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

*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.

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.

• Elite night credits received each year: You’ll start each year with 15 elite night credits by holding either of these cards. Elite night credits are what you need to earn elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. For reference, you’ll need 50 nights per year to reach Platinum Elite status, where benefits like free breakfast and suite upgrades kick in.
• “Fifth night free” benefit: When redeeming points for hotel stays with Marriott Bonvoy, you’ll get a fifth night free. This means redeeming points for a hotel stay of four or five nights will cost the same. Please note that this benefit only applies to points redemptions and does not apply when paying cash or using free night awards.
• Credit card issuer and application rules: As both cards are issued by Chase, both are subject to Chase’s credit card application rules and restrictions. The most famous of these is the 5/24 rule, meaning you’ll likely be denied if you have opened five or more accounts (5) in the last 24 months (24) across all credit card issuers. Another rule is that you likely won’t be approved for more than two credit cards from Chase within 30 days.
• Access to Chase Offers
• Travel protections: Both cards offer trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance.
• Purchase protection: Both cards offer purchase protection on items you paid for with your card, available up to 120 days from the purchase date but subject to limits on the number of claims and per-claim value limits.
• Free year of DashPass from DoorDash if you enroll by Dec. 31

MARKO GEBER/GETTY IMAGES

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.

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.

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.

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Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

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