For Marriott loyalists, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is the best Marriott credit card. It’s a quick route to free stays with Marriott, including a free night certificate each year.
Whether you’re looking for a posh five-star retreat in a U.S. city or a budget hotel abroad, it’s not hard to find a place to stay and earn rewards within Marriott Bonvoy’s extensive network. Boasting more than 7,000 properties around the world, including well-known brands like Westin, Sheraton, Courtyard and Fairfield Inn, Marriott Bonvoy offers one of the most versatile hotel rewards programs around. Marriott also partners with American Express and Chase on a wide range of hotel cards, including a no-annual-fee budget card and an ultra-lux travel card.
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If you’re not ready to go all in with one of Marriott’s premium credit cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers plenty of brand and other travel perks at a lower cost. Plus, it earns outstanding bonus rates on spending at Marriott hotels.
Like other Bonvoy cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card earns an incredible rate for spending at over 7,000 participating Marriott properties worldwide. Other bonus categories include grocery stores, gas stations and dining.
As one of Marriott’s entry-level co-branded cards, it’s a solid choice for individuals looking to build loyalty with a hotel brand and earn free nights through its welcome offer and card spending.
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Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Sign up bonus: Earn 30,000 points
The ultimate entry-level Marriott card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is the choice for individuals who want to earn rewards toward free hotel stays without paying a fee. Although it doesn’t offer as many perks as other Marriott cards, it still gives you a taste of Marriott elite status.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has a decent welcome bonus, and it comes with a low spending requirement. Beyond the bonus, the primary way to earn points is through Marriott stays and purchases while on property. You can earn bonus points for other travel purchases, but their earning rates may be higher with other cards. Points don’t expire as long as you make purchases with your card every 24 months.
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Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card doesn’t have the most extensive list of Marriott benefits that typically come with an annual fee of around $250. However, it might be a good choice if you want to earn automatic Gold Elite Status with Marriott quickly and travel enough to take advantage of those benefits (enrollment required). The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card has similar features, including many of its benefits and the annual fee, compared to the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card. The main difference is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card is issued by American Express, and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card is issued by Chase. So if you prefer American Express cards and you’re deciding between these two, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card might be a better choice.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card also has a decent earning rate: It offers an elevated earning rate on Marriott hotels, restaurants, take-out and U.S. supermarket purchases. Plus, you earn 1,000 bonus points per eligible stay at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. Points on this card don’t expire.
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Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Sign up bonus: Earn 85,000 Bonus Points
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card doesn’t have an exhaustive list of benefits, much like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card. However, its earning rate is decent: The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card offers an elevated earning rate of up to 18.5X points on Marriott purchases. Elevated reward rates are also given for restaurants, take-out and U.S. supermarket purchases. Points on this card don’t expire.
But for a $250 annual fee, this card is probably only worth it if you’re looking to gain the complimentary automatic Gold Elite Status quickly and travel enough to use the benefits that come with it. Further, the main difference between this card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card is the former is issued by Chase and the latter by American Express.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn three Free Night Awards
If your company’s annual budget includes line items for travel and select business expenses, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card can help you earn valuable rewards for awards stays at Marriott resorts worldwide.
It’s especially beneficial if your business has multiple employees who use cards, allowing you to pool points and boost your rewards balance quicker. Between the business card’s welcome offer and ongoing rewards for card spending, there’s more than enough value to outweigh its annual fee.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers bonus earning potential for spending at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and lucrative categories like restaurants worldwide.
American Express allows business owners to add employee cards to their accounts for free, extending their rewards earning potential with employee card spending.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is an excellent fit for business owners who spend considerable money annually on travel, telecommunications and shipping costs.
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Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card carries a premium price tag, but it’s worth the cost for frequent travelers who take advantage of the card’s luxury travel perks. Between its many travel credits, airport lounge access and automatic Platinum Elite status (enrollment required), the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is ideal for loyal Marriott travelers who enjoy luxury perks.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card comes with a sizable welcome offer. As a co-branded Marriott card, most of the card’s earning potential comes from booking stays at participating Marriott properties. You can also earn bonus points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines.
Ideally, a Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card cardholder should travel frequently, enjoy dining out and desire access to hotel and luxury travel benefits.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
The Platinum Card® from American Express features one of the highest annual fees of any card, which might scare some travel enthusiasts. Still, as one of the premier luxury travel rewards cards, it’s a perfect choice for those who want access to the best travel perks and benefits. With access to luxury lounges worldwide, automatic elite status with Marriott and Hilton (enrollment required), and an expansive list of annual credits and perks, few cards offer the value found with The Platinum Card® from American Express. Cardholders can also transfer their points to one of Amex’s many travel transfer partners, including Marriott.
That said, it’s only ideal for frequent travelers who can take advantage of the card’s laundry list of perks yearly to justify the high fee.
The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with an enormous welcome offer with a higher spending requirement to match. The luxury Amex card earns bonus points on a variety of travel categories.
However, unless you’re a frequent traveler, you won’t get much out of this card in terms of rewards earning.
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Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
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Sign up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers flexible travel rewards and perks that extend beyond a single hotel brand like Marriott. It’s specifically geared toward frequent travelers who want versatile travel rewards they can use in multiple ways — it’s an excellent card if you love Marriott resorts but don’t want to be tied to one brand.
