Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $595 | $650 |
| Welcome offer | 70,000 AAdvantage® Miles | |
| Dining | 1x | 3x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 3x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $292 | $544 |
| Points type | Locked to American Airlines AAdvantage | Locked to Marriott Bonvoy |
| Network | Mastercard | 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 household spending, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive earns about $292 a year in rewards and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® about $544, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive charges $595, which you clear through its rewards and perks. 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 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® delivers more total value, about $364 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and dining. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. 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 dining, travel, everything else.