Best card for Marriott
At Marriott, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card earns an estimated 16.80% back: 21x × 0.8¢ point value. On $100, that is about $16.80 back (estimate).
Marriott stays are where brand cards pull furthest ahead of general cards: the program's own cards earn at a different level entirely. This page compares the Marriott cards against each other and against the best general card.
Best card · Marriott
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
21x × 0.8¢ = 16.80%
On $100, that is about $16.80 back (estimate).
Annual fee: $650/yr.
Marriott rates here are totals: card earning plus Bonvoy base earning plus elite-status earning. Without status, your rate is lower.
Best no-fee personal card: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (11.20%).
Top 3 compared
| Card | Earn math | Estimated return | Annual fee | Foreign transaction fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | 21x × 0.8¢ | 16.80% | $650/yr | None |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card | 18.5x × 0.8¢ | 14.80% | $250/yr | None |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless | 17x × 0.8¢ | 13.60% | $95/yr | None |
How is this ranking computed?
Effective return = category earn rate × point value. Example: 4x × 2.0¢ = 8.00% back (estimate).
Ranked across 91 cards open to new applicants in DanHana's catalog (debit cards and cards closed to new applicants excluded).
Every % here is an estimate: point values are catalog assumptions, and actual value depends on how you redeem.
A payment place's category comes from DanHana's merchant map; if a specific location codes differently, the card falls back to its everything rate.
This page ranks the full catalog. Inside DanHana, the same math re-ranks by the cards in your own wallet -- so your personal best at Marriott may differ.
Some bonus rates have annual caps -- the panel flags the ones that matter for the winners above.
Questions about paying at Marriott
What is the best card for Marriott?
At Marriott, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card earns an estimated 16.80% back: 21x × 0.8¢ point value. On $100, that is about $16.80 back (estimate).
What do I earn at Marriott without a Marriott card?
Without a brand card, the best general card is The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express at 4.00% -- well below Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at 16.80%. The gap is the reason brand cards exist for the programs you actually stay with.
I already have the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card. Should I switch?
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card earns 14.80% -- about $2.00 less per $100 than the top card (estimate). No need to switch for this one category alone; it only pays if you spend a lot here.
Are these returns guaranteed?
No -- every figure here is an estimate. Point values are catalog assumptions (e.g. Membership Rewards 2.0¢, Ultimate Rewards 1.5¢, cash back 1.0¢), and your actual value depends on how you redeem. Bonus rates can have annual caps, and issuers change terms -- check the card's official terms before applying.
Sources
Page updated: October 28, 2026