Like many top rewards credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with a substantial welcome bonus if you meet its spending requirement. It also features elevated bonus rewards rates in multiple spending categories, including travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® and dining.
Points earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card have even more value when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Plus, cardholders earn bonus points annually equal to 10% of total purchases made the previous year.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Annual Fee | Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card*
|
Winner
|
Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. | $95 | Good / Excellent | |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card*
|
Best for no annual fee
|
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points and a Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. | $0 | Good / Excellent | |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
|
Best for mid-tier benefits
|
Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | $250 | Good / Excellent | |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card*
Learn More
on Chase's secure site |
Runner-up, mid-tier benefits
|
85,000 Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. | $250 | Good / Excellent |
Learn More
on Chase's secure site |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
|
Best for small businesses
|
Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | $125 | Good / Excellent | |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
|
Best for luxury benefits
|
Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | $650 | Good / Excellent | |
|
The Platinum Card® from American Express
|
Best for elite status across brands
|
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | $695 | Good / Excellent | |
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best for staying at other hotels
|
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $95 | Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Marriott’s elite status program allows frequent guests to earn special perks, such as exclusive discounts and free benefits, as a reward for staying at Marriott-branded hotels. Several co-branded Marriott cards offer automatic elite status with the Marriott Bonvoy program — from Silver status with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card to Platinum Elite status with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (enrollment required). The higher the elite status tier, the more perks you’ll enjoy.
Elite night credits are the credits you earn as a Marriott Bonvoy member when you stay at a Marriott property. These credits are used to help determine whether you qualify for elite status and which tier you’re in. Marriott credit cards also offer honorary elite night credits you can use to earn a higher status.
A free night certificate is an exclusive benefit on select Marriott cards. This benefit is redeemable for one night at a Marriott hotel, at a maximum of 35,000 points (for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card) to 85,000 points (for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card). These certificates are awarded on your card anniversary with a 12-month expiration date, though they don’t cover resort fees.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card gives you up to $100 of credit per booking toward qualifying purchases at qualifying Marriott properties, including on-site restaurant purchases and spa services. Qualifying purchases don’t include the cost of the room, property fees, taxes or gratuities.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card members also get access to Priority Pass lounges. Your Priority Pass Select™ membership entitles you and up to two guests free access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide (enrollment required).
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card members get an $85 to $100 application fee credit every four and a half years when they apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership. These airport security programs allow approved travelers to get faster security screening at select airports.
Marriott card members are automatically enrolled in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, which includes free in-room Wi-Fi for all members.
The best Marriott card for you will depend on your spending habits and budget. If you’re a frequent traveler, you’ll likely get the most value from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or the high-end Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. But if you prefer less commitment, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card still offers a significant amount of value.
To get the most out of your Marriott cards, be mindful of your spending. Choose which cards you use based on the number of points you expect to earn per purchase. For example, if you own a Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express, use The Platinum Card® from American Express for airfare and hotel purchases and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card for miscellaneous purchases.
Don’t spend more than you can afford to repay in full, even if you’re using a credit card with a high credit limit. Card rewards are never worth paying high interest on a credit card balance.
In addition, reserve your Marriott Bonvoy rewards for rooms that offer a return of at least a penny or a penny and a half (if not more) per point. Although securing a lower priced rewards room may require trade-offs, such as an out-of-the-way location or a revised travel date, it could also save you a lot of money. You may also be able to secure a more enjoyable stay by using your points to pay for pricey high-end rooms that you can’t afford in cash.
You can apply for a Marriott credit card online by visiting the application page for your first choice card. But since Marriott cards are issued by different lenders, make sure you’re going to the right website. For example, you can apply for a Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card through Chase, but you’d need to go through American Express to apply for a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. You can also learn more about each card and who issues it by visiting Marriott Bonvoy’s credit card page.
You generally need good to excellent credit to qualify for a Marriott card.
If you’re using a Marriott Bonvoy card, your card will be automatically enrolled with Marriott Bonvoy once you’re approved. If you’re using a card that’s a Marriott Bonvoy partner, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, you won’t be able to link your American Express card to your Bonvoy membership. Instead, you’ll be given the option of transferring your points to Marriott Bonvoy.
Yes. However, owning two cards may limit your point earnings or perks. For example, if you have two Marriott cards that offer 15 elite night credits, you’ll only be allowed one of the card’s credits. Similarly, you may not qualify for a new card’s welcome offer if you already own another Marriott card.
No, none of Marriott Bonvoy credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee.
The number of points you’ll need to pay for a Marriott stay will vary, depending on the destination, date of travel and hotel. However, you can expect to pay anywhere from 10,000 points to 100,000 points for a free night’s stay. In general, ultralow rates of 15,000 points or less are typically reserved for off-peak PointSavers deals or for rooms that have been priced well below market value.
You can transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to more than 40 partner airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest and United. You can also transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points for free to another member.
To make choosing the right card easier, we’ve looked at credit cards reviewed on LendingTree as well as cards on major issuer sites to compile a list of the best rewards credit cards available right now. Our recommendations are based on the additional value you can earn with the cards — this include the rewards value, cost of ownership and value of benefits like travel and purchase protections, lounge membership and airline companion passes. Our choices are not influenced by our advertisers. Learn more on how we calculate rewards.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
The information related to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
