Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Wells Fargo Autograph: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wells Fargo Autograph Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we’re fans of the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card.

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• It earns an unlimited high rewards rate on a broad set of everyday spending categories, including dining, travel, and gas.
• Cardholders benefit from having no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, making it a cost-effective choice for both everyday use and international travel.
• The card also comes with valuable perks like cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your bill with the card.

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Pros

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• New cardholders can take advantage of a valuable welcome bonus and an introductory APR on purchases.
• Cardholders earn unlimited bonus rewards across a broad range of everyday categories, such as restaurants, travel, gas, and popular streaming services.
• Points can be transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs, a rare and valuable perk for a card that doesn't charge an annual fee.

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Cons

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• It lacks premium travel benefits like airport lounge access or annual travel credits.
• Cardholders must keep track of bonus categories to maximize rewards, which may not be ideal for those who prefer a simple flat-rate card.
• The list of airline and hotel transfer partners is not as extensive as some competing rewards programs.

Wells Fargo Autograph vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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Deciding between these two cards depends heavily on your travel style and spending habits. To figure out which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Wells Fargo Autograph, it's crucial to look at the core purpose of each card.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card - This is a premium travel rewards card built for frequent travelers loyal to the Marriott brand. It's best suited for those who want to maximize high-end hotel benefits and luxury travel perks.
• Wells Fargo Autograph® Card - This card is a strong all-around option for earning rewards on travel as well as many common everyday spending categories. It appeals to those who want a flexible rewards card for both daily use and occasional trips.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points are redeemed within the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, primarily for award nights at Marriott properties worldwide. You can also transfer points to dozens of airline partners, providing added flexibility for booking flights.

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Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: This card earns flexible points that can be redeemed for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, or travel through the Wells Fargo Rewards portal. The versatility of the points makes them useful for a wide range of redemption goals.

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Travel Perks

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card’s travel ecosystem is deeply integrated with the Marriott Bonvoy program. It offers premium benefits such as a Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access, an annual Free Night Award, and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status. The card also provides statement credits that can be used for travel-related purchases and has no foreign transaction fees.
• Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: The travel ecosystem for this card is centered on flexibility through the Wells Fargo Rewards portal. Its standout travel feature is having no foreign transaction fees, a significant perk for a card that typically has no annual fee. However, it does not offer airport lounge access or the high-end hotel-specific benefits found with premium co-branded cards.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make this decision even easier, a tool like Kudos can provide data-driven recommendations by analyzing your spending habits against nearly 3,000 credit cards.

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• Personalized card matching: Get recommendations based on your actual spending history to see which card truly maximizes your rewards.
• Test drive a credit card: Before you apply, you can simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your real transaction data, showing you the net value after annual fees.
• Approval odds analysis: Understand your chances of getting approved for a card with a detailed analysis based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost rewards: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points when shopping at your favorite stores.
• Spending and credit score monitoring: Keep track of your finances and credit health all in one place.

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 frequent traveler who is loyal to the Marriott portfolio of hotels. This cardholder values the automatic Platinum Elite status, which unlocks benefits like room upgrades and late checkout, and dines out often enough to maximize the monthly dining credits. Ultimately, it's best for someone who wants to elevate their hotel stays with premium perks and earn significant points on both their Marriott bookings and direct flight purchases.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph?

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The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is an excellent choice for consumers seeking a travel rewards card without an annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for individuals who frequently spend on dining, travel, gas, streaming services, and phone plans, making it a versatile primary card for both regular travelers and everyday users. With flexible redemption options, including transfers to travel partners, and valuable perks like up to $600 in cell phone protection, this card offers significant value for creditworthy applicants, as detailed in NerdWallet's review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Wells Fargo Autograph comparison has left you unconvinced, it may be that neither the premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card nor the flexible Wells Fargo Autograph card is the right fit. Fortunately, there are several other excellent travel cards that could be a better match.

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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 – Most premium rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review your spending habits – Ensure the card’s bonus categories and benefits align with your lifestyle to maximize value.
• Define your rewards strategy – Have a plan for how you will use the points and credits to justify the card long-term.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application – Align your application with a planned large purchase to help meet any Welcome Offer spending requirements.
• Consider your card portfolio – Evaluate how a new card complements your existing ones, such as pairing a bonus category card with a flat-rate card.
• Know the issuer’s rules – Be aware of any issuer-specific application restrictions that might affect your eligibility for a new card or its 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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Can I transfer points from the Wells Fargo Autograph Card to Marriott Bonvoy?

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No, you cannot directly transfer Wells Fargo Rewards points to the Marriott Bonvoy program. You can, however, use your points to book Marriott stays through the Wells Fargo travel portal.

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Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card worth it if I don't stay at Marriott hotels often?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is likely not worth its high annual fee if you don't frequently stay at Marriott properties, as its most valuable perks are tied to the hotel chain.

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Which card offers better travel insurance?

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Both cards offer a suite of travel protections, but the specific coverage details for trip delays, baggage loss, and rental car insurance vary. It's essential to compare the guide to benefits for each card to see which one better suits your travel habits.

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