The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and The Ritz Carlton Card are closely matched. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant wins on 2 categories (200,000 pts signup bonus); The Ritz Carlton Card wins on 2 (no current bonus). The better pick depends on your spending patterns.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs The Ritz Carlton Card
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.
The Ritz Carlton Card is no longer available for new applicants. Historical data is preserved here for reference.
Comparison Method
CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.
- hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy 21x
- Restaurants worldwide 3x
- Flights booked directly with airlines 3x
- hotel brands around the world participating in Marriott Bonvoy 6x
- dining, car rentals and airline purchases 3x
- All Other Purchases 2x
- TSA PreCheck/Global Entry Credit $120
- Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit $100
- Annual Travel Credit $300
- Hotel Credit $100
- Platinum Elite Status
- 25 Elite Night Cedits
- The Ritz-Carlton Club Level
- United MileagePlus
- United MileagePlus
Quick summary
A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and The Ritz Carlton Card are closely matched. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant wins on 2 categories (200,000 pts signup bonus); The Ritz Carlton Card wins on 2 (no current bonus). The better pick depends on your spending patterns. On raw upside, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant tops out at 21x versus 6x for The Ritz Carlton Card. Current signup bonus values are roughly $14 for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and $0 for The Ritz Carlton Card. Updated May 28, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/marriott-bonvoy-brilliant-vs-the-ritz-carlton-card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant wins 2 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant reaches 21x; The Ritz Carlton Card reaches 6x.
- Annual fee: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is $650/yr; The Ritz Carlton Card is $450/yr.
- Current public bonus values are approximately $14 and $0.
Common Questions: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs The Ritz Carlton Card
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or The Ritz Carlton Card better for dining?
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant earns 3x on dining; The Ritz Carlton Card earns 3x on dining. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant wins for dining.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant currently offers 200,000 pts signup bonus (spend $6,000 in 6 months). The Ritz Carlton Card offers no current bonus. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant has the larger bonus.
Which card is better for international travel?
Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.
Can I hold both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and the The Ritz Carlton Card?
In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is from American Express and The Ritz Carlton Card is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.