Best Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards of June 2023
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2023 || Best hotel credit cards || Best airline credit cards || Best travel credit cards
Unlike some hotel chains that offer only one credit card, Marriott Bonvoy has an array of branded cards from multiple issuers. Options range from a basic $0-annual-fee card to a luxury version loaded with perks for $650 a year.
The higher the fee, the more benefits and perks you'll get from the card. Several cards offer an annual free night certificate, which can make up for the fee. Below, you'll find our picks for different types of travel, followed by a guide to choosing the right Marriott Bonvoy credit card for you.
Show summary
NerdWallet's Best Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards of June 2023
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Best for Most Marriott guests
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Best for Elevated benefits
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Best for Rewards for everyday spending
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card: Best for Rewards for everyday spending
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Best for No annual fee
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Best for Business travelers
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Point transfers and flexibility
Most Marriott guests
Perks are plentiful: a free hotel night once a year, automatic elite status and a wide variety of hotels to redeem your points. Also, you’ll earn 6 points per $1 spent at over 7,000 Marriott hotels worldwide. Purchases in popular spending categories, including grocery stores, gas stations and dining, earn 3 points per $1 spent, up to a cap. Other spending earns 2 points per $1 spent. Plus, you’ll earn one elite night credit toward status for every $5,000 spent on the card.
Though Marriott has an extensive portfolio, you don’t have the flexibility of redeeming points for other hotel brands. Elevated rewards on purchases at grocery stores, gas stations and dining top out at $6,000 spent in combined purchases; once you hit this relatively low threshold, you’ll earn only 2 points per $1 spent. Annual free night certificates are worth up to 35,000 points per night, but it can be challenging to redeem at this level for many hotels in peak season.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card provides good value at a reasonable cost, even for those who stay at hotels only a couple of times a year.
Elevated benefits
Annual fee
$650
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74%-29.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
This luxury card comes with a big welcome offer, solid rewards, multiple statement credits, elite status, lounge access and more, in exchange for a pricey $650 annual fee. Terms apply.
- Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 3 months.
- Each Card renewal year, get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.
- A Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member will earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at participating hotels for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member.
- Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2 points on all other eligible purchases.
- Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases, Card Members are eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. Benefit options include: Five (5) Suite Night Awards, 85K Free Night Award, and mattress and box spring $1,000 discount from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- $100 Luxury Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership through any Authorized Enrollment Provider for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85) when you pay the application fee with an eligible Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
- Enroll in Priority Pass Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- Enjoy unlimited airport lounge visits when you enroll in Priority Pass™ Select membership.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- Cell phone protection: You can be reimbursed for your costs to repair or replace your damaged or Stolen cell phone up to $800, subject to a $50 deductible, for 2 approved claims per 12-month period when your prior month's wireless bill was paid utilizing an Eligible Card Account. Terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- View Rates & Fees
The complimentary annual night certificate, worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, combined with the card’s $300 statement credit for dining (up to $25 per month), can offset the hefty annual fee. Plus, you’ll get 25 elite night credits per calendar year, automatic Platinum Elite status, Priority Pass lounge access, a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and loads of travel protections. Terms apply.
Though the card offers a slew of the perks that its $95-annual-fee cousin doesn’t, its earnings are nearly identical. You’ll earn 6 points per $1 spent at Marriott hotels, plus 3 points per $1 spent on dining (no cap), 3 points per $1 spent on flights, and 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. The $300 statement credit is doled out in $25 monthly increments at restaurants. Terms apply.
This luxury card comes with a big welcome offer, solid rewards, multiple statement credits, elite status, lounge access and more, in exchange for a pricey $650 annual fee. Terms apply.
Rewards for everyday spending
These two similarly-named cards are identical in earnings and fees; the only difference is the issuer.
Annual fee
$250
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74%-29.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
This card not only rewards you handsomely for Marriott purchases, but also for everyday shopping on things like dining and groceries. It comes with a big welcome offer and automatic elite status. Terms apply.
- Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you make $4,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months.
- Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status with your Card. A Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite member will earn 25% more points on eligible purchases at participating hotels for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
- Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms apply.
