Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. Ritz-Carlton Card: Should You Choose One — or Both?

Savvy TPG readers might see the headline of this article and challenge its premise, as the Ritz-Carlton Card has been closed to new applications since 2018. So, before we delve into this comparison, let’s address the obvious issue.

While the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is currently Marriott's sole premium card available to new applicants, there is a workaround to acquire the now-inactive Ritz card. Chase permits holders of other personal Marriott-branded Chase cards — such as the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card — to switch to the Ritz-Carlton card, provided they’ve held their cards for at least 12 months.

With that clarification made, we’ll compare the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Ritz-Carlton cards head-to-head to determine which one suits you better, and whether it makes sense to have both cards at the same time.

The details for the Ritz-Carlton Card have been gathered independently by Dinogo. The information presented on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Comparison of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Ritz-Carlton Card

Here are the essential features of both cards in key categories:

Welcome offer for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. Ritz-Carlton Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant currently offers a welcome bonus of 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you spend $6,000 within the first six months of card membership.

According to TPG's June 2024 valuations, Bonvoy points are valued at 0.85 cents each, making this offer equivalent to $808.

Since the Ritz-Carlton Card is no longer open to new applicants, it does not offer a welcome bonus. Those who switch to the Ritz-Carlton Card will not receive any bonus points.

Be sure to verify that you're eligible for the bonus prior to applying for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.

Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant — no further explanation necessary.

Comparing the benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Ritz-Carlton Card

Both cards provide valuable statement credits, automatic elite status, a complimentary anniversary night, and important travel protections. The main distinctions lie in their specific features.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant includes:

• Priority Pass Select membership for you and two guests
• Annual statement credits of up to $300 for dining at restaurants worldwide
• Automatic Platinum Elite status
• 25 elite night credits each calendar year
• Earned Choice Award after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases within the year

On the other hand, the Ritz-Carlton card offers:

• Priority Pass Select membership for you and all accompanying guests
• Up to $300 in statement credits for qualifying airline incidentals, such as baggage fees, lounge access, or inflight Wi-Fi
• Automatic Gold Elite status
• 15 elite night credits each year
• Three upgrades to the Ritz-Carlton Club Level on paid stays of up to seven nights
• Rental car benefits with Avis, National, and Silvercar

If you're seeking Bonvoy elite status, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant provides greater benefits due to its higher status and more annual elite night credits. However, these advantages come with a notably higher annual fee. For those looking to enjoy Ritz-Carlton club level access, rental car perks, or simply wishing to keep annual fees lower, the Ritz-Carlton card may be the better option.

Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. It offers a superior status level and includes a $300 annual dining credit that many find more accessible than the airline incidental credit associated with the Ritz-Carlton card. However, the Ritz-Carlton card allows for a higher number of lounge guests.

Comparing point earning potential with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Ritz-Carlton Card

Both cards feature remarkably similar earning rates. They both generate 6 points for every dollar spent at participating Marriott hotels, 3 points per dollar at restaurants globally and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points per dollar on all other transactions. Considering TPG's June 2024 valuations, this translates to approximately a 5% return on Marriott purchases, 2.5% on dining and flights, and 1.7% on everyday expenses.

The Ritz-Carlton card also offers 3 points per dollar on car rentals, providing an effective return of about 2.5% on those purchases when used.

Winner: Ritz-Carlton Card. Its ability to earn bonus points on car rentals gives it a slight advantage over the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.

Exploring point redemption and transfer options with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant versus the Ritz-Carlton Card

Both the Ritz-Carlton card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant accrue Marriott Bonvoy points, meaning there’s no distinction in redemption options. You can use your Marriott Bonvoy points for complimentary stays at over 8,000 locations across nearly 30 brands in more than 125 countries or convert them into airline miles for free flights.

Marriott points can be transferred to over 40 frequent flyer programs, generally at a 2.4:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred to most programs.

Winner: Tie. Both cards generate Marriott Bonvoy points, providing identical redemption opportunities.

Should I choose the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or the Ritz-Carlton Card?

If you're seeking a welcome bonus, a simpler route to Bonvoy elite status, and the opportunity to earn a choice award, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is the superior choice. Conversely, if you want Bonvoy benefits with a lower annual fee, can fully utilize the airline incidental credit, and desire Ritz-Carlton Club access and car rental perks, the Ritz-Carlton card is more suitable.

Is it possible to switch from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant to the Ritz-Carlton Card?

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is issued by American Express, while the Ritz-Carlton card is from Chase. Thus, you cannot transfer between these two cards. As previously mentioned, the only way to obtain the Ritz-Carlton card is to switch from another Chase Marriott card after having it for at least a year.

Final thoughts

In contrast to some other comparisons, there isn’t a definitive winner in this matchup. To figure out which is best for you, consider your eligibility for either card and the benefits each one provides. If you can justify the higher annual fee of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and appreciate its enhanced Bonvoy advantages, it might be your best bet. However, if you prefer a lower annual fee and have a Chase Bonvoy card eligible for conversion to a Ritz-Carlton card, that might be the route you choose.

For more information, check out our comprehensive reviews of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and the Ritz-Carlton card.