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

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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

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• The card grants automatic elite status, unlocking premium perks and an elevated experience during your stays.
• Its valuable annual credits and awards can significantly enhance your travel and dining throughout the year.
• It is an excellent choice for luxury travelers who frequently stay with Marriott and want to maximize their loyalty.

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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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• Automatic Platinum Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, which unlocks valuable on-property perks like room upgrades and late checkout.
• Offers an annual Free Night Award and statement credits for dining, which can provide significant value each year.
• Comes with airport lounge access and no foreign transaction fees, enhancing the travel experience.

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Cons

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• Carries a significant annual fee that may not be justifiable for infrequent Marriott guests.
• Benefits are heavily concentrated within the Marriott ecosystem, offering limited value to travelers who are not loyal to the brand.
• The redemption process can be complex due to the program's dynamic pricing, making the value of points less predictable.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® vs Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Capital One Quicksilver or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, depends entirely on your spending habits and lifestyle. One card offers simple cash back rewards for everyday use, while the other is a premium travel card loaded with benefits for loyal hotel guests.

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• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is best for everyday spenders who want a simple, flat-rate cash back card without needing to track rotating categories. It is also a good option for travelers who want a card with no foreign transaction fees.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is designed for frequent travelers, especially those who stay at Marriott properties and value luxury hotel benefits and elite status perks. It is most suitable for those who can take full advantage of its premium travel and dining benefits.

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Redemption

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Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Redeeming rewards is straightforward, allowing you to receive your cash back in flexible ways such as a statement credit or a check.

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for stays at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, but can also be transferred to various airline partners for flights or used for other travel experiences.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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

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• Test drive credit cards: Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see personalized earnings projections before you apply, without impacting your credit score.
• Personalized recommendations: Get card recommendations tailored to your actual transaction history to ensure you’re choosing the best fit for your spending patterns.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval chances for any card you’re considering.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Rewards and incentives: Unlock a $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward for adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards?

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The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals who prioritize straightforward, consistent rewards over complex bonus categories. It's particularly well-suited for everyday spenders who want to earn a flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase without the hassle of tracking rotating categories or paying an annual fee. Additionally, frequent travelers will appreciate the absence of foreign transaction fees, and regular Uber users can take advantage of the complimentary Uber One membership.

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

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is tailor-made for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Marriott brand and can take full advantage of its premium benefits. This cardholder typically stays at Marriott properties several nights a year, values the automatic Platinum Elite status for perks like room upgrades, and dines out regularly enough to maximize the monthly dining credits. Ultimately, it's for the traveler who wants to elevate their hotel experiences within the Marriott ecosystem and sees clear value in the card's travel and dining credits.

Alternatives to Consider

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If neither the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards credit card nor the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the right choice for your wallet, let's look at some other options. Our Capital One Quicksilver vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant comparison highlights two very different cards, so it's understandable if you're still searching for the perfect fit.

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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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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score since most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit profile for approval.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet any welcome offer requirements without forcing purchases.
• Research redemption options so you have a clear plan for using the points, miles, or cash back you earn.

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Application Strategy

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• Use the right tools to find the best available Welcome Offer for your chosen card.
• Be patient and try different methods if you don't see the offer you want initially.
• Know the issuer's rules as some, like American Express, may let you withdraw your application if you're not eligible for the Welcome Offer.

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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Which card is better for beginners?

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The Capital One Quicksilver is often a better choice for beginners thanks to its simple flat-rate cash-back rewards and lack of an annual fee. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a more complex rewards structure and benefits that are best suited for those experienced with travel credit cards.

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How do I choose between cash back and travel points?

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Your choice depends on your spending habits and redemption preferences. If you prefer straightforward, flexible rewards you can use for anything, the cash back from the Quicksilver card is ideal; if you are a frequent traveler loyal to the Marriott brand, the points from the Bonvoy Brilliant card can offer significantly higher value when redeemed for hotel stays.

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Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant's annual fee worth it?

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The annual fee on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card can be well worth the cost if you fully utilize its suite of premium benefits, like the annual Free Night Award and statement credits. However, if you don't travel often or stay at Marriott properties, you may not get enough value to offset the fee. Terms apply.

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