Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Hilton Honors: Which Is Better In 2025?

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we’re fans of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

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• While this card comes with an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), its premium travel and hotel benefits can provide significant value for frequent Hilton guests.
• Cardholders automatically receive top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status, unlocking valuable perks like room upgrades and executive lounge access.
• The card includes numerous statement credits and an annual Free Night Award that can be used at high-end properties, helping to offset the cost.

_{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 top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status unlocks premium perks like complimentary room upgrades, executive lounge access, and bonus points on stays.
• An annual Free Night Award, redeemable at some of Hilton's most luxurious properties, plus statement credits for flights and resort stays, add significant value.
• A strong welcome offer and elevated rewards on Hilton, travel, and dining purchases help you quickly accumulate points for future stays.

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Cons

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• A high annual fee can be a significant hurdle, especially for those who don't travel often or stay exclusively with Hilton.
• Reward points are confined to the Hilton Honors program, offering less flexibility than transferable points currencies.
• Maximizing the card's statement credits can be challenging, as they are often split into increments and may only apply to specific types of properties or purchases.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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When considering which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Hilton Honors, the best choice ultimately depends on your personal travel style and hotel brand loyalty.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card is best for frequent travelers loyal to Marriott who value luxury travel perks, elite hotel status, and premium dining credits.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: This card is ideal for frequent Hilton guests, especially those who visit resort properties and are looking for exceptional benefits and luxury hotel experiences.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points are most valuable when redeemed for stays across Marriott's extensive portfolio of hotels, but they also offer the flexibility to be transferred to numerous airline partners.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Hilton Honors points are best used for award nights at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, and can also be redeemed for on-property rewards or transferred to airline partners.

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Travel Perks

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: The travel perks associated with this card are built to enhance journeys for Marriott loyalists. Cardholders receive a complimentary membership for airport lounge access, a valuable benefit for frequent flyers. International travel is also made easier as the card does not charge foreign transaction fees. Furthermore, it includes an annual dining credit that can be applied at eligible restaurants globally.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: This card’s benefits are tightly woven into the Hilton Honors ecosystem. It provides complimentary airport lounge access, adding a layer of comfort to the travel day. Similar to its Marriott counterpart, it carries no foreign transaction fees. A key differentiator is its annual resort credit, which is specifically redeemable at participating Hilton Resorts and encourages stays within the brand’s portfolio.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, a financial companion like Kudos can help you compare thousands of cards to find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test Drive Cards: Simulate your potential earnings with any card using your actual spending history—before you apply and without impacting your credit score.
• Personalized Approval Odds: Receive a detailed analysis of your chances of being approved for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Exclusive Rewards: Unlock perks like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ and earn extra rewards on top of your card's benefits when shopping with Kudos Boost.

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 portfolio and stay at least five to ten nights per year. It's also a strong contender for individuals who dine out regularly enough to utilize the monthly dining credits and those who value the automatic Platinum Elite status for its premium perks. Ultimately, our in-depth review finds this card is best for luxury-minded travelers who can fully leverage its benefits within the Marriott ecosystem.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire® Card is designed for frequent travelers who consistently choose Hilton properties and want to maximize the value of their stays, especially at high-end resorts. Its ideal user is someone who can organically take advantage of the card’s various statement credits and who places a high value on the immediate top-tier Diamond elite status for its premium perks. Ultimately, this card is best for individuals who can justify its $550 annual fee (see Rates & Fees) by fully utilizing the benefits detailed in our in-depth review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Hilton Honors comparison has you feeling like neither card is the perfect match for your wallet, don't fret. Several other excellent travel rewards cards might be a better fit for your travel style and spending habits.

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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}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Premium travel cards typically require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Assess your hotel loyalty – Co-branded cards offer the most value when you frequently stay with that specific hotel chain.
• Plan your spending – Ensure you can naturally meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome offer.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application to coincide with large planned purchases to help meet the minimum spend for the Welcome Offer.
• Be aware of issuer-specific rules, like American Express's "once per lifetime" policy on Welcome Offers, which may affect your eligibility.
• Evaluate benefits tied to spending thresholds, such as earning a Free Night Award on the Hilton Surpass card after meeting a certain spend amount.

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 the elite statuses from these cards compare?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card offers automatic Platinum Elite status, while the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card provides top-tier Diamond status. The superior status for you will depend on your loyalty to either hotel chain and how you value the perks of each tier.

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Which card is better for earning points on everyday spending?

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Each card features different bonus spending categories, so the optimal choice hinges on your personal spending habits. To decide, evaluate your expenses in areas like dining and airfare to determine which card's reward structure is a better fit.

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Are the high annual fees on these cards worth it?

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For frequent travelers who take full advantage of benefits like statement credits and annual free night awards, the value can certainly outweigh the cost. Whether a card is "worth it" is a personal calculation based on your ability to maximize its suite of perks.

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