The Marriott Bonvoy program is exclusive in that it has bank card partnerships with two completely different issuers: Chase and American Categorical.
For those who’re available in the market for a brand new card, you could be torn between the mid-tier Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card (see charges and costs) from Chase and the premium Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Categorical® Card.
Deciding between a mid-tier and premium bank card is difficult sufficient. However when the playing cards you are contemplating are topic to completely different software guidelines, the choice turns into even more durable.
Let’s demystify the choice and assist you to decide whether or not the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or the Marriott Bonvoy Good card makes extra sense for you.
Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good comparability
Bonvoy Boundless | Bonvoy Good | |
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Welcome provide | Earn three free night time awards after spending $3,000 throughout the first three months of account opening. Every night time is price as much as 50,000 factors; sure inns might have resort charges. | Earn 185,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 throughout the first six months of cardmembership. This provide ends on Could 14. |
Annual charge | $95 | $650 (see charges and costs) |
Bonus classes |
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Free night time award | 1 free award night time (as much as 35,000 factors) yearly after the account anniversary | 1 free award night time (price as much as 85,000 factors) yearly after the account anniversary. Sure inns have resort charges. |
Elite standing | Complimentary Silver Elite standing; earn Gold after spending $35,000 on purchases in a calendar yr | Complimentary Platinum Elite standing |
Advantages |
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**Eligibility and profit ranges range 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.
Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good welcome provide
New Bonvoy Boundless cardholders can earn three free night time awards after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening. Every night time is price as much as 50,000 factors; sure inns might have resort charges.
For those who maximize every free night time award, TPG’s April 2025 valuations make this welcome provide price $1,050.
Conversely, the Bonvoy Good is at the moment providing new candidates the possibility to earn 185,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 throughout the first six months of cardmembership. This limited-time provide ends on Could 14.
In keeping with TPG’s valuations, this welcome provide is price $1,295.
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Relating to eligibility, the Bonvoy Boundless is topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so you may in all probability be mechanically rejected in the event you’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, in the event you’ve already earned a bonus on the Bonvoy Good, you will not be eligible for a brand new bonus.
On high of those issuer restrictions, Marriott Bonvoy has its personal set of eligibility necessities. Ensure that to verify all of those and make sure you’re eligible earlier than making use of for both card.
Winner: Bonvoy Good. Its welcome provide is price extra, however needless to say its annual charge is loads greater than the Boundless’s.
Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good advantages
Each playing cards are geared towards those that keep at Marriott Bonvoy portfolio properties, so you’ll be able to anticipate finding a wide range of advantages regarding Marriott property stays, amongst different advantages.
The Bonvoy Boundless is a mid-tier bank card that provides 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 yr.
With the Boundless, you may additionally obtain:
- 15 elite night time credit a yr
- One elite night time credit score towards elite standing for each $5,000 spent
- Complimentary premium Wi-Fi at Marriott Bonvoy properties
- No international transaction charges
- Journey protections (baggage delay insurance coverage, misplaced baggage reimbursement and journey delay reimbursement)
- Buy safety
As a premium credit score with an annual charge of $650, the Bonvoy Good gives higher-tier advantages equivalent to complimentary Platinum Elite standing and 25 elite night time credit yearly.
Listed here are some assertion credit to think about, which assist offset that prime annual charge:
- As much as $300 (as much as $25 monthly) in assertion credit for eating at eating places worldwide
- $120 assertion credit score for International Entry each 4 years or as much as $85 for TSA PreCheck each 4½ years
- As much as $100 luxurious property credit score legitimate on eligible stays of two nights or extra at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis inns
- Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply
You will additionally obtain a Precedence Cross Choose membership, granting you entry to over 1,700 lounges. Enrollment is required; 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 Cross entry, this profit will not do something for you.
Moreover, the Good comes with a powerful array of journey and buying protections, together with:
- Automobile 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 night time awards, however the Bonvoy Good’s free night time award is price considerably extra. With the Bonvoy Boundless, your free night time award is just price 35,000 factors. With the Bonvoy Good, you’ll be able to redeem your free night time award for as much as 85,000 factors.
*Eligibility and profit stage 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 American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
**Eligibility and profit stage 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 range 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 range by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars.
