Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card costs $650/yr vs $550/yr for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 2X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card have that the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card doesn't?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card focuses on earn rates, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers lounge access.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card costs $650/yr vs $550/yr for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 2X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card have that the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card doesn't?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card focuses on earn rates, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers lounge access.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card costs $650/yr vs $550/yr for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 2X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card have that the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card doesn't?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card focuses on earn rates, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers lounge access.

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

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card ($550/yr) is better for everyday value, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card ($650/yr) is worth it for frequent travelers who can use its premium perks. Here's the full comparison.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

American Express

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

American Express

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$550

$650

Welcome Bonus

150,000 Hotel

100,000 Hotel

Earn Rates

Category	Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card	Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
Hilton Properties	14X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card wins in 5 of 6 categories. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card leads in 1.

Hilton Properties

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 14X vs 2X

Car Rentals

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 2X

Flights

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 3X

Dining

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 3X

Marriott Hotels

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card earns 6X vs 3X

Everyday purchases

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 3X on all other spending vs 2X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card costs $650/yr — that's $100 more than the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card ($550/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $100 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

Bottom line: The $100 difference is moderate. If you spend consistently on marriott hotels and flights, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card's higher earn rates and benefits can easily cover the gap.

The Bottom Line

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a lower annual fee ($550 vs $650), making it the more accessible option.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access.

For everyday spending, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns more with its 3X base rate.

Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card costs $650/yr vs $550/yr for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 2X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card have that the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card doesn't?: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card focuses on earn rates, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers lounge access.
Should I get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?: Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card if you spend enough to justify the $650/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Hilton Honors Amex vs Hilton Honors Aspire Hilton Honors Amex vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Hilton Honors Aspire vs Hilton Honors Surpass Hilton Honors Surpass vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Explore More

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — Full Review All American Express Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card — Full Review All American Express Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: American Express cards

Editorial disclosure: The analysis on this page is based on publicly available card data and is updated regularly. CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or editorial content. Last updated: May 2026.

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

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

American Express

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

American Express

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$550

$650

Welcome Bonus

150,000 Hotel

100,000 Hotel

Earn Rates

Category	Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card	Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
Hilton Properties	14X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card wins in 5 of 6 categories. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card leads in 1.

Hilton Properties

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 14X vs 2X

Car Rentals

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 2X

Flights

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 3X

Dining

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 3X

Marriott Hotels

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card earns 6X vs 3X

Everyday purchases

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 3X on all other spending vs 2X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

The Bottom Line

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a lower annual fee ($550 vs $650), making it the more accessible option.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access.

For everyday spending, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns more with its 3X base rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card costs $650/yr vs $550/yr for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 2X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card have that the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card doesn't?: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card focuses on earn rates, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers lounge access.
Should I get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?: Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card if you spend enough to justify the $650/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Hilton Honors Amex vs Hilton Honors Aspire Hilton Honors Amex vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Hilton Honors Aspire vs Hilton Honors Surpass Hilton Honors Surpass vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Explore More

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — Full Review All American Express Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card — Full Review All American Express Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: American Express cards

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

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

American Express

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

American Express

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$550

$650

Welcome Bonus

150,000 Hotel

100,000 Hotel

Earn Rates

Category	Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card	Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
Hilton Properties	14X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card wins in 5 of 6 categories. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card leads in 1.

Hilton Properties

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 14X vs 2X

Car Rentals

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 2X

Flights

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 3X

Dining

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 7X vs 3X

Marriott Hotels

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card earns 6X vs 3X

Everyday purchases

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 3X on all other spending vs 2X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

The Bottom Line

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a lower annual fee ($550 vs $650), making it the more accessible option.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like lounge access.

