Hilton Honors Surpass vs Wyndham Earner Plus: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down the key reasons why the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card stands out.

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• The card offers generous rewards on everyday spending categories like gas, dining, and groceries, in addition to accelerated earnings at Wyndham properties.
• While it does have an annual fee, it conveniently waives foreign transaction fees, making it a solid choice for international travel.
• Cardholders receive automatic Platinum status in the Wyndham Rewards program and are awarded anniversary bonus points each year.

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Pros

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• New cardholders can earn a substantial welcome offer, enough for multiple free nights at participating hotels.
• Points go further with a redemption discount on free night awards.
• The card includes an introductory APR on balance transfers, which can be useful for managing existing debt.

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Cons

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• The card carries an annual fee, which may not be worth it for those who don't frequently stay at Wyndham properties.
• Rewards are most valuable when redeemed for Wyndham stays, offering limited flexibility compared to general travel cards.
• It lacks a free anniversary night award, a common perk on similar hotel credit cards.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Hilton Honors Surpass or Wyndham Earner Plus, comes down to your travel habits and brand loyalty. Both cards offer strong benefits for hotel stays, but they cater to different types of travelers.

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is best for Hilton travelers. It's a mid-tier hotel credit card designed for frequent Hilton guests who want to earn points on everyday spending and enjoy enhanced benefits during their stays.
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card is a hotel credit card best for travelers who frequently stay at Wyndham properties. It's designed for those who want to maximize rewards on hotel stays and related spending categories.

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Redemption

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Points are primarily redeemed for free nights across Hilton's portfolio of hotels and resorts. You can also use points for on-property rewards, unique experiences, or transfer them to partner airline programs.

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Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card: Rewards points can be used for free or discounted stays at thousands of participating Wyndham hotels, vacation club resorts, and rental properties. Points can also be redeemed for tours, activities, and gift cards.

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Travel Perks

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is well-suited for international travel as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. Cardholders also gain a Priority Pass™ Select membership, which grants a number of complimentary airport lounge visits each year.
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card: This card is less ideal for trips abroad because it includes a foreign transaction fee. It does not come with any airport lounge access benefits.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the decision easier, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your personal spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Track your progress toward earning credit card sign-up bonuses.
• Earn extra rewards, called Kudos Boost, when shopping at your favorite stores.
• Use the autofill feature to automatically select the best card at checkout to maximize rewards.
• Monitor your credit score and manage all your credit cards in one place.

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 looking to elevate their stays with automatic Gold status and accelerated points earning. It also appeals to moderate travelers and everyday spenders who can capitalize on bonus points at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. Ultimately, this card is designed for value-conscious individuals who desire meaningful hotel benefits, like room upgrades and a path to a Free Night Reward, without committing to a premium annual fee, as detailed in our full review.

Who Should Choose the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus?

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The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card is tailor-made for brand loyalists who frequently stay at Wyndham properties, including its extensive network of hotels, vacation rentals, and timeshares. Its value is most apparent for those who can maximize the high rewards rates on Wyndham stays and gas purchases, as well as elevated earnings on dining and groceries. Ultimately, this card is a strong choice for travelers committed to the Wyndham ecosystem who want to accelerate their point earnings for free nights and benefit from automatic Platinum status, as detailed in a comprehensive review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs. Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus comparison has you thinking neither card is the perfect fit, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards to consider that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.

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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 travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review bonus eligibility rules - Many issuers have restrictions on earning a welcome offer if you have or previously had the card.
• Assess the card’s benefits - Make sure the ongoing perks like elite status or annual credits align with your travel habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Align your application with planned large purchases to help meet spending requirements.
• Know the issuer's application rules, such as the once-per-lifetime welcome offer policy from American Express.
• Look for application processes that let you see your offer before a hard credit pull.

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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What are the annual fees for the Hilton Honors Surpass and Wyndham Earner Plus cards?

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The Hilton Honors Surpass Card comes with a $150 annual fee. In contrast, the Wyndham Earner Plus Card has a lower annual fee of $75.

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Which card is better for earning hotel status?

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The Hilton Honors Surpass Card automatically grants you Gold status, a valuable mid-tier level with significant benefits. The Wyndham Earner Plus Card provides complimentary Platinum status, which is the second-highest tier in the Wyndham Rewards program.

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Which card is better for everyday spending?

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The Hilton Honors Surpass Card offers strong bonus categories for U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. online retail purchases. The Wyndham Earner Plus excels in categories like gas, utilities, and grocery purchases, making the better choice dependent on your specific spending habits.

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Do points earned with these cards expire?

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Hilton Honors points can expire after 24 months of account inactivity, but earning or redeeming points with the card will reset the clock. Wyndham Rewards points expire after 18 months of inactivity, and all points will expire four years after being posted to your account, regardless of activity.

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