Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®

Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®
VS
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®
The short answer: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®
Annual fee$350$650
Welcome offer50,000 90,000 miles (limited-time)165,000 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points (limited-time)
Dining2x3x
Groceries1x1x
Gas1x1x
Travel3x3x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x2x
Est. yearly rewards*$365$544
Points typeLocked to American Airlines AAdvantageLocked to Marriott Bonvoy
NetworkMastercardAmex

*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® Globe™ Mastercard® earns about $365 a year in rewards and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® about $544, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® charges $350, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® charges $650, but carries about $300 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 $29 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, everything else.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® better?
On typical household spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® comes out ahead after its annual fee, by roughly $29 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant®?
As of June 2026, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® offers 90,000 miles and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® offers 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.