Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited
On the criteria below, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card wins 3 of 5. The verdict depends on which criteria matter to you.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Amex
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card wins 3 of 5 criteria here, making it the stronger all-rounder.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card wins on earning ceiling, lounge access, and foreign transactions; Chase Freedom Unlimited wins on annual fee.
Take the Chase Freedom Unlimited if you want a cheaper card to keep long-term; the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is the right call if you'll actually use the lounges.
Who wins what
3 vs 1 (1 tie)- First-year math Tie
Both cards land within $25 of each other after the annual fee.
- Annual fee Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Unlimited is $550 cheaper to keep.
- Earning ceiling Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns more on its best category (14× vs 5×).
- Lounge access Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes lounge access; the other doesn't.
- Foreign transactions Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a lower (or zero) foreign transaction fee.
By the numbers
- Annual fee
- $550
- Free
- Welcome offer (typical value)
- $750
- $200
- First-year net
- +$200
- +$200
- Peak earning rate
- 14×
- 5×
- Top categories
- Hotels Resorts, Airfare, Car Rentals
- Chase Travel, Dining, Drugstores
- Lounge access
- priority-pass
- No
- Travel insurance
- Yes
- Yes
- Elite status
- Yes
- No
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- 3.00%
- Reward currency
- Hilton Honors
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
Welcome-offer dollar values use each program's typical-tier valuation from our signup bonus calculator. See the methodology page for sourcing details.