United Explorer 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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This section breaks down the key reasons we like the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card.

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• Cardholders automatically receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status each year, unlocking valuable hotel perks.
• You'll receive 15 elite night credits annually, giving you a head start toward reaching the next level of Marriott Bonvoy status.
• Each paid stay at a participating Marriott property earns an extra 1,000 bonus points, providing an estimated $8.50 in value per stay (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Offers strong earning rates on Marriott stays, plus accelerated rewards on dining and grocery purchases.
• Comes with a solid set of travel protections, including trip delay reimbursement and lost luggage coverage.
• Cardholders can earn a valuable free night award after meeting an annual spending requirement.

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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.
• Cardholders receive mid-tier Gold Elite status, which lacks premium perks, and there is no way to earn a higher status tier through card spending.

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs United Explorer

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Categories

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Deciding which is better United Explorer or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful comes down to your primary travel style and brand loyalty. Each card is tailored to a different type of traveler, making the best choice dependent on your specific needs.

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• United℠ Explorer Card is an airline co-branded card built for frequent travelers, especially those who consistently fly with United Airlines.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is a mid-tier hotel credit card designed for travelers who are loyal to the Marriott Bonvoy family of hotels and resorts.

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Redemption

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United℠ Explorer Card: Rewards are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, primarily for award flights with United and its Star Alliance airline partners. Miles can also be used for seat upgrades, hotel stays, and car rentals booked through the United travel portal.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: Points are redeemed within the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem for free hotel nights, room upgrades, and travel packages. You can also transfer points to dozens of airline loyalty programs, though the value is often best when used for hotel stays.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The United℠ Explorer Card provides two one-time United Club℠ passes each year. The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card does not offer airport lounge access as a standard perk.
• Airline-Specific Perks: As an airline co-branded card, the United℠ Explorer Card offers a free first checked bag for you and a companion on the same reservation on United-operated flights, as well as priority boarding. The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card does not include these types of airline-specific benefits.
• Elite Status: With the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card, you receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which can include benefits like room upgrades and late checkout, when available. The United℠ Explorer Card does not grant airline elite status, but its priority boarding perk offers a taste of the elite experience.
• Trusted Traveler Program Credit: The United℠ Explorer Card includes a statement credit to cover the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS. This benefit is not available with the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are well-suited for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
• Travel Protections: Both cards typically offer a suite of travel and purchase protections, such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance and baggage delay reimbursement, providing peace of mind during your travels.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, you can use a financial companion like Kudos, which allows you to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your personal spending habits.

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• Test Drive Cards: Simulate how much you could earn with a new card using your real spending data before you apply, without impacting your credit score.
• Personalized Recommendations: Get matched with the best card for you based on an analysis of your actual transaction history.
• Approval Odds Analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Maximize Rewards: Kudos can autofill the best card to use at checkout to maximize your rewards and offers additional "Kudos Boost" rewards when you shop at certain stores.
• Track Everything: Monitor your spending, credit score, and progress toward sign-up bonuses all in one place.

Who Should Choose the United Explorer?

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The United℠ Explorer Card is an excellent choice for frequent United flyers, as the free checked bag benefit for the cardholder and a companion can easily offset the annual fee. It's also well-suited for travelers who value expedited security screening through credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® and those who travel internationally and want to avoid foreign transaction fees. Ultimately, this travel card is ideal for budget-conscious consumers with good to excellent credit seeking practical perks without the high cost of a premium card.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is designed for brand loyalists who frequent Marriott properties and are looking for a step up from a basic hotel card without committing to a premium annual fee. This cardholder values the automatic Gold Elite status and is willing to spend $15,000 annually to unlock the valuable free night award. It's an excellent middle-ground option for travelers who want solid perks like bonus points on paid stays and elite night credits but don't need the top-tier benefits of a luxury card.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our United Explorer vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful comparison left you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other travel rewards cards that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can meet any minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer with your normal purchasing habits.
• Review application rules - Be aware of issuer-specific restrictions that may affect your eligibility for a new card or its welcome offer.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the co-brand family rules - Some issuers have restrictions on welcome offers if you have or have had other cards in the same co-brand family.
• Time your application strategically - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer naturally.
• Be patient if you don't see the best offer - Elevated welcome offers can be targeted, so it may be worth waiting or trying different methods to find one.

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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Can I transfer points between United and Marriott?

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While you cannot directly transfer United miles to Marriott Bonvoy, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to United MileagePlus. The standard transfer ratio is 3:1, and Marriott provides a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.

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What are the annual fees for these cards?

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The United℠ Explorer Card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card from Chase carries a $250 annual fee.

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Which card is better for international travel?

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Both cards are strong choices for international travel because they do not charge foreign transaction fees. The better option depends on your travel style, as the United Explorer Card offers airline perks like a free checked bag, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card provides hotel-centric benefits.

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