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Hilton Honors American Express Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Hilton Honors American Express Card comes from American Express 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 Hilton Honors American Express Card's. Get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex first; revisit the Hilton Honors American Express Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $650 |
| Sign-up bonus | Not advertised | up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $1,050 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | - | - |
| Issuer | American Express | American Express |
| Card category | travel | hotel |
| Best earning category (Hilton_hotels) | 7x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Card
$0/yr ·
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, Hilton Honors American Express Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex?
- The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex has a public bonus (up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, worth roughly $1,050), while the Hilton Honors American Express Card doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Hilton Honors American Express Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex?
- The Hilton Honors American Express 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 Hilton Honors American Express Card.
- Can I have both the Hilton Honors American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex?
- Yes, though both are issued by American Express so the same issuer-specific application rules apply (Chase 5/24 if applicable, Amex once-per-lifetime bonus, etc.). 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 Hilton Honors American Express Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Hilton Honors American Express Card: no published min spend. 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.