Chase Freedom Flex vs Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card stands out to us.

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• You receive automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and 15 Elite Night Credits annually, giving you a significant head start toward higher tiers.
• The card offers strong earning rates at Marriott properties, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets, though it comes with an annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
• If you spend $15,000 in a calendar year, you'll earn a Free Night Award worth up to 50,000 points, which can easily offset the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Cardholders receive automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, unlocking hotel perks like enhanced room upgrades and late checkout.
• It features strong rewards on spending at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, making it a valuable card for everyday purchases.
• The card includes key travel benefits such as no foreign transaction fees and various insurance protections.

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Cons

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• The Free Night Award is not an automatic annual benefit and requires meeting a significant spending threshold.
• Its value is heavily dependent on brand loyalty, offering limited benefits for travelers who do not frequently stay at Marriott properties.
• Bonus points on some everyday spending categories, like at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, are capped annually.

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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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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card vs Chase Freedom Flex®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Chase Freedom Flex® or the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, depends on your personal spending habits and goals. One card focuses on flexible cash back for everyday spenders, while the other is built for travelers loyal to a specific hotel brand.

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• Chase Freedom Flex® - This card is best for no-fee card seekers who want to earn strong cash back rewards on a variety of purchases without paying an annual fee.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card - This card is designed for frequent travelers, especially those who often stay with Marriott and want to earn hotel points and enjoy travel-related perks.

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Redemption

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Chase Freedom Flex®: Rewards are earned as cash back, offering straightforward redemptions like statement credits or direct deposits. These points also provide flexibility, as they can be used for travel, gift cards, and more through the Chase portal.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Points earned with this card are designed for redemption within the Marriott Bonvoy program, primarily for free hotel nights. Cardholders can also use their points for other travel experiences, such as flights and car rentals, by transferring them to airline partners.

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Travel Perks

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• Chase Freedom Flex®: As a cash back card, its travel ecosystem is limited. While travel can be booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, the card is not designed for international globetrotting, as it charges a foreign transaction fee. It does not offer airport lounge access.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: This card is built around the Marriott Bonvoy program. Cardholders receive complimentary Gold Elite status, unlocking perks like room upgrades and late checkout. It also offers a Free Night Award after meeting an annual spending requirement. The card does not have a foreign transaction fee, making it suitable for international travel, but it does not include airport lounge access. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial companion that lets you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards using your own spending data to find the best match.

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• Test drive credit cards before you apply. This feature uses your actual spending data to show you potential earnings with a new card, all without a hard credit pull.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points when you shop at participating stores with Kudos Boost.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better public offer if you find one within three months of approval.
• Get personalized card recommendations based on your spending history to maximize your rewards.

Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Flex®?

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The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent choice for savvy spenders who enjoy maximizing rewards by keeping track of rotating 5% cash back categories each quarter. It's also a great fit for those who frequently dine out or shop at drugstores, as it offers 3% back in those categories with no annual fee. Furthermore, cardholders looking to build a "Chase trifecta" can pair it with a premium Chase card to pool and maximize their Ultimate Rewards® points for travel.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is tailored for frequent Marriott guests looking to maximize their stays with automatic Gold Elite status and accelerated points earning. It also appeals to moderate spenders who can meet the $15,000 annual spend to earn a Free Night Award and everyday users wanting strong rewards on dining and groceries. As detailed in our full card review, it's a great fit for travelers who value hotel perks but don't stay frequently enough to earn status organically.

Alternatives to Consider

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The Chase Freedom Flex® vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card comparison showcases two excellent but distinct options. If neither card quite fits your financial strategy, several other compelling alternatives are worth exploring.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Most issuers require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can meet any spending requirements for welcome offers or benefits without overspending.
• Have a rewards strategy: Know how you plan to use the points or cash back you earn before you apply.

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Application Strategy

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• Be mindful of issuer-specific rules, like the Chase 5/24 rule, which can affect your approval odds.
• Consider how a new card fits into your existing portfolio, especially within a single rewards ecosystem.
• For co-branded cards, have your loyalty program account number ready to link during the application.

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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Which card is better for beginners?

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The Chase Freedom Flex is often a better starting point for beginners due to its lack of an annual fee and flexible cash back rewards. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy is more suited for those who are certain they will travel frequently and stay at Marriott properties.

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Can I have both the Chase Freedom Flex and the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy?

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Yes, you can hold both cards, and it can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. This approach allows you to earn flexible Chase points on everyday purchases and valuable Marriott points on travel and hotel stays.

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How do Chase Ultimate Rewards points compare to Marriott Bonvoy points?

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Chase Ultimate Rewards points are highly flexible and can be redeemed for cash back, travel through the Chase portal, or transferred to various airline and hotel partners. Marriott Bonvoy points are best used for award nights at Marriott properties, though they have other redemption options with generally lower value.

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