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Hilton Aspire vs Bonvoy Brilliant

Up to three cards side by side, most decisive first. Open any section for the detail.

Rewards only pay if you pay in full. We compare what a card earns and gives, not its interest rates: carrying a balance costs more than any card earns. Rates and fees like APR, balance transfer and cash advance vary by applicant, so check the issuer's rates and fees before you apply. Why we never carry a balance

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card card art
Hilton Aspire 1 of 2
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card card art
Bonvoy Brilliant 2 of 2
Comparing 2 cards
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card card art
American Express
Hilton Aspire
Apply Details
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card card art
American Express
Bonvoy Brilliant
Apply Details
Cost and value $550 fee$650 fee
Annual fee
$550 Best
$650 Best: Hilton Aspire
Credits you can use a year, if you use every one
$819 Best
$330 Best: Hilton Aspire
Fee after credits
$269 back Best credits beat the fee
$320 a year net cost Best: Hilton Aspire
Point value per point or mile
0.40¢ Estimate Best: Bonvoy Brilliant
0.75¢ Best Estimate
Rewards currency
Hilton Honors Points
Marriott Bonvoy Points
Foreign transaction fee
None
None
Rates and fees
On the issuer's site APR, balance transfer and cash advance vary by applicant
On the issuer's site APR, balance transfer and cash advance vary by applicant
Sign-up bonus 200,000 points, about $800100,000 points, about $750
Bonus
200,000 points
100,000 points
Estimated value
$800 Best
$750 Best: Hilton Aspire
Spend to earn it less a month is easier
$6,000 in 180 days about $1,000 a month
$6,000 in 180 days about $1,000 a month
Offer ends
Jan 13, 2027
No end date listed
Earning rates Top rate 14xTop rate 6x
Return is points per dollar times that card’s point value, so 3x and 4x on different currencies compare fairly.
Dining
7x Best about 2.8% back
3x about 2.2% back Best: Hilton Aspire
Flights
7x Best about 2.8% back
3x about 2.2% back Best: Hilton Aspire
Everything else
3x about 1.2% back Best: Bonvoy Brilliant
2x Best about 1.5% back
Only on this card
  • 14x Hotels
  • 6x Hotels
Statement credits $819 a year$330 a year
Trusted traveler
None
  • $120 every 4 years
    What counts

    Receive either a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or up to $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck, once every 4 years.

Dining and delivery
None
  • $300 a year $25 every month
    What counts

    Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide.

Travel booking
  • $200 a year $50 every 3 months
    What counts

    Up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline, through AmexTravel.com, or through the Amex Travel App.

  • $100 per stay
    What counts

    Up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Hotels & Resorts properties when booking a 2 night minimum stay with the Card and selecting the Aspire Card Benefit rate option.

  • $100 per stay
    What counts

    Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis when booking direct using a special rate for a 2 night minimum stay.

Other credits
  • $400 a year $200 every 6 months
    What counts

    Up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually, for up to $400 back per year, on eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts.

  • $219 a year resets every year
    What counts

    Up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year toward the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership after paying with the Card.

