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American Express Classic Green Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

Both are American Express cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.

Best card by category Card terms as of Oct 29

Everything else

  1. Classic Green Card 2.0% 1x base rate
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 1.5% 2x base rate

Dining

  1. Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 2.3% 3x

Flights

  1. Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 2.3% 3x

Hotels

  1. Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 4.5% 6x

Public transit

  1. Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 1.5% 2x base rate

Rideshare & taxis

  1. Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 1.5% 2x base rate

Tolls

  1. Classic Green Card 6.0% 3x
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 1.5% 2x base rate

What the numbers are doing

Classic Green Card tops everything else at 2.0% only because this table values its points at 2 cents each. Value them at one cent and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card wins that category instead.

The table is earn rate only — annual fees are not netted out of it. These cards charge Classic Green Card $150 and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card $650 a year, so a thin lead in one category may not cover the difference.

Where they differ: Classic Green Card takes everything else, dining, flights and hotels, plus 3 more. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card wins nothing outright in this wallet.

pointslipEveryday
Pass content preview
CategoryBest card
Everything elseClassic Green Card2.0%
DiningClassic Green Card6.0%
FlightsClassic Green Card6.0%
HotelsClassic Green Card6.0%
Public transitClassic Green Card6.0%
Rideshare & taxisClassic Green Card6.0%
TollsClassic Green Card6.0%

Content preview. Apple Wallet controls the layout; visible categories vary by device. Categories that rank the same as Everything else are left off; every other category is in pass details.

Every category, every card

Everything else

  1. Classic Green Card — 2.0%
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 1.5%

Dining

  1. Classic Green Card — 6.0%
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 2.3%

Flights

  1. Classic Green Card — 6.0%
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 2.3%

Hotels

  1. Classic Green Card — 6.0%
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 4.5%

Public transit

  1. Classic Green Card — 6.0%
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 1.5%

Rideshare & taxis

  1. Classic Green Card — 6.0%
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 1.5%

Tolls

  1. Classic Green Card — 6.0%
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 1.5%
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