Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

The Marriott Bonvoy program is exclusive in that it has bank card partnerships with two totally different issuers: Chase and American Express.

If you happen to’re out there for a brand new card, chances are you’ll 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 totally different software guidelines, the choice turns into even tougher.

Let’s demystify the choice and assist you decide whether or not the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or the Marriott Bonvoy Good card makes extra sense for you.

New Bonvoy Boundless cardholders can earn 5 free nights (every evening valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Sure motels have resort charges.

If you happen to maximize every free evening award, plus earn the 50,000 factors, TPG’s June 2025 valuations make this welcome provide price as much as $1,750.

Conversely, the Bonvoy Brilliant is presently providing new candidates the prospect to earn 100,000 bonus factors after making $6,000 in purchases throughout the first six months of card membership and an additional 50,000 bonus factors after making an extra $2,000 in purchases throughout the first six months.

In line with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this welcome provide is price as much as $1,050.

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Concerning eligibility, the Bonvoy Boundless is topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so you will most likely be robotically rejected for those who’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards within the final 24 months.

Moreover, American Categorical limits you to incomes the welcome bonus on a given card as soon as per lifetime. So, for those who’ve already earned a bonus on the Bonvoy Good, you will not be eligible for a brand new bonus.

On prime of those issuer restrictions, Marriott Bonvoy has its own set of eligibility requirements. Be sure that to verify all of those and make sure you’re eligible earlier than making use of for both card.

Winner: Bonvoy Boundless. If every free evening is maximized, the welcome provide has the next general level worth.

Associated: Marriott 50K-point free night certificate: 7 best hotels in the world to use your award redemption

The Bonvoy Boundless is a mid-tier bank card that gives helpful advantages for only a $95 annual charge. 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 will additionally obtain:

• 15 elite night credits a 12 months
• One elite evening 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 charge of $650, the Bonvoy Brilliant presents higher-tier advantages reminiscent of complimentary Platinum Elite status and 25 elite evening credit yearly.

Listed here are some assertion credit that assist offset that top annual charge:

• 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 motels

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 would not provide lounge entry, so this makes the Good a greater choice 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 procuring 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 provide free evening awards, however the Bonvoy Good’s free evening award is price considerably extra. With the Bonvoy Boundless, your free evening award is simply price 35,000 points. With the Bonvoy Good, you may redeem your free evening award for as much as 85,000 points. Moreover, with each free evening awards, you may prime them up with as much as 15,000 factors out of your Bonvoy account.

**Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all car sorts or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by way of American Categorical Journey Associated Providers Firm, Inc.

***Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.

****Eligibility and profit ranges fluctuate by card. Phrases, situations 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 fluctuate by card. Phrases, situations 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 charge, and its free evening award is rather more precious.

Associated: Marriott elite status: What it is and how to earn it

These two playing cards earn 6 factors per greenback spent on purchases at collaborating Marriott Bonvoy motels. In addition 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 every year.

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 gasoline stations (topic to the spending cap talked about above), it could be a greater choice for these hoping to have a one-card wallet.

These incomes constructions are corresponding to different hotel cobranded cards. Nonetheless, you will possible get a greater incomes charge utilizing a extra general travel card for purchases outdoors of Marriott.

Winner: Bonvoy Good. It would not cap eating earnings and earns extra factors when reserving flights straight with an airline.

Associated: Best Marriott credit cards

You’ll be able to redeem these Bonvoy factors for resort stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments and merchandise by way of Marriott procuring. You can too switch them to over 35 airline programs.

More often than not, resort stays are your only option for max worth. Nevertheless, since Marriott makes use of a dynamic pricing mannequin, the variety of factors you will want for a keep is determined by the resort, the room sort, occupancy and the money charge.

One approach to maximize your factors is to benefit from Bonvoy’s fifth-night-free perk. This perk lets you guide 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 acquired the fifth evening free.

Winner: Tie. Each playing cards earn Bonvoy factors and have the identical redemption choices.

Associated: How to redeem Marriott points for upgraded rooms

You’ll be able to switch your Bonvoy factors to any of Marriott’s 39 airline companions. Most transfers to airlines are at a 3:1 ratio, which means you will 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, apart 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 generally is a sensible choice in some particular situations, reminiscent of transferring them to American Airways AAdvantage to take advantage of sweet spots. Nevertheless, you will often get a decrease worth out of your factors for those who switch them to airways, so we usually suggest avoiding this selection besides to prime off your miles balances when wanted.

Moreover, you may simply transfer points between Marriott Bonvoy accounts, whether or not between two accounts belonging to the identical particular person or transferring factors to a buddy 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?

The Bonvoy Boundless, with an inexpensive $95 annual charge, is your best option for newbie vacationers and those that keep at Marriott properties simply a few instances every year. Conversely, with a a lot increased $650 annual charge, 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

To be taught extra, see our full opinions 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 charges of the Marriott Bonvoy Good Amex, click on here.