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Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card comes from Alliant at $0/yr; the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex from American Express at $650/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,050 more in estimated value) than the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card's. Get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex first; revisit the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $650 |
| Sign-up bonus | No welcome bonus | up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $0 | $1,050 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 0 mo | - |
| Issuer | Alliant | American Express |
| Card category | cashback | hotel |
| Best earning category (All_purchases) | 1.5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card
$0/yr · No welcome bonus
Read the full review
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex
$650/yr · up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Editorial take: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex
The Platinum status is legitimately valuable (lounge access, suite upgrades), but the $650 fee is steep. Justify it only if you stay at Marriotts 8+ times a year.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex?
- The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex has the bigger bonus, up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, worth roughly $1,050, versus No welcome bonus (~$0) on the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card.
- Is the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex?
- The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex's $650 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex's benefits to clear $650 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card.
- Can I have both the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Alliant and American Express) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card: $0 spend in 0 months. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex: no published min spend. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.