Which Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Is Best?

From the Ritz-Carlton to St. Regis, Marriott Bonvoy has a portfolio of more than 30 brands with almost 8,800 properties across 139 countries.

Whether you’re a frequent or just an occasional traveler, it’s likely you’ll end up staying in a Marriott Bonvoy property sooner or later.

If you have a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, you can enjoy a range of benefits, from free night rewards and bonus Elite Night credits to complimentary elite status. But which card is right for you?

Let’s take a deep dive into Marriott’s co-branded cards to see which is best suited to you.

Best Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards: Overview

Before jumping into detail, here’s an overview of the best co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.

Marriott offers a total of six credit cards, co-branded through both Chase and American Express: one business card and five personal cards.

Now, let’s take a look at each of these cards in detail.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

For the infrequent Marriott Bonvoy guest who doesn’t want to worry about annual fees, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is a solid option.

Cardholders will earn 14X total points on purchases at properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.

This card currently offers automatic Silver Elite Status with Marriott Bonvoy each calendar year as a cardmember.

Nevertheless, the card will still offer a range of robust travel insurances as well as no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid travel rewards credit card. You’ll receive baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement and lost luggage reimbursement.

These are significant insurance perks for a $0 annual fee card.

Pros

• Up to 14X total points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 2X points on purchases at grocery stores
• 2X points for rideshare & select food delivery
• 1X points on all other purchases
• Baggage Delay Insurance: Reimburses you for essential purchases such as toiletries and clothing for baggage delays of six hours or more by common carriers, up to $100 per day for a maximum of five days.
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you’re covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
• Trip Delay Reimbursement: If your common carrier travel is delayed by more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• No free night reward

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers occasional Marriott guests the opportunity to enjoy exclusive perks during their stays as well as earn bonus points on them.

This card earns 17X total points for purchases at properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy. It also earns 3X points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations and dining, as well as 2X points on all other purchases. This makes it a great card for earning Marriott points on everyday purchases.

Cardholders are eligible for one annual free night reward, valid for a one-night stay with a redemption value of up to 35,000 points. This card perk alone can easily offset the annual fee of $95.

You’ll also receive automatic Silver Elite Status as well as be eligible for an upgrade to Gold Elite Status if you spend $35,000 within a calendar year. Additionally, you’ll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year, putting you closer toward Platinum Elite Status. For every $5,000 you spend with your card, you’ll receive one Elite Night Credit.

With the same set of solid travel insurance perks and no foreign transaction fees as seen on the Bold card, the Boundless card supports you both at home and abroad.

Pros

• 17X total points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 3X points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations and dining
• 2X points on all other purchases
• Annual free night reward, valid for a one-night stay with a redemption value of up to 35,000 points
• One Elite Night Credit toward Elite Status for every $5,000 spent
• 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
• Complimentary Silver Elite Status
• Upgrade to Gold Elite Status after spending $35,000 within a calendar year
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Trip delay reimbursement
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• 3X points multiplier is capped at $6,000 in combined purchases per calendar year.

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful^® Credit Card

If you want access to premium perks every time you stay with Marriott, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful ®Credit Card is an excellent choice.

This card earns 18.5X total points for purchases at properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy. It earns 4X points on the first $15,000 in combined purchases each year on grocery stores and dining, as well as 2X points on all other purchases.

Cardholders will enjoy complimentary Gold Elite Status, with exclusive perks, including 25% bonus points on eligible hotel purchases, 2 p.m. late check-out, the ability to earn Emirates Skywards on your stays and an ultimate reservation guarantee on every booking.

Cardholders who spend $15,000 in purchases within a calendar year will receive a free night reward valid for properties up to the 50,000 point redemption level. You’ll also earn 1,000 bonus points per eligible stay at Marriott hotels and 15 Elite Night Credits each year.

The Bonvoy Bountiful card comes with the same travel insurances as its sibling cards, as well as no foreign transaction fees.

If you can hit the minimums for a free night reward through natural expenditure, as well as make the most of the card’s bonus spending categories, you can easily offset the $250 annual fee.

