Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which beginner Marriott card is best for you?

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Feb. 20, 2025

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9 min read

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Quick summary

Marriott offers five personal credit cards to new applicants, with annual fees ranging from none to more than $600 per year.

In short, there's a card for every traveler, 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 and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Both come with valuable welcome bonuses.

Let's break down the card details to help you decide which fits your strategy better.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless comparison

Feature	Marriott Bonvoy Bold	Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Sign-up bonus	Earn 60,000 bonus points plus one free night award (valued at up to 50,000 points) after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.	Earn five free nights (each night valued at up to 50,000 points) after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Annual fee	$0	$95
Earning rates	3 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program 2 points per dollar spent at grocery stores and on ride-hailing, select food delivery, select streaming, internet, cable and phone services 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases	6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program 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 Bonvoy Boundless is currently offering five free nights (each night valued at up to 50,000 points) after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.

The Bonvoy Bold is currently offering 60,000 bonus points plus one free night award (valued at up to 50,000 points) after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.

TPG's March 2025 valuations peg Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each, effectively making the total bonus on the Bold worth up to $770 and the total bonus on the Boundless worth up to $1,750.

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 24 months.

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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 sign-up 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 cards' benefits.

Bonvoy Boundless cardholders receive a free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points each year on the account anniversary — plus the ability to use up to 15,000 more points to top off the difference between the 35,000-point threshold and the price of your stay.

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/MARRIOTT

Meanwhile, Bonvoy 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 internationally.

Winner: Boundless. According to TPG's March 2025 valuations, the free night certificate can be worth up to $245, easily justifying the card's $95 annual fee.

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

With the Bonvoy Boundless, you'll earn 6 points per dollar spent at Bonvoy properties and 3 points per dollar spent on the first $6,000 in combined purchases at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants. You'll earn 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.

The Bonvoy Bold, meanwhile, earns 3 points per dollar spent at Bonvoy properties; 2 points per dollar spent at grocery stores and on ride-hailing, select food delivery, select streaming, internet, cable and phone services; and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

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

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

Both the Bonvoy Bold and the Bonvoy 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 again, we recommend avoiding this route to get maximum value from your points.

TPG credit cards writer Chris Nelson gets the most value from his Marriott Bonvoy points by redeeming them for stays at high-end Marriott properties in Eastern Europe, such as The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest and The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna, and by utilizing the fifth-night-free benefit on award stays.

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 approximately 40 partner airline programs, including United MileagePlus and Delta SkyMiles.

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 can use the annual free night certificate, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is the best option for you. You'll also unlock higher earn rates with the Boundless. However, if you're aiming to avoid an annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold is the better option for you.

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.

So long as you can take advantage of that free night certificate each year, the Boundless provides a better value proposition for most travelers, especially with this lucrative welcome bonus. Otherwise, the Bold is a solid choice for those who want to enhance their Marriott experience (and unlock solid travel protections) for no annual fee.

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

Related: Best hotel credit cards

Featured image by ANDRESWD/GETTY IMAGES

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.