Winner: Bonvoy Good. The Good has way more advantages that simply offset its steep annual charge, and its free night time award is far more useful.
Incomes factors with the Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good
These two playing cards earn 6 factors per greenback on purchases at taking part Marriott Bonvoy inns. In addition they each earn 3 factors per greenback on eating, however the Bonvoy Boundless is topic to a spending cap on that class.
Together with incomes 3 factors per greenback on eating, the Boundless earns 3 factors per greenback on groceries and gasoline stations, on the primary $6,000 in mixed spending every year.
Each playing cards earn 2 factors per greenback spent on most different purchases, with the Bonvoy Good incomes an elevated 3 factors per greenback on flights booked instantly with the airline.
Because the 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 pockets.
These incomes buildings are corresponding to different lodge cobranded playing cards. Nonetheless, you may seemingly get a greater incomes fee utilizing a extra basic journey card for purchases outdoors of Marriott.
Winner: Bonvoy Good. It would not cap eating earnings and earns extra factors when reserving flights instantly with an airline.
Associated: Greatest bank cards for Marriott stays
Redeeming factors with the Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good
Each Bonvoy bank cards earn Marriott factors by bank card spending, that are mechanically deposited into your Bonvoy account.
You possibly can redeem these Bonvoy factors for lodge stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments and merchandise by Marriott buying. You too can switch them to over 35 airline applications.
More often than not, lodge stays are your best choice for max worth. Nonetheless, since Marriott makes use of a dynamic pricing mannequin, the variety of factors you may want for a keep is determined by the lodge, room sort, occupancy and money fee.
One solution to maximize your factors is to make the most of Bonvoy’s fifth-night-free perk. This perk permits you to e-book a stick with factors for 5 nights and solely pay for 4 nights.
TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson used this profit for a keep on the JW Marriott Sao Paulo. He paid with factors for 4 nights and obtained the fifth night time free.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards earn Bonvoy factors and have the identical redemption choices.
Associated: Tips on how to redeem Marriott factors for upgraded rooms
Transferring factors with the Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Good
You possibly can switch your Bonvoy factors to any of Marriott’s 39 airline companions. Most transfers to airways are 3 Marriott factors to 1 airline mile.
Marriott additionally offers 5,000 bonus airline miles for each 60,000 Marriott factors you switch to airline companions, aside from American Airways AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles and Delta SkyMiles.
Transferring factors is usually a sensible choice in some particular cases, equivalent to transferring them to American Airways AAdvantage to make the most of candy spots. Nonetheless, you may often get a decrease worth out of your factors in the event you switch them to airways, so we usually suggest avoiding this feature besides to high off your miles balances when wanted.
As well as, you’ll be able to simply switch factors between Marriott Bonvoy accounts, whether or not between two accounts belonging to the identical particular person or transferring factors to a good friend or member of the family. Level transfers are free and might be accomplished on-line.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards have entry to the identical switch companions and may switch to family and friends.
Associated: Must you switch lodge factors to airline companions?
Ought to I get the Bonvoy Boundless or the Bonvoy Good?
The Bonvoy Boundless, with an inexpensive $95 annual charge, is the only option for newbie vacationers and people who keep at Marriott properties simply a few instances every year. Conversely, with a a lot greater $650 annual charge, the Bonvoy Good is finest for Marriott loyalists who need Platinum Elite standing and may maximize its different advantages.
Associated: Why you might have considered trying a number of Bonvoy playing cards
Backside line
As soon as you’ve got confirmed that you’re eligible to use for both Chase’s Bonvoy Boundless or Amex’s Bonvoy Good, the selection comes all the way down to your journey habits and the way typically you keep at Marriott properties.
For those who’re a newbie traveler otherwise you aren’t dedicated to Marriott, think about the extra reasonably priced Bonvoy Boundless. However in the event you’re a devoted Marriott vacationer, you’ll be able to’t go flawed with the Bonvoy Good and its plethora of advantages to assist elevate your lodge stays.
To be taught extra, see our full critiques of the Bonvoy Boundless and the Bonvoy Good.
Apply right here: Bonvoy Boundless Credit score Card
Apply right here: Bonvoy Good American Categorical Card
For charges and costs of the Marriott Bonvoy Good Amex, click on right here.