United Club vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we think the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a strong contender for travelers.

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• While the card carries an annual fee, it has no foreign transaction fees and offers strong earning rates on Marriott stays and select everyday purchases.
• You automatically receive Silver Elite status and 15 Elite Night Credits each year, giving you a head start toward higher loyalty tiers.
• The anniversary Free Night Award for a stay valued up to 35,000 points can provide a return that outweighs the annual cost (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Cardholders receive automatic Silver Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, providing a shortcut to hotel perks.
• Earns bonus points on common spending categories like dining, gas stations, and grocery stores.
• Includes valuable travel protections like baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip delay reimbursement.

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Cons

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• The card has an annual fee that is not waived for the first year.
• Points offer the best value when redeemed within the Marriott ecosystem, which can be a drawback for those who prefer more flexible travel rewards.
• The anniversary Free Night Award is restricted to properties under a certain point value, excluding many of Marriott’s high-end and luxury hotels.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® vs United Club

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Club or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, depends entirely on your travel habits and brand loyalty. One card is built for frequent flyers with a specific airline, while the other is designed for hotel loyalists.

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• The United Club℠ Card is a premium airline credit card best for frequent United Airlines flyers who value benefits like United Club lounge access and priority airport services.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a hotel credit card ideal for travelers who regularly stay at Marriott properties and want to maximize rewards and elite status benefits within the Marriott Bonvoy program.

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Redemption

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United Club℠ Card: Rewards are redeemed as miles, primarily used for booking flights with United Airlines and its Star Alliance partners. Miles can also be used for seat upgrades, in-flight purchases, and other travel-related expenses through the United portal.

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Points are typically redeemed for free hotel nights at properties within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. You can also transfer points to dozens of airline loyalty programs or use them for exclusive experiences.

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Travel Perks

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• United Club℠ Card: This card’s ecosystem is built for the frequent United flyer. It includes a full United Club membership, which grants access to United Club and participating Star Alliance partner lounges. It also has no foreign transaction fees, and its travel portal is integrated with United, allowing for seamless booking of flights and upgrades using miles.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: While this card does not offer airport lounge access, it also has no foreign transaction fees. Its travel ecosystem is the expansive Marriott Bonvoy program, where points can be used for hotel stays or transferred to numerous airline loyalty programs, offering significant flexibility outside of a single airline alliance.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To find the best card for your wallet, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated credit cards based on your unique spending habits.

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• Personalized card recommendations based on your actual spending history.
• The ability to ‘Test Drive’ a credit card to simulate potential earnings before you apply.
• Detailed approval odds analysis based on your credit report.
• A welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Access to Kudos Boost, which provides extra rewards on top of your card’s rewards when shopping at participating stores.
• Tools to monitor your transactions, spending, and credit score.
• Various sign-up bonuses and rewards for adding cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the United Club?

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The United Club℠ Card is an ideal choice for frequent United flyers, particularly business and international travelers who can fully leverage its premium perks. It's also a strong contender for travelers who prioritize comfort and convenience, as the complimentary United Club membership offers a valuable airport oasis. Additionally, those chasing elite status will benefit from the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) through card spending to help them reach the next MileagePlus Premier level.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is ideally suited for frequent Marriott guests and value-focused travelers who can maximize benefits like the annual free night award. It also appeals to status seekers aiming for higher tiers in the Bonvoy program and everyday spenders who want to earn points on groceries, gas, and dining. As a comprehensive review points out, the card is built for those who want to leverage their brand loyalty into tangible rewards.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the United Club vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® comparison didn't point you to a clear winner for your wallet, don't worry. Let's explore a few other excellent travel cards that might be a better fit.

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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 premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Assess your loyalty - Co-branded cards offer the most value when you frequently use that specific airline or hotel.
• Have a redemption plan - Understand how you will use the points or miles to ensure you get maximum value.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application - Apply before a large purchase or planned travel to help meet spending requirements.
• Know the issuer's rules - Be aware of policies from issuers like Chase that could affect your approval.
• Search for elevated offers - Welcome bonuses can vary, so check for the highest available offer before you apply.

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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What kind of traveler is the United Club℠ Infinite Card best for?

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The United Club℠ Infinite Card is designed for frequent United Airlines flyers who value premium travel perks like airport lounge access. It's ideal for those who spend significant time in airports and want a comfortable space to work or relax before flights.

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Who benefits most from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card?

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Travelers who are loyal to the Marriott Bonvoy family of hotels will get the most value from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card is geared towards earning free nights and achieving elite status within the Marriott hotel loyalty program.

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How do the rewards programs differ between the two cards?

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The primary difference is their loyalty focus; the United card earns miles for the United MileagePlus airline program, while the Marriott card earns points for the Marriott Bonvoy hotel program. Each offers distinct redemption options and transfer partners tailored to either air travel or hotel stays.

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Can I use points from one card with the other's loyalty program?

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Generally, you cannot directly use United miles for Marriott stays or Marriott points for United flights through the cards' primary programs. However, both loyalty programs have extensive lists of transfer partners, which may offer indirect ways to redeem points for other travel brands.

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