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

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we think the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is a strong contender.

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• It offers high rewards rates on popular spending categories like travel and dining without requiring you to book through a special portal.
• Despite its annual fee, the card includes a valuable annual airline credit and robust travel protections that are rare for a card at this level.
• You have flexible options for redeeming your points, including for travel, cash back, or transferring them to select airline and hotel partners.

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Pros

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• High rewards on travel and dining without portal restrictions.
• Valuable annual airline credit and travel protections.
• Flexible redemption options, including point transfers to travel partners.

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Cons

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• Carries an annual fee.
• The list of airline and hotel transfer partners is more limited compared to some competing cards.
• Lacks luxury travel perks like airport lounge access or complimentary hotel nights.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey, comes down to your travel style and brand loyalty. One is a premium hotel card for loyalists, while the other is a flexible travel card for a wider audience.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card is best for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Marriott brand. It's a high-end travel option designed for those who want to maximize elite status benefits.
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: This card is ideal for frequent travelers looking for strong rewards in a mid-tier package. It offers flexibility for those who aren't committed to a single hotel brand.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points are primarily redeemed for award nights at hotels and resorts within the extensive Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. You can also transfer points to dozens of airline partners, providing more options for your travel plans.

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Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: This card provides flexible redemption options, allowing you to use points for travel bookings through the Wells Fargo portal or transfer them to various airline and hotel partners. Points can also be redeemed for statement credits or gift cards.

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Travel Perks

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: The ecosystem is centered on the Marriott brand. It features a Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access and has no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders also receive a substantial annual credit for eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and a Free Night Award each year after their card renewal month.
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: This card provides a more brand-agnostic travel ecosystem. It has no foreign transaction fees and offers an annual statement credit for airline purchases. While it does not include airport lounge access, cardholders can book travel through the Wells Fargo portal, providing flexibility across various airlines and hotels.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial companion tool that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best match for your spending habits.

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• Test Drive Cards: Before you apply, you can test drive credit cards by simulating potential rewards based on your actual spending data, all without a hard credit pull.
• Approval Odds: Receive a detailed analysis of your chances 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 applying through Kudos, the platform will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your card’s regular earnings when you shop at participating stores.
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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 loyal to the Marriott brand, especially those who stay at least 5-10 nights annually. It's also a strong choice for individuals who dine out regularly and want to maximize value through automatic Platinum Elite status, which provides perks like room upgrades and lounge access. Ultimately, this premium card is for those seeking to elevate their travel experience within the Marriott ecosystem, as detailed in this Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® Amex Card Review.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?

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The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is tailor-made for frequent travelers who want to rack up points on their adventures without paying a premium annual fee. It's an ideal match for those who travel a few times a year and dine out often, especially millennials and Gen Z who value flexibility in how they use their rewards. As this in-depth review highlights, the card is best for users who can take full advantage of its high earning rates on travel and dining, plus its valuable travel and cell phone protections.

Alternatives to Consider

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While the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a powerhouse for hotel loyalists and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey offers broad travel flexibility, they might not be the right fit for every traveler. If you're still searching for your perfect travel companion, here are a few other excellent cards to consider.

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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 travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review application restrictions – Be aware of issuer-specific rules, such as limits on how many cards you can open in a certain period.
• Align benefits with your habits – Consider if a card's perks, like hotel-specific status or dining credits, match your lifestyle.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application – Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Know the issuer's rules – Be mindful of restrictions, like Wells Fargo's one-card-per-six-months policy, to avoid a denied application.
• Plan your redemptions – Research a card's transfer partners and redemption options to ensure they align with your travel goals.

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

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Probably not. The card's high annual fee is best offset by maximizing its Marriott-specific benefits, like the annual free night award and property credits. For infrequent Marriott guests, a general travel card might offer better value.

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Can I transfer points from the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card to Marriott Bonvoy?

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

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Which card has better airport lounge access?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers a Priority Pass Select membership, providing access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card does not offer complimentary lounge access as a card benefit.

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