Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. the Ritz-Carlton Card: Should you get one — or both?

Educated TPG readers would possibly look on the headline of this story and object to its whole premise because the Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card closed to new purposes in 2018. So, earlier than we dive into this comparability, let’s tackle the elephant within the room.

Though the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is Marriott’s solely premium-level card technically obtainable to new candidates these days, there is a workaround to get the now-closed Ritz card. Chase permits cardholders of different private Marriott-branded Chase playing cards — such because the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card — to product change to the Ritz-Carlton card so long as they’ve had their playing cards for no less than 12 months.

With that technicality out of the way in which, we’ll evaluate the Marriott Bonvoy Good and Ritz-Carlton playing cards head-to-head to seek out out which one is healthier for you, and if you happen to ought to even carry each of them concurrently.

The data for the Ritz-Carlton Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant presently has a welcome provide of 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus factors after spending $6,000 in purchases inside the first six months of card membership.

TPG’s January 2025 valuations peg Bonvoy factors at 0.85 cents every, making this provide value $808.

Nonetheless, because the Ritz-Carlton Card is not obtainable for brand new sign-ups, there isn’t a welcome bonus. Those that product change to the Ritz-Carlton Card don’t obtain any bonus factors.

After all, test that you simply’re eligible for the bonus earlier than making use of for the Marriott Bonvoy Good.

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Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Good — no rationalization wanted.

Associated: The best time to apply for these Amex cards according to offer history

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant comes with:

• Precedence Cross Choose membership for you and two company
• As much as $300 in assertion credit yearly for eating at eating places worldwide
• Computerized Platinum Elite standing
• 25 elite evening credit every calendar yr
• Earned Selection Award after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases every calendar yr

The Ritz-Carlton card, in the meantime, comes with:

• Precedence Cross Choose membership
• As much as $300 in assertion credit for eligible airline incidentals, together with baggage charges, lounge entry or inflight Wi-Fi
• Computerized Gold Elite standing
• 15 elite evening credit yearly
• Three upgrades to the Ritz-Carlton Membership Stage on paid stays of as much as seven nights
• Rental automotive privileges with Avis, Nationwide and Silvercar

In the event you’re after Bonvoy elite standing, you will profit extra from the upper standing and extra annual elite evening credit with the Marriott Bonvoy Good. Nonetheless, these perks do include a considerably larger annual charge. If you’d like entry to the Ritz-Carlton membership stage and rental automotive privileges or are attempting to maintain your annual charges decrease, the Ritz-Carlton card is your more sensible choice.

Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Good. It comes with a better standing stage and has a $300 annual eating credit score that is simpler for many individuals to make use of than the airline incidental credit score on the Ritz-Carlton card.

Associated: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant worth the $650 annual fee?

Incomes factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Good vs. Ritz-Carlton Card

The 2 playing cards have extraordinarily comparable incomes charges. Each playing cards earn 6 factors per greenback spent at taking part Marriott inns, 3 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide and on flights booked straight with the airline and a pair of factors per greenback spent on all different purchases. With TPG’s January 2025 valuations in thoughts, that is primarily a return of roughly 5% on Marriott purchases, 2.5% on eating places and flights, and 1.7% on on a regular basis spending.

The Ritz-Carlton card, nonetheless, additionally earns 3 factors per greenback spent on automotive leases, which means you will additionally get an efficient return of round 2.5% on these purchases as nicely if you use it.

Winner: Ritz-Carlton Card. Incomes bonus factors on rental vehicles offers it a slight edge over the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.

Associated: How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

The Ritz-Carlton card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant each earn Marriott Bonvoy factors, so there isn’t any distinction on the redemption entrance. You’ll be able to redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors towards free stays at greater than 8,000 properties throughout nearly 30 manufacturers in over 125 nations or flip them into airline miles free of charge flights.

Marriott factors switch to over 40 frequent flyer applications, principally at a 2.4:1 ratio, factoring within the 5,000-mile bonus given for each 60,000 factors transferred to most applications.

Winner: Tie. Since each of those playing cards earn Marriott Bonvoy factors, they’ve equal redemption choices.

Associated: How to redeem points with the Marriott Bonvoy program

If you’d like a welcome bonus, a better path to Bonvoy elite standing and the choice to earn a alternative award, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is your higher possibility. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re searching for Bonvoy perks for a decrease annual charge, can maximize the airline incidental credit score and need Ritz-Carlton Membership entry and rental automotive privileges, the Ritz-Carlton card will serve you higher.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is an American Categorical card, whereas the Ritz-Carlton card is a Chase card. Subsequently, you can’t product change between the 2 playing cards. As talked about above, the one means you will get the Ritz-Carlton card is by doing a product change from one other Chase Marriott card after you’ve got held it for no less than a yr.

Associated: The ultimate guide to credit card upgrades

To be taught extra, see our full opinions of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and the Ritz-Carlton card.

Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

For charges and costs of the Marriott Bonvoy Good, click on here.

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