Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Citi Custom Cash
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. Citi Custom Cash is still the right call if auto-detects your top spend category each cycle — set-and-forget..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant | Citi Custom Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · $650 | No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 6% (travel) | · 5% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 2% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | No FX fee | · 3% |
| Welcome bonus | = 95,000 Bonvoy points after $6,000 spend in 6 months | = $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | · 720 | 670 |
| Editorial rating | = 4.5/5 | = 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
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
Citi Custom Cash
- 5% cashback in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to $500)
- 1% on everything else
- Eligible categories: restaurants, gas, grocery, travel, etc.
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
FAQ
›Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs Citi Custom Cash: 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 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant for its best categories, Citi Custom Cash for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: 95,000 Bonvoy points after $6,000 spend in 6 months. Citi Custom Cash: $200 cashback after $1,500 in 6 months.