Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card 2026: Flexibility vs. Loyalty

Current Card Details at a Glance

Chase Sapphire Reserve®:

• $795 annual fee and a 19.74% to 28.24% variable APR.
• $300 annual travel credit each account anniversary year
• Up to $500 a year in credits on prepaid bookings with The Edit℠ (up to $250 per booking, two-night minimum)
• Up to $300 a year in dining credits at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants on OpenTable (up to $150 twice a year)
• Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club and Priority Pass™ Select lounges, with up to two guests
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS fee credit of up to $120 every four years

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card:

• Up to $300 a year in dining credits (up to $25 per month) at restaurants worldwide
• One Free Night Award each year after your card renewal month, valid at redemption levels of up to 85,000 points
• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status and 25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
• Up to a $100 property credit at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct with a special rate for a two-night minimum stay
• Priority Pass™ membership after enrollment, plus a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fee credit

^{Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.}

^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Rewards Structure: Flexible Points vs. Hotel-Centric Earning

The Sapphire Reserve earns 8x points on purchases through Chase Travel℠, 4x on flights and hotels booked directly, 3x on dining worldwide, and 1x on all other purchases. Because Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy, they can also cover Marriott stays when that's the best use.

The Bonvoy Brilliant earns 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 3X at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on other eligible purchases. American Express notes you can earn up to 21X total at Marriott hotels when you add the points Marriott Bonvoy awards to members and the Platinum Elite bonus on stays.

Which card earns more on a Marriott stay depends on how you value each currency. Chase points are more flexible, while Bonvoy points go furthest inside Marriott's portfolio.

^{Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.}

Redemption: Where Each Card Wins

Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed through Chase Travel, transferred to Chase's airline and hotel partners, or used for cash back and gift cards. Our guide on transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards walks through the process.

Marriott Bonvoy points can be redeemed for free nights at more than 10,000 participating hotels, used for flights or car rentals through Air+Car, or transferred to more than 38 airline partners. Cardholders who keep their hotel stays within Marriott get the most out of them.

Benefits: Premium Perks on Both Sides

The Sapphire Reserve leads with broad travel benefits: lounge access, the $300 annual travel credit, credits with The Edit, and travel and purchase protections such as primary auto rental coverage. Its benefits apply no matter which airline or hotel you book.

The Bonvoy Brilliant leads with hotel perks: Platinum Elite status, an annual Free Night Award, 25 Elite Night Credits, a property credit at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis, the dining credit, and Priority Pass membership. Those benefits deliver the most value for frequent Marriott guests.

Both cards come with monthly or semi-annual credits that are easy to forget. With Kudos Premium, the Benefits Tracker helps you keep track of your card perks so you can see what you've used.

Kudos Premium can also automatically activate your Chase and American Express offers when you visit the issuer portals, then remind you at checkout. If you hold both the Sapphire Reserve® and the Bonvoy Brilliant®, that covers each card's offers without adding them one at a time.

^{Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.}

^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Best For: At a Glance

Chase Sapphire Reserve® is best for: Frequent travelers who want flexible rewards across airlines and hotel brands and a single premium card that earns well on dining and travel.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is best for: Marriott loyalists who stay with the brand several times a year, want Platinum Elite status without earning it through nights alone, and will use the Free Night Award and dining credit.

Both cards together may be best for: Heavy Marriott travelers who want the Brilliant's status and Free Night Award while earning flexible points on travel and dining with the Sapphire Reserve.

Annual Fee: Know What You're Committing To

The Sapphire Reserve's $795 annual fee places it in the ultra-premium tier. It delivers the most value if you use the travel credit, The Edit credits, the dining credit, and lounge access each year.

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The Bonvoy Brilliant also carries a premium annual fee; see the card details below for the current amount. Whether it pays off depends on how consistently you use the Free Night Award, the dining credit, and Platinum Elite benefits.

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "1189", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Marriott Loyalists", "headerHint": "Platinum Elite Status"} ]]

^{Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.}

^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card?

Yes. They're issued by different banks, Chase and American Express, so you can apply for each separately, though approval is never guaranteed. Some travelers pair the Brilliant's Marriott status with the Sapphire Reserve's flexible points.

Can Chase Ultimate Rewards® points be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy?

Yes. Marriott Bonvoy is one of Chase's hotel transfer partners, and transfers are typically made in increments of 1,000 points. Transfers are final, so confirm award availability first.

Which card earns more on Marriott hotel stays?

The Brilliant earns 6X Bonvoy points at participating Marriott hotels, and up to 21X total with member and Platinum Elite bonus points. The Sapphire Reserve earns 4x Ultimate Rewards points on hotels booked directly. Which is worth more depends on how you value each currency.

Do both cards offer airport lounge access?

Yes. The Sapphire Reserve includes Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club and Priority Pass Select, and the Brilliant includes Priority Pass membership after enrollment.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® worth it if I don't stay at Marriott often?

Usually not. Its biggest benefits, including Platinum Elite status, the Free Night Award, and the property credit, are Marriott-specific. If your hotel stays are spread across brands, a flexible card like the Sapphire Reserve is likely to be more useful.

^{Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.}

^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Bottom Line

If your travel spans many airlines and hotel brands, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers more flexibility through its points and broad credits. If Marriott is your go-to hotel brand and Platinum Elite status appeals to you, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is built for you.

Before paying either fee, you can test drive both cards on Kudos with your own spending to see projected rewards. Confirm current offer details and benefit terms with Chase and American Express before applying.