Amex Business Gold vs Marriott Bonvoy Business: Which Is Better In 2026?

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we recommend the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (See Rates & Fees).

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• It offers automatic elite status within the Marriott Bonvoy program, enhancing your stays with valuable perks.
• Cardholders receive an annual Free Night Award, which can provide significant value each year.
• The card is a strong choice for international business travel as it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Pros

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• Features a strong rewards-earning structure and a generous welcome offer for new cardholders.
• Cardholders automatically receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, unlocking perks like enhanced room upgrades.
• Includes an annual Free Night Award after your card renewal month, plus the opportunity to earn an additional one based on spending.

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Cons

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• The card’s value is heavily tied to Marriott properties, offering less flexibility for those who stay with other hotel brands or prefer more versatile redemption options.
• It comes with an annual fee, which may not be suitable for businesses with limited travel expenses.
• Approval requires a personal credit check, which could affect your personal credit score.

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® vs American Express® Business Gold Card

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Amex Business Gold or Marriott Bonvoy Business, depends entirely on your company's spending habits and travel patterns. Each card caters to a different type of business owner, offering unique advantages based on their primary expenses.

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• American Express® Business Gold Card is best for business owners looking for a versatile tool. It's designed for growing companies that need flexibility in their spending categories.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is ideal for frequent travelers. It's tailored for business owners who often stay at Marriott properties and want to maximize their benefits within that hotel group.

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Redemption

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American Express® Business Gold Card: This card offers flexible redemption options, allowing you to use your points for a wide range of rewards, including travel through the Amex portal, gift cards, and statement credits. This versatility makes it a great choice for businesses that want to keep their reward options open.

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Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Rewards earned with this card are primarily redeemed within the Marriott Bonvoy program for things like free hotel nights and room upgrades. It's designed to provide maximum value for those who are loyal to the Marriott family of brands.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the decision even easier, you can use a tool like Kudos, which helps you compare thousands of credit cards with its data-driven card explorer.

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• Test drive a credit card: The platform’s “Test Drive” feature simulates your potential earnings with any card by analyzing your actual spending data, giving you a clear picture of its value before you apply.
• Personalized recommendations: Get card recommendations tailored to your unique spending habits and see detailed approval odds based on your credit profile.
• Exclusive incentives: According to a Kudos blog post, members can unlock rewards like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ and a welcome offer guarantee, ensuring you get the best deal available.
• Track and maximize: Monitor all your transactions, spending, and credit card perks in one place to get actionable insights on how to maximize your rewards.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card is designed for business owners with substantial and fluctuating annual spending. It's particularly well-suited for growing companies that spend over $50,000 a year across various categories and want to maximize their rewards without being locked into fixed bonus categories. This flexibility comes from its rewards structure, which automatically provides 4X points on the top two spending categories each billing cycle on up to $150,000 in combined purchases annually; Terms Apply.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is tailor-made for small to medium-sized business owners and entrepreneurs who frequently stay at Marriott properties and want to maximize their loyalty. Ideal cardholders are those who can channel significant business spending—from hotel stays and dining to shipping and wireless services—through the card to accelerate their points earning. Ultimately, it's for the business traveler who values tangible hotel perks like complimentary Gold Elite status and an annual Free Night Award enough to justify the annual fee. Terms apply.

Alternatives to Consider

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If this Amex Business Gold vs Marriott Bonvoy Business comparison has you convinced that neither card is the right fit for your company, don't fret. There are plenty of other excellent business credit cards that might offer the perfect combination of rewards and benefits for your needs.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most premium cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can naturally meet the welcome offer spending requirement without overspending.
• Review eligibility rules – Some issuers have restrictions on earning a welcome offer if you've had the card before.

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Application Strategy

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• Understand the credit inquiry – Be aware that some business card applications, like the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, may impact your personal credit score.
• Align card benefits with spending – Choose a card that rewards your company's actual spending patterns, whether for broad categories like the Amex Business Gold or for brand loyalty.
• Look for elevated Welcome Offers – It can be worth checking multiple sources or trying different methods, as issuers sometimes present different offers.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I transfer points from the American Express® Business Gold Card to Marriott Bonvoy?

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Yes, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points earned with the Business Gold Card to the Marriott Bonvoy program. The transfer ratio can vary, so it's best to check the current rate before initiating a transfer.

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What are the annual fees for the Amex Business Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Business cards?

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Both the American Express® Business Gold Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card have annual fees. You can find the current fee information by reviewing each card's official rates and fees documentation.

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Which card is better if my business spending is mostly on advertising and shipping?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card is likely the stronger choice, as it offers bonus points on your top two eligible spending categories each month, which can include U.S. purchases for advertising and shipping (Terms apply). The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card's bonus categories are more focused on travel and dining.

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