Marriott Bonvoy vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

Every figure below is from the same dataset Miles computes its recommendations from. Rows the two cards agree on are collapsed at the bottom.

Economics

Dollar figures are per year unless the row says otherwise. Ongoing annual value is Miles' estimate of what the card adds per year after its annual fee: statement credits discounted for realistic use, benefits, and earning above a strong flat-rate card on a typical spending profile. First-year value is a separate net figure that includes the welcome bonus. A welcome bonus shown at its advertised maximum may not be available to every applicant; that figure is not marked as stronger. ★ marks the stronger comparable figure on other rows, and no row is marked when either figure is unknown.
Figure	Marriott Bonvoy American Express	Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
Annual fee	Best: $95 $555/yr less	$650
Ongoing annual value, after fee	$221	Best: $689 $468/yr more
First-year value	−$95	Best: $288 $383/yr more
Authorized user fee	—Unknown	$0

Sign-up Bonus

The current welcome offer as recorded in the dataset. No winner is marked: a bonus is points times a valuation times a spend requirement you may or may not clear, and the first-year value above already prices it.
Offer	Marriott Bonvoy American Express	Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
Current offer	Not available for new applications	100K bonus points after $6K in eligible purchases within the first 6 months

Earning

Percentages are the return on a dollar spent: the multiplier times what Miles values those points at. ★ marks the higher return on a row. Categories only one card earns a bonus on are marked for that card; the other earns its base rate.
Category	Marriott Bonvoy American Express	Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
Dining	—Unknown	Best: 3X2.2%
Flights booked directly with airlines	—Unknown	Best: 3X2.2%

Benefits

Statement credits, lounge access and elite status as listed in the dataset; protections are counted, not listed. No winner is marked: twelve small credits are not more than two large ones, and the row that prices them, ongoing annual value, is under Economics.
Benefit	Marriott Bonvoy American Express	Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
Statement credits	—Unknown	Dining: $25 (Monthly) Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years) Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis: $100 (Per Use)
Lounge access	—Unknown	Priority Pass Select (unlimited)
Elite status	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Marriott Bonvoy	Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Marriott Bonvoy
Protections	4	9

The same on both cards (7)

Rows where both cards state the same figure or the same earning rate. Nothing is marked, because there is no stronger side.
Fact	Marriott Bonvoy	Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Issuer	American Express	American Express
Rewards currency	Marriott Bonvoy	Marriott Bonvoy
Card type	Personal	Personal
Network	American Express	American Express
All other purchases	2X1.5%	2X1.5%
Marriott purchases	6X4.4%	6X4.4%

Which one is right for you

This page shows the difference. It does not pick: the winner depends on what you spend and what you already hold, and adding these figures up without knowing that would be a guess dressed as a verdict. Ask Miles and it computes the answer against your own wallet.

Ask Miles which to get