Discover it Cash Back 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. Discover it Cash Back is still the right call if rotating-category optimizers; first card for thin-credit-file applicants.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Discover it Cash Back | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $650 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 5% (shopping) | 6% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 2% |
| Forex markup | · 1% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = Cashback Match — Discover doubles your first-year cashback automatically | = 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 | 670 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | = 4.5/5 | = 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Discover it Cash Back
- 5% cashback on rotating quarterly categories (Amazon, gas, restaurants, grocery)
- 1% cashback on everything else
- Cashback Match: Discover matches all cash back earned in your first year
- No annual fee
- Free FICO score on every statement
- No foreign transaction fees
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
›Discover it Cash Back 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 Discover it Cash Back 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?
Discover it Cash Back: Cashback Match — Discover doubles your first-year cashback automatically. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: 95,000 Bonvoy points after $6,000 spend in 6 months.