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Card vs Card Comparison

Amex Platinum
vs
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.

Updated

Two cards, head-to-head. We break down earning rates, perks, transfer partners, and the real scenarios where each one wins.

American Express

Amex Platinum

Annual fee

$895

Points

Membership Rewards

Signup bonus

Currently around 175K points after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →5x on flights booked direct or on Amex Travel
  • →5x on prepaid hotels on Amex Travel
  • →1x everywhere else (the weakest baseline of the premium cards)

Top perks

  • →$200 hotel credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection)
  • →$200 airline incidental credit
  • →$200 Uber credit
See Amex Platinum detailsarrow_forward

American Express

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Annual fee

$650

Points

Marriott Bonvoy

Signup bonus

Currently around 95K to 185K points after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →6x at Marriott properties
  • →3x on flights booked direct and on dining
  • →2x on everything else

Top perks

  • →Free night certificate worth up to 85K points (often $700+ in peak season)
  • →Automatic Platinum elite status (15-night equivalent)
  • →$300 dining credit ($25 per month at select restaurants)
See Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant detailsarrow_forward

The verdict

When each card wins.

Amex Platinum wins if

Pick this if you travel internationally a few times a year, stay at higher-end hotels, and will actually use the monthly credits.

Honest downside: Weak everyday earner. The $895 fee only pencils out if you use the credits, otherwise it is the most expensive card to carry.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant wins if

Pick this if you stay at Marriott 5+ nights a year and want Platinum status without earning it.

Honest downside: Only worth it if Marriott is your default hotel chain.

At a glance

Side-by-side spec sheet.

SpecAmex PlatinumMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Annual fee$895$650
Points currencyMembership RewardsMarriott Bonvoy
Signup bonusCurrently around 175K pointsCurrently around 95K to 185K points
Top earn category5x on flights booked direct or on Amex Travel6x at Marriott properties
Second earn category5x on prepaid hotels on Amex Travel3x on flights booked direct and on dining
Third earn category1x everywhere else (the weakest baseline of the premium cards)2x on everything else
Signature perk$200 hotel credit (Fine Hotels + Resorts and Hotel Collection)Free night certificate worth up to 85K points (often $700+ in peak season)
IssuerAmerican ExpressAmerican Express

The Transfer Bonus Wire

The 2 to 6 emails a month that are actually worth acting on.

Transfer bonuses and point deals expire fast. We only email when something clears the bar.

No account, no password. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

Questions

Frequently asked.

Which is better, Amex Platinum or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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Amex Platinum wins if you travel internationally a few times a year, stay at higher-end hotels, and will actually use the monthly credits. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant wins if you stay at Marriott 5+ nights a year and want Platinum status without earning it.

Can I have both the Amex Platinum and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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Both cards are issued by American Express, so the issuer's application rules apply. Many cardholders carry both if the perks don't overlap, but check your issuer's velocity rules before applying for two cards close together.

Which has the higher annual fee, Amex Platinum or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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Amex Platinum has the higher annual fee at $895, compared to $650 for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.

Your next step

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