Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card vs The Ritz-Carlton Card
Side-by-side comparison of rewards, fees, and benefits
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Amex
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The Ritz-Carlton Card
Chase
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Rates verified May 2026
The Ritz-Carlton Card comes out ahead by $86/yr at a typical $24,000/yr spending profile.
See the assumptions and math
Everyday profile: $24,000/yr across groceries, gas, dining, online shopping, streaming, and everything else. Signup bonuses excluded (first-year only). Statement credits counted at typical usage rates, not face value.
| Card | Rewards | Credits | Fee | Net/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | $432 | $583 | -$550 | $465 |
| The Ritz-Carlton Card | $250 | $751 | -$450 | $551 |
Booking through the card issuer's travel site. Point values adjust automatically.
Simple Advanced view shows effective return rates (multiplier × point value) instead of just multipliers. | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire CardAmex | The Ritz-Carlton CardChase |
|---|---|---|
Annual Fee | $550 | $450 |
Sign-Up Bonus | 175,000 pts | - |
Point Value How much each point is worth in cents. This varies based on how you redeem (cash back, travel portal, or transfer partners). | 1.0¢(Travel Portal) | 1.0¢(Travel Portal) |
Dining | 7x | 3x |
Grocery | 3x | 1x |
Flights | 7x | 3x |
Hotels | 14x | 6x |
Gas | 3x | 1x |
Online Shopping | 3x | 1x |
Everything Else | 3x | 1x |
Fast Food Quick-service restaurants (MCC 5814). Most "dining" bonuses include fast food. | 7x | 3x |
Streaming Subscriptions like Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, etc. | 3x | 1x |
Internet Home internet and cable bills. | 3x | 1x |
Cell Phone Cell phone bills (may incur processing fees). | 3x | 1x |
Home Utilities Electricity, gas, water, sewer, trash. | 3x | 1x |
Travel/Airline Credit | - | - |
Est. Perks Value | - | - |
Lounge Access | Yes | Yes |
* Est. Perks Value: Requires enrollment; varies by usage. Excludes Travel/Airline Credit (shown separately).
Amex Platinum ($2,884): $600 FHR/THC hotel credit, $400 Resy dining, $300 lululemon, $300 digital entertainment, $320 Uber ($200 cash + $120 Uber One), $209 CLEAR+, $200 Oura, $155 Walmart+, $100 Saks, $300 Equinox.
CSR ($828): $420 DoorDash (DashPass + credits), $288 Apple TV+ and Apple Music, $120 Lyft credits.
Quick Verdict
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns more on travel (7x flights vs 3x). Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card excels at everyday spending like dining and grocery. The Ritz-Carlton Card has a lower annual fee ($450 vs $550). Your best choice depends on where you spend the most.
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