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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 Gold

American Express

Gold

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

Top earning rates

  • 5×Prepaid hotel reservations · Membership Rewards
  • 4×Restaurants worldwide · Membership Rewards
  • 3×Flights · Membership Rewards
  • 2×Other eligible purchases · Membership Rewards

Key benefits

  • The Hotel Collection $100 Credit · $100
  • $100 Resy Credit · $50
  • $120 Uber Cash · $10
  • $120 Dining Credit · $10
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit · $7
Full American Express Gold review

American Express

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Annual fee
$650
Network
amex
Welcome value
~$1,125
Min spend
$6,000 / 6mo

Top earning rates

  • 6×Hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy · Marriott Bonvoy
  • 3×Restaurants worldwide · Marriott Bonvoy
  • 3×Flights booked directly with airlines · Marriott Bonvoy
  • 2×All other eligible purchases · Marriott Bonvoy

Key benefits

  • Free Night Award · $638
  • American Express Venue Collection Concessions Credit · $250
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit · $120
  • $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit · $100
  • Brilliant Dining Credit · $25
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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