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.
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Side-by-side
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex vs Amazon Prime Visa
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex comes from American Express at $650/yr; the Amazon Prime Visa from Chase at $0/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 ($875 more in estimated value) than the Amazon Prime Visa's. Get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex first; revisit the Amazon Prime Visa after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex | Amazon Prime Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $650 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points | $150-$200 Amazon Gift Card upon approval (varies) |
| Bonus value (est.) | $1,050 | $175 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | - | $0 in 0 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Chase |
| Card category | hotel | cashback |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex
$650/yr · up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Read the full review
Amazon Prime Visa
$0/yr · $150-$200 Amazon Gift Card upon approval (varies)
Editorial take: Amazon Prime Visa
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex or Amazon Prime Visa?
- The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex has the bigger bonus, up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, worth roughly $1,050, versus $150-$200 Amazon Gift Card upon approval (varies) (~$175) on the Amazon Prime Visa.
- Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex's $650 annual fee worth it compared to the Amazon Prime Visa?
- Premium cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex ($650/yr) earn their fee through credits, travel, dining, lounge access, statement reimbursements. If you'd actively use $650+ of those credits, the math works. The Amazon Prime Visa at $0/yr trades some perks for a lower commitment.
- Can I have both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex and Amazon Prime Visa?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Chase) 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 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex or the Amazon Prime Visa first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex: no published min spend. Amazon Prime Visa: $0 in 0 months. 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.