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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Updated: March 19, 2024
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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless has a modest annual fee of $95 and allows you to earn a total of 17 points per dollar spent on Marriott hotel properties. If you are a Marriott Bonvoy member you earn 10x points from Marriott while those with Silver Elite status get 1x points from Marriott with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.
In comparison, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold has a lower reward rate at 14 points per dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, but it has no annual fee. MoneyGeek’s review of the fees, features and benefits will help you compare the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card to find the best product for your needs.
Comparison Overview: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card At a Glance
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers great value if you’re loyal to the Marriott brand. First, you can earn up to 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points as the welcome bonus. As you spend on the card, you will earn a generous 17 points per dollar spent in participating hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy program. This card has a modest $95 annual fee, making it a great value for many consumers who frequent Marriott properties.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
An excellent card for earning reward points and free nights at Marriott hotels
- 2 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
- $95Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- A generous welcome bonus after meeting spend-based requirements account anniversary
- Redeem your points in different ways
- Automatic Silver Elite status with your Marriott Bonvoy membership
- Up to 15 Elite Night credits each year
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Free night awards expire after 12 months
- Reward points stand to expire if you don't make any purchases on your card in 24 months
- Cash advance and balance transfer fees
- Penalty APR may apply if you make a late or returned payment
Introductory Offers
- Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points after spending $5,000 in the first three months.
Rewards
- Earn 6X points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- Earn 3X points on dining, gas stations, and grocery stores, up to $6,000 per year.
- Earn 2X points on all other purchases.
- Redeem points for free nights, Lyft rides, shopping, or car rentals.
- Transfer points to partner airline frequent flyer programs.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy a free award night each year at properties with redemption levels up to 35,000 points.
- Receive up to 15 Elite Night credits annually.
- Benefit from trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and baggage delay insurance.
- Share and pool points with other Marriott Bonvoy members.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Points remain valid as long as you make purchases every 24 months.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card At a Glance
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is great for travelers who travel infrequently but have a preference for Marriott hotels. You can still get value from the three points per dollar reward rate for Marriott hotel stays and two points per dollar for travel-related expenses. This card has no expiration dates for annual stay certificates, unlike most other Marriott cards. If you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first three months, you will qualify for the 30,000 bonus points as the welcome bonus.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Great no-annual-fee card for earning points at Marriot properties
- 1–3 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Good welcome offer
- No annual fees
- Annual credit for elite qualifying nights
- Travel and purchase coverage
Cons
- Cardholders must use the card at least every 24 months to avoid losing points
- No cash back rewards
- Low value on redemption points outside hotel room awards
- Rewards limited to hotels
Introductory Offers
- Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Rewards
- Earn 3 points per dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy properties.
- Earn 2 points per dollar on grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, internet, cable, and phone services.
- Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Perks & Benefits
- Break up travel purchases into equal monthly payments with no interest or plan fees on qualifying travel purchases. Terms apply.
Comparison Summary
To see how the key features of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card compare you can use the table below.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection | Both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold offer similar purchase protection for 120 days of up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. Both cards also offer baggage delay and lost luggage protection, trip delay reimbursement and 24-hour concierge service. Winner: Draw |
Welcome Bonus | To get the welcome 30,000 bonus points on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold you need to spend $1,000 on purchases in your first three months while the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless requires you to spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months to get 100,000 points. Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card |
Rewards | The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card earns 17 total points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy while the Marriott Bonvoy Bold earns a total of 14 total points per dollar spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card |
Annual Fee | The Marriott Bonvoy Bold has no annual fee while the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless has a $95 annual fee. Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card |
Loyalty Programs | As a Marriott Bonvoy Bold cardholder, you automatically earn Automatic Silver Elite status with 15 elite night credits annually. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers Automatic Silver Elite status with 15 elite night credits annually, path to Gold status and annual free night award. Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card |
Which Card Should You Get?
The difference between Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is minimal but the best option for you will depend on your spending habits and needs.
Who Should Consider the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card?
Although it has an annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers great value if you travel frequently and are partial to Marriott properties. This card is better than the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card since it has a more generous rewards structure.
You stay at Marriott properties regularly and want to earn points fast since you will get 17X total points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card?
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is a better option for those who want a Marriott rewards card but do not travel frequently enough to get value from a card with an annual fee like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless.
You want a Marriott Bonvoy card with no annual fee but still allows you to earn rewards at a decent 14 points per dollar at Marriott properties.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
EXPERT OPINION
The Bonvoy Boundless is a much better value-proposition than the Bold as you will earn a much larger welcome bonus for a modest annual fee. And by paying the annual fee for the second year and beyond, you will earn a free night certificate, which is easily redeemable for more than $95. And if you plan on spending heavily on the card, you will earn more Marriott points as well as having a pathway to earning Gold Elite status.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
You can find more details on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold in the answers to commonly asked questions below.
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card better than the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is better than the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card because it offers a higher reward rate at a total of 17 points per dollar for Marriott hotel stays compared to Bonvoy Bold’s 14 points per dollar. However, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless has a $95 annual fee while the Marriott Bonvoy Bold does not.
Can you get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card if you have the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card?
You can get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card if you have the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has a modest annual fee but will offer you better rewards and perks compared to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold.
Can you transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card to Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card?
There is no need to transfer miles between cards. All Marriott points earned will be within the same Marriott Bonvoy account, regardless of which card you earned the rewards with.
Can you switch from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card?
You can switch from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. However since Chase is the issuer, the 5/24 rule applies meaning you will not qualify for either card if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months.
What’s harder to get, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card?
The credit score required for approval for both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher, so both cards have the same barrier to entry.
How much do you have to spend for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card vs the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card to get the welcome bonus?
To get the welcome 30,000 bonus points on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold you need to spend $1,000 on purchases in your first three months while the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless requires you to spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months to get 100,000 bonus points.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
Travelers loyal to the Marriott brand will earn generous rewards and enjoy several perks with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit cards. The annual fees on these cards make it simple to earn value from your card, but it’s only possible if you frequent Marriott properties. If you are looking for a more flexible travel card for general travel that is not specific to the Marriott brand, take a look at MoneyGeek’s recommendations for the best travel cards.
Learn more about credit cards in general
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- Chase.com. "Marriott Bonvoy Bold." Accessed January 7, 2022.
- Chase.com. "Marriott Bonvoy Boundless." Accessed January 7, 2022.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.