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 Hilton Honors American Express Card (no annual fee) and the Sam's Club Mastercard® (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.
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.
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply NowStrongest in gas at 5% (up to $6,000/yr). 5% on gas and EV charging (first $6,000/yr), 3% on dining and takeout, 1% elsewhere. Warehouse purchases earn 1% unless you hold a Plus membership.
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply Now| Feature | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Sam's Club Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 70,000 points after $2,000 spend in 6 months | $30 after $30 spend in 1 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 3.0% | 1.0% |
| Dining Rewards | 5% | 3% |
| Groceries Rewards | 5% | 1% |
| Gas Rewards | 5% | 5% (up to $6,000/yr) |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
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%. |
3% at Sam's Club with Plus Earns 3% on Sam's Club purchases only with a Plus membership, which costs more than the base Club tier. Club members earn 1% there, and groceries bought anywhere else earn 1%. |
| Key Benefits | 7x at Hilton hotels, 5x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. | 5% on gas and EV charging (first $6,000/yr), 3% on dining and takeout, 1% elsewhere. Warehouse purchases earn 1% unless you hold a Plus membership. |
Hilton Honors American Express Card pulls ahead for travel, dining, groceries spending.
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.