Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Hilton Honors Surpass: Which Is Better In 2025?

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down the key reasons why the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card stands out.

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• Cardholders can earn an accelerated rate of Hilton Honors points on eligible purchases at Hilton properties, as well as at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.
• The card automatically grants you Hilton Honors Gold status and offers a path to earn a Free Night Reward, enhancing your stays with valuable perks.
• While the card comes with an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), it waives foreign transaction fees on international purchases.

_{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}

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Pros

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• Automatic Elite Status: Cardholders receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, unlocking perks like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit. The card also offers a pathway to earn top-tier Diamond status through spending.
• Strong Rewards on Spending: Earn accelerated points on purchases made directly with Hilton and on everyday spending categories, including at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
• Valuable Travel Perks: The card includes an opportunity to earn a Free Night Reward annually, complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status, and no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.

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Cons

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• Hilton Honors points are subject to dynamic pricing, which can make their value unpredictable, and they may offer less value compared to other hotel loyalty programs.
• The annual Free Night Reward is not an automatic benefit; it requires meeting a significant spending threshold each year.
• It lacks some premium travel perks found on competing cards, such as airport lounge access and primary rental car insurance.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Hilton Honors Surpass, often comes down to which hotel family you prefer and your travel style.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card is best for frequent travelers, particularly those loyal to Marriott who are looking for a high-end travel option with premium perks.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is designed for Hilton travelers who want to earn points on everyday spending and enjoy valuable benefits during their stays.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for free nights at hotels and resorts within the extensive Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Additionally, points can be transferred to numerous airline partners to book award flights.

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Hilton Honors points are most valuable when used for reward nights at Hilton properties, including options for premium room redemptions. Points can also be used for other travel experiences or transferred to airline and rail partners.

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Travel Perks

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: As a premium travel card, it provides a Priority Pass Select membership for extensive airport lounge access. Cardholders also benefit from valuable statement credits applicable to dining or hotel stays within the Marriott portfolio. For international travel, it comes with no foreign transaction fees.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card offers a set number of complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits annually. Its standout travel perk is the automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, which unlocks benefits like potential room upgrades and on-property credits. It also features no foreign transaction fees, making it a great companion for overseas journeys.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For a more personalized comparison, Kudos is a financial tool that lets you evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your actual spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see personalized earnings projections before you apply, without a hard credit pull.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Unlock special rewards like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ and earn extra rewards when shopping at partner stores.
• Access tools to track your spending, monitor transactions, and stay on top of your credit card perks.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is tailor-made for frequent travelers loyal to the Marriott portfolio, particularly those who stay at least five to ten nights annually. It's also a strong contender for individuals who dine out regularly enough to maximize the up to $25 monthly dining credit. Ultimately, this card best serves those who value premium travel perks like automatic Platinum Elite status, room upgrades, and airport lounge access without having to meet lofty stay requirements.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an excellent choice for frequent Hilton guests who want to leverage automatic Gold elite status for benefits like room upgrades and daily food and beverage credits. It also appeals to moderate travelers and everyday spenders who can rack up points on purchases at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. Ultimately, this card is designed for value-conscious travelers seeking meaningful hotel perks without the high annual fee of a premium travel card.

Alternatives to Consider

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Perhaps our Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Hilton Honors Surpass comparison has left you unconvinced that either the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is right for you. If that's the case, several other travel rewards cards are worth considering for your specific travel and spending needs.

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_{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}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Review your credit score – Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Confirm your eligibility – Issuers like American Express often limit Welcome Offers to once per lifetime for each card.
• Assess your spending habits – Ensure the card’s benefits and bonus categories align with your typical travel and spending patterns.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application strategically – Apply before a large planned purchase or upcoming trip to help meet spending requirements for the Welcome Offer.
• Check for pre-qualified offers – Many issuers, including American Express, let you check for offers with no impact to your credit score.
• Know the issuer’s rules – Be aware of policies like once-per-lifetime Welcome Offer restrictions or limits on the number of cards you can hold.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card offers a higher level of automatic elite status?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card provides automatic Platinum Elite status. In contrast, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers complimentary Gold status.

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Do both cards come with an annual free night award?

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Yes, both cards offer a free night award, but with different terms. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card provides a Free Night Award each year after your card renewal month for a stay up to 85,000 points, while the Hilton Surpass card allows you to earn a Free Night Reward after you spend $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year.

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How do the annual fees for these two cards compare?

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The annual fees are in different tiers. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a premium annual fee, reflecting its luxury benefits, whereas the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has a significantly lower annual fee.

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