Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® | PayPal Cashback Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $650 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | No current offer | |
| Dining | 3x | 1.5x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1.5x |
| Gas | 1x | 1.5x |
| Travel | 3x | 1.5x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1.5x |
| Everything else | 2x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $544 | $437 |
| Points type | Locked to Marriott Bonvoy | Cash back only |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*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 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® earns about $544 a year in rewards and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard about $437, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® charges $650, but carries about $300 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard delivers more total value, about $394 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. 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. Pick the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, streaming.