Both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve are premium travel rewards credit cards that offer a variety of benefits, including generous rewards programs, travel protections, and luxury perks.
In this comparison, we will delve deeper into the specific features, benefits and drawbacks of both cards.
General Comparison: Marriott Brilliant vs. Chase Reserve
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Chase Sapphire Reserve | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant | |
Annual Fee | $550 | $650. See Rates and Fees. |
Rewards | 5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals and dining when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases. | 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases |
Welcome bonus | 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership |
0% Intro APR | N/A | N/A |
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | |
Purchase APR | 22.49%–29.49% variable | 20.99% – 29.99% Variable
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Compare Rewards: Which Card Gives More?
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Spend Per Category | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant |
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 10,000 points | 20,000 points |
$5,000 – Restaurants | 15,000 points | 15,000 points |
$6,000 – Hotels | 60,000 points | 36,000 points |
$8,000 – Airline
| 40,000 points | 24,000 points |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 points | 8,000 points |
Total Points | 129,000 points | 103,000 points |
Estimated Redemption Value | 1 point ~ 1 – 1.5 cent | 1 point ~ 0.8 cent |
Estimated Annual Value | $1,290 – $1,935 | $824 |
With the Marriott Brilliant card, you earn and redeem points for free nights at Marriott hotels, travel experiences, and exclusive events. Also, you can transfer points to airline or use it to pay for car rentals, merchandise or book an experience with Marriot Moments.
On the other hand, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers flexible redemption options. Earn points on purchases for high-value rewards like travel, dining, and experiences through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.
Travel Benefits: Marriott Brilliant vs. Chase Reserve
As luxury travel credit cards, both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve offer a variety of travel perks.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- $300 Annual Travel Credit: Receive up to $300 in statement credit each year for various travel purchases.
- 50% More Value for Travel Redemption: Redeem points for travel and get 50% more value, e.g., 60,000 points are worth $900.
- Priority Pass Select Membership: Access 1,300+ VIP airport lounges worldwide.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS Fee Credit: Receive up to $100 in statement credit every four years for application fees.
- 24/7 Customer Service: Access dedicated customer service specialists around the clock.
- Lyft Pink Membership: Get 2 complimentary years of Lyft Pink All Access, including discounts and rewards.
- DoorDash DashPass Subscription: Enjoy a year of $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders.
- Monthly DoorDash Credit: Receive $5 in DoorDash credits each month through Dec 31, 2024.
- Instacart Membership: Get 1 year of complimentary Instacart+ for grocery delivery.
- Monthly Instacart Credit: Instacart+ members earn up to $15 in statement credits each month through July 2024.
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Receive room upgrades, daily breakfast, late checkout, and other benefits at select hotels and resorts.
- 10x on Peloton Purchases: Earn 10x total points on Peloton equipment and accessories over $150 through March 31, 2025.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
- Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status: Enjoy complimentary Platinum Elite status with the card, allowing you to earn up to 5X points on eligible hotel purchases with the 50% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Earned Choice Award: After spending $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, you can choose an Earned Choice Award benefit such as getting Suite Night Awards™ (five) to redeem for upgrades to select premium rooms and suites, gift Marriott Bonvoy® Silver Elite Status to a family member or friend and more.
- $300 Dining Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits annually ($25 per month) for eligible restaurant purchases with the Brilliant card.
- Free Night Award: Receive one Free Night Award each year after your card renewal month, valid for a one-night stay (up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Get up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels when booking a special rate for a minimum 2-night stay.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck: Receive a statement credit every 4 years for Global Entry or every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck application fees when paid with your card.
- 25 Elite Night Credits: Get 25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year toward achieving higher levels of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.
- Priority Pass Select: Enjoy unlimited lounge visits for yourself and up to two guests at no extra charge with complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, offering access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide.
- Premium Internet Access: Receive complimentary in-room premium Internet access at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties.
- American Express Experiences: Gain exclusive access to ticket presales and Card Member-only events, including entertainment options like Broadway shows, concerts, family events, and more. Visit the American Express website for more information.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
Insurance Benefits: Comparison
Both cards offer a variety of insurance benefits for travelers- most of them are pretty similar, but the Reserve card offers more types of coverage.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Decline rental company insurance, charge rental costs to your card, and get primary coverage up for theft and collision damage on rental cars worldwide.
Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance: Receive reimbursement up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled or shortened due to covered reasons like sickness or severe weather.
Trip Delay Reimbursement: If your common carrier travel is delayed over 6 hours or requires an overnight stay, you're covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging.
Travel Accident Insurance: Pay for air, bus, train, or cruise transportation with your card and get accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $1,000,000.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services: Benefit from legal and medical referrals or other emergency assistance away from home, with coverage for incurred costs (excluding goods or services obtained).
