Marriott’s array of credit cards can make it difficult to find the right Marriott card for you. In this post, we lay out all of the substantive earnings and benefits of the Marriott cards side-by-side so you can easily compare them.
Marriott hotel benefits: Perks when staying at Marriott hotels
Marriott cards offer increased point earnings at Marriott hotels, complimentary elite status, and a boost to the number of elite nights you earn each year. Some cards even offer free night certificates or the ability to earn a higher level of elite status through spending. Here are the Marriott-specific benefits of the Marriott credit cards.
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card |
| Points earned at Marriott properties | |||||
| 3x | 6x | 6x | 6x | 6x | 6x |
| 1k Bonus Points per stay when booked directly with Marriott | |||||
| – | – | – | |||
| Complimentary elite status | |||||
| Silver | Silver | Gold | Gold | Platinum | Gold |
| Earn elite status (Status level and spending required.) | |||||
| – | Gold ($35k) | – | – | – | – |
| Annual elite night credits | |||||
| 5 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 25 | 15 |
| Earn elite night credits through spending (Amount of spending required to earn an additional elite night credit.) | |||||
| – | $5,000 | – | – | – | – |
| Annual free night award (Point value of award. Awarded every year, after your first account anniversary.) | |||||
| – | 35k | – | – | 85k | 35k |
| Earned free night award ( Certificate Value / Spending Required) Earn a free night award once each calendar year. | |||||
| – | – | 50k $15k | 50k $15k | (See below) | 35k $60k |
| $100 Property Credit with 2+ night stays at Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct | |||||
| – | – | ||||
With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you’ll earn a Brilliant Earned Choice Award once you spend $60,000 in a calendar year on the card. One of the selection options is a free night award with a redemption value of up to 85k points.
Some additional notes on Marriott free night awards
If you earn or receive a free night award with your Marriott credit card, you can use that award for a one-night stay at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels with a redemption level at or under the certificate’s value. You may use up to 15,000 additional Marriott points to “expand” the certificate’s value. For example, a 35,000 point certificate can be combined with 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and redeemed for a one-night stay priced at 40,000 points.
Chase awards anniversary free night certificates within 8 weeks of your cardmember anniversary date and earned free night certificates within 12 weeks of earning them. Amex awards anniversary free nights with 8-12 weeks of your cardmember anniversary month and earned free nights within 8-12 weeks of earning them.
You won’t earn a Marriott free night award after opening the card, unless you earn a free night award as part of a card’s new cardmember welcome bonus.
Rewards: Earn Marriott Bonus Points for purchases
Like most hotel credit cards, Marriott cards offer relatively relatively lackluster rewards on most spending outside of purchases at Marriott properties. That said, we’d recommend using your Marriott cards to pay for stays at Marriott brands, but keeping them in your wallet for most other purchases. Here is what each of the cards earns for spending:
| | | | | |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card |
| Marriott properties | |||||
| 3x | 6x | 6x | 6x | 6x | 6x |
| Dining (Amex cards: Restaurants worldwide. Bonvoy Bevy includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.) | |||||
| – | Up to 3x | Up to 4x | Up to 4x | 3x | 4x |
| Flights booked directly with airlines | |||||
| – | – | – | – | 3x | – |
| Gas Stations (Amex cards: U.S. gas stations.) | |||||
| – | Up to 3x | – | – | – | – |
| Grocery stores (Amex cards: U.S. Supermarkets) | |||||
| 2x | Up to 3x | Up to 4x | Up to 4x | – | – |
| Shipping (Amex cards: U.S. purchases for shipping.) | |||||
| – | – | – | – | – | 4x |
| Wireless services purchased from U.S. providers. | |||||
| – | – | – | – | – | 4x |
| Additional categories: Select food delivery, rideshare, streaming, internet, cable and phone services | |||||
| 2x | – | – | – | – | – |
| Other purchases | |||||
| 1x | 2x | 2x | 2x | 2x | 2x |
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card earns 3X points for every $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® credit card earns 4X points for every $1 on the first $15,000 in combined purchases each year on grocery stores and dining.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card earns 4X at restaurants worldwide [including takeout and delivery in the U.S.] and U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points)
Travel benefits: Perks to use when traveling
Outside of travel insurance benefits (covered below,) the Marriott cards don’t really provide that much in the way of travel benefits, other than the Bonvoy Brilliant card, which does offer airport lounge access, dining credits, and a fee credit for Trusted Traveler programs.
| | | | | |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card |
| Priority Pass Select membership | |||||
| – | – | – | – | – | |
| Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck | |||||
| – | – | – | – | – | |
| Dining Credit (Up to $25/month credits—up to $300/year—for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.) | |||||
| – | – | – | – | – | |
Travel insurance and assistance benefits: Coverage for your trip
Booking your airline tickets, train tickets, or other travel with a card that offers travel insurance benefits can protect you in a variety of situations, like trip delays, baggage damage, or damage to rental cars. Here are the benefits that each of the Marriott credit cards offers.
| | | | | |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card |
| Trip Delay Reimbursement (Amex: Trip Delay Insurance) | |||||
| – | |||||
| Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance | |||||
| – | – | – | – | – | |
| Baggage Delay Insurance and Lost Luggage Reimbursement (Covers loss, but not damage.) | |||||
| – | – | – | |||
| Amex Baggage Insurance Plan (Covers loss and damage, but not baggage delays.) | |||||
| – | – | – | |||
| Auto Rental Coverage (Amex: Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance) | |||||
| Travel Accident Insurance | |||||
| – | |||||
| Travel and Emergency Assistance (Amex Global Assist® Hotline) | |||||
| Premium Global Assist® Hotline | |||||
Consumer insurance benefits: Protection for the things you buy
Purchasing things like expensive electronics with cards that offer extended warranty and purchase protection is a good call—even if it means earning fewer rewards. Since all of the Marriott credit cards offer at least these two benefits, they can be good cards to use for these types of purchases.
| | | | | |
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® credit card | Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card |
| Purchase protection | |||||
| Extended warranty | |||||
| Return protection | |||||
| – | – | – | – | – | |
| Cell phone protection | |||||
| – | – | – | – | – | |
Best Marriott credit card welcome offers
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card welcome offer
Offer: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
This bonus sometimes offers points, free night certificates, or a combination of both. Any points are Marriott Bonvoy bonus points. Free night certificates expire one year after issued.
