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Chase Freedom Flex vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful: 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 Bountiful™ Credit Card: This card is designed for frequent Marriott guests to earn points on hotel stays, dining, and at grocery stores.
Chase Freedom Flex® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at what makes the Chase Freedom Flex® a standout choice.
- Its rewards structure is a major draw, offering 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories that you activate, plus 3% back on dining and at drugstores.
- There is no annual fee, which means you can benefit from the card's perks without worrying about a yearly cost.
- You can earn up to $300 in cash back each year just by maximizing the 5% rotating bonus categories on $1,500 of spending per quarter (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Features a powerful and flexible rewards program with rotating bonus categories, fixed-rate earnings on everyday purchases, and multiple redemption options.
- Comes with no annual fee and includes valuable perks not always found on no-fee cards, such as cell phone and purchase protection.
Cons
- The rewards program requires active management, as you must activate new bonus categories each quarter and keep an eye on spending caps.
- It’s not the best choice for international use due to its foreign transaction fees, and strict application rules can make it difficult to get approved.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons why we like the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card.
- Cardholders automatically receive complimentary Gold Elite status and 15 elite night credits each year, providing a shortcut to valuable hotel perks.
- The card features strong earning rates on everyday spending, including at grocery stores and restaurants, on top of accelerated rewards for Marriott stays.
- Frequent guests can offset the $250 annual fee with the 1,000 bonus points awarded per paid stay, breaking even after about 30 stays per year (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Cardholders receive automatic Gold Elite status, unlocking perks like preferred room upgrades and late checkout.
- Offers accelerated rewards on Marriott stays, plus strong earning rates on everyday purchases like dining and groceries.
- Includes valuable travel and purchase protections, such as trip delay reimbursement and lost luggage reimbursement.
Cons
- Lacks an automatic anniversary free night award, a common perk on competing hotel cards.
- Does not offer a way to earn higher-level elite status through card spending.
- The card's benefits may not fully justify its annual fee when compared to other Marriott co-branded cards.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs Chase Freedom Flex®
Categories
When deciding which is better, Chase Freedom Flex or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful, it really comes down to your spending habits and financial goals. One card is a versatile cash back earner, while the other is tailored for earning travel rewards.
- Chase Freedom Flex® is best for maximizing rewards through rotating quarterly bonus categories. It also consistently rewards spending on travel purchased through Chase, dining, and at drugstores.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is designed for travelers who frequently stay at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. It also offers strong rewards on purchases at grocery stores and for dining.
Redemption
Chase Freedom Flex®: Rewards are earned as points that can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, or travel through the Chase portal. These points can also be combined with other eligible Chase cards for potentially greater value.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: Points are redeemed within the Marriott Bonvoy program, primarily for free nights at participating hotels and resorts worldwide. You can also use points for flights and car rentals through Marriott's travel partners.
Travel Perks
- Chase Freedom Flex®: While not primarily a travel card, it offers access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal for booking flights and hotels. Cardholders should be aware that it carries a foreign transaction fee, making it less suitable for use abroad. However, it does provide some valuable travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: This card is designed for travel and comes with no foreign transaction fees. A key benefit is the automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which provides perks like potential room upgrades. Cardholders can also earn a Free Night Award after meeting an annual spending requirement and are covered by travel protections like baggage delay reimbursement and trip delay reimbursement.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make the decision easier, you can use a tool like Kudos, which helps you compare thousands of credit cards to find the best match for your spending.
- Test drive a credit card before you apply. This feature uses your real spending data to simulate your potential earnings with different cards, offering a personalized projection without a hard credit pull.
- Receive personalized recommendations. Kudos analyzes your actual transaction history to match you with cards that align with your spending habits.
- Track sign-up bonuses and get a welcome offer guarantee. The platform helps you monitor your progress toward earning bonuses and will match a better public welcome offer if you find one within three months of approval.
- Unlock rewards for joining. You can earn a $20 bonus for signing up with a promo code and making a qualifying purchase, plus a $100 Kickstart+ reward for adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Flex®?
The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent choice for savvy spenders who enjoy maximizing their earnings by keeping track of rotating 5% cash back categories. It particularly suits those who frequently spend on dining and at drugstores, and who might pair it with other Chase cards to pool Ultimate Rewards® points. Ultimately, this card is ideal for anyone seeking high-value rewards on everyday purchases without the burden of an annual fee.
Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful?
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is designed for the dedicated Marriott loyalist who frequently stays at their properties and seeks to enhance their experience without committing to a top-tier annual fee. This cardholder is someone who can strategically spend $15,000 annually to unlock the valuable free night award, valued at up to 50,000 points, and appreciates the automatic Gold Elite status. Ultimately, it's for the traveler who finds that the card's benefits, like bonus points on paid stays and elite night credits, make it worth its annual fee as a solid mid-range option.
Alternatives to Consider
If this Chase Freedom Flex® vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful comparison has left you feeling that neither card is the right choice, other excellent options are available. Let's explore a few alternatives that might be a better match for your spending habits and financial goals.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Review application rules - Issuers often have restrictions based on how many cards you've recently opened.
- Plan your spending - Make sure you can meet the welcome offer's spending requirement without overspending.
Application Strategy
- Know the issuer's rules - Some issuers limit approvals based on your recent applications or current cards.
- Consider card pairings - Look for cards that work together to maximize rewards within an ecosystem.
- Look beyond the bonus - Ensure the card's ongoing benefits align with your spending habits for long-term value.
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
Which card is better for someone new to credit card rewards?
For those just starting with rewards, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is often a great entry point due to its flexible rewards and typically no annual fee. The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card is better suited for frequent travelers who can maximize benefits within the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem.
Can I use points from the Chase Freedom Flex℠ for Marriott stays?
While you cannot directly use Freedom Flex℠ cash back for Marriott stays, you can pair it with a Chase Sapphire card to transfer your earned Ultimate Rewards® points to the Marriott Bonvoy program. This strategy allows you to use rewards from the Freedom Flex℠ to book nights at Marriott properties.
What is the main difference in their rewards structures?
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns rewards on rotating quarterly categories that require activation, plus fixed bonus rates on travel purchased through Chase, dining, and at drugstores. In contrast, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card's structure is built around earning a high rate of points on spending at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
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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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