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Chase Freedom Flex vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Chase Freedom Flex®: This card is ideal for maximizing cash back through rotating quarterly categories, as well as on travel, dining, and drugstore purchases.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: This card is best for travelers who frequent Marriott properties and want to earn points on hotel stays as well as on grocery, gas, and dining purchases.
Chase Freedom Flex® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why the Chase Freedom Flex® stands out in a crowded field of cash back cards.
- It offers a powerful combination of 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories and travel booked through Chase, plus 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases.
- Cardholders can access these premium reward rates without paying an annual fee.
- By maxing out the 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in rotating quarterly categories, you can earn $300 in cash back each year. (publisher-formulated estimate)
Pros
- Strong earning rates across both fixed and rotating bonus categories.
- Valuable cardholder perks, including cell phone protection and purchase protection.
- No annual fee and flexible redemption options through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program.
Cons
- Requires activating rotating bonus categories each quarter.
- Not ideal for international travel due to a foreign transaction fee.
- Subject to strict approval requirements, including the Chase 5/24 rule.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at what makes the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® card a strong contender.
- The Anniversary Free Night Award offers a complimentary stay at eligible properties each year, adding consistent value.
- Cardholders automatically receive Silver Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, unlocking on-property perks.
- The $95 annual fee is easily offset by redeeming the Anniversary Free Night Award—valid for a stay of up to 35,000 points—for a night valued at more than $95 (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Cardholders get a head start toward earning higher elite status each year.
- Points offer flexible redemption options, including hotel stays, airline transfers, and exclusive experiences.
- No foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
Cons
- The card’s rewards are most valuable when redeemed for Marriott stays, offering less flexibility than general travel cards.
- The anniversary free night award has redemption-level restrictions, excluding some of Marriott’s high-end properties.
- Points can expire due to account inactivity.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® vs Chase Freedom Flex®
Categories
Deciding which is better, Chase Freedom Flex® or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®, depends entirely on your personal spending habits and financial goals. Each card caters to a different type of consumer, one focusing on flexible cash back and the other on travel-specific rewards.
- Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent choice for those seeking a credit card with no annual fee. It's designed for users who want to earn strong rewards on everyday purchases and are willing to track rotating bonus categories to maximize their cash back.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® is best suited for frequent travelers, particularly those who regularly stay at Marriott properties. The card is built to help users accumulate hotel points, enjoy elite status benefits, and take advantage of travel-related perks.
Redemption
Chase Freedom Flex®: Rewards can be redeemed for straightforward cash back or used as points for travel, gift cards, and more through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: Points are primarily redeemed for free nights at hotels and resorts within the extensive Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. They can also be used for flights and unique travel experiences.
Travel Perks
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: The travel perks are deeply integrated with the Marriott Bonvoy program. Cardholders receive an annual Free Night Award after their account anniversary, valid at thousands of participating hotels. The card also provides automatic Silver Elite Status, offering benefits like bonus points on stays and priority late checkout where available. A major advantage for international travelers is that it does not have foreign transaction fees. It also comes with a suite of travel protections, including baggage delay insurance and lost luggage reimbursement.
- Chase Freedom Flex®: While not a dedicated travel card, the Chase Freedom Flex® offers access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal for booking flights, hotels, and car rentals. However, it's important to note that this card does include a foreign transaction fee, making it less ideal for purchases abroad. It provides some key travel insurance benefits, such as trip cancellation/interruption coverage and a secondary auto rental collision damage waiver, which can be valuable for occasional travelers.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make an informed decision, you can use a data-driven card explorer tool like Kudos to compare thousands of top-rated credit cards based on your personal spending.
- Test Drive Feature: Before you apply, you can test drive a card to see a personalized calculation of your potential earnings based on your actual spending history. This feature doesn't require a hard credit pull.
- Approval Odds: Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
- Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card within three months of applying through Kudos, they will match it.
- Kudos Boost: Earn additional rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when you shop at participating stores.
Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Flex®?
The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent choice for savvy spenders who enjoy actively maximizing their rewards by keeping up with rotating bonus categories each quarter. It particularly benefits those who frequently dine out or shop at drugstores, and it serves as a powerful component for cardholders building the "Chase trifecta" with other Chase cards. As detailed in one cash back card review, this no-annual-fee card is designed for individuals who value the flexibility of earning either cash back or valuable Ultimate Rewards® points on their everyday spending.
Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® card is ideally suited for specific traveler profiles, particularly those who frequently stay at Marriott properties and want to maximize their loyalty benefits. It caters to both status seekers, who get a head start with 15 elite night credits annually, and everyday spenders who can accumulate points on groceries, gas, and dining. Ultimately, this card is for value-focused individuals who can easily offset the annual fee by taking advantage of the anniversary free night award.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Chase Freedom Flex® vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® comparison has left you feeling that neither card is the right fit, don't worry. There are several other excellent options on the market that might better suit your spending habits and rewards goals.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score and be mindful of issuer application rules, such as Chase's 5/24 rule.
- Plan your strategy to maximize benefits like rotating categories or point transfers.
- Research the rewards ecosystem to confirm it aligns with your travel or cash back goals.
Application Strategy
- Time your applications - Be aware of issuer-specific rules that limit the number of cards you can open in a certain period.
- Review welcome offer eligibility - Issuers often restrict bonuses for current or recent cardholders of the same product family.
- Consider alternative paths - If denied, you can call for reconsideration or ask about changing from an existing product.
Our Methodology
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.
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
Can I have both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card?
Yes, you can hold both cards simultaneously. Since they cater to different spending habits and reward goals, having both can be a strategic way to maximize your earnings across various categories.
Which card is better for international travel?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is generally better for international travel as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ card, on the other hand, typically has a foreign transaction fee, making it less ideal for purchases abroad.
How do Chase Ultimate Rewards® points compare to Marriott Bonvoy points?
Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are known for their flexibility, as they can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners or redeemed for cash back. Marriott Bonvoy points are most valuable when redeemed for stays within the Marriott Bonvoy family of hotels.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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