Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Capital One Venture: Which Is Better In 2025?

Capital One Venture Rewards Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Let's break down the key reasons why the Capital One Venture Rewards (See Rates & Fees) card is a top pick for travelers.

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• The card offers a simple, flat-rate rewards structure, allowing you to earn miles on every purchase without tracking complicated bonus categories.
• You have the flexibility to redeem your miles for any travel purchase or transfer them to a wide range of airline and hotel partners.
• It also comes with valuable travel benefits like a credit for expedited security screening and various travel protections.

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Pros

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• Miles earned do not expire for the life of the account, allowing you to save up for a major redemption.
• There are no foreign transaction fees, which makes it a cost-effective choice for use outside the United States.
• The card offers flexible redemption options, including the ability to transfer miles to over 15 airline and hotel partners.

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Cons

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• The card has an annual fee that is not waived during the first year.
• Transfer ratios to some travel partners are not 1:1, which can diminish the value of your miles.
• Premium travel benefits are not as extensive as those found on higher-tier cards.

Capital One Venture Rewards vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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Deciding between a hotel co-branded card and a general travel card can be tough. This comparison will help you determine which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Capital One Venture, for your specific travel style and spending habits.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is designed for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Marriott brand. It's best for those who want to maximize their stays with premium hotel benefits and automatic elite status.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is ideal for frequent travelers who value flexibility and a simple rewards structure. This card is a great fit for those who want to earn miles on every purchase and redeem them across various airlines and hotels.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points are most valuable when redeemed for stays at hotels within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. You can also transfer points to a variety of airline partners.

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Miles can be redeemed as a statement credit to cover any recent travel purchase, offering great flexibility. Alternatively, you can transfer your miles to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs.

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Travel Perks

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: The ecosystem is built entirely around the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. Rewards are best used for stays at Marriott properties worldwide, and cardholders receive automatic elite status, unlocking enhanced benefits. This card also provides access to a global network of airport lounges and does not have foreign transaction fees.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: This card provides a highly flexible travel ecosystem. You can use miles to cover the cost of any travel purchase, transfer them to numerous airline and hotel partners, or book through the Capital One Travel portal. Cardholders also get access to Capital One Lounges and its partner network, and there are no foreign transaction fees.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To find the best fit for your spending habits, you can use a financial technology platform like Kudos, which evaluates nearly 3,000 credit cards.

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• Test drive credit cards: Simulate potential earnings with a new card using your real spending data before you apply, all without a hard credit pull.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your likelihood of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of getting a card, Kudos will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card rewards when shopping with Kudos.
• Personalized matching: Discover new credit cards with recommendations tailored to your spending history.

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 Marriott properties and seek top-tier hotel benefits. This card is ideal for individuals who dine out often enough to maximize the up to $25 in monthly dining credits and who value the automatic Platinum Elite status that unlocks perks like room upgrades and late checkout. Ultimately, it's a premium choice for luxury-minded travelers who will leverage benefits like airport lounge access and no foreign transaction fees to enhance their global journeys.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Venture Rewards?

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who value flexibility and a straightforward rewards system over complex bonus categories. This card is ideal for individuals who want to earn a flat rate of 2X miles on all everyday purchases and have the option to transfer those miles to over 15 airline and hotel partners. Furthermore, travelers who want comprehensive protections like rental car coverage and no foreign transaction fees without paying for premium lounge access will find this card particularly useful.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Capital One Venture comparison didn't lead you to a decision, you're in the right place. While both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card are strong contenders, other cards might be a better match for your specific travel style.

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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 travel cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review your spending habits - Ensure you can naturally meet any spending requirements for welcome offers or card benefits.
• Assess the card’s ecosystem - Consider if the primary benefits align with your travel and spending preferences.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules - Be aware of application restrictions and welcome offer eligibility before you apply.
• Time your application - Plan to apply before large purchases to help meet spending requirements naturally.
• Look beyond the bonus - Ensure a card's long-term perks, like hotel elite status or flexible travel miles, align with your lifestyle.

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 earning hotel-specific rewards?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is designed to maximize rewards within the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem, offering accelerated earning on purchases made with the hotel chain.

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Which card offers more flexibility in redeeming rewards?

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The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card generally provides more flexible redemption options, as its miles can be used for various travel purchases or transferred to multiple travel partners.

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Do I need to be loyal to a specific hotel brand for either card?

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To get the most value from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, loyalty to the Marriott brand is highly beneficial, whereas the Capital One Venture card is better for travelers not tied to one hotel chain.

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