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All comparisons
Head-to-head, 2026

American Express Gold American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Annual fee, welcome offer, top earning categories, and key benefits — compared side-by-side using Perqt's catalog data.

Lower annual fee: American Express GoldBigger welcome offer: American Express Gold

American Express

Gold

Annual fee
$325
Network
amex
Welcome value
$1,000
Min spend
$8,000 / 6mo

Top earning rates

  • 4×dining · Membership Rewards
  • 4×grocery · Membership Rewards
  • 3×flights · Membership Rewards
  • 2×travel · Membership Rewards

Key benefits

  • $100 The Hotel Collection Credit · $100
  • Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance · $75
  • $100 Resy Credit · $50
  • Baggage Insurance Plan · $50
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees · $35
Full American Express Gold review

American Express

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Annual fee
$650
Network
amex
Welcome value
$665
Min spend
$6,000 / 6mo

Top earning rates

  • 6×Marriott Bonvoy hotels · Marriott Bonvoy
  • 3×dining · Marriott Bonvoy
  • 3×flights · Marriott Bonvoy
  • 2×all other purchases · Marriott Bonvoy

Key benefits

  • Annual Free Night Award (up to 85k pts) · $600
  • Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status · $400
  • Brilliant Earned Choice Award · $300
  • Priority Pass Select Membership · $250
  • 25 Annual Elite Night Credits · $250
Full American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant review

Wondering which one is right for your wallet?

Spec sheets can't tell you which card actually earns more for the way you spend. Perqt connects to your wallet, runs the math against your real transactions, and tells you which of these two — or another card entirely — gives you the biggest annual uplift.

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