Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® vs Wells Fargo Active Cash®
Side-by-side comparison
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® | Wells Fargo Active Cash® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $650 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $200 cash rewards bonus | |
| Dining | 3x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 3x | 2x |
| Streaming | 1x | 2x |
| Everything else | 2x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $544 | $583 |
| Points type | Locked to Marriott Bonvoy | Pools with Wells Fargo → transferable |
| Network | Amex | Visa |
*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 Wells Fargo Active Cash® about $583, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® charges $650, but carries about $335 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® delivers more total value, about $522 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Wells Fargo Active Cash® 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 Wells Fargo Active Cash® 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 dining, travel. Pick the Wells Fargo Active Cash® if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, streaming.