending?

Which earns more for you?

Travel ($)

Dining ($)

Groceries ($)

Gas ($)

Special ($)

Other ($)

Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.

Choosing between the Citi Double Cash® Card (no annual fee) and the Hilton Honors American Express Card (no annual fee) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value. Let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.

Affiliate Disclosure: PointsCompare may earn a commission when you apply for a card through links on this site. This doesn't affect our rankings. Cards are ordered by rewards value for your spending. Full disclosure policy

Meet the Contenders

Citi Double Cash Card

Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases. Earns a solid 2.0% on everything else.

Annual fee: None Sign-up bonus: $200 after $1,500 spend in 6 months Foreign fees: 3%

Perfect if: You're comfortable booking through the issuer's own site for the best rate.

Apply Now

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Strongest in dining at 5%. 7x at Hilton hotels, 5x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. Earns a solid 3.0% on everything else.

Annual fee: None Sign-up bonus: 70,000 points after $2,000 spend in 6 months Foreign fees: 0%

Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.

Apply Now

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Citi Double Cash Card	Hilton Honors American Express Card
Annual Fee	$0	$0
Sign-Up Bonus	$200 after $1,500 spend in 6 months	70,000 points after $2,000 spend in 6 months
Foreign Transaction Fee	3%	0%
Base Reward Rate	2%	3%
Dining Rewards	2%	5%
Groceries Rewards	2%	5%
Gas Rewards	2%	5%
Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above	5% through Citi Travel Earns 5% only on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through Citi Travel, Citi's own booking site. Travel booked anywhere else earns the flat 2%.	7% at Hilton hotels Earns 7% only on stays at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Travel booked anywhere else earns the flat 3%.
Key Benefits	Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases.	7x at Hilton hotels, 5x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.

The Verdict

Hilton Honors American Express Card wins on travel, dining, groceries, gas.

Hilton Honors American Express Card carries $200/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.

Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.