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Card vs Card Comparison

Hilton Honors Aspire
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.

American Express

Hilton Honors Aspire

Annual fee

$550

Points

Hilton Honors

Signup bonus

175K points after $6K in 6 months

Top earning rates

  • →14x at Hilton properties
  • →7x on flights, car rentals, and dining
  • →3x on everything else

Top perks

  • →Hilton Diamond status (top tier, normally 60 nights to earn)
  • →$250 Hilton resort credit
  • →$200 airline incidental credit
See Hilton Honors Aspire 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.

Hilton Honors Aspire wins if

Pick this if you stay at Hilton resorts or want top-tier hotel status from day one.

Honest downside: Hilton points are worth less per point than other programs. The earn rate compensates, but you have to be disciplined about redemptions.

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.

SpecHilton Honors AspireMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Annual fee$550$650
Points currencyHilton HonorsMarriott Bonvoy
Signup bonus175K points95K points
Top earn category14x at Hilton properties6x at Marriott properties
Second earn category7x on flights, car rentals, and dining3x on flights booked direct and on dining
Third earn category3x on everything else2x on everything else
Signature perkHilton Diamond status (top tier, normally 60 nights to earn)Free night certificate worth up to 85K points (often $700+ in peak season)
IssuerAmerican ExpressAmerican Express

Questions

Frequently asked.

Which is better, Hilton Honors Aspire or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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Hilton Honors Aspire wins if you stay at Hilton resorts or want top-tier hotel status from day one. 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 Hilton Honors Aspire and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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Both cards are issued by American Express, so the issuer's application rules apply. Many cardholders carry both if the perks don't overlap, but check your issuer's velocity rules before applying for two cards close together.

Which has the higher annual fee, Hilton Honors Aspire or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant?

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