For everyday spending, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns more with its 3X base rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card costs $650/yr vs $550/yr for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The higher fee includes lounge access that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 2X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card have that the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card doesn't?: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card focuses on earn rates, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers lounge access.
Should I get the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?: Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card if you spend enough to justify the $650/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Hilton Honors Amex vs Hilton Honors Aspire Hilton Honors Amex vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Hilton Honors Aspire vs Hilton Honors Surpass Hilton Honors Surpass vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Explore More

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — Full Review All American Express Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card — Full Review All American Express Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: American Express cards

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Automatic Hilton Diamond status - highest published tier with room upgrades and executive lounge access
+$400 Hilton resort credit ($200 semi-annually) covers significant portion of annual fee
+$200 airline fee credit ($50 quarterly) for incidentals
+$209 CLEAR Plus credit for expedited airport security
+Up to 3 free night awards annually (anniversary + $30K and $60K spend milestones)

+Automatic Platinum Elite status with room upgrades, late checkout, and lounge access at select brands
+25 Elite Night Credits annually accelerates path to Titanium/Ambassador status
+Free Night Award worth up to 85,000 points (can book luxury properties)
+$300 annual dining credit offsets nearly half the annual fee
+Priority Pass Select with unlimited lounge visits

Cons

−$550 annual fee is substantial even with credits
−Resort credit only valid at Hilton resort properties, not standard hotels
−Hilton points valued lower than Hyatt at ~0.5 cents per point
−Diamond Reserve tier introduced in 2026 means Diamond is no longer the absolute top
−Welcome bonus of 150K points lower than previous 175K elevated offer

−$650 annual fee is among the highest for hotel cards
−Dining credit is use-it-or-lose-it monthly ($25/month structure)
−Points locked to Marriott Bonvoy program with limited transfer partners
−American Express acceptance more limited than Visa/Mastercard internationally
−Free Night Award capped at 85K points; top-tier properties often cost more

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Automatic Hilton Diamond status - highest published tier with room upgrades and executive lounge access
+$400 Hilton resort credit ($200 semi-annually) covers significant portion of annual fee
+$200 airline fee credit ($50 quarterly) for incidentals
+$209 CLEAR Plus credit for expedited airport security
+Up to 3 free night awards annually (anniversary + $30K and $60K spend milestones)

+Automatic Platinum Elite status with room upgrades, late checkout, and lounge access at select brands
+25 Elite Night Credits annually accelerates path to Titanium/Ambassador status
+Free Night Award worth up to 85,000 points (can book luxury properties)
+$300 annual dining credit offsets nearly half the annual fee
+Priority Pass Select with unlimited lounge visits

Cons

−$550 annual fee is substantial even with credits
−Resort credit only valid at Hilton resort properties, not standard hotels
−Hilton points valued lower than Hyatt at ~0.5 cents per point
−Diamond Reserve tier introduced in 2026 means Diamond is no longer the absolute top
−Welcome bonus of 150K points lower than previous 175K elevated offer

−$650 annual fee is among the highest for hotel cards
−Dining credit is use-it-or-lose-it monthly ($25/month structure)
−Points locked to Marriott Bonvoy program with limited transfer partners
−American Express acceptance more limited than Visa/Mastercard internationally
−Free Night Award capped at 85K points; top-tier properties often cost more

Pros & Cons

Pros

+Automatic Hilton Diamond status - highest published tier with room upgrades and executive lounge access
+$400 Hilton resort credit ($200 semi-annually) covers significant portion of annual fee
+$200 airline fee credit ($50 quarterly) for incidentals
+$209 CLEAR Plus credit for expedited airport security
+Up to 3 free night awards annually (anniversary + $30K and $60K spend milestones)

+Automatic Platinum Elite status with room upgrades, late checkout, and lounge access at select brands
+25 Elite Night Credits annually accelerates path to Titanium/Ambassador status
+Free Night Award worth up to 85,000 points (can book luxury properties)
+$300 annual dining credit offsets nearly half the annual fee
+Priority Pass Select with unlimited lounge visits

Cons

−$550 annual fee is substantial even with credits
−Resort credit only valid at Hilton resort properties, not standard hotels
−Hilton points valued lower than Hyatt at ~0.5 cents per point
−Diamond Reserve tier introduced in 2026 means Diamond is no longer the absolute top
−Welcome bonus of 150K points lower than previous 175K elevated offer

−$650 annual fee is among the highest for hotel cards
−Dining credit is use-it-or-lose-it monthly ($25/month structure)
−Points locked to Marriott Bonvoy program with limited transfer partners
−American Express acceptance more limited than Visa/Mastercard internationally
−Free Night Award capped at 85K points; top-tier properties often cost more

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

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

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

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

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

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

What You Give Up

Which Card Is Right for You?

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

What You Give Up

Which Card Is Right for You?

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

What You Give Up

Which Card Is Right for You?