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Blue Cash Preferred vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Blue Cash Preferred

Blue Cash Preferred

$95/yr
7.0/10
VS
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

$650/yr
6.0/10
Quick Answer

Blue Cash Preferred charges $95/yr with 1X base rewards. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant charges $650/yr with 1X base rewards. Blue Cash Preferred offers better overall value for most spenders when comparing fees, rewards, and benefits side by side.

Apply for Blue Cash Preferred →
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Category
Blue Cash Preferred
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Annual Fee
$95 ✓
$650
Base Earning Rate
1.0X
1.0X
Signup Bonus
Up to $300 cash back
None
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
$0
Card Network
N/A
N/A
Reward Type
Cashback
Points

Winner by Category

Annual Fees

Blue Cash Preferred
Lower annual fee ($95 vs $650)

Rewards Earning

Blue Cash Preferred
5 earning categories

Benefits & Protection

Blue Cash Preferred
4 benefits vs 0

Statement Credits

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
$400 in annual credits

Flexibility

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Transferable points to airline/hotel partners
OUR PICK

Blue Cash Preferred wins for most people

The $555 fee difference is hard to justify unless you maximize premium benefits.

Apply for Blue Cash Preferred
PREMIUM PICK

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant wins for heavy spenders

If you can offset the higher fee with credits and perks, this card delivers more value.

Apply for Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Rewards Earning: Detailed Comparison

Blue Cash Preferred

US supermarkets6.0X (up to $6,000)
Streaming services6.0X
Transit3.0X
US gas stations3.0X (up to $6,000)
Everything else1.0X

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Marriott Bonvoy hotels6.0X
US restaurants3.0X
Flights (direct)3.0X
Everything else2.0X

Card Benefits: Detailed Comparison

Blue Cash Preferred (4 benefits)

  • Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
  • Purchase Protection (up to $1,000)
  • Extended Warranty
  • Return Protection (up to $300)

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (0 benefits)

See full review for benefits details.

Read Blue Cash Preferred Review →Read Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Review →