Emily Thompson specializes in beginner content as a credit cards editor. She taps into her prior experience as a high school English teacher to help others demystify credit scores and unlock experiences that credit card rewards can make possible.
Benji Stawski is a former reporter for the site, covering all things points, miles, credit cards, travel and aviation.
also contributed to this story
January 12, 2025 • 9 min read
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Quick summary
This article compares two premium hotel credit cards, one open to new applicants and one only available via product change from select existing cards.
Both cards offer similar earning rates at hotels and restaurants, but differ in bonus categories and annual benefits.
One card provides higher automatic elite status, more annual elite night credits and a dining credit, while the other offers club-level upgrades and rental car privileges.
The choice depends on whether you value a welcome bonus, higher status and dining credits or prefer club access, airline credits and lower annual costs.
What to consider
The card closed to new applicants can only be obtained by product changing from certain existing cards after at least 12 months.
You cannot switch directly between these two cards due to issuer restrictions.
Bonvoy points are valued at 0.75 cents each as of October 2026 per TPG's valuations.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side breakdown of benefits, earning categories and redemption options to help determine which premium hotel card best fits your travel needs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Knowledgeable TPG readers might glance at the headline of this story and object to its entire premise since the Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card closed to new applications in 2018. So, before we dive into this comparison, let’s address the elephant in the room.
Although the is Marriott’s only premium-level card technically available to new applicants nowadays, there’s a workaround to get the now-closed Ritz card. Chase allows cardholders of other personal Marriott-branded Chase cards — such as the (see rates and fees) and (see rates and fees) — to product change to the Ritz-Carlton card as long as they have had their cards for at least 12 months.
With that technicality out of the way, we’re going to compare the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Ritz-Carlton cards head-to-head to find out which one is better for you, and if you should even carry both of them simultaneously.
The information for the Ritz-Carlton Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. Ritz-Carlton Card comparison
Here are the basics of each of these two cards in the major categories:
Three upgrades to the Ritz-Carlton Club Level on paid stays of up to seven nights
Rental car privileges with Avis, National and Silvercar
Extensive travel protections
No foreign transaction fees
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. Ritz-Carlton Card welcome offer
The currently has a welcome offer of 100,000 bonus points, earned after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
TPG’s October 2026 valuations peg Bonvoy points at 0.75 cents each, making this offer worth $750.
FAIRFIELD BY MARRIOTT ANAHEIM RESORT/FACEBOOK
However, since the Ritz-Carlton Card is no longer available for new sign-ups, there is no welcome bonus. Those who product change to the Ritz-Carlton Card do not receive any bonus points.
Of course, check that you’re eligible for the bonus before applying for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.
Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant — no explanation needed.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. Ritz-Carlton Card benefits
Both cards offer valuable statement credits, automatic elite status, a free anniversary night and valuable travel protections. Their differences come down to a few specifics.
The comes with:
Priority Pass Select membership for you and two guests
Up to $300 in statement credits annually for dining at restaurants worldwide
Automatic Platinum Elite status
25 elite night credits each calendar year
Earned Choice Award after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases each calendar year
Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale. EMILIA WRONSKI/THE POINTS GUY
The Ritz-Carlton card, meanwhile, comes with:
Priority Pass Select membership
Up to $300 in statement credits for eligible airline incidentals, including baggage fees, lounge access or inflight Wi-Fi
Automatic Gold Elite status
15 elite night credits annually
Three upgrades to the Ritz-Carlton Club Level on paid stays of up to seven nights
Rental car privileges with Avis, National and Silvercar
If you’re after Bonvoy elite status, you’ll benefit more from the higher status and more annual elite night credits with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. However, those perks do come with a significantly higher annual fee. If you want access to the Ritz-Carlton club level and rental car privileges or are trying to keep your annual fees lower, the Ritz-Carlton card is your better choice.
Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. It comes with a higher status level and has a $300 annual dining credit that’s easier for many people to use than the airline incidental credit on the Ritz-Carlton card.
Earning points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. Ritz-Carlton Card
The two cards have extremely similar earning rates. Both cards earn 6 points per dollar spent at participating Marriott hotels, 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with the airline and 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
RITZ-CARLTON GRAND CAYMAN
The Ritz-Carlton card, however, also earns 3 points per dollar spent on car rentals.
Winner: Ritz-Carlton Card. Earning bonus points on rental cars gives it a slight edge over the .
Redeeming and transferring points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant vs. Ritz-Carlton Card
The Ritz-Carlton card and the both earn Marriott Bonvoy points, so there’s no difference on the redemption front. You can redeem Marriott Bonvoy points toward free stays at more than 8,000 properties across almost 30 brands in over 125 countries or turn them into airline miles for free flights.
JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Marriott points transfer to over 40 frequent flyer programs, mostly at a 2.4:1 ratio, factoring in the 5,000-mile bonus given for every 60,000 points transferred to most programs.
Winner: Tie. Since both of these cards earn Marriott Bonvoy points, they have equal redemption options.
Should I get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or the Ritz-Carlton Card?
If you want a welcome bonus, an easier path to Bonvoy elite status and the option to earn a choice award, the is your better option. However, if you’re looking for Bonvoy perks for a lower annual fee, can maximize the airline incidental credit and want Ritz-Carlton Club access and rental car privileges, the Ritz-Carlton card will serve you better.
Can I switch from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant to the Ritz-Carlton Card?
The is an American Express card, while the Ritz-Carlton card is a Chase card. Therefore, you cannot product change between the two cards. As mentioned above, the only way you can get the Ritz-Carlton card is by doing a product change from another Chase Marriott card after you’ve held it for at least a year.
Unlike some other comparisons, there’s no clear winner in this showdown. To determine the winner for you, you’ll need to consider your eligibility for either card as well as the value you can get from either card. If you can justify the higher annual fee on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and value its superior Bonvoy perks, it’s likely the best option for you. However, if you prefer a lower annual fee and have a Chase Bonvoy card that you can change to a Ritz-Carlton card, you may decide to go that route.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
