Sapphire Reserve vs Bonvoy Brilliant
Side-by-side comparison: signup bonus, annual fee, benefits, transfer partners. Updated daily from issuer pages.
Quick Answer
For year-one net value (welcome bonus minus annual fee), Sapphire Reserve comes out ahead at ~$2,280 even at a higher $795 annual fee vs $650. Sapphire Reserve sits in Chase UR; Bonvoy Brilliant sits in Marriott Bonvoy. The right pick still depends on which credits and category multipliers fit your spending pattern — full breakdown below.
Sapphire Reserve
Highest first-year value among the 2 cards you're comparing — $4,570 after annual fee.
Chase
Sapphire Reserve
Annual Fee
$795/yr
Signup Bonus
150,000 Ultimate Rewards
Bonus Value
~$3,075
Benefits Value
~$2,290/yr
Spend Req.
$6,000 / 3mo
Rewards Currency
Chase UR
Network
Visa
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
✈️ travel credit
Annual Travel Credit
$300/yr
Lyft Credit
$120/yr
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit
$120/yr
🍽️ dining credit
Sapphire Reserve Dining Credit
$300/yr
DoorDash + DashPass Credits
$300/yr
🏨 hotel credit
The Edit Hotel Credit
$500/yr
🏛️ lounge
Priority Pass Select
$400/yr
⭐ status
IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite
🛍️ shopping credit
Apple TV+ and Apple Music
$250/yr
Amex
Bonvoy Brilliant
Annual Fee
$650/yr
Signup Bonus
185,000 Marriott Bonvoy
Bonus Value
~$1,480
Benefits Value
~$1,545/yr
Spend Req.
$6,000 / 6mo
Rewards Currency
Marriott Bonvoy
Network
Amex
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
✈️ travel credit
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck
$120/yr
🍽️ dining credit
Dining Credit
$300/yr
🏨 hotel credit
Property Credit
$100/use
Annual Free Night Reward
$425/yr
🏛️ lounge
Priority Pass Select
$200/yr
⭐ status
Marriott Platinum Elite
$400/yr
25 Elite Night Credits
Quick winners by category
The fast answer if you came here looking for one specific thing.
Best for Travel
Sapphire Reserve
Wins on stronger travel multiplier (8× vs 4×) on flights and hotels.
Best for Dining
Sapphire Reserve
Dedicated dining credit plus strong restaurant earning multiplier.
Best for Lounge Access
Sapphire Reserve
Stronger lounge network (Sapphire Lounge + Priority Pass) than the other card's Priority Pass.
Best for Transfer Partners
Sapphire Reserve
Chase UR has 14+ transfer partners — better redemption flexibility.
Best for Beginners
Bonvoy Brilliant
Lower $650 annual fee makes the math safer for newer cardholders.
Best Overall Value
Sapphire Reserve
~$4,570 of first-year value after annual fee — wins the math.
Best for Premium Travel
Sapphire Reserve
Premium hotel credits, top-tier lounge access, and travel insurance built in — the luxury-travel pick.
Best for Hyatt Transfers
Sapphire Reserve
Transfers points to World of Hyatt 1:1 — the highest-CPP redemption in the points game. Chase UR owns this advantage.
What it's worth for your spending
Estimated first-year value (welcome bonus + benefits − annual fee) for four common spending profiles.
| Profile | Sapphire Reserve | Bonvoy Brilliant |
|---|---|---|
| Light spender, building credit | $4,782 | $2,641 |
| Everyday family ($40K/yr spend) | $5,407 | $3,221 |
| Frequent traveler (2-3 trips/yr) | $6,010 | $3,329 |
| Premium traveler (5+ trips/yr) | $7,612 | $4,031 |
Year-one value = welcome bonus + tracked benefits + estimated points value from spending − annual fee. Points valued at 1.5¢ each (transferable) or 1¢ each (cashback). Real-world value depends on how you redeem.
Side-by-side: every spec that matters
Higher value highlighted in green per row.
| Sapphire Reserve | Bonvoy Brilliant | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 150,000 Ultimate Rewards (~$3,075) | 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy (~$1,480) |
| Annual fee | $795/yr | $650/yr |
| Authorized user fee | $75/user | $0 |
| Transfer partners | 14+ partners (Chase UR) | None (single program) |
| Travel credits | $540/yr | $120/yr |
| Lounge access | Sapphire Lounge + Priority Pass | Priority Pass only |
| Dining rewards | 3x 3x on dining including delivery and takeout | 4x 4x at restaurants worldwide |
| Grocery rewards | 1x | 2x |
| Hotel rewards | $500/yr 3x The Edit hotels via Chase Travel; 4x airfare via Chase Travel | $525/yr 6x at Marriott Bonvoy hotels |
| Travel insurance | Comprehensive | Comprehensive |
| Cell phone protection | Included | Included |
| Foreign transaction fee | $0 | $0 |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Network | Visa | Amex |
Who should get the Sapphire Reserve?
