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Card vs Card Comparison

Chase Sapphire Reserve
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.

Chase

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Annual fee

$795

Points

Ultimate Rewards

Signup bonus

Currently around 75K points after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →8x on Chase Travel bookings (post-2025 refresh)
  • →4x on flights and hotels booked direct
  • →3x on dining

Top perks

  • →$300 annual travel credit that auto-applies to any travel charge
  • →Up to $500 The Edit luxury hotel credit
  • →$300 dining credit at qualifying restaurants
See Chase Sapphire Reserve 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.

Chase Sapphire Reserve wins if

Pick this if travel and dining are your largest spend categories and you want to transfer points to Hyatt for strong hotel value.

Honest downside: The $795 fee only pencils out if you actively use the credit stack. Pure transfer-and-travel users may prefer the Preferred at $95.

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.

SpecChase Sapphire ReserveMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Annual fee$795$650
Points currencyUltimate RewardsMarriott Bonvoy
Signup bonusCurrently around 75K pointsCurrently around 95K to 185K points
Top earn category8x on Chase Travel bookings (post-2025 refresh)6x at Marriott properties
Second earn category4x on flights and hotels booked direct3x on flights booked direct and on dining
Third earn category3x on dining2x on everything else
Signature perk$300 annual travel credit that auto-applies to any travel chargeFree night certificate worth up to 85K points (often $700+ in peak season)
IssuerChaseAmerican 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, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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Chase Sapphire Reserve wins if travel and dining are your largest spend categories and you want to transfer points to Hyatt for strong hotel value. 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 Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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Yes. These are issued by different banks (Chase and American Express), so they don't conflict on application rules. Many travelers carry both to stack the strongest benefits from each card's ecosystem.

Which has the higher annual fee, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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Chase Sapphire Reserve has the higher annual fee at $795, 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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