- View Rates & Fees
You'll earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent on eligible Marriott purchases, 4 points per $1 spent on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets and 2 points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases. You'll also get 1,000 bonus points for every qualifying Marriott stay.
While the card gives you a path to earn a free night each year (worth up to 50,000 points), you'll have to spend $15,000 in eligible purchases in order to get it. Some hotel credit cards offer a free night annually outright for a smaller annual fee.
This card not only rewards you handsomely for Marriott purchases, but also for everyday shopping on things like dining and groceries. It comes with a big welcome offer and automatic elite status. Terms apply.
Annual fee
$250
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
18.24%-25.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
This card not only rewards you handsomely for Marriott purchases, but also for everyday shopping on things like dining and groceries. It comes with a big welcome offer and automatic elite status. Terms apply.
- Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
- Earn up to 18.5X total points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
- Earn 4X points per $1 on the first $15,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores and dining.
- Earn 2X points per $1 spent on other travel purchases.
- Earn 2X points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Earn 1,000 Bonus Points per each stay at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits per calendar year and automatic Gold Elite status each account anniversary year as a cardmember.
- The information related to the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
Cardholders earn 1,000 bonus points for every qualifying Marriott stay. You'll earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent on eligible Marriott purchases, 4 points per $1 spent on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets and 2 points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
While the card gives you a path to earn a free night each year (worth up to 50,000 points), you'll have to spend $15,000 in eligible purchases in order to get it. Some hotel credit cards offer a free night annually outright for a smaller annual fee.
This card not only rewards you handsomely for Marriott purchases, but also for everyday shopping on things like dining and groceries. It comes with a big welcome offer and automatic elite status. Terms apply.
No annual fee
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74%-27.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
This $0-annual-fee card features a large sign-up bonus and elevated rewards for spending at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, plus it offers automatic entry-level elite status. It’s a good fit for casual travelers who want to earn Marriott rewards without paying a fee.
- Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase®!
- Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
- 2X points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains).
- 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, qualifying you for Silver Elite Status. Restrictions apply.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Earn unlimited Marriott Bonvoy® points and get Free Night Stays faster.
You’ll get a solid sign-up bonus for a $0 annual fee. Plus, it grants 15 elite night credits each year, which qualifies for free Silver Elite status. You’ll earn 3 points per $1 spent at Marriott, 2 points per $1 spent on other travel purchases, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Terms apply.
It's light on perks, as expected for a no-fee card. For instance, you won't get a free annual hotel night certificate, a hallmark of other hotel credit cards.
This $0-annual-fee card features a large sign-up bonus and elevated rewards for spending at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, plus it offers automatic entry-level elite status. It’s a good fit for casual travelers who want to earn Marriott rewards without paying a fee.
Business travelers
Annual fee
$125
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.74%-29.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card can be a practical companion for business travelers who stay at Marriotts, with benefits that easily eclipse the cost of its $125 annual fee. Terms apply.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.
- View Rates & Fees
You’ll earn a rich welcome bonus, a discount on Marriott standard rates for bookings, automatic Gold elite status, and a complimentary annual night certificate. In addition, the card earns generous rewards: 6 points per $1 spent at Marriott; 4 points per $1 spent on purchases at restaurants, U.S. gas stations, wireless phone services and shipping purchases; plus 2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. Terms apply.
The $125 annual fee is a bit higher than the personal card version. Annual free night certificates are worth up to 35,000 points per night, but it can be challenging to redeem at this level for many hotels in peak season. Terms apply.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card can be a practical companion for business travelers who stay at Marriotts, with benefits that easily eclipse the cost of its $125 annual fee. Terms apply.
Point transfers and flexibility
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.24%-28.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn't a Marriott-branded card, but the points you earn are super-flexible. Among your options: transferring points directly to Marriott (as well as a dozen other airline and hotel partners).