Annual fee: $0
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card welcome offer
Offer: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Earn 1 additional Free Night Award after spending $4,000 total on eligible purchases within 4 months of account opening.
This bonus sometimes offers points, free night certificates, or a combination of both. Any points are Marriott Bonvoy bonus points. Free night certificates expire one year after issued.
Annual fee: $95
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® credit card welcome offer
Offer: Earn 85,000 Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Card.
The points awarded with the bonus are Marriott Bonvoy bonus points.
Annual fee: $250
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card welcome offer
Offer: Earn 175,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months Of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/13/26.
The points awarded with the bonus are Marriott Bonvoy bonus points.
Annual fee: $250
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card welcome offer
Offer: Earn 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/13/26.
The points awarded with the bonus are Marriott Bonvoy bonus points.
Annual fee: $650
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card welcome offer
Offer: Earn up to 5 Free Night Awards: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases and an extra 2 Free Night Awards after you spend an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points, for a total potential value of up to 250,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
This bonus sometimes offers points, free night certificates, or a combination of both. Any points are Marriott Bonvoy bonus points. Free night certificates expire one year after issued.
Annual fee: $125
Our tips on using Marriott credit cards
Here are our quick tips and tricks based on our experience using Marriott credit cards that can help you get the most value out of your cards:
- Pay for your Marriott stays with your credit card. In most cases, you’ll earn the most rewards value on your stays by booking directly and using your hotel-branded credit card to pay for your stay.
- Make a plan to use your free night certificate. If your card offers a free night certificate, be sure to use it. Know when your certificates expire (usually one year after they are issued). Remember, it’s better to use the certificate for less-than-maximum value than to let it expire.
- Remember, you can “top up” your free night certificate. You can use up to 15,000 points in combination with a free night award to use it for a more expensive hotel stay.
- Use other cards for most of your other purchases. Outside of Marriott hotels, you can earn more rewards with other credit cards. Other cards earn more on groceries, gas, dining, and other categories.
- Consider downgrading over canceling. If you find yourself not staying at Marriott hotels and getting more value than you’re giving up by paying your card’s annual fee, consider downgrading your card. You might be able to downgrade to a no-annual-fee card, to keep your credit line and give yourself a way to keep your Marriott points alive.
- Don’t let your Marriott points expire. Remember, Marriott points expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Be sure to earn or use your points at least once every 24 months.
Our experiences: How we use Marriott credit cards
My card of choice is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card. I’m happy to pay the card’s annual fee because I easily get enough value from the card’s annual free night certificate (though I will admit to having it almost expire in 2022). I charge all of my Marriott stays to the card, and use it for nothing else.
Other cards offer more value in spending categories and I don’t stay at Marriott hotels often enough to worry about earning Marriott status. Besides, I have lifetime status with Marriott, thanks to several years of spending 150+ nights in hotels while working for a big consulting firm.
I might consider adding the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card to my wallet for an additional annual free night certificate, but doing that isn’t a priority for me at this time.
Our recommendations: Find the best Marriott credit card for you
For most people who stay at Marriott hotels more than a few times a year, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card is the best choice, thanks to its earnings on Marriott stays and its annual free night certificate. However, the best card for you might be different. Here are our expert recommendations:
| Marriott credit card | Best for you if… |
|---|---|
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card Annual fee: $0 | You rarely stay at Marriott hotels but have a stash of Marriott points that you want to keep from expiring. (Marriott Bonvoy points expire if your account in inactive for 24 months.) Sign-up bonus: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. Learn how to apply. |
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card Annual fee: $95 | You regularly stay at Marriott hotels and can make use of an annual 35k free night certificate. This will be the best Marriott card for most people. Sign-up bonus: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Earn 1 additional Free Night Award after spending $4,000 total on eligible purchases within 4 months of account opening. Learn how to apply. |
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® credit card Annual fee: $250 | You to earn Marriott points on groceries and dining. You value baggage delay insurance. Sign-up bonus: Earn 85,000 Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® Card. Learn how to apply. |
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card Annual fee: $250 () | You want a Marriott credit card that also earns increased rewards at U.S. supermarkets and on dining. (The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful® credit card may be a better choice because it includes baggage delay insurance.) Welcome offer: Earn 175,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months Of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/13/26. Learn how to apply. |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card Annual fee: $650 () | You stay at Marriott hotels and want a single premium credit card credit card offering airport lounge access, premium travel insurance, and decent rewards on your travel spending that you can use for booking travel and dining out. Welcome offer: Earn 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Bonus Points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/13/26. Learn how to apply. |
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Annual fee: $125 () | You are a small business owner and spend a lot (preferably $60k/year) at Marriott hotels. You aren’t worried about earning status and can make use of 35k Marriott free night certificates. Welcome offer: Earn up to 5 Free Night Awards: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases and an extra 2 Free Night Awards after you spend an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points, for a total potential value of up to 250,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply. Learn how to apply. |
Bottom line: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card is best for most
Which Marriott credit card is best for you will depend on your travel patterns and preferences, but the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card will likely be the best choice for most people, thanks to its low annual fee, annual free night certificate, and earnings on Marriott stays.