- ✓You'll book through Chase Travel 4+ times a year to use the $300 travel credit + Edit by CSR $500 hotel credit before they reset.
- ✓You live near a Sapphire Lounge (NYC, BOS, LAS, PHX, IAH, HKG and growing) — otherwise the lounge value is largely Priority Pass.
- ✓You're under Chase 5/24 — Plat-stack-style applicants over 5/24 should look at Cap One Venture X first.
- ✓Hyatt 1:1 + premium lounge in one card is your priority — Amex Plat has more lounges but no Hyatt.
- ✓You're a frequent traveler willing to absorb a $795 annual fee for premium credits and lounge access.
- ✓Travel is one of your top 3 spending categories and you want to earn faster on flights, hotels, and ride-shares.
- ✓You eat out regularly and want bonus points on restaurants worldwide.
Who should get the Bonvoy Brilliant?
- ✓You're a frequent traveler willing to absorb a $650 annual fee for premium credits and lounge access.
- ✓You eat out regularly and want bonus points on restaurants worldwide.
- ✓You stay at a specific hotel chain enough that loyalty-status perks compound.
- ✓You book aspirational hotels and want elite status, suite upgrades, and resort credits without earning them through stays.
- ✓You fly enough that airport lounge access alone justifies the annual fee.
- ✓You take 10+ flights a year and want Centurion / Priority Pass / Sapphire / Capital One Lounge access — not just the marketing line, but actually visiting lounges.
- ✓You enjoy stacking multipliers, calendaring statement credits, and treating your wallet like a small portfolio — the extra cognitive load is worth real $ to you.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a better welcome bonus, Sapphire Reserve or Bonvoy Brilliant?
Sapphire Reserve currently offers the stronger welcome bonus by estimated cash value (~3,075 vs ~1,480). Welcome bonus offers change frequently — check the current offer on each card's detail page before applying.
Is the Sapphire Reserve worth the 795 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~3,075) and statement credits alone typically cover the 795 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Is the Bonvoy Brilliant worth the 650 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~1,480) and statement credits alone typically cover the 650 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Can I have both the Sapphire Reserve and the Bonvoy Brilliant?
Yes — these cards are from different issuers (Chase and Amex), so holding both is fine. Each card has its own welcome bonus and benefits with no overlap rules between the two issuers.
Which card is better for transferring points to Hyatt?
Sapphire Reserve transfers to World of Hyatt at 1:1 through its Chase UR ecosystem — one of the highest-CPP redemptions in the points game. Bonvoy Brilliant doesn't transfer to Hyatt — Marriott Bonvoy has no Hyatt partnership.
Which card has better airport lounge access?
Sapphire Reserve unlocks Sapphire Lounge + Priority Pass; Bonvoy Brilliant unlocks Priority Pass. Both give you a real lounge experience, but the networks don't overlap — pick the card whose lounge footprint fits the airports you actually fly through.
Which card has the better overall value?
Based on first-year math (welcome bonus + tracked statement credits − annual fee), Sapphire Reserve comes out ahead at ~4,570 of net value vs ~2,375 for the other card. After year one, the better card for YOU depends on how naturally you'll use the credits and category bonuses.
Does Chase's 5/24 rule affect approval for these cards?
Yes — Sapphire Reserve is issued by Chase, so the 5/24 rule applies. If you've opened 5 or more cards in the last 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application. Bonvoy Brilliant is issued by Amex and isn't subject to 5/24.
Ready to apply?
Click through to the issuer's secure application page. Welcome bonus offers are confirmed at the time of approval, not at click time.
Chase
Sapphire Reserve
Welcome: 150,000 Ultimate Rewards · ~$3,075 est. value
Amex
Bonvoy Brilliant
Welcome: 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy · ~$1,480 est. value
Run your own numbers
These calculators use the same data this comparison runs on — plug in your spending and see net value.
Last reviewed
2026-05-29
Data sources
Issuer pages (verified via Playwright on this date), TPG monthly valuations, public award charts.
Methodology
Editorial note: CreditPoints may earn a commission when you apply through some of the links on this page, but the side-by-side ranking, Quick Winners and Real-World Scenarios are algorithmic and identical for all readers. We never accept payment to change ordering.
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