American Express® Blue Business Plus vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Blue Business Plus | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $650 |
| Welcome offer | 15,000 Membership Rewards® Points | |
| Advertising | 2% | 2% |
| Shipping | 2% | 2% |
| Office supplies | 2% | 2% |
| Phone & internet | 2% | 2% |
| Travel | 2% | 3% |
| Everything else | 2% | 2% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $900 | $954 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Locked to Marriott Bonvoy |
| Network | Amex | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of business spending, the American Express® Blue Business Plus earns about $900 a year in rewards and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® about $954, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Blue Business Plus has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® charges $650, but carries about $335 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the American Express® Blue Business Plus delivers more total value, about $428 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it skips the annual fee the other charges. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Blue Business Plus earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the American Express® Blue Business Plus if you will use travel transfers, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® if your spending leans toward travel.