Comparison of Hilton Aspire and Bonvoy Brilliant: Which High-End Hotel Credit Card Suits You Best?

When it comes to choosing between the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, both offer attractive benefits for frequent travellers.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card stands out with its high earning rates. It earns 14X points on Hilton Honors property spending, 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel, 7X points on select car rentals, 7X points on dining in the United States, and 3X points on everything else.

On the other hand, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points on Marriott Bonvoy property spending, 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines, 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide, and 2X points on other eligible purchases.

One of the key differences between the two cards is the welcome offers. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, on the other hand, offers 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after using the card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

In terms of perks, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers an annual free night certificate, Hilton HonorsTM Diamond Status, $100 statement credit to use at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties, $199 in statement credits per calendar year for CLEAR+ membership, and $200 back annually on eligible flight purchases. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, meanwhile, offers Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, an annual free night award (up to 85,000 points), 25 Elite Night Credits annually toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status, up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 back per month) for dining purchases at restaurants worldwide, and a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

It's worth noting that the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers a statement credit for either Global Entry ($120 credit) or TSA PreCheck ($85 credit), while the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card does not.

If you're starting hotel loyalty from scratch, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card might be a better choice. However, if you're a frequent traveller between Hilton and Marriott, the American Express Platinum Card could be the best option due to its broad luxury travel benefits. For those who prefer focused Hilton benefits, the Hilton Honors credit card with automatic Gold status, free breakfast, and fast track to Diamond status is ideal, especially in Germany and Austria. For Marriott benefits, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers solid perks but falls short of Hilton’s elite benefits and Amex Platinum offerings.

Both cards have their annual fees. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has an annual fee of $650, while the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has an annual fee of $550.

For the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you'll receive 25 elite night credits deposited into your Marriott account, and it comes with a $25 monthly dining credit, which totals $300 per year. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card does not offer a flight credit perk. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, on the other hand, offers a $200 flight credit for fares booked directly with an airline or through AmEx Travel, with a maximum of $50 in statement credits per quarter.

If you have the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you earn an additional 15 elite night credits, which could help you achieve Marriott's Titanium status.

In conclusion, both the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card have their unique benefits and drawbacks. The choice between the two largely depends on your travel habits, preferred hotel chain, and the value you place on each card's perks and benefits.

Comparison of Hilton Aspire and Bonvoy Brilliant: Which High-End Hotel Credit Card Suits You Best?