Pros

• 18.5X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4X points on the first $15,000 in combined purchases each year on grocery stores and dining
• 2X points on all other purchases
• Complimentary Gold Elite Status
• 1,000 bonus points per eligible stay at Marriott hotels
• 15 Elite Night Credits issued to your account annually
• If you spend $15,000 in a calendar year, you’ll receive a free night reward for Marriott properties up to the 50,000 point level.
• Baggage Delay Insurance
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement
• Trip Delay Reimbursement
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Free night reward requires $15,000 in spending per calendar year.

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

For small business owners after elite perks at Marriott, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is a solid choice for an annual fee of $125 (see rates & fees).

This card has a wide range of bonus spending categories. Aside from earning 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, you’ll also earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. shipping purchases. This gives small business owners a wide range of ways to earn points on everyday spending.

Cardholders will benefit from complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status, a 7% discount on eligible direct bookings with Marriott and 15 annual Elite Night Credits toward Platinum Elite Status.

You’ll also receive an annual free night reward with the opportunity to receive a second free night reward after spending $60,000 within a calendar year, for use at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy with a maximum equivalent redemption level of 35,000 points.

When traveling, you’ll benefit from the card’s baggage insurance plan as well as its car rental loss and damage insurance.

With an annual fee of just $125, there’s a wide array of perks to help you more than offset the cost of holding this card.

Pros

• 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4X points at restaurants worldwide
• 4X points at U.S. gas stations
• 4X points on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
• 4X points on U.S. shipping purchases
• 2X points on all other purchases
• Complimentary Gold Elite Status
• 7% discount on bookings when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate
• Annual free night reward with the opportunity to receive a second free night reward after spending $60,000 within a calendar year, for use at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy with a maximum equivalent redemption level 35,000 points
• 15 Elite Night Credits issued to your account annually
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees)
• *Baggage insurance plan, covering up to $1,250 for carry-on bags and up to $500 for checked bags. For New York State residents, a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered trip applies.
• *Car rental loss and damage insurance, covering you up to $50,000

Cons

• High minimum spend required for a second annual free night reward ($60,000)

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card

If you want premium perks during your stays at Marriott hotels, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card has a lot to offer.

Its benefits are almost identical to its Chase equivalent, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card, including the annual fee of $250.

This card earns 6X points for purchases at properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy. It also earns 4X points on restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 4X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and supermarkets per calendar year (2X points thereafter).

Cardholders receive complimentary Gold Elite Status. If you spend $15,000 in purchases within a calendar year, you’ll receive a free night reward valid for properties up to the 50,000 point redemption level. You’ll also earn 1,000 bonus points per eligible stay at Marriott hotels, as well as 15 Elite Night Credits annually.

In addition to trip delay insurance and baggage insurance, the Bonvoy Bevy offers car rental loss and damage insurance, putting it slightly ahead of the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card in terms of insurance perks.

Pros

• 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 4X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and supermarkets per calendar year; 2X points thereafter
• 2X points on all other purchases
• 1,000 bonus points per eligible stay made with properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• Complimentary Gold Elite Status
• 15 Elite Night Credits issued to your account annually
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees)
• Spend $15,000 with your card in a calendar year and receive one free night reward at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy with a maximum equivalent redemption level of 50,000 points.
• *Baggage insurance plan, providing coverage of up to $2,000 for checked bags and a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on bags. A $3,000 aggregate limit per covered trip applies. For New York State residents, a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all covered persons per covered trip applies.
• *Car rental loss and damage insurance
• *Trip delay insurance coverage of up to $300 per trip for delays of 12 hours or more

Cons

• Free night reward requires $15,000 in spending per calendar year.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers the most extensive range of perks, making it best suited to Marriott Bonvoy loyalists. While the annual fee of $650 isn’t small (see rates & fees), this card’s perks are far greater.

You’ll earn 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, as well as 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines and at restaurants worldwide. This makes it the perfect card for covering travel related expenses.

You’ll also enjoy an annual $300 dining statement credit for restaurant purchases worldwide, given in $25 monthly increments. Additionally, you’ll receive an annual $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book directly for a minimum stay of two nights.

