Apple Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant wins 3-2. Frequent Marriott guests — Platinum status from spend, free annual night. Apple Card is still the right call if apple ecosystem users — daily cashback, instant in wallet..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Apple Card | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $650 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 3% (shopping) | 6% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 2% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = No welcome bonus — daily cashback model | = 95,000 Bonvoy points after $6,000 spend in 6 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 660 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Apple Card
- 3% Daily Cash on Apple purchases + select merchants (Uber, Walgreens, T-Mobile)
- 2% Daily Cash on all Apple Pay transactions
- 1% Daily Cash on physical-card purchases
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no late fees
- High-yield savings account at 4.4% APY
- Privacy-first: no purchase data sold
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy points at Marriott properties
- 3x at restaurants + flights direct
- 2x on everything else
- Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status (with $25K spend)
- 85K-point Free Night Award annually
- $300 dining credit + $25 monthly Marriott credit
FAQ
›Apple Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: which is better?
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Apple Card for its best categories, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Apple Card: No welcome bonus — daily cashback model. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: 95,000 Bonvoy points after $6,000 spend in 6 months.