Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Wyndham Earner Plus: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus card a compelling choice for brand loyalists.

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• The card offers generous rewards on everyday spending categories like gas and groceries, in addition to accelerated earnings at Wyndham properties.
• Despite its annual fee, it provides valuable perks like automatic Platinum elite status and anniversary bonus points, and it waives foreign transaction fees.
• Cardholders receive a discount when redeeming points for free nights, adding extra value to the flexible rewards program.

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Pros

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• New cardholders can earn a substantial welcome bonus after meeting an initial spending requirement.
• There’s no cap on the total rewards you can accumulate from your spending.
• Points can be redeemed for more than just hotel stays, with options to transfer to airline partners or use for gift cards and merchandise.

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Cons

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• The card comes with an annual fee, which may not be worth it for travelers who aren't loyal to the Wyndham brand.
• Instead of a free anniversary night certificate, cardholders receive bonus points that may not be sufficient for a stay at a mid- or high-tier property.
• Points provide the best value when redeemed for Wyndham hotel stays, as other options like airline transfers offer a lower return.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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When it comes to hotel loyalty, the question of which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Wyndham Earner Plus, depends entirely on your travel style and brand preference. Each card is designed for a different type of traveler, offering unique perks for their respective hotel chains.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card is tailored for frequent travelers loyal to Marriott who seek premium travel benefits and luxury perks. It's ideal for those who value elite hotel status and other high-end travel amenities.
• Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card: This card is best for travelers who frequently stay with Wyndham and its associated brands. It's designed for those who want to maximize rewards on hotel stays and everyday spending categories while enjoying automatic elite status.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points can be redeemed for stays across Marriott's vast portfolio of hotels or transferred to a wide array of airline partners. This provides significant flexibility for booking comprehensive travel itineraries, from flights to luxury accommodations.

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Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card: Rewards are primarily redeemed for free or discounted nights at thousands of participating Wyndham hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals. Points can also be used for other options like tours, activities, and gift cards.

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Travel Perks

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• Airport Lounge Access: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card includes a Priority Pass™ Select membership, granting access to a worldwide network of airport lounges. The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card does not offer this perk.
• International Travel: For travelers heading abroad, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® card is a strong choice as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. In contrast, the Wyndham Earner Plus card does have a foreign transaction fee for purchases made outside the U.S.
• Expedited Security & Protections: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® card enhances the airport experience by offering a statement credit for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee. It also comes with a suite of travel insurance protections. The Wyndham Earner Plus card does not include these specific benefits.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For a more personalized approach, Kudos offers a data-driven platform to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards, helping you find the best fit based on your actual spending.

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• Test drive credit cards: Simulate potential earnings with different cards using your real spending data before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
• $100 Kudos Kickstart+: Earn $100 in rewards by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Detailed approval odds: Receive a personalized analysis of your chances of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
• Financial dashboard: Monitor your transactions, spending, and credit score all in one place.

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 who are loyal to the Marriott portfolio and seek to elevate their stays with premium perks. This cardholder typically stays at Marriott properties several nights a year, dines out regularly enough to maximize the monthly dining credits, and values the automatic Platinum Elite status that unlocks benefits like room upgrades and late checkout. Ultimately, it's the ideal choice for someone whose travel and spending habits align with the card's luxury benefits, allowing them to easily offset the annual fee as detailed in a full review.

Who Should Choose the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus?

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The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card is tailor-made for travelers who are loyal to the Wyndham family of hotels, vacation rentals, and timeshares. This card is particularly beneficial for those looking to maximize rewards on their stays and everyday spending, as it offers accelerated points on gas, dining, and groceries. With automatic Platinum elite status and a generous anniversary bonus, it's a strong choice for anyone wanting to elevate their Wyndham experience, as detailed in this card review.

Alternatives to Consider

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Perhaps this Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Wyndham Earner Plus comparison has left you on the fence or convinced that neither card is for you. If so, let's explore a few other top-tier travel rewards cards that could be a better match.

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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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• Check your credit score – Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Assess your loyalty – Consider if a card's benefits align with the brands you frequently use.
• Review the core benefits – Ensure you can realistically use the card’s main perks, like statement credits or elite status.

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Application Strategy

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• Plan your spending – Time your application around large purchases to help meet any minimum spend requirements for a welcome offer.
• Know your redemption goals – Research how you will use your points or miles to ensure you get maximum value from a card's rewards program.
• Understand issuer rules – Be aware of any issuer-specific policies, such as welcome offer eligibility or limits on recent applications.

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 is better for earning hotel points?

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The best card for earning hotel points depends on your spending habits. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card excels at earning points on Marriott stays and at U.S. restaurants, while the Wyndham Earner® Plus Card offers high rewards on gas, Wyndham stays, and eligible utility payments.

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Do both cards come with an annual fee?

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Yes, both cards have an annual fee. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a higher annual fee that corresponds with its premium travel benefits, while the Wyndham Earner® Plus Card offers a more moderate fee.

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What kind of travel benefits can I expect from these cards?

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Both cards offer valuable travel perks. The Wyndham Earner® Plus Card provides automatic elite status and anniversary bonus points, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card includes benefits like an annual Free Night Award and Priority Pass™ Select membership.

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Can I get elite status with these cards?

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Yes, both cards grant automatic elite status within their respective loyalty programs. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card provides complimentary Platinum Elite status, and the Wyndham Earner® Plus Card offers Platinum level status in the Wyndham Rewards program.

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