The Bonvoy Brilliant comes with a wide range of additional perks, including complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status, complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, a statement credit toward a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee and an annual free night reward valid for use at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy with a maximum redemption value of 85,000 points. In short, offsetting the annual fee on this card is a piece of cake.

You’ll also have 25 complimentary Elite Night credits issued to your account annually, as well as receive one Earned Choice Award when you spend $60,000 within a calendar year.

This card also has the widest range of travel insurances of any Marriott Bonvoy card, including trip delay, baggage delay, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance and cell phone protection.

Pros

• 6X points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 3X points on restaurants worldwide
• 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
• 2X points on all other purchases
• $300 annual dining statement credit for restaurant purchases worldwide, given in $25 monthly increments
• $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a minimum stay of two nights
• Annual free night reward valid for use at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy with a maximum redemption value of 85,000 points
• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
• Spend $60,000 within a calendar year and receive one Earned Choice Award benefit, including: five Nightly Upgrade Awards, an additional free night reward with a maximum equivalent redemption value of up to 85,000 points or $1,000 off a bed from any Marriott Bonvoy retail brand.
• 25 complimentary Elite Night credits issued to your account annually
• A statement credit every toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees)
• *Cell phone protection insurance plan—Up to $800 per claim with a limit of two approved claims per 12-month period when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s wireless bill was paid using your card. A $50 deductible applies to each approved claim.
• *Car rental loss and damage insurance, up to $75,000
• *Baggage insurance plan
• *Trip delay insurance—If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your card and a covered reason delays your trip for more than six hours, you’ll receive up to $500 per trip for reasonable expenses incurred, with a maximum of two claims per 12 month period.
• *Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, providing coverage of up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per card account per 12 month period⁷

Cons

• High annual fee
• Earned Choice Award has a high minimum spending requirement.

Marriott Bonvoy Status Tiers

Marriott Bonvoy rewards its guests based on the frequency of their visits per year, through elite status tiers.

Its loyalty program has five tiers, with the following requirements and status benefits:

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Welcome Offers

Here are the current welcome offers on these cards:

While you could hypothetically earn the welcome offers on all cards (assuming your applications were successful) keep in mind Amex’s “one welcome offer per card per lifetime” rule. Likewise, consider your Chase 5/24 status before jumping into the card application process, taking your wider credit card strategy into account.

How To Choose the Best Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card

When choosing the best Marriott Bonvoy credit card, you need to consider the frequency of your stays at Marriott, your wider travel goals and how much value you could reap from each cards’ perks.

If you want the best of the best when it comes to Marriott perks and you are a frequent guest at Marriott properties, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is going to be your best bet.

With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status, complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, 25 Elite Night Credits, an annual $300 dining statement credit and a statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership, offsetting the card’s annual fee will be easy for the frequent traveler and Marriott guest.

Alternatively, if you’re a semi-frequent Marriott Bonvoy guest who wants an optimum balance between perks and annual fees, your choice will be between the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card from Chase.

Both cards have an annual fee of $250, with almost identical perks, including complimentary Gold Elite Status, 15 Elite Night Credits per year, a free night reward after spending $15,000 within a calendar year and 1,000 bonus points per eligible stay at Marriott Bonvoy properties. The only difference between the cards is their insurance perks and coverage limits. Both cards also earn Marriott Bonvoy points, so redemption opportunities remain the same.

Ultimately, your choice between the Bevy vs. the Bountiful will likely come down to your Chase 5/24 status. If you’ve maxed out your 5/24 status, you’ll need to either wait or go for the Bevy card instead.

If you’re an occasional Marriott Bonvoy guest or you don’t want to spend $250 per year on a card, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is the perfect choice. With an annual fee of just $95, you’ll get complimentary Silver Elite Status with the ability to upgrade to Gold Elite Status after spending $35,000 within a calendar year, 15 Elite Night Credits per year and an annual free night reward worth 35,000 points.

One of these perks alone could offset the annual fee, meaning if you max out all three perks, you’ll get a far greater return on the card compared to what you pay.

If you’re averse to paying an annual fee or won’t be able to maximize the perks of the Boundless Credit Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card will be the one to go for.

