Capital One Platinum Secured vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: Which Is Better In 2026?

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Breakdown

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "1066", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Hilton Travelers", "headerHint": "Exceptional Hilton Benefits"} ]]

‍

Why We Like It

‍

This section breaks down why we like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (See Rates & Fees).

‍

• You'll automatically receive Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, which comes with valuable on-property benefits.
• The card provides generous annual credits that can be used for dining and hotel stays.
• It includes a variety of premium travel perks, such as an annual free night award and airport lounge access.

Terms apply.

‍

_{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.}

‍

Pros

‍

• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status provides access to on-property benefits like room upgrades and late checkout.
• Cardholders receive an annual free night award and statement credits for dining purchases.
• Includes valuable travel perks such as airport lounge access and no foreign transaction fees.

‍

Cons

‍

• Carries a significant annual fee.
• Benefits are heavily concentrated within the Marriott ecosystem, making it less valuable for those who are not loyal to the brand.
• The value of points can be inconsistent due to dynamic award pricing, and some benefits are subject to availability.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® vs Capital One Platinum Secured

‍

Categories

‍

Deciding which is better, the Capital One Platinum Secured or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, depends entirely on your financial goals and spending habits, as they are designed for very different consumers.

‍

• Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card - This card is best for individuals looking to build or rebuild their credit history, including those with limited credit, students, or recent immigrants. It serves as a valuable stepping stone for establishing a positive credit profile.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card - This premium card is designed for frequent travelers who are loyal to Marriott properties. It is ideal for those who value luxury travel perks and elite hotel status.

‍

Redemption

‍

Capital One Platinum Secured: This card is not designed for earning rewards, so it does not offer points or cash back for redemption. Its primary purpose is to help you build a positive credit history, which can unlock access to rewards cards in the future.

‍

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points earned with this card are redeemed through the Marriott Bonvoy program, primarily for hotel stays across its vast portfolio of properties. You can also transfer points to various airline partners or use them for other travel experiences.

‍

Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

‍

To make the best choice, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.

‍

• The ability to ‘test drive’ credit cards using your real spending data to see personalized earnings projections before you apply.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for various cards.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, ensuring that if you find a better offer within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Unlock rewards like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ for adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Track your progress toward sign-up bonuses and monitor your transactions, spending, and credit score.
• Earn extra Kudos Boost rewards when shopping at participating stores, on top of your regular card rewards.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Platinum Secured?

‍

The Capital One Platinum Secured card is specifically designed for individuals focused on building or rebuilding their credit profile. It's an ideal starting point for those with a limited credit history, such as students and recent immigrants, who need to establish a positive credit file. The card is also a valuable tool for anyone recovering from past credit challenges, as it reports to all three major credit bureaus and offers a pathway to an unsecured card with responsible use.

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

‍

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is designed for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Marriott brand and seek top-tier hotel benefits. This cardholder typically stays at Marriott properties at least 5-10 nights per year and highly values the automatic Platinum Elite status for perks like room upgrades and late checkout. They also dine out regularly, allowing them to maximize the card's monthly dining credits, and appreciate other luxury travel benefits like airport lounge access (Terms apply).

Alternatives to Consider

‍

In the showdown of the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card vs. the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you're looking at two vastly different options: one for building credit and one for luxury travel. If your financial goals fall somewhere in between, one of these alternative cards might be the perfect match.

‍

[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["509", "118"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Exceptional Value", "Generous Travel Rewards"]} ]]

‍

_{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.}

‍

Tips for Application Success

‍

Before You Apply

‍

• Know your credit score. Different cards target different credit profiles, from secured cards for building credit to premium travel cards requiring excellent scores.
• Align the card with your goals. Decide if you are building credit, earning cash back, or maximizing travel rewards.
• Review unique requirements. Some cards may require a security deposit, while others have minimum spending thresholds for welcome offers.

‍

Application Strategy

‍

• Tailor your approach. Secured cards for building credit have different requirements than premium travel cards.
• Check issuer-specific rules. Some issuers limit how many cards you can have or how often you can receive a Welcome Offer.
• Time your application. Applying before a large planned purchase can help you meet minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer.

Our Methodology

‍

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.

‍

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

‍

What is a secured credit card?

‍

A secured credit card requires a refundable cash deposit that typically determines your credit limit. These cards are designed to help individuals establish or repair their credit history through responsible use.

‍

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card good for building credit?

‍

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium travel card for consumers with established, good-to-excellent credit. It is not intended for building credit, and applicants without a strong credit history are unlikely to be approved.

‍

Why does one card have a high annual fee and the other doesn't?

‍

The high annual fee on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card funds its extensive list of premium benefits, like travel credits and elite status. In contrast, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card focuses on credit-building and forgoes costly perks to remain accessible, often with no annual fee.

‍

‍