The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is the best Marriott credit card for most Marriott guests. You can offset the low $95 annual fee very quickly, due to the card’s generous welcome offer and annual free night certificate. Cardholders also earn a high rate on paid hotel stays and even receive automatic elite status, making the card an even better deal.
Marriott credit cards can be valuable for weekend warriors and business travelers who want to earn points for free night awards via credit card spending. After all, co-branded credit cards offered through this hotel brand all come with some level of Marriott Elite status. Many also include ongoing benefits like free anniversary nights and elite night credits toward the next elite status tier, along with a boost in the number of Marriott points earned on paid hotel stays.
Rewards earned with Marriott credit cards are also easy to use, thanks to the fact Marriott boasts nearly 8,700 properties in 139 countries and territories around the world. If you’re curious which Bonvoy credit card makes the most sense for the way you travel, read on to learn about the top picks for 2024.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Sign-up bonus: Earn 3 Free Night Awards
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers a ton of perks, like automatic Silver Elite status and a free anniversary night each year (worth up to 35,000 points) and it also earns outstanding bonus rates on spending at Marriott hotels. In addition to automatic Silver Elite status, cardholders get elite night credits each year that count toward the next tier of status based on how much they spend.
This means that big spenders (those who can charge at least $35,000 in purchases on their card within a calendar year) have a built-in pathway to Gold Elite status. But you don’t have to be a jetsetter for this card to be a good value: It has a reasonable annual fee, and you can earn a generous amount of points on gas, groceries and dining.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card carries a premium price tag — but it’s worth the cost for frequent travelers who can take advantage of the card’s luxury travel perks. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is designed for the loyal Marriott traveler who wants airport lounge access, automatic Platinum Elite status and can use the card’s travel credits. It also comes with a sizable welcome offer as well, which can help make up for the annual fee the first year.
Further, as with other co-branded Marriott cards, most of its earning potential comes from booking stays at participating Marriott properties. You can, however, also earn bonus points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Sign-up bonus: Earn 1 Free Night Award
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is the ultimate entry-level card for individuals who want to earn rewards toward free hotel stays without paying a fee. And although it doesn’t offer as many perks as other Marriott cards, it still gives you a taste of Marriott Elite status with automatic Silver Elite status.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has a decent sign-up bonus with a relatively low spending requirement. You can also earn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, and cable and phone services. Plus, earn 1X point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases. Points don’t expire as long as you make purchases with your card every 24 months.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card doesn’t have the most extensive list of Marriott benefits, especially considering its $250 annual fee. However, it might be a good choice if you want to quickly earn automatic Marriott Gold Elite Status and you travel enough to take advantage of its elite status perks.
Along with a very generous welcome offer, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card lets you earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points). Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Sign up bonus: Earn 85,000 Bonus Points
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card is similar to the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, as both cards offer automatic Gold Elite status. The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card also offers an elevated earning rate for hotel stays — up to 18.5X points on Marriott purchases — along with further bonus rewards for restaurants, take-out and U.S. supermarket purchases.
But with its $250 annual fee, this card may only be worth it if you’re looking to gain the complimentary automatic Gold Elite Status quickly and travel enough to use the benefits that come with it.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Welcome offer: Earn 5 Free Night Awards
If your company’s annual budget includes line items for Marriott hotel stays, dining and select business expenses, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card can help you earn valuable rewards for awards stays at Marriott resorts worldwide. This card is especially beneficial if your business has multiple employees who use cards, allowing you to pool points and boost your rewards balance quicker. Between the business card’s welcome offer, the discount on eligible books, and ongoing rewards for card spending, there’s more than enough value to outweigh its annual fee.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card allows small business owners to earn 6X points on spending at eligible Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 4X points on gas, restaurants, telecommunications and shipping costs. Cardholders also get automatic Gold Elite status, whose benefits include priority late checkout when available and 25% bonus points on paid hotel stays.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Sign up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers flexible travel rewards and perks, including a $50 hotel credit. It’s geared toward frequent travelers who want versatile travel rewards they can use with multiple brands — including Marriott.
Like many top rewards credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with a substantial welcome bonus if you meet its spending requirement. It also features elevated rewards rates in multiple spending categories, like travel, dining and online grocery stores.
Points earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card have even more value (25% more) when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, cardholders earn bonus points annually equal to 10% of total purchases made the previous year.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Sign up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® isn’t a Marriott credit card, but users earn flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to Marriott Bonvoy, as well as other partners like Southwest Rapid Rewards, World of Hyatt and United MileagePlus — and all at a 1:1 ratio.
It also comes with an annual $300 travel credit (which can be used for Marriott stays) — after you’ve used that, you can earn 10x points on hotels and 5x points on flights if you pay with Chase Travel. You can also redeem points for cash back, statement credits, gift cards or merchandise.
However, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges a $550 annual fee, so it’s best for travelers who can use all of its benefits, including the annual travel credit, Priority Pass airport lounge access and travel insurance benefits.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Annual Fee | Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card*
|
Winner
|
Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. | $95 | Good / Excellent | |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card*
|
Best for luxury benefits
|
Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | $650 | Good / Excellent | |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card*
|
Best for no annual fee
|
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points and a Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. | $0 | Good / Excellent | |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card*
Learn More
on American Express's secure site |
Best for mid-tier benefits
|
Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | $250 | Good / Excellent |
Learn More
on American Express's secure site |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card*
Learn More
on Chase's secure site |
Runner-up, mid-tier benefits
|
85,000 Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. | $250 | Good / Excellent |
Learn More
on Chase's secure site |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card*
|
Best for small businesses
|
Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | $125 | Good / Excellent | |
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card*
|
Best for staying at other hotels
|
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $95 | Excellent | |
|
Chase Sapphire Reserve®*
|
Best for elite status across brands
|
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $550 | Excellent |
Marriott’s elite status program makes it possible for frequent guests to enjoy perks when they stay at its hotels, including late checkout and room upgrades (depending on availability.) However, elite status benefits depend on the tier of status you qualify for, and lower tiers of status may only come with a few basic perks. Elite status members with the Marriott Bonvoy program also earn more points on paid hotel stays with the brand, which paves the way to more free award nights.
Get automatic elite status
Co-branded Marriott hotel credit cards offer automatic elite status, from Silver Elite status with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card to Platinum Elite status with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Automatic elite status can help you get some perks right away, and it’s easier to climb to higher status tiers with paid hotel stays.
Elite night credits are the credits you earn as a Marriott Bonvoy member when you stay at a Marriott property. These credits are used to help determine whether you qualify for elite status and which tier you’re in.
Marriott credit cards also offer additional elite night credits you can use to earn a higher status as you complete more stays with the brand.
A free night certificate is an exclusive benefit on select Marriott cards. This benefit is redeemable for one night at a Marriott hotel, although these certificates limit the number of points a free night award can cost.
Free night certificates are awarded on your card anniversary with a 12-month expiration date, and they don’t roll over from one year to the next if you don’t use them.
The Marriott Bonvoy program has a “Stay for 5, Pay for 4” promotion that helps members stretch their rewards points. Essentially, this program lets members redeem points for five consecutive award nights for the cost of four award nights. If you want to book five nights at a property that costs 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, for example, the stay would only set you back 200,000 points.
You’ll have to spend the five consecutive nights at the same property, although it can be a traditional Marriott hotel or resort or an all-inclusive property. However, the free night award will be the one that costs the fewest amount of points during your stay. This last part is important, since free nights over the course of five consecutive nights may all require different point values.
While free night awards are always going to be the best redemption for Marriott Bonvoy points, members do have the option to turn their rewards into airline miles. The Marriott Bonvoy program will even add 5,000 miles for every 60,000 points you turn into frequent flyer miles. The exception is with the United MileagePlus program, where you’ll get 10,000 additional miles for each 60,000 points you transfer.
There are currently 39 participating frequent flyer programs, and most come with a transfer ratio of 3:1. This means that 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points turn into 10,000 frequent flyer points with most programs.
Marriott card members are automatically enrolled in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, which includes free in-room Wi-Fi for all members.
The best Marriott card for you will depend on your spending habits and goals. Since different cards also come with different perks, you’ll also want to think over the benefits you want your card to have and how much you’re willing to pay in annual fees.
Consider whether any of these statements apply as you search for the right card:
Having a Marriott credit card can help you secure elite status and earn rewards for free hotel stays via credit card spending. These tips can help you maximize your spending and get the most out of your card.
You can apply for a Marriott credit card online by visiting the application page for the card you want the most — just make sure you’re visiting the right card issuer site. For example, you can apply for a Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card through Chase, but you’d need to go through American Express to apply for a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
You’ll generally need to have good to excellent credit to qualify for a Marriott card.
If you’re using a Marriott Bonvoy card, your card will be automatically enrolled with Marriott Bonvoy once you’re approved. If you already belong to the program when you apply for a Bonvoy credit card, you’ll want to list your loyalty number in your credit card application.
You can have more than one Marriott credit card. However, you’ll want to be careful of rules that limit new bonuses on additional cards from the brand. You should also note that some cards may have overlapping benefits you can’t earn more than once (e.g. automatic Gold Elite status).
None of Marriott Bonvoy credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee.
You’ll typically need at least 5,000 to 100,000 Marriott points to pay for a free night. The number of points for an individual stay varies based on the destination, date of travel and hotel. That’s because the Marriott Bonvoy program uses dynamic award pricing, which bases rates for free night awards on factors like demand. In addition, if you use points to pay for five consecutive nights, you’ll get the cheapest night for free.
You can transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to 39 different partner airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Iberia Plus, Southwest and United. Points typically transfer at a 3:1 ratio. You can also transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points for free to another member.
To make choosing the right card easier, we’ve looked at credit cards reviewed on LendingTree as well as cards on major issuer sites to compile a list of the best credit cards for earning Marriott rewards. Our recommendations are based on the value you can earn with the cards — this includes the rewards value, cost of ownership and value of benefits like travel and purchase protections, lounge membership and free anniversary nights. Our choices are not influenced by our advertisers.
Learn more about how we calculate rewards.
The information related to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card, Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
