Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card a compelling choice.

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• The card automatically grants you Gold Elite status and provides 15 elite night credits annually to help you reach higher tiers of the Marriott Bonvoy program.
• You can earn extra points on dining and at grocery stores, though the card does come with an annual fee.
• The 1,000 bonus points earned on each paid stay can help frequent guests 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 and a yearly deposit of elite night credits, providing a shortcut to higher status levels.
• You can earn bonus points on every paid stay, plus accelerated rewards on common spending categories like dining and groceries.
• The card comes with valuable travel protections, including trip delay reimbursement and lost luggage reimbursement, offering peace of mind on the road.

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Cons

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• The annual free night award is not an automatic benefit and requires meeting a significant spending threshold each year.
• While the card grants Gold Elite status, it doesn't offer a path to earn higher-tier status through spending.
• The card’s overall value may be less compelling when compared to other Marriott Bonvoy cards that offer perks like an automatic free night certificate.

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®

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Categories

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To determine which is better Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful, it's helpful to first understand the category each card falls into.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: This card is best for frequent travelers who regularly stay at Marriott properties and are looking for strong value from a hotel rewards card.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: This card is categorized as a mid-tier hotel credit card, designed for travelers who want elevated benefits without committing to a luxury card.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: With this card, points are primarily redeemed for award nights across the extensive portfolio of Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resorts. You can also use your points for other travel-related purchases, including flights and car rentals, through Marriott's transfer partners.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: This card provides flexible redemption options, allowing points to be used for free nights at Marriott properties or transferred to numerous airline loyalty programs. This flexibility gives cardholders more ways to leverage their rewards for travel.

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Travel Perks

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ cards are ideal for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees.
• Automatic Elite Status: Cardholders receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy elite status. The Boundless card comes with Silver Elite Status, while the Bountiful card offers a higher Gold Elite Status, unlocking more valuable on-property benefits.
• Annual Free Night Award: The Boundless card provides a Free Night Award (worth up to 35,000 points) each year after your card anniversary. The Bountiful card offers a potentially more valuable Free Night Award (worth up to 50,000 points), but it requires you to meet a minimum spending threshold on the card each year.
• Elite Night Credits: To help you reach the next tier of status faster, both cards give you 15 Elite Night Credits annually.
• Airport Lounge Access: Complimentary access to airport lounges is not a feature of either of these cards.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial companion tool that helps you compare top-rated credit cards and maximize your rewards based on your unique spending habits.

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• Test Drive a Credit Card: Before you apply, you can use the “Test Drive” feature to simulate how much you would earn with a specific card. This feature provides personalized calculations based on your actual transaction history without requiring an application or a hard credit pull.
• Approval Odds Analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report to help you apply with more confidence.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Personalized Insights: By connecting your bank accounts, you can track spending, monitor your credit score, and receive actionable insights and personalized card recommendations.
• Exclusive Offers: Account holders can unlock rewards like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ for adding select approved cards to their Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who regularly stay at Marriott properties for either business or leisure. According to a detailed card review, it's also well-suited for value-conscious individuals who can maximize the annual free night award and those seeking a shortcut to elite status within the Bonvoy program. Additionally, the card appeals to everyday spenders who want to accumulate points on purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is best suited for frequent Marriott guests who find value in mid-tier hotel benefits and are willing to pay a moderate annual fee. This user typically seeks perks like complimentary Gold Elite status and the 15 elite night credits to accelerate their path to higher status tiers. It's an ideal fit for travelers who can meet the annual spending requirement to earn a free night award, justifying the $250 fee as detailed in this card analysis.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful comparison has you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards to consider that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.

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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.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Most travel rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review application rules: Issuers often have restrictions on earning a welcome bonus if you have or have had similar cards.
• Plan your spending: Ensure you can meet the minimum spending requirement for the welcome offer through your regular purchases.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer rules: Be aware of restrictions like Chase's 5/24 rule or co-brand card family limitations before you apply.
• Try different application channels: If you don't receive the best offer initially, try applying through a different browser or a partner link.
• Time your application strategically: Align your application with a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement naturally.

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 earning free nights?

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Both cards offer a Free Night Award annually. However, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ card also lets you earn a second Free Night Award after spending $15,000 in a calendar year, making it potentially more rewarding for high spenders.

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Can I have both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and Bountiful cards?

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Chase has specific application rules that can prevent you from holding both cards simultaneously or opening one if you've recently acquired another Marriott card. You should review Chase's eligibility criteria before applying to be sure.

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What are the annual fees for each card?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has a $95 annual fee. In contrast, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card carries a $250 annual fee.

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