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Card vs Card Comparison

Chase Sapphire Reserve
vs
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.

Updated

Two cards, head-to-head. We break down earning rates, perks, transfer partners, and the real scenarios where each one wins.

Chase

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Annual fee

$550

Points

Ultimate Rewards

Signup bonus

60K points after $4K in 3 months

Top earning rates

  • →3x on travel and dining (the workhorse multiplier)
  • →10x on Chase Travel hotels and car rentals
  • →5x on Chase Travel flights

Top perks

  • →$300 annual travel credit that auto-applies to any travel charge
  • →Priority Pass lounge access
  • →$5 monthly DoorDash plus DashPass
See Chase Sapphire Reserve detailsarrow_forward

American Express

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Annual fee

$650

Points

Marriott Bonvoy

Signup bonus

95K points after $6K in 6 months

Top earning rates

  • →6x at Marriott properties
  • →3x on flights booked direct and on dining
  • →2x on everything else

Top perks

  • →Free night certificate worth up to 85K points (often $700+ in peak season)
  • →Automatic Platinum elite status (15-night equivalent)
  • →$300 dining credit ($25 per month at select restaurants)
See Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant detailsarrow_forward

The verdict

When each card wins.

Chase Sapphire Reserve wins if

Pick this if travel and dining are your largest spend categories and you want to transfer points to Hyatt for outsized hotel value.

Honest downside: No credits beyond the $300 travel credit. The $550 fee is real if you do not transfer to Hyatt.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant wins if

Pick this if you stay at Marriott 5+ nights a year and want Platinum status without earning it.

Honest downside: Only worth it if Marriott is your default hotel chain.

At a glance

Side-by-side spec sheet.

SpecChase Sapphire ReserveMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Annual fee$550$650
Points currencyUltimate RewardsMarriott Bonvoy
Signup bonus60K points95K points
Top earn category3x on travel and dining (the workhorse multiplier)6x at Marriott properties
Second earn category10x on Chase Travel hotels and car rentals3x on flights booked direct and on dining
Third earn category5x on Chase Travel flights2x on everything else
Signature perk$300 annual travel credit that auto-applies to any travel chargeFree night certificate worth up to 85K points (often $700+ in peak season)
IssuerChaseAmerican Express

Questions

Frequently asked.

Which is better, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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Chase Sapphire Reserve wins if travel and dining are your largest spend categories and you want to transfer points to Hyatt for outsized hotel value. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant wins if you stay at Marriott 5+ nights a year and want Platinum status without earning it.

Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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Yes. These are issued by different banks (Chase and American Express), so they don't conflict on application rules. Many travelers carry both to stack the strongest benefits from each card's ecosystem.

Which has the higher annual fee, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant has the higher annual fee at $650, compared to $550 for Chase Sapphire Reserve. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.