This card enables you to enjoy elevated perks such as priority late check-out, an ultimate reservation guarantee with every booking and 10% bonus points on eligible hotel purchases with every stay at Marriott Bonvoy properties.

It also has no foreign transaction fees and a robust set of travel insurances, making it a great travel rewards credit card.

Lastly, if you’re a small business owner wanting extra perks when you stay at Marriott Bonvoy properties, the Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card will be your best bet.

With complimentary Gold Elite Status, a 7% discount on eligible direct bookings with Marriott and 15 annual Elite Night Credits toward Platinum Elite Status, offsetting the $125 annual fee is a piece of cake. On top of these perks, you’ll receive an annual free night reward worth 35,000 points, with the opportunity to receive a second free night reward after spending $60,000 within a calendar year.

This card also covers a wide range of everyday business bonus spending categories, making it easy to accumulate points.

Is a Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Worth It?

It’s always good to step back and analyze your wider travel goals and credit card strategy before applying for your next credit card.

Whether a co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit card is worth it or not depends highly on these factors.

Marriott Bonvoy points are worth approximately 0.8 cents per piece. That’s not much when you compare them to the value of flexible credit card point currencies, such as American Express Membership Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

If you’re more motivated by a good deal than a specific chain when it comes to hotel bookings, a co-branded Marriott card may not be your best move. If you’d prefer to stay flexible with your point redemption opportunities while still enjoying complimentary Gold Elite Status with Marriott Bonvoy, The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express would be better options.

Both cards offer an array of benefits and the ability to earn Membership Rewards points, which you can transfer to 21 airline and hotel loyalty programs.

However, if you’re a regular at Marriott Bonvoy properties, a co-branded Marriott Bonvoy card could be worthwhile. The ability to earn free night rewards, bonus points on stays and receive Elite Night Credit bonuses is highly valuable for Marriott loyalists.

And despite the relatively low value of Marriott points, they’re easy to earn given the high point multipliers on every card. Likewise, the welcome offers can typically be redeemed for several nights worth of free stays, making them highly lucrative.

So, if stays at Marriott Bonvoy properties feature into your travel plans, a co-branded Marriott Bonvoy card could well be worth it.

How To Maximize Your Points With Your Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card

Maximizing your points with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card begins by earning its welcome offer.

Check to see how your prospective card’s welcome offer varies and apply when it’s at its highest. This is especially important for co-branded Amex Marriott Bonvoy cards, as you can earn their welcome offers only once per lifetime.

As minimum spending requirements can be steep for Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, you should also ensure that you apply at a time when you know you can hit the minimum spend through natural expenditure, rather than overspending. For example, you can prepay bills and vacations—money you would spend anyway—so that they count toward your welcome offer’s minimum spending requirement.

Once you’ve scored the card’s welcome offer, you’ll want to ensure that you continue to use the card. Prioritize the card for its bonus spending categories, so you can accumulate points quickly and efficiently.

Frequent usage will also enable you to meet minimum spending thresholds for other card perks, such as free night rewards, more quickly, ensuring you get the maximum value possible out of the card.

On the topic of perks, you’ll want to ensure that you use every perk you’re offered. Make the most of complimentary elite status, redeem that free night reward and enroll in Priority Pass Select (depending on the card you hold). By doing this, you’ll have the greatest chance of offsetting the annual fee.

Lastly, while pursuing this strategy, ensure to always pay off your balance before its due date. Likewise, don’t overspend just to hit minimum spending requirements. Instead, focus on leveraging your organic expenditure to earn points. That way, you’ll avoid rookie credit card pitfalls like late penalty fees, interest charges and a damaged credit score.

Earn Toward Your Next Marriott Bonvoy Stay With Every Dollar Spent

If stays at Marriott Bonvoy properties play a role in your travel plans, a co-branded Marriott card could be an excellent complement to your wider credit card strategy.

Whether you stay twice a year or twice a month at Marriott properties, applying for a card could boost the luxury and enjoyment of your stays significantly, while saving you money in the process.

Just be sure to pick a card that best matches your spending habits and travel goals, so you can offset its annual fee with ease.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.