Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
Annual fees: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card $150/yr, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card $650/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card on gas stations, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card on flights.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
American Express · $150/yr
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express CardAmerican Express · $650/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card$150LowestMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card$650
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card130,000 pointsMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card100,000 points
- Rewards
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardHilton HonorsMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express CardMarriott Bonvoy
- Foreign transaction fee
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardNoneMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express CardNone
- Network
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardAmerican ExpressMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express CardAmerican Express
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card6xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card3x
- Gas Stations
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card6xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card2x
- Grocery Stores
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card6xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card2x
- Online Shopping
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card4xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card2x
- Flights
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card3xMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card3x
- Everything else
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card2x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- $200 Hilton property credit
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck · $120 every 4 years
- $100 luxury hotel credit · $100 per stay
- Dining & delivery
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card—Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
- $300 dining credit
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card—Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
- Unlimited Priority Pass lounge visits worldwide
- Hotel status & programs
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold Elite Status
- Hilton Honors™ Upgrade to Diamond Status
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card- Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status with room upgrades
- Complimentary premium WiFi at Marriott properties
- Car rental
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card— - Other perks
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Amex Offers
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card- Amex Offers
- 24/7 premium travel assistance with medical transport
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- American Express Experiences®
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card—Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
- $10,000 trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- $500 trip delay insurance for 6+ hour delays
- Baggage
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Baggage insurance
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card- $3,000 baggage insurance per trip
- Rental car
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Car rental insurance
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card- $75,000 car rental insurance (primary for international)
- Purchase & returns
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Up to $1,000 per item against damage or theft
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card- $10,000 purchase protection per item
- Return protection for unwanted purchases · up to $300
- Extended warranty
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Extended warranty adds up to 1 year
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card- Extended warranty protection for eligible purchases · up to $1
- Cell phone
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card—Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
- $800 cell phone protection per claim
- Other protections
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- Automatic Hilton Gold status with room upgrades and breakfast at select properties
- Earn Diamond status through $40,000 annual spend (extends through end of next year)
- $200 annual Hilton credit ($50 per quarter) covers most of the annual fee
- Free Night Reward earned after $15,000 annual spend
- Strong earning at 12X at Hilton, 6X at restaurants/supermarkets/gas
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card- 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
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
- $150 annual fee with no first-year waiver
- Quarterly credits require spending at Hilton properties (use-it-or-lose-it each quarter)
- Points locked to Hilton program with no transfer flexibility
- Amex network less accepted than Visa/Mastercard internationally
- Diamond status requires significant $40,000 spend threshold
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card- $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
Expert Analysis
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card represent two different tiers within the same card family. The core question is whether the premium card's benefits justify the higher annual fee — and the answer depends on your spending habits and travel frequency.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card's strongest category is Hilton Hotels at 12X, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card leads with 6X on Marriott Hotels. Overall, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card wins in more bonus categories (5 vs 1) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $150/yr vs $650/yr, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is the more accessible option. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card needs to deliver at least $500 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap. It offers airport lounge access, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, which can cover that gap for active users.
Key Differences
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 12X on Hilton Hotels vs 2X for the other
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X on Gas Stations vs 2X for the other
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X on Dining vs 3X for the other
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card costs $150/yr vs $650/yr — a $500 annual gap
- Only the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers airport lounge access and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 2X on non-bonus spending)
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$200/month on hilton hotels
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardHilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 12X vs 2X. Over a year, that's 28,800 vs 4,800 points — a 24,000-point advantage.
$150/month on gas stations
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardHilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X vs 2X. Over a year, that's 10,800 vs 3,600 points — a 7,200-point advantage.
$200/month on marriott hotels
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express CardMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card earns 6X vs 3X. Over a year, that's 14,400 vs 7,200 points — a 7,200-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass CardWithout heavy spending in the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card's premium categories, the $500 fee difference is hard to recover. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card delivers better overall value for moderate spenders.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card if:
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on hilton hotels and gas stations and keeping annual costs low and earning more on everyday purchases. At $150/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card if:
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on marriott hotels and maximizing premium travel perks. At $650/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
Many cardholders start with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card and upgrade to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card as their marriott hotels spending increases. You can often hold both cards simultaneously to maximize earn rates across all categories.
If you're considering downgrading from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, tally up how much value you actually extract from its marriott hotels earn rates and benefits each year. If you're consistently leaving credits unused, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card likely delivers better value per dollar of annual fee.
Category-by-Category Winner
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card wins in 5 of 5 categories. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card leads in 0.
Gas Stations
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X vs 2X
Dining
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X vs 3X
Grocery Stores
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 6X vs 2X
Online Shopping
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 4X vs 2X
Everyday purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card earns 3X on all other spending vs 2X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $202 Credits (our usable estimate): $120 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $172 Year one: $692 | Rewards: $181 Credits (our usable estimate): $210 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: -$259 Year one: $441 | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $806 Credits (our usable estimate): $120 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $776 Year one: $1,296 | Rewards: $722 Credits (our usable estimate): $210 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: $282 Year one: $982 | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card costs $650/yr — that's $500 more than the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card ($150/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $500 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card includes dining credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, complimentary hotel status. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $500 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $500 fee gap means the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card needs roughly $500 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on flights and dining and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card means losing:
- -Airport lounge access
- -Global Entry credit
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card if you:
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
- +Prefer a high flat rate across all spending
Get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card if you:
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 3X on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card vs 2X on the other card.
Published annual fees: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card $150/yr, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card $650/yr — a $500 difference before welcome offers and credits.
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 $150/yr for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $500 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card also lists lounge access, dining credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass 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 Surpass Card have that the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card doesn't?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card focuses on earn rates, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers lounge access, dining credits, cell phone protection.
- Should I get the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card has a lower $150/yr fee; the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $650/yr.
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Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.