Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. the Ritz-Carlton Card: Should you get one — or both?

Educated TPG readers may look on the headline of this story and object to its whole premise for the reason that Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card closed to new purposes in 2018. So, earlier than we dive into this comparability, let’s tackle the elephant within the room.

Though the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is Marriott’s solely premium-level card technically out there to new candidates these days, there is a workaround to get the now-closed Ritz card. Chase permits cardholders of different private Marriott-branded Chase playing cards — such because the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card — to product change to the Ritz-Carlton card so long as they’ve had their playing cards for not less than 12 months.

With that technicality out of the way in which, we’ll evaluate the Marriott Bonvoy Good and Ritz-Carlton playing cards head-to-head to search out out which one is healthier for you, and in the event you ought to even carry each of them concurrently.

The knowledge for the Ritz-Carlton Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant at present has a welcome supply of 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus factors after spending $6,000 in purchases inside the first six months of card membership.

TPG’s January 2025 valuations peg Bonvoy factors at 0.85 cents every, making this supply price $808.

Nonetheless, for the reason that Ritz-Carlton Card is now not out there for brand spanking new sign-ups, there isn’t any welcome bonus. Those that product change to the Ritz-Carlton Card don’t obtain any bonus factors.

In fact, examine that you simply’re eligible for the bonus earlier than making use of for the Marriott Bonvoy Good.

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Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Good — no clarification wanted.

Associated: The best time to apply for these Amex cards according to offer history

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant comes with:

• Precedence Cross Choose membership for you and two visitors
• As much as $300 in assertion credit yearly for eating at eating places worldwide
• Automated Platinum Elite standing
• 25 elite evening credit every calendar 12 months
• Earned Selection Award after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases every calendar 12 months

The Ritz-Carlton card, in the meantime, comes with:

• Precedence Cross Choose membership
• As much as $300 in assertion credit for eligible airline incidentals, together with baggage charges, lounge entry or inflight Wi-Fi
• Automated Gold Elite standing
• 15 elite evening credit yearly
• Three upgrades to the Ritz-Carlton Membership Stage on paid stays of as much as seven nights
• Rental automobile privileges with Avis, Nationwide and Silvercar

For those who’re after Bonvoy elite standing, you will profit extra from the upper standing and extra annual elite evening credit with the Marriott Bonvoy Good. Nonetheless, these perks do include a considerably greater annual payment. If you would like entry to the Ritz-Carlton membership degree and rental automobile privileges or try to maintain your annual charges decrease, the Ritz-Carlton card is your more sensible choice.

Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Good. It comes with the next standing degree and has a $300 annual eating credit score that is simpler for many individuals to make use of than the airline incidental credit score on the Ritz-Carlton card.

Associated: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant worth the $650 annual fee?

Incomes factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Good vs. Ritz-Carlton Card

The 2 playing cards have extraordinarily comparable incomes charges. Each playing cards earn 6 factors per greenback spent at taking part Marriott accommodations, 3 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide and on flights booked straight with the airline and a pair of factors per greenback spent on all different purchases. With TPG’s January 2025 valuations in thoughts, that is basically a return of roughly 5% on Marriott purchases, 2.5% on eating places and flights, and 1.7% on on a regular basis spending.

The Ritz-Carlton card, nevertheless, additionally earns 3 factors per greenback spent on automobile leases, which means you will additionally get an efficient return of round 2.5% on these purchases as nicely whenever you use it.

Winner: Ritz-Carlton Card. Incomes bonus factors on rental vehicles provides it a slight edge over the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.

Associated: How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

The Ritz-Carlton card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant each earn Marriott Bonvoy factors, so there is not any distinction on the redemption entrance. You may redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors towards free stays at greater than 8,000 properties throughout nearly 30 manufacturers in over 125 nations or flip them into airline miles free of charge flights.

Marriott factors switch to over 40 frequent flyer packages, largely at a 2.4:1 ratio, factoring within the 5,000-mile bonus given for each 60,000 factors transferred to most packages.

Winner: Tie. Since each of those playing cards earn Marriott Bonvoy factors, they’ve equal redemption choices.

Associated: How to redeem points with the Marriott Bonvoy program

If you would like a welcome bonus, a better path to Bonvoy elite standing and the choice to earn a alternative award, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is your higher possibility. Nonetheless, in the event you’re searching for Bonvoy perks for a decrease annual payment, can maximize the airline incidental credit score and wish Ritz-Carlton Membership entry and rental automobile privileges, the Ritz-Carlton card will serve you higher.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is an American Specific card, whereas the Ritz-Carlton card is a Chase card. Due to this fact, you can not product change between the 2 playing cards. As talked about above, the one approach you will get the Ritz-Carlton card is by doing a product change from one other Chase Marriott card after you’ve got held it for not less than a 12 months.

Associated: The ultimate guide to credit card upgrades

To be taught extra, see our full critiques of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and the Ritz-Carlton card.

Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

For charges and charges of the Marriott Bonvoy Good, click on here.

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