None
Monthly credits to track fewer is less work
0 Best
1 Best: Hilton Aspire
Certificates and passes 1 free night + 2 with spend, about $380 a year1 free night, about $638 a year
Capped free nights are valued at their points cap and our points valuation; other values are our estimate of what the certificate typically saves. Certificates expire, so their value depends on using them in time.
Free nights
  • Annual Free Night Reward each card year, about $380 a year
  • Free Night Reward after $30,000 spend
  • Free Night Reward after $60,000 spend
  • Free Night Award, up to 85,000 points each card year, about $638 a year
Yearly value certificates that arrive each card year
about $380 Best: Bonvoy Brilliant
about $638 Best
Transfer partners No transfersNo transfers
Partners
None
None
Alliance reach
None
None
Status, lounges and travel Hilton Honors Diamond, National Emerald Club ExecutiveMarriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite, 1 lounge benefit
Elite status
  • Hilton Honors: Diamond
  • National Emerald Club: Executive after you enroll
  • Marriott Bonvoy: Platinum Elite
Other status perks
None
  • Each calendar year, receive 25 Elite Night Credits towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.
Airport lounges
None
  • Enroll in Priority Pass for unlimited visits to over 1,300 airport lounges in over 130 countries.
Travel benefits
  • 24/7 medical, legal, financial, and emergency coordination assistance while traveling more than 100 miles from home.
  • 24/7 medical, legal, financial, and emergency coordination assistance while traveling more than 100 miles from home.
  • Receive free in-room, premium Internet access at participating hotels; booking requirements apply.
  • Enjoy every trip abroad with no foreign transaction fees from American Express.
Protection and insurance 8 coverages8 coverages
Rows line up by coverage type. "Not listed" means the terms we track do not mention it, not that the card lacks it.
Trip delay
  • Reimbursement for certain additional expenses when a round-trip paid entirely with the Card is delayed more than 6 hours for a covered reason, up to $500 per trip, maximum 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
  • Reimbursement for certain additional expenses if a covered reason delays a round trip paid for entirely with the Eligible Card by more than 6 hours, up to $500 per trip, maximum 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
Baggage
  • Coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage when purchasing the entire fare for a Common Carrier ticket with an Eligible Card, up to a combined maximum of $3,000 per covered trip.
  • Coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage when purchasing the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket. Up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to $3,000 combined for checked and carry-on baggage.
Rental car
  • Coverage for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle when using the Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and declining the collision damage waiver. Secondary coverage; excludes Australia, Italy, and New Zealand.
  • Coverage for damage to or theft of a rental vehicle when using the Card to reserve and pay for the entire rental and declining the CDW. Secondary coverage; not available in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand.
Cell phone
  • Reimbursement for repair or replacement costs following cell phone damage or theft, up to $800 per claim, limit 2 claims per 12-month period, $50 deductible applies, when wireless bill is paid with the Card.
  • Be reimbursed for repair or replacement costs following damage or theft, up to $800 per claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period, when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill paid with an eligible Card. A $50 deductible applies to each claim.
Extended warranty
  • Extends the original manufacturer's warranty by up to one additional year on eligible purchases with warranties of 5 years or less, up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per calendar year.
  • Adds up to one extra year to the Original Manufacturer's Warranty on eligible purchases, for warranties of 5 years or less.
Purchase protection
  • Covers eligible purchases against theft, accidental damage, or loss for up to 90 days from purchase date, up to $10,000 per purchase and $50,000 per calendar year.
  • Covers eligible purchases against accidental damage, theft, or loss for up to 90 days from purchase date, up to $10,000 per covered purchase and $50,000 per calendar year.
Return protection
  • Allows returning eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won't take them back, up to 90 days from purchase. Refund up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account.
  • Return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won't take them back, up to 90 days from purchase date, refund up to $300 per item, up to $1,000 per calendar year per Card account.
Other coverage
  • Reimbursement for non-refundable expenses up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive months when a covered reason cancels or interrupts a round trip paid entirely with the Card.
  • Send money and split purchases with Venmo and PayPal users through the American Express App without standard credit card fees; split purchases refunded as statement credit.
  • Split American Express purchases with Venmo or PayPal users directly from the Amex App; enrollment required.
  • Earn extra rewards on qualifying purchases made at select brands through Amex Offers.
  • Reimbursement for non-refundable expenses if a covered reason cancels or interrupts a round trip purchased entirely with the Eligible Card, up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
  • Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases, select one Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit; only one per calendar year.
Lifestyle and other perks 2 perks2 perks
Lifestyle and entertainment
  • Access to purchase Amex Presale Tickets and Amex Reserved Tickets to select events across sports, music, and more.
  • Enhanced experience at select stadiums and arenas with dedicated entrances/fast lanes, plus 10% back on qualifying concessions purchases up to $250 per calendar year when enrolled.
  • Enroll your Card and get 10% back on qualifying concessions purchases at select stadiums and arenas, up to $250 per calendar year. Limit one enrolled Card per eligible Card Member.
  • Access to purchase Amex Presale Tickets and Amex Reserved Tickets for select events across sports, music, and more.
Authorized users FreeFree
Cost
Authorized users are free.
Authorized users are free.
Each one gets
  • Baggage insurance plan
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance
  • Cell phone protection
  • Extended warranty
  • Purchase protection
  • Trip cancellation interruption insurance
  • Trip delay insurance
  • American Express venue collection
  • Baggage insurance plan
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance
  • Cell phone protection
  • Purchase protection
  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
  • Trip delay insurance
Application rules 2/902/90
Issuer approval rules
  • 2/90 Community-reported
    What counts

    American Express generally approves at most 2 of its credit cards per 90 days.

  • 5 credit card limit Community-reported
    What counts

    American Express generally limits you to 5 of its credit cards at once.

  • 10 charge card limit Community-reported
    What counts

    American Express generally limits you to 10 of its charge cards at once.

  • 2/90 Community-reported
    What counts

    American Express generally approves at most 2 of its credit cards per 90 days.

  • 5 credit card limit Community-reported
    What counts

    American Express generally limits you to 5 of its credit cards at once.

  • 10 charge card limit Community-reported
    What counts

    American Express generally limits you to 10 of its charge cards at once.

Bonus eligibility
  • Once per lifetime Issuer-stated
    What counts

    American Express welcome offers are generally once per lifetime for each card, unless your specific offer omits the lifetime language.

  • Once per lifetime Issuer-stated
    What counts

    American Express welcome offers are generally once per lifetime for each card, unless your specific offer omits the lifetime language.

  • Marriott Bonvoy 24-month rule Issuer-stated
    What counts

    Marriott Bonvoy welcome bonuses are restricted across both American Express and Chase if you currently hold a conflicting Marriott Bonvoy card or earned a Marriott Bonvoy welcome or upgrade bonus in the past 24 months.

Card type
Personal
Personal