Amex Gold vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of what makes the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (See Rates & Fees) a top choice for frequent travelers.

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• Enjoy automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status and the valuable on-property benefits that come with it, such as room upgrades and lounge access.

• The card delivers significant value through an annual Free Night Award and a yearly statement credit for dining at restaurants worldwide.

• Travelers get access to a global network of airport lounges with the included Priority Pass™ Select membership, though enrollment is required.

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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

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Pros

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• Points can be transferred to a wide array of airline partners, providing valuable flexibility for booking award travel.

• Includes valuable travel protections like trip delay and baggage insurance, offering peace of mind on the road.

• No foreign transaction fees, making it a great companion for international travel.

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Cons

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• The card has a significant annual fee, which may be hard to justify for travelers who don't frequently stay at Marriott properties.

• Benefits are heavily concentrated within the Marriott ecosystem, limiting its value for those who aren't loyal to the brand.

• Marriott's dynamic pricing can make point redemptions unpredictable, and some of the card's benefits can be complex to manage.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® vs American Express® Gold Card

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Amex Gold or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, comes down to your primary spending habits and travel style.

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• American Express® Gold Card: This card is ideal for individuals who spend a significant amount on dining at restaurants and on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. It also rewards spending on flights booked directly with airlines.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card is designed for frequent travelers, particularly those loyal to Marriott properties. It offers strong rewards for hotel stays within the Marriott Bonvoy program and for dining out worldwide.

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Redemption

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American Express® Gold Card: This card earns flexible Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to a wide array of airline and hotel loyalty programs or used to book travel directly.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points earned with this card are best redeemed for free night stays across the extensive portfolio of Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resorts.

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Travel Perks

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• American Express® Gold Card: This card’s travel benefits are centered on flexibility, allowing cardmembers to book through the American Express travel portal. It includes travel protections like a baggage insurance plan and car rental loss and damage insurance. A significant perk for international travelers is that it does not charge foreign transaction fees, though it does not offer complimentary airport lounge access.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: The travel ecosystem for this card is more robust, particularly for frequent travelers. It provides complimentary airport lounge access with a Priority Pass Select membership and includes a statement credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. Similar to the Gold Card, it has no foreign transaction fees and also offers travel protections like a baggage insurance plan.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial companion that allows you to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards, offering data-driven, unbiased recommendations to help you find the best option for your wallet.

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• Test drive a credit card: Before committing, you can simulate a card’s performance using your actual spending data to see personalized earnings projections.
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Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?

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The American Express® Gold Card is an excellent choice for foodies and frequent travelers who want to maximize rewards on their everyday spending. This card is particularly valuable for those who spend a significant amount on dining out at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, as it offers 4X points on both categories, with the supermarket bonus applying to the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X. Additionally, travel enthusiasts can benefit from earning 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com, making it a well-rounded card for those who enjoy both culinary experiences and exploring new destinations.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is tailor-made for the dedicated Marriott loyalist who travels frequently and values premium perks. This individual will maximize the card's value by taking full advantage of the automatic Platinum Elite status for room upgrades and the monthly dining credits. It's also an excellent choice for international travelers who can benefit from the lack of foreign transaction fees and premium airport lounge access.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, you've weighed the Amex Gold vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant comparison and decided to keep looking for the right card. Let's explore a few other top-tier options that offer compelling rewards and benefits for different types of consumers.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most premium American Express cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Confirm your eligibility – Review Amex’s welcome offer restrictions to ensure you qualify before applying.
• Review the card’s benefits – Make sure the credits and perks align with your regular spending habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application – Applying early in the year helps you maximize monthly statement credits.
• Plan for the Welcome Offer – Align your application with large planned purchases to help meet the spending requirement.
• Use the right tools – Use a wallet assistant to find the best available Welcome Offer for your card.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I choose between a general rewards card and a co-branded hotel card?

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Your choice should depend on your travel habits and brand loyalty. A general rewards card offers flexibility for various redemptions, while a co-branded hotel card provides specific perks and elite status with that hotel chain.

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Can I have both the Amex Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant cards?

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Yes, you can hold both cards, and many people do to maximize their earning potential. This strategy allows you to earn flexible points for flights and other travel while also accumulating hotel points and enjoying elite benefits.

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Which is more valuable: flexible points or hotel points?

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The value really depends on your personal travel goals. Flexible points offer versatility for booking travel across different airlines and hotels, whereas hotel points are best for redemptions like free nights and room upgrades within a specific loyalty program.

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