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Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: This card is great for earning consistent cash back on everyday spending, dining, and drugstore purchases without an annual fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: This card is ideal for travelers who frequently stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels and want to earn points on travel as well as everyday spending at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why the Chase Freedom Unlimited® stands out in a crowded field of cash back cards.
- It offers a strong, straightforward rewards structure, earning at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases with bonus earnings on dining and at drugstores.
- With no annual fee, all the rewards you earn are pure profit, making it an excellent entry-level or supplementary card.
- If you spend less than roughly $3,200 abroad annually, paying the 3% foreign transaction fee is more cost-effective than getting a separate travel card with a typical $95 annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Simple yet powerful rewards: The card offers a straightforward earning structure with a high flat rate on all purchases and bonus rewards in popular categories, eliminating the need to track rotating categories.
- Flexible point redemptions: Rewards are earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be used for cash back or combined with other Chase cards to access premium travel redemption options.
- Helpful built-in protections: Cardholders get access to a suite of benefits including purchase protection, extended warranty, and an auto rental collision damage waiver, adding a layer of security to purchases.
Cons
- It charges foreign transaction fees, making it a poor choice for international travel.
- To unlock the highest-value redemptions, you must pair it with a premium Chase card.
- Approval is generally limited to applicants with good to excellent credit.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section highlights the key features that make the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® a compelling choice for travelers.
- Each year after your account anniversary, you receive a Free Night Award valid for a one-night stay at a property with a redemption level of up to 35,000 points.
- Cardholders automatically receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually and Silver Elite status, which helps you achieve higher status tiers faster.
- The anniversary free night can easily offset the card's $95 annual fee, as it can be redeemed for hotel stays valued at $200 or more (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- A generous welcome offer provides a substantial points bonus right from the start.
- Earns points at an accelerated rate on everyday purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
- No foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for use abroad.
Cons
- Charges an annual fee that is not waived for the first year.
- The anniversary free night award has redemption restrictions, excluding some high-end properties.
- Points are most valuable when redeemed within the Marriott ecosystem, offering less flexibility for other options like airline transfers.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® vs Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Categories
Deciding which is better, Chase Freedom Unlimited® or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®, depends on your personal spending habits and financial goals. These cards serve very different purposes, one focusing on simple rewards and the other on travel perks.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: This card is best for cash back seekers looking to earn consistent rewards on all their purchases without needing to track rotating categories.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: This card is designed for frequent travelers who often stay at Marriott properties and want to maximize hotel rewards and enjoy elite status benefits.
Redemption
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Rewards are highly flexible, offering options for cash back, gift cards, or booking travel through the Chase portal. Points can also be combined with other Chase cards to transfer to airline and hotel partners for potentially greater value.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: Points are redeemed primarily for free nights at thousands of hotels and resorts within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. They can also be used for other travel experiences or transferred to dozens of airline partners.
Travel Perks
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Cardholders can book flights, hotels, and car rentals through the comprehensive Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: The travel ecosystem is focused on the Marriott Bonvoy program, with points used to book stays directly with Marriott's global portfolio of hotels. - Chase Freedom Unlimited®: This card includes a foreign transaction fee on all purchases made abroad.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: This card does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international travel. - Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Does not offer airport lounge access.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: Does not offer airport lounge access. - Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Provides basic travel protections like trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: Comes with more extensive travel benefits, including an annual Free Night Award, automatic Silver Elite status, baggage delay insurance, and lost luggage reimbursement.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make the right choice, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.
- The ‘Test Drive’ feature lets you simulate potential earnings from different cards using your actual spending data before you apply.
- Get detailed approval odds based on your credit report to apply with more confidence.
- Unlock a $100 Kickstart+ reward for adding eligible cards and a welcome offer guarantee that matches any better offer you find within three months.
- Earn extra Kudos Boost rewards on top of your regular card rewards when shopping at your favorite stores.
- Compare cards from a database of nearly 3,000 options, with personalized recommendations based on your spending history.
Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited®?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an excellent choice for everyday spenders who want consistent cash back without tracking rotating bonus categories. It is also a strategic pick for existing Chase customers looking to pair it with a premium card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Reserve®, to maximize their rewards. According to a comprehensive guide, those who want purchase protections and travel benefits without an annual fee will also find this card to be a strong contender.
Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®?
According to a 2025 card review, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent guests of Marriott properties, whether traveling for business or leisure. The card also suits value-focused travelers who can maximize the anniversary free night award and everyday spenders who want to earn 3X points on the first $6,000 spent annually on combined grocery, gas, and dining purchases. Finally, it's a strong option for status seekers, as it provides a significant head start toward higher elite tiers with 15 elite night credits each year.
Alternatives to Consider
If the Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® comparison has left you undecided, that's perfectly fine. There are many other excellent credit cards available that might better align with your spending patterns and reward preferences.
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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.
- Plan your spending – Ensure you can meet the welcome offer's spending requirement through your normal purchases.
- Review the card’s benefits – Make sure the rewards and perks align with your typical spending habits and goals.
Application Strategy
- Know the issuer's rules – Some issuers have restrictions on how many cards you can open within a certain period.
- Look for card synergies – Some cards, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card, become more powerful when paired with others from the same issuer.
- Plan for benefit use – For co-branded cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, ensure you can take full advantage of key perks.
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 beginners?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is often the better choice for beginners due to its straightforward rewards structure and no annual fee. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is more specialized and best suited for those who frequently stay at Marriott properties.
Can I transfer points from the Chase Freedom Unlimited to Marriott Bonvoy?
Yes, the points you earn with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® are Chase Ultimate Rewards®, which can be transferred to travel partners, including the Marriott Bonvoy program. This flexibility allows you to use your rewards for Marriott stays even without the co-branded card.
What are the annual fees for these cards?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has no annual fee, making it a cost-effective option for everyday spending. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card comes with a $95 annual fee.
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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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