Travel November 3, 2025 0 Comments

Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Boundless: The Unexpected Card That Could Transform Your Travel Game Forever

Ever found yourself scratching your head, wondering if splurging on a Marriott credit card actually means more sleepovers at swanky destinations—or just a thicker wallet for the card issuer? Marriott certainly keeps things spicy by offering five personal credit cards, with annual fees swinging wildly from $0 all the way up to a jaw-dropping $650. It’s like a menu that caters from the budget backpacker to the luxury jetsetter—there’s a card for everyone, whether you’re a die-hard Marriott aficionado or just an occasional traveler chasing free nights without the fuss. Among these offerings, Chase has rolled out two particularly tempting options for the price-conscious: the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Intriguing, isn’t it? Which one truly packs a punch for your travel mojo without biting deep into your finances? Let’s unravel the fine print and perks to help you crack the code on what fits your travel game plan best. LEARN MORE

Marriott offers five personal credit cards to new applicants, each with its own annual fee that ranges $0 to $650.

In short, there’s a card for everyone, whether you’re a die-hard Marriott fan or an occasional traveler looking for free award nights.

Chase issues the two most affordable cobranded options currently open to new applicants: the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see rates and fees).

Let’s break down the details of each card to help you decide which one better suits your strategy.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless comparison

Feature	Marriott Bonvoy Bold	Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Welcome bonus	Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.	Earn 125,000 bonus points and one free night award (valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Annual fee	$0	$95
Earning rates	Up to 14 points per dollar spent on eligible Marriott stays: Up to 10 points per dollar for being a Marriott Bonvoy member, 3 points per dollar as a Bonvoy Bold cardholder and up to 1 point per dollar from Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status 2 points per dollar spent at grocery stores and on ride-hailing services, select food delivery, select streaming, internet, cable and phone services 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases	Up to 17 points per dollar on eligible Marriott stays: Up to 10 points per dollar for being a Marriott Bonvoy member, 6 points per dollar for being a Bonvoy Boundless cardholder and up to 1 point per dollar from Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status 3 points per dollar spent on the first $6,000 in combined gas station, grocery store and dining purchases each year 2 points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Marriott Bonvoy perks	Five elite night credits annually Complimentary Silver Elite status	15 elite night credits annually, automatically qualifying you for Silver Elite status Annual free night award (up to 35,000 points) One elite night credit toward elite status for every $5,000 you spend Path to Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 or more on your card each calendar year
Other perks	Baggage delay insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Trip delay reimbursement Purchase protection Visa Concierge No foreign transaction fees	Baggage delay insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Trip delay reimbursement Purchase protection Visa Concierge No foreign transaction fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless welcome bonus

The Boundless is currently offering 125,000 bonus points and one free night award (valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees. This offer ends Nov. 5.

The Bold is currently offering 60,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. This offer ends Nov. 5.

TPG’s October 2025 valuations peg Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, effectively making the total bonus on the Bold worth $420 and the total bonus on the Boundless worth up to $1,225.

Since Chase issues both cards, it’s important to note that the 5/24 rule applies here. This means you likely won’t qualify for either card if you’ve opened five or more credit cards (from any issuer) in the past two years.

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In addition, Marriott-specific eligibility requirements apply to products issued by Chase and American Express. Be sure to verify your eligibility before applying.

Winner: Boundless. Its welcome bonus is worth significantly more than the Bold.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless benefits

The free night certificate is the most notable difference between these two cards.

Each year on your account anniversary, Boundless cardholders get a free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points — and you can add up to 15,000 extra points if the hotel costs more than that.

If you use this strategically, you can score a free night at a hotel that easily makes up for the $95 annual fee each year.

The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa pool and exterior — THE WESTIN CARLSBAD RESORT & SPA/MARRIOTT

Meanwhile, Bold cardholders do not receive a free night certificate but don’t have to pay an annual fee.

Otherwise, the cards offer similar perks. With either card, you’ll get automatic Silver Elite status and strong travel and purchase protections from Chase. Plus, you won’t pay any foreign transaction fees with these cards when traveling abroad.

Winner: Boundless. Most travelers will be able to get more than $95 value from the free night certificate.

Earning points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Both cards feature comparable earning rates, though it’s nice that the Boundless earns at least 2 points per dollar spent across every purchase, whereas the Bold earns 1 point per dollar spent on nonbonus category purchases.

woman in cafeteria — DEJAN_DUNDJERSKI/GETTY IMAGES

That being said, outside of Marriott purchases, neither card offers truly outstanding earning rates, and you can definitely find better options for everyday spending.

The Boundless earns more points on Marriott stays and offers extra points on grocery and gas purchases (though there’s a spending cap), while the Bold card offers bonus points on ride-hailing, which could be useful if you use services like Uber or Lyft often.

Winner: Boundless. It earns more points than the Bold on most purchases.

Related: Best hotel credit cards

Redeeming points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Both the Bold and the Boundless earn Marriott Bonvoy points, so they offer the same redemption options.

The most obvious and valuable way to use your Bonvoy points is to redeem them for a Marriott stay. To get the most value from your points, take advantage of the fifth-night-free perk, which allows you to book an award stay of five nights for the cost of just four.

Additionally, you can use your points for gift cards and merchandise through Marriott’s shopping portal, but we recommend avoiding this route to get maximum value from your points.

TPG credit cards writer Chris Nelson got exceptional value on a recent stay at the AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront, where he redeemed 136,000 points for a seven-night stay. He took advantage of the fifth-night-free perk on this award to get one night free.

Winner: Tie. Both cards earn Marriott Bonvoy points and offer the same redemption options.

Transferring points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

With either card, you also have the option to transfer your Bonvoy points to one of nearly 40 partner airline programs, including Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus.

Most transfers to airlines are at a 3:1 ratio, so you’ll receive 1 airline mile for every 3 Marriott points transferred. Additionally, when you transfer points to United MileagePlus, you will receive 10,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points transferred.

United Polaris planes on runway — ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

This redemption generally doesn’t yield a good value for your points, though, so we recommend using it only if you need to top off your airline account balance.

Winner: Tie. Both cards have the same transfer partners.

Should I get the Marriott Bonvoy Bold or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?

If you know you’ll get use out of the annual free night certificate, the Boundless is the best option. You’ll also unlock higher earn rates with this card. However, if you’re looking for a more entry-level product and want to avoid an annual fee, the Bold is the better option.

How to upgrade from the Marriott Bonvoy Bold to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

If you aren’t eligible for a new Bonvoy bonus or are over 5/24, a product change may be your best option. Both the Bonvoy Bold and the Bonvoy Boundless are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule and, more specifically, Marriott Bonvoy eligibility restrictions.

To request an upgrade (or downgrade), call the number on the back of your card. Just remember that doing so will mean you forfeit your new card’s welcome bonus for the time being.

Bottom line

Regardless of the card you choose, both Marriott cards are a great way to introduce yourself to the Bonvoy program and all its redemption possibilities. You can’t go wrong with either, as there are thousands of properties to choose from worldwide.

To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card.

Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card
Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card