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If your checked or carry-on luggage is damaged or lost by the carrier, receive coverage up to $3,000 per passenger.
Baggage Delay Insurance: Get reimbursed for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing if your baggage is delayed over 6 hours by a passenger carrier, up to $100 a day for 5 days.
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Services: Offers access to legal and medical referrals and other travel emergency assistance when you encounter problems away from home.
- Emergency Evacuation and Transportation: Provides coverage for medical services and transportation in case of an emergency evacuation during a trip far from home.
- Roadside Assistance: Offers roadside services like towing, jumpstarts, tire changes, locksmith, or gas.
- Emergency Medical and Dental Benefit: Provides reimbursement of up to $2,500 for medical expenses if you or an immediate family member become sick or injured while 100 miles or more from home on a trip.
- Purchase Protection: Covers new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days.
- Return Protection: Reimburses eligible items that the store won't accept returns for within 90 days of purchase.
- Extended Warranty Protection: Extends the time period of U.S. manufacturer's warranties by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: When you reserve and pay for a rental vehicle with your Eligible Card, declining the rental counter's collision damage waiver, you can be protected against damage or theft in specific regions, subject to certain exclusions and limitations.
- Baggage Insurance Plan: When you purchase a common carrier vehicle ticket with your Eligible Card, you can receive coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage.
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: Buying a round-trip with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card can provide assistance in the event of trip cancellation or interruption, following the specified terms and conditions.
- Trip Delay Insurance: If your trip faces a delay of more than 6 hours due to a covered reason and you paid for the round-trip with your Eligible Card.
- Purchase Protection: Eligible purchases made with your card can be protected for up to 90 days from the purchase date, offering coverage for theft, accidental damage, or loss.
- Extended Warranty: When you use your Eligible Card for eligible purchases, you can receive an extra year of warranty coverage for warranties lasting 5 years or less in the United States or its territories.
- Cell Phone Protection: This embedded benefit provides reimbursement for repair or replacement costs after cell phone damage or theft.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
When You Might Want the Marriot Bonvoy Brilliant?
Opting for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card over the Chase Sapphire Reserve can be advantageous in several situations:
- You're Loyal to Marriott: If you are a loyal Marriott customer and prefer staying at Marriott properties, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is tailored to provide you with exclusive benefits, such as complimentary elite status, free night awards, and enhanced earning potential within the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.
- Frequent Marriott Stays: If you frequently stay at Marriott hotels, the annual free night award offered by the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card can more than offset the card's annual fee, making it a valuable choice
- You Want Luxury Hotel Experiences: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card may be more appealing if you prefer luxurious hotel experiences, as it offers a variety of upscale perks and premium services at Marriott Bonvoy properties.
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When You Might Want the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Choosing the Chase Sapphire Reserve over the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card can be a preferable option in several scenarios:
- You Want Diverse Travel Spending: If your spending habits cover a broad spectrum of travel and dining expenses, the Chase Sapphire Reserve may be the better choice. It offers a high rewards rate in these categories and allows you to transfer points to a variety of airline and hotel partners, providing flexibility and potentially higher value.
- You Want Versatile Travel Benefits: The Chase Sapphire Reserve includes a $300 annual travel credit that can be used for a wide range of travel-related expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. This flexibility can make it more appealing if you have different types of travel in mind.
- You Want Transferable Points: If you prefer the option to transfer your credit card points to various loyalty programs for added flexibility in your travel redemptions, the Chase Sapphire Reserve allows this.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for a travel rewards credit card– there are some excellent alternatives you may want to consider:
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The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Capital One Venture X Rewards | |
Annual Fee | $695. See Rates & Fees | $95
| $395 |
Rewards |
1X – 5X
5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
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2X – 5X
5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services. 2x on other travel purchases. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
| 1X – 10X
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
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Welcome bonus |
80,000 points
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
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60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
| 75,000 miles
75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
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Foreign Transaction Fee | $0. See Rates & Fees | $0
| $0
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Purchase APR | 21.24% – 29.24% APR Variable | 21.24%–28.24% variable APR
| 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable) |
Compare Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
When it comes to the annual fee, there is a clear winner. But is it worth the exclusive travel rewards you'll get? Here's our analysis.
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Compare Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card
While there is no big difference when it comes to points rewards, the Brilliant offers lounge access, credit statements, and Platinum status.
The Brilliant is more expensive than the Bevy card but offers more premium perks such as dining credit, lounge access, and TSA PreCheck.
There is no real difference in annual cashback, despite the difference in annual fees. However, the Brilliant card offers premium hotel perks.
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Amex Platinum Card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card: Which Luxury Travel Card Is Best?
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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. Hilton Amex Aspire: : Which Luxury Hotel Card Is Best?
