Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Credit card showdown

There are currently six Marriott credit cards available to new applicants and several cards that no longer accept new applications. Chase offers three of the Marriott credit cards you can currently apply for, while American Express offers the other three.

These cards are similar in some ways and different in other ways. If you’re thinking about applying for a Marriott credit card, you may be considering the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Both are offered by Chase and earn points and rewards with Marriott’s loyalty program, Bonvoy.

Which should you choose? Let’s look at the similarities and differences between the Bountiful and Boundless cards to help you decide which option is better.

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless comparison

Card Bonvoy Bountiful Bonvoy Boundless
Sign up bonus Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. 3 Free Night Awards valued up to
150,000 points (each night up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from your account opening
Annual fee $250 $95
Point valuation 0.85 cents/point 0.85 cents/point
Rewards structure 6 points per dollar on Marriott purchases

4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 per year (then 2 points per dollar) in combined purchases at grocery stores and on dining — including takeout and delivery

2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases

6 points per dollar on Marriott purchases

3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on gas stations, grocery stores, and dining

2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Other benefits Bonvoy Gold Elite Status

1,000 bonus points on each stay

Free night award after you spend $15,000

Purchase protection

DashPass membership

No foreign transaction fees

Bonvoy Silver Elite status

Anniversary Free Night award

Purchase protection

DashPass membership

No foreign transaction fees

Travel protections Trip delay reimbursement

Lost luggage reimbursement

Baggage delay insurance

Trip delay reimbursement

Lost luggage reimbursement

Baggage delay insurance

*Point/mile value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer.

Bonvoy Bountiful vs. Bonvoy Boundless welcome offer

The Bonvoy Bountiful has a welcome offer of 85,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. Based on TPG’s valuations, this bonus is worth $723.

THE POINTS GUY

Meanwhile, the Bonvoy Boundless applicants can earn three Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees. Based on TPG’s valuations, this bonus is worth up to $1,275 — meaning this bonus could cover your annual fee cost for 13 years.

Winner: The Bonvoy Boundless welcome offer provides almost double the value.

Bonvoy Bountiful vs. Bonvoy Boundless benefits

Both cards share many similar benefits.

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With the Bonvoy Bountiful, cardholders receive:

  • Automatic Gold Elite Status
  • Annual free night award worth up to 50,000 points when you spend at least $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year
  • 1,000 bonus points per stay at participating eligible Marriott Bonvoy properties

With the Bonvoy Boundless, cardholders receive:

  • An annual free night award every year after your account anniversary, valid for a one-night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level of up to 35,000 points. You can add up to an additional 15,000 points from your Bonvoy account to this award.
  • Complimentary Silver Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy — providing perks like bonus points on stays, discounted member rates on hotel rooms and late checkout — plus 15 elite night credits each year, helping you work toward higher status levels in Marriott Bonvoy. Additionally, Boundless cardholders receive an additional elite night credit toward status for each $5,000 spent on the card and can achieve Gold Elite status after spending $35,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Winner: Tie. While both cards share similar benefits, the Bonvoy Bountiful has a higher Gold Elite status tier. The Boundless comes with an annual free night award every anniversary year that you don’t have to spend to achieve and a lower SilverElite status tier with the ability to spend your way to Gold Elite status.

Earning rewards on the Bonvoy Bountiful vs. Bonvoy Boundless

With the Bonvoy Bountiful, cardholders earn:

  • 6 points per dollar on Marriott purchases
  • 4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 per year (then 2 points per dollar) in combined purchases at grocery stores and on dining — including takeout and delivery
  • 2 points per dollar on all other purchases

These earning rates represent a 5.1%, 3.4% and 1.7% return on spending, respectively.

FRESHSPLASH/GETTY IMAGES

With the Bonvoy Boundless, cardholders earn,

  • 6 points per dollar on Marriott purchases
  • 3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on gas stations, grocery stores, and dining (then 2 points per dollar)
  • 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases

These earning rates represent a 5.1%, 2.55% or 1.7% return on spending, respectively.

Winner: Bonvoy Bountiful, as it earns more in dining and grocery store spending.

Redeeming and transferring rewards on the Bonvoy Bountiful vs. Bonvoy Boundless

Both cards earn Marriott Bonvoy points that can be redeemed for Marriott stays. TPG values these points at 0.85 cents apiece. Unfortunately, Marriott no longer publishes an award chart and utilizes dynamic pricing.

While the most obvious use of these points is for hotel stays with Marriott, there are other uses (though some are not very valuable), including transferring points to 40 airline partners to redeem them for flights. In most cases, transferring Bonvoy points to airline partners is not a good value as the transfer ratio is not favorable.

MARRIOTT

TPG credit cards writer Chris Nelson likes to redeem his Marriott Bonvoy points on luxury properties in Eastern Europe. He routinely stays at the Ritz-Carlton Budapest for 35,000 Bonvoy points per night.

Winner: Tie as both cards redeem and transfer Bonvoy points similarly.

Related: The award traveler’s guide to Marriott Bonvoy

Should I get the Bonvoy Bountiful or the Bonvoy Boundless?

Both cards have annual fees and have the same earnings rate on Marriott purchases. If you are after a higher tier of elite status, higher earnings on groceries and dining and want extended warranty protection, you should opt for the Bonvoy Bountiful. However, if earning a free night certificate with no hoops is what you’re after, you should opt for the Bonvoy Boundless.

Related: How to use a Marriott Bonvoy 35,000-point certificate

How to switch from the Bonvoy Bountiful to the Bonvoy Boundless

If you want to change from one card to the other you can. This is known as a product change. To do so, simply call the number on the back of your card, speak to an agent and request to make a product change.

Related: 4 considerations before making a product change

Bottom line

Both Bountiful and Boundless cards, which Chase issues, earn Marriott points. While some of their earning categories are similar, there are more differences than similarities between these cards. Which is a better fit for you will come down to which Bonvoy benefits matter the most to you.

For additional information, see our full reviews of the Bonvoy Bountiful and the Bonvoy Boundless.


Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card


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