Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® vs Capital One Spark Cash Select
Side-by-side comparison
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® | Capital One Spark Cash Select | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $650 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $750 cash back | |
| Advertising | 2% | 1.5% |
| Shipping | 2% | 1.5% |
| Office supplies | 2% | 1.5% |
| Phone & internet | 2% | 1.5% |
| Travel | 3% | 1.5% |
| Everything else | 2% | 1.5% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $954 | $675 |
| Points type | Locked to Marriott Bonvoy | Pools with Capital One → transferable |
| 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 business spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® earns about $954 a year in rewards and the Capital One Spark Cash Select about $675, 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 Capital One Spark Cash Select has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Capital One Spark Cash Select delivers more total value, about $221 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it skips the annual fee the other charges. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Capital One Spark Cash Select 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 Capital One Spark Cash Select 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 advertising, shipping, office supplies.