Marriott Bonvoy Good vs. the Ritz-Carlton Card: Do you have to get one — or each?

Educated TPG readers would possibly look on the headline of this story and object to its total premise because the Ritz-Carlton™ Credit score Card closed to new purposes in 2018. So, earlier than we dive into this comparability, let’s tackle the elephant within the room.

Though the Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Categorical® Card is Marriott’s solely premium-level card technically obtainable to new candidates these days, there is a workaround to get the now-closed Ritz card. Chase permits cardholders of different private Marriott-branded Chase playing cards — such because the Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card — to product change to the Ritz-Carlton card so long as they’ve had their playing cards for not less than 12 months.

With that technicality out of the best way, we’ll examine the Marriott Bonvoy Good and Ritz-Carlton playing cards head-to-head to search out out which one is healthier for you, and in case you ought to even carry each of them concurrently.

The knowledge for the Ritz-Carlton Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Marriott Bonvoy Good vs. Ritz-Carlton Card comparability

Listed below are the fundamentals of every of those two playing cards within the main classes:

Marriott Bonvoy Good vs. Ritz-Carlton Card welcome supply

The Marriott Bonvoy Good presently has a welcome supply of 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus factors after spending $6,000 in purchases inside the first six months of card membership.

TPG’s January 2025 valuations peg Bonvoy factors at 0.85 cents every, making this supply price $808.

Nevertheless, because the Ritz-Carlton Card is not obtainable for brand spanking new sign-ups, there isn’t a welcome bonus. Those that product change to the Ritz-Carlton Card don’t obtain any bonus factors.

In fact, verify that you just’re eligible for the bonus earlier than making use of for the Marriott Bonvoy Good.

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Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Good — no rationalization wanted.

Associated: The very best time to use for these Amex playing cards in response to supply historical past

Marriott Bonvoy Good vs. Ritz-Carlton Card advantages

Each playing cards supply beneficial assertion credit, automated elite standing, a free anniversary evening and beneficial journey protections. Their variations come down to a couple specifics.

The Marriott Bonvoy Good comes with:

• Precedence Move Choose membership for you and two visitors
• As much as $300 in assertion credit yearly for eating at eating places worldwide
• Automated Platinum Elite standing
• 25 elite evening credit every calendar yr
• Earned Alternative Award after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases every calendar yr

The Ritz-Carlton card, in the meantime, comes with:

• Precedence Move Choose membership
• As much as $300 in assertion credit for eligible airline incidentals, together with baggage charges, lounge entry or inflight Wi-Fi
• Automated Gold Elite standing
• 15 elite evening credit yearly
• Three upgrades to the Ritz-Carlton Membership Stage on paid stays of as much as seven nights
• Rental automobile privileges with Avis, Nationwide and Silvercar

In case you’re after Bonvoy elite standing, you may profit extra from the upper standing and extra annual elite evening credit with the Marriott Bonvoy Good. Nevertheless, these perks do include a considerably larger annual price. In order for you entry to the Ritz-Carlton membership degree and rental automobile privileges or try to maintain your annual charges decrease, the Ritz-Carlton card is your better option.

Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Good. It comes with the next standing degree and has a $300 annual eating credit score that is simpler for many individuals to make use of than the airline incidental credit score on the Ritz-Carlton card.

Associated: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Good well worth the $650 annual price?

Incomes factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Good vs. Ritz-Carlton Card

The 2 playing cards have extraordinarily related incomes charges. Each playing cards earn 6 factors per greenback spent at taking part Marriott inns, 3 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide and on flights booked instantly with the airline and a pair of factors per greenback spent on all different purchases. With TPG’s January 2025 valuations in thoughts, that is basically a return of roughly 5% on Marriott purchases, 2.5% on eating places and flights, and 1.7% on on a regular basis spending.

The Ritz-Carlton card, nevertheless, additionally earns 3 factors per greenback spent on automobile leases, that means you may additionally get an efficient return of round 2.5% on these purchases as effectively whenever you use it.

Winner: Ritz-Carlton Card. Incomes bonus factors on rental vehicles provides it a slight edge over the Marriott Bonvoy Good.

Associated: The right way to earn Marriott Bonvoy factors

Redeeming and transferring factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Good vs. Ritz-Carlton Card

The Ritz-Carlton card and the Marriott Bonvoy Good each earn Marriott Bonvoy factors, so there isn’t any distinction on the redemption entrance. You may redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors towards free stays at greater than 8,000 properties throughout nearly 30 manufacturers in over 125 international locations or flip them into airline miles totally free flights.

Marriott factors switch to over 40 frequent flyer packages, largely at a 2.4:1 ratio, factoring within the 5,000-mile bonus given for each 60,000 factors transferred to most packages.

Winner: Tie. Since each of those playing cards earn Marriott Bonvoy factors, they’ve equal redemption choices.

Associated: The right way to redeem factors with the Marriott Bonvoy program

Ought to I get the Marriott Bonvoy Good or the Ritz-Carlton Card?

In order for you a welcome bonus, a neater path to Bonvoy elite standing and the choice to earn a alternative award, the Marriott Bonvoy Good is your higher possibility. Nevertheless, in case you’re in search of Bonvoy perks for a decrease annual price, can maximize the airline incidental credit score and need Ritz-Carlton Membership entry and rental automobile privileges, the Ritz-Carlton card will serve you higher.

Can I swap from the Marriott Bonvoy Good to the Ritz-Carlton Card?

The Marriott Bonvoy Good is an American Categorical card, whereas the Ritz-Carlton card is a Chase card. Due to this fact, you can not product change between the 2 playing cards. As talked about above, the one approach you will get the Ritz-Carlton card is by doing a product change from one other Chase Marriott card after you have held it for not less than a yr.

Associated: The last word information to bank card upgrades

Backside line

In contrast to another comparisons, there isn’t any clear winner on this showdown. To find out the winner for you, you may want to think about your eligibility for both card in addition to the worth you will get from both card. In case you can justify the upper annual price on the Marriott Bonvoy Good and worth its superior Bonvoy perks, it is possible the best choice for you. Nevertheless, in case you want a decrease annual price and have a Chase Bonvoy card that you could change to a Ritz-Carlton card, you could determine to go that route.

To study extra, see our full evaluations of the Marriott Bonvoy Good and the Ritz-Carlton card.

Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Good

For charges and costs of the Marriott Bonvoy Good, click on right here.

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