Hilton Honors Surpass vs Wells Fargo Autograph: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wells Fargo Autograph Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why the Wells Fargo Autograph card stands out.

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• It pairs strong, unlimited bonus rewards on common spending categories with no annual or foreign transaction fees.
• You'll also get valuable protections like cell phone coverage and the ability to transfer points to travel partners, features not often found on a no-annual-fee card.

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Pros

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• Earns bonus points across a broad mix of popular spending categories, including dining, travel, gas, and streaming services.
• New cardholders can earn a valuable welcome offer early in their membership.
• No annual fee, making it a cost-effective way to earn rewards on everyday spending.

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Cons

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• It lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access or statement credits for travel incidentals.
• You'll need to keep track of bonus categories to maximize your earnings, as non-bonus spending earns a lower rate.
• The selection of travel transfer partners is not as extensive as what you'll find with other major rewards programs.

Wells Fargo Autograph vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®

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Categories

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When deciding which is better Hilton Honors Surpass or Wells Fargo Autograph, it's important to look at their reward structures. Each card is designed to maximize earnings in different spending areas, catering to distinct types of consumers.

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is ideal for earning rewards on purchases made directly with Hilton properties. It also offers accelerated earnings on everyday spending at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and for U.S. online retail purchases.
• Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: This card offers generous rewards across a wide array of categories, including restaurants, travel, transit, and gas stations, as well as for popular streaming services and select phone plans.

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Redemption

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Rewards earned with this card are redeemed as Hilton Honors points, which are best used for hotel stays and other perks within the Hilton ecosystem. This makes it a specialized card for those who frequently stay at Hilton properties.

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Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: This card provides flexible rewards that can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, and statement credits. Its versatility allows cardholders to use their points in a way that best suits their financial needs, whether for travel or everyday savings.

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Travel Perks

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card's travel benefits are centered around the Hilton portfolio. Cardholders receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, which includes perks like room upgrades and bonus points. The card also offers a number of complimentary airport lounge visits annually and has no foreign transaction fees, making it a strong choice for loyal Hilton customers who travel internationally.
• Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: While it lacks premium perks like airport lounge access or hotel elite status, the Autograph Card is a solid travel companion due to its flexibility. It has no foreign transaction fees, and its points can be redeemed for travel through the Wells Fargo portal. Its strengths lie in broad rewards categories rather than a specific travel ecosystem.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For those looking to make a data-driven decision, a financial technology platform like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards.

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• Test drive credit cards: Simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your real spending data before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed breakdown of your chances of being approved for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Rewards stacking: Earn additional rewards through Kudos Boost when shopping, which stack on top of your card’s existing rewards.
• Bonus tracking: Monitor your progress toward meeting the spending requirements for credit card sign-up bonuses.
• Personalized matching: Get card recommendations tailored to your spending habits to ensure you’re maximizing your rewards.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an excellent choice for frequent Hilton guests and moderate travelers who want substantial hotel benefits without the hefty price tag of a premium card. It's particularly well-suited for those who can leverage the automatic Gold elite status for perks like room upgrades and daily food credits, while also earning accelerated points on everyday spending at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. Ultimately, this card is designed for value-conscious travelers looking to maximize both their Hilton stays and daily purchases to accumulate points for aspirational trips.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph?

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The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is an excellent choice for consumers who want to earn valuable rewards on both travel and everyday spending without paying an annual fee. It's particularly beneficial for those who frequently spend on dining, travel, gas, streaming services, and phone plans, allowing them to maximize earnings in common categories. Individuals looking for a straightforward rewards card with flexible redemption options and valuable perks, like cell phone protection, can learn more in a comprehensive review.

Alternatives to Consider

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The Hilton Honors Surpass vs Wells Fargo Autograph comparison highlights two strong contenders, but they aren't the only travel cards worth considering. If neither one is quite right for you, here are a few other options that could be a better match.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score. Most premium rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review eligibility rules. Some issuers, like American Express, have once-per-lifetime restrictions on welcome offers for specific cards.
• Assess the unique benefits. Ensure perks like automatic elite status or cell phone protection align with your spending habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application before a large planned purchase to help meet the welcome offer spending requirement.
• Plan your spending around bonus categories, like gas or dining, to meet the minimum spend for a welcome offer.
• Look for elevated offers through targeted links or different browsers to secure the best possible welcome offer.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Is the Hilton Honors Surpass card good for everyday spending?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers bonus points on U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. online retail purchases, making it a solid choice for some everyday spending. Its primary value, however, still lies in maximizing rewards on Hilton stays.

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Can I transfer points from the Wells Fargo Autograph card to travel partners?

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Yes, Wells Fargo allows you to transfer your rewards points to several airline and hotel partners. This flexibility can significantly increase the value of your points if you find a good redemption.

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What level of Hilton Honors status comes with the Surpass card?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card automatically grants you complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status. This status includes benefits like space-available room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit or continental breakfast.

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