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
You'll earn solid rewards that are extremely flexible: 5 points per $1 spent on travel booked through Chase; 3 points per $1 on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart); 2 points per $1 on other travel; and 1 point per $1 everywhere else. Points can be transferred to Marriott or other eligible airline and hotel partners, or you can use them to book travel through Chase at a rate of 1.25 cents apiece. In addition, there's a stellar sign-up bonus and a slew of other perks.
Because this is a general-purpose travel card rather than a branded card, it won't qualify you for any hotel-specific perks, like automatic elite status. It doesn't offer a free annual hotel night certificate as some co-branded Marriott cards do.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn't a Marriott-branded card, but the points you earn are super-flexible. Among your options: transferring points directly to Marriott (as well as a dozen other airline and hotel partners).
WHICH MARRIOTT CREDIT CARD SHOULD I CHOOSE?
By Gregory Karp, NerdWallet
Marriott enthusiasts have a wide range of choices for a branded credit card, starting with a basic version with no annual fee and going all the way up to a perks-laden $650-a-year card. Marriott's card lineup was revamped in 2019 when the hotel company introduced its Bonvoy loyalty program after its merger with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, and again in 2022 with the launch of two new cards and a refresh of another.
Card choices for consumers are:
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card ($0 annual fee).
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card ($95 annual fee).
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card ($250 annual fee).
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card ($250 annual fee).
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card ($650 annual fee).
The pricier cards come with richer benefits and rewards than the basic card. So should you pay more to get more?
Marriott credit cards, compared
Marriott's credit cards work with the hotel company's loyalty program, Bonvoy. Note that some cards are issued by Chase and others by American Express. This is a legacy of the Marriott-Starwood merger. At the time of the merger, Marriott had cards issued by Chase, while Starwood cards were issued by AmEx.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (from Chase, $0 annual fee) |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (from Chase, $95 annual fee) |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card ($250 annual fee) |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card (from Chase, $250 annual fee) |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card ($650 annual fee) |
|
NerdWallet values Marriott points at 0.7 cent each. This is a baseline value, drawn from real-world data, not a maximized value. In other words, you should aim for award redemptions that offer 0.7 cent or more in value from your Marriott points.
Cheat sheet for choosing a Marriott card
If you want that anniversary night: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
This will be the right choice for many Marriott loyalists. The card more than pays for itself if you use the free night each year. That’s because a night at a Marriott property typically costs more than the annual fee of $95.
Also key: If you're looking for a card to use beyond Marriott booking, this one offers 3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations and dining, as well as 2 points per dollar spent everywhere else. That's competitive with cash-back rewards cards.
If you want to try a Bonvoy card for free: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
The allure here is the annual fee of $0. That makes it a no-risk way to earn perks and points in the Bonvoy program or generally to test the hotel loyalty waters. It's the card for those who refuse to pay annual fees, but it has less potential for outsized value than other Marriott cards.
If you want more Marriott rewards on everyday spending: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
These similarly named cards are all but identical, offering the same rewards for the same price; the only difference is in the issuer. You'll earn 4X Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, making it a rewarding card for those looking to ramp up their Bonvoy points balances. The card also comes with automatic Gold status, and earns an extra 1,000 points for every qualifying Marriott stay on top of the regular earnings from status and the card.
If you want luxury benefits: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The annual fee of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card might be hard to swallow, but it starts making sense when you break it down. If you can use the $300 dining credit every year (up to $25 per month), that effectively drops the fee to $350. And if you can book swankier hotels with your anniversary night (worth up to 85,000 points), it can be worth the remaining $350. Plus, it comes with automatic Platinum elite status, which can give meaningful value for Marriott loyalists in the form of room upgrades (including suites), free breakfast, lounge access, extra late check-out and more. In addition to perks in the comparison chart, this card offers a $100 Marriott property credit on two-night stays at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels. The credit is good for expenses such as room service and spa treatments. Terms apply.
Other Marriott cards
Marriott also has legacy cards that predate the launch of the Bonvoy program. They are closed to new applications. For reference, they are:
Marriott Bonvoy™ American Express® Card.
Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card.
The Ritz-Carlton Card.
A current Bonvoy card for small business is the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
• • •
Last updated on May 25, 2023
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
