There are currently six Marriott credit cards available to new applicants and several cards that no longer accept new applications. Chase offers three of the Marriott credit cards you can currently apply for, while American Express offers the other three.
These cards are similar in some ways and different in other ways. If you're thinking about applying for a Marriott credit card, you may be considering the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card. Both are offered by Chase and earn points and rewards with Marriott's loyalty program, Bonvoy.
Which should you choose? Let's look at the similarities and differences between the Bountiful and Boundless cards to help you decide which option is better.
Benefits common to both cards
Before we discuss how they differ, here's what the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless cards have in common:
- Type of points earned: Both cards earn Marriott Bonvoy points. TPG values these points at 0.84 cents apiece. While the most obvious use of these points is for hotel stays with Marriott, there are other uses (though some are not very valuable), including transferring points to numerous airline partners to redeem them for flights.
- Earning rates at Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resorts: Both cards provide 6 points per dollar when paying for room rates, meals or other charges at Marriott Bonvoy properties. This yields a 5.04% return on spending, based on TPG's most recent points valuations.
- Earning rates on everyday purchases: Both cards earn 2 points per dollar on purchases that don't fall into bonus categories or on purchases in bonus categories after exceeding the annual spending caps for bonus points. Earning 2 points per dollar amounts to a 1.68% return on spending, based on TPG's latest valuations.
- Elite night credits received each year: You'll start each year with 15 elite night credits by holding either of these cards. Elite night credits are what you need to earn elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. For reference, you'll need 50 nights per year to reach Platinum Elite status, where benefits like free breakfast and suite upgrades kick in.
- "Fifth night free" benefit: When redeeming points for hotel stays with Marriott Bonvoy, you'll get a fifth night free. This means redeeming points for a hotel stay of four or five nights will cost the same. Please note that this benefit only applies to points redemptions and does not apply when paying cash or using free night awards.
- Credit card issuer and application rules: As both cards are issued by Chase, both are subject to Chase's credit card application rules and restrictions. The most famous of these is the 5/24 rule, meaning you'll likely be denied if you have opened five or more accounts (5) in the last 24 months (24) across all credit card issuers. Another rule is that you likely won't be approved for more than two credit cards from Chase within 30 days.
- Travel protections: Both cards offer trip delay reimbursem*nt, lost luggage reimbursem*nt and baggage delay insurance.
- Purchase protection: Both cards offer purchase protection on items you paid for with your card, available up to 120 days from the purchase date but subject to limits on the number of claims and per-claim value limits.
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Best Marriott credit cards
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful overview
Current sign-up bonus
New applicants for the Bountiful card can earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. TPG values this bonus at $714.
Earning points
You will earn 6 points per dollar at hotels and resorts that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, 4 points per dollar on dining and groceries (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year, then 2 points per dollar) and earn 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.
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TPG values Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.84 cents each; thus, these earning rates represent a 5%, 3.4% or 1.7% return on spending.
Other benefits and perks
You'll have access to Chase Offers, which can help you save money via rebates on purchases. You also can get a free year of DashPass from DoorDash if you enroll by Dec. 31, 2024.
Moreover, the Bountiful card provides you with several travel and shopping protections that can help in times of need. These include baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursem*nt, trip delay reimbursem*nt, purchase protection and extended warranty.
Annual fee: $250.
Check out our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card for more details.
Related: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful worth the annual fee?
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless overview
Current sign-up bonus
Applicants for the Boundless card can earn three Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Based on TPG's valuation of Marriott points at 0.84 cents each, this bonus is worth up to $1,260 in total value.
Earning points
Cardholders will earn 6 points per dollar at Marriott Bonvoy-participating properties; 3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 of annual spending at gas stations, grocery stores and dining (then 2 points per dollar thereafter); and 2 points per dollar on other purchases. TPG values Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.84 cents each; thus, these earning rates represent a 5.04%, 2.52% or 1.68% return on spending, respectively.
Other benefits and perks
Boundless cardholders receive automatic Silver Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy — providing perks like bonus points on stays, discounted member rates on hotel rooms and late checkout — plus 15 elite night credits each year, helping you work toward higher status levels in Marriott Bonvoy. Additionally, Boundless cardholders receive an additional elite night credit toward status for each $5,000 spent on the card and can achieve Gold Elite status after spending $35,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Each year on your account anniversary, you'll receive a free night award worth up to 35,000 points. There's no spending requirement to receive this benefit; all that's required is keeping your account open and paying the annual fee. If you'd like to use this free night award at a property that costs more than 35,000 points per night, you can add up to 15,000 points to this certificate when redeeming (for a maximum of 50,000 total points in value).
As with the Bountiful card, you'll have access to Chase Offers and can get a free year of DashPass from DoorDash if you enroll by Dec. 31, 2024.
You'll also have benefits like baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursem*nt, trip delay reimbursem*nt and purchase protection.
Annual fee: $95.
Check out our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card for more details.
Related: How to use a Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point certificate
Which card should you get?
As Chase offers both cards, we'll assume you're under 5/24. We'll also assume that you're eligible for both credit card bonuses.
If you're eligible to open and receive the bonus on either card, here are the reasons for and against applying for the Boundless and Bountiful cards if you can only choose one.
Related: Are you eligible for a new Marriott Bonvoy card? This chart tells you yes or no
The case for the Bountiful card
If you'd like to receive Gold Elite status automatically, this is your winner. The Bountiful card also offers extended warranty protection, which the Boundless card doesn't provide.
And if you spend more than $6,000 per year in combined purchases between groceries and dining, then this card will allow you to keep earning points at higher rates. You'll earn 4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 of those purchases each year, rather than 3 points per dollar on $6,000 of those purchases per year (for reference, this category is combined with gas station purchases on the Boundless card).
The case for the Boundless card
If you'd like a free night award each year that you keep your account open, you'll get one with the Boundless card but not on the Bountiful card — unless you spend $15,000.
Additionally, the Boundless card gives you the ability to earn one elite night credit for each $5,000 spent on the card. This can be a deciding factor if you're working toward higher elite status and want a boost from your credit card.
Related: The award traveler's guide to Marriott Bonvoy
Bottom line
The Bountiful and Boundless cards, which Chase issues, earn Marriott points. While some of their earning categories are similar, there are more differences than similarities between these cards. If you were torn between these two cards, you should have a better understanding now of which is a better fit for your wallet.
Official application link: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Additional reporting by Emily Thompson.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
