The Marriott Bonvoy program is exclusive in that it has bank card partnerships with two completely different issuers: Chase and American Express.
In case you’re out there for a brand new card, you could be torn between the mid-tier Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees) from Chase and the premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Deciding between a mid-tier credit card and a premium credit card is difficult sufficient, however when the playing cards you are contemplating are topic to completely different software guidelines, the choice turns into even more durable.
Let’s demystify the choice and assist you to decide whether or not the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or the Marriott Bonvoy Good card makes extra sense for you.
Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good comparability
| Bonvoy Boundless | Bonvoy Good | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome supply | Earn 5 free nights (every night time valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Sure resorts have resort charges. |
Earn 100,000 bonus factors after making $6,000 in purchases inside the first six months of card membership and an additional 50,000 bonus factors after making an extra $2,000 in purchases inside the first six months. . |
| Annual price | $95 | $650 (see rates and fees) |
| Bonus classes |
|
|
| Free night time award | Obtain one free award night time (as much as 35,000 factors) yearly after the account anniversary. Sure resorts have resort charges. | Obtain one free award night time (price as much as 85,000 factors) yearly after the account anniversary at taking part Marriott resorts. Sure resorts have resort charges. |
| Elite standing | Take pleasure in complimentary Silver Elite standing. Earn Gold Elite standing after spending $35,000 on purchases in a calendar 12 months. | Take pleasure in complimentary Platinum Elite standing. |
| Advantages |
|
Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply. |
*Eligibility and profit ranges differ by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good welcome supply
New Bonvoy Boundless cardholders can earn 5 free nights (every night time valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Sure resorts have resort charges.
In case you maximize every free night time award, plus earn the 50,000 factors, TPG’s June 2025 valuations make this welcome supply price as much as $1,750.
Conversely, the Bonvoy Brilliant is at the moment providing new candidates the prospect to earn 100,000 bonus factors after making $6,000 in purchases inside the first six months of card membership and an additional 50,000 bonus factors after making an extra $2,000 in purchases inside the first six months.
Based on TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this welcome supply is price as much as $1,050.
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Relating to eligibility, the Bonvoy Boundless is topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so you may in all probability be routinely rejected if you happen to’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards within the final 24 months.
Moreover, American Specific limits you to incomes the welcome bonus on a given card as soon as per lifetime. So, if you happen to’ve already earned a bonus on the Bonvoy Good, you will not be eligible for a brand new bonus.
On high of those issuer restrictions, Marriott Bonvoy has its own set of eligibility requirements. Be certain that to test all of those and make sure you’re eligible earlier than making use of for both card.
Winner: Bonvoy Boundless. If every free night time is maximized, the welcome supply has a better total level worth.
Associated: Marriott 50K-point free night certificate: 7 best hotels in the world to use your award redemption
Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good advantages
Each playing cards are geared towards those that keep at Marriott Bonvoy portfolio properties, so you possibly can anticipate finding a wide range of advantages referring to Marriott property stays, amongst different advantages.
The Bonvoy Boundless is a mid-tier bank card that provides helpful advantages for only a $95 annual price. It comes with complimentary Silver Elite standing with the choice to earn Gold Elite standing after spending $35,000 on purchases in a calendar 12 months.
With the Boundless, you may additionally obtain:
- 15 elite night credits a 12 months
- One elite night time credit score towards elite standing for each $5,000 spent
- Complimentary premium Wi-Fi at Marriott Bonvoy properties
- No international transaction charges
- Travel protections (baggage delay insurance coverage, misplaced baggage reimbursement and journey delay reimbursement)
- Buy safety
As a premium bank card with an annual price of $650, the Bonvoy Brilliant provides higher-tier advantages comparable to complimentary Platinum Elite status and 25 elite night time credit yearly.
Listed here are some assertion credit that assist offset that top annual price:
- As much as $300 (as much as $25 per 30 days) in assertion credit for eating at eating places worldwide
- A $120 assertion credit score for Global Entry each 4 years or as much as $85 for TSA PreCheck each 4 1/2 years
- As much as $100 luxurious property credit score legitimate on eligible stays of two nights or extra at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis resorts
Enrollment is required for choose advantages, and phrases apply.
You may additionally obtain a Priority Pass Select membership, granting you entry to over 1,700 lounges. Enrollment is required, and phrases apply. The Boundless does not supply lounge entry, so this makes the Good a greater possibility for many frequent vacationers. That mentioned, if you have already got a card with Precedence Go entry, this profit will not do something for you.
Moreover, the Good comes with a formidable array of journey and purchasing protections, together with:
- Automotive rental insurance coverage**
- Baggage insurance coverage***
- Journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage****
- Journey delay insurance coverage****
- Buy safety***
- Return safety*****
- Cellphone safety****
Each playing cards supply free night time awards, however the Bonvoy Good’s free night time award is price considerably extra. With the Bonvoy Boundless, your free night time award is simply price 35,000 points. With the Bonvoy Good, you possibly can redeem your free night time award for as much as 85,000 points. Moreover, with each free night time awards, you possibly can high them up with as much as 15,000 factors out of your Bonvoy account.
**Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all car varieties or leases are coated, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable via American Specific Journey Associated Providers Firm, Inc.
***Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
****Eligibility and profit ranges differ by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
*****Eligibility and profit ranges differ by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars.
Winner: Bonvoy Good. The Good has much more advantages that simply offset its steep annual price, and its free night time award is far more beneficial.
Associated: Marriott elite status: What it is and how to earn it
Incomes factors with the Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good
These two playing cards earn 6 factors per greenback spent on purchases at taking part Marriott Bonvoy resorts. Additionally they each earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, however the Bonvoy Boundless is topic to a spending cap on that class.
Together with incomes 3 factors per greenback spent on dining, the Boundless earns 3 factors per greenback spent on groceries and gas station purchases, on the primary $6,000 in mixed spending annually.
Each playing cards earn 2 factors per greenback spent on most other purchases, with the Bonvoy Brilliant incomes an elevated 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked straight with the airline.
For the reason that Boundless earns extra on grocery shops and fuel stations (topic to the spending cap talked about above), it might be a greater possibility for these hoping to have a one-card wallet.
These incomes buildings are similar to different hotel cobranded cards. Nonetheless, you may possible get a greater incomes price utilizing a extra general travel card for purchases exterior of Marriott.
Winner: Bonvoy Good. It does not cap eating earnings and earns extra factors when reserving flights straight with an airline.
Associated: Best Marriott credit cards
Redeeming factors with the Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good
Each Bonvoy bank cards earn Marriott factors which are routinely deposited into your Bonvoy account via bank card spending.
You possibly can redeem these Bonvoy factors for lodge stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments and merchandise via Marriott purchasing. You may as well switch them to over 35 airline programs.
More often than not, lodge stays are your only option for optimum worth. Nonetheless, since Marriott makes use of a dynamic pricing mannequin, the variety of factors you may want for a keep is determined by the lodge, the room sort, occupancy and the money price.
One method to maximize your factors is to benefit from Bonvoy’s fifth-night-free perk. This perk means that you can ebook a stick with factors for 5 nights and solely pay for 4 nights.
Chris Nelson, a bank cards author at TPG, used this profit for a keep on the JW Marriott Resort Sao Paulo. He paid with factors for 4 nights and obtained the fifth night time free.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards earn Bonvoy factors and have the identical redemption choices.
Associated: How to redeem Marriott points for upgraded rooms
Transferring factors with the Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good
You possibly can switch your Bonvoy factors to any of Marriott’s 39 airline companions. Most transfers to airlines are at a 3:1 ratio, that means you may obtain 1 airline mile for each 3 Marriott factors transferred.
Marriott additionally provides 5,000 bonus airline miles for each 60,000 Marriott factors you switch to airline companions, aside from American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles and Delta SkyMiles. Plus, whenever you switch factors to United MileagePlus, you’ll obtain 10,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 factors transferred.
Transferring factors is usually a good selection in some particular cases, comparable to transferring them to American Airways AAdvantage to take advantage of sweet spots. Nonetheless, you may often get a decrease worth out of your factors if you happen to switch them to airways, so we usually suggest avoiding this feature besides to high off your miles balances when wanted.
Moreover, you possibly can simply transfer points between Marriott Bonvoy accounts, whether or not between two accounts belonging to the identical individual or transferring factors to a pal or member of the family. Level transfers are free and may be completed online.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards have entry to the identical switch companions and may switch to family and friends.
Associated: Should you transfer hotel points to airline partners?
Ought to I get the Bonvoy Boundless or the Bonvoy Good?
The Bonvoy Boundless, with an affordable $95 annual price, is the only option for newbie vacationers and people who keep at Marriott properties simply a few instances annually. Conversely, with a a lot larger $650 annual price, the Bonvoy Brilliant is finest for Marriott loyalists who need Platinum Elite standing and may maximize its different advantages.
Associated: Free nights and easy status: Why I have 3 Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and pay over $1,200 in annual fees
Backside line
As soon as you have confirmed that you’re eligible to use for both Chase’s Bonvoy Boundless or Amex’s Bonvoy Good, the selection comes all the way down to your journey habits and the way usually you keep at Marriott properties.
In case you’re a newbie traveler otherwise you aren’t dedicated to Marriott, think about the extra reasonably priced Bonvoy Boundless. In case you’re a devoted Marriott vacationer, you possibly can’t go flawed with the Bonvoy Good and its plethora of advantages to assist elevate your lodge stays.
To be taught extra, see our full critiques of the Bonvoy Boundless and the Bonvoy Brilliant.
Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
For charges and costs of the Marriott Bonvoy Good Amex, click on here.
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