Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant

The Marriott Bonvoy program is exclusive in that it has bank card partnerships with two totally different issuers: Chase and American Express.

If you are out there for a brand new card, chances are you’ll be torn between the mid-tier Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (see charges and costs) from Chase and the premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.

Deciding between a mid-tier bank card and a premium bank card is difficult sufficient, however when the playing cards you are contemplating are topic to totally different utility guidelines, the choice turns into even more durable.

Let’s demystify the choice and assist you to decide whether or not the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card makes extra sense for you.

Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Brilliant comparability

*Eligibility and profit ranges fluctuate by card. Terms, situations and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Brilliant welcome supply

New Bonvoy Boundless cardholders can earn 5 free nights (every night time valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Certain resorts have resort charges.

If you maximize every free night time award, plus earn the 50,000 factors, TPG’s June 2025 valuations make this welcome supply value as much as $1,750.

Conversely, the Bonvoy Brilliant is presently providing new candidates the prospect to earn 100,000 bonus factors after making $6,000 in purchases throughout the first six months of card membership and an additional 50,000 bonus factors after making an extra $2,000 in purchases throughout the first six months.

According to TPG’s June 2025 valuations, this welcome supply is value as much as $1,050.

Regarding eligibility, the Bonvoy Boundless is topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so you will most likely be routinely rejected should you’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards within the final 24 months.

Additionally, American Express limits you to incomes the welcome bonus on a given card as soon as per lifetime. So, should you’ve already earned a bonus on the Bonvoy Brilliant, you will not be eligible for a brand new bonus.

On prime of those issuer restrictions, Marriott Bonvoy has its personal set of eligibility necessities. Make positive to test all of those and make sure you’re eligible earlier than making use of for both card.

Winner: Bonvoy Boundless. If every free night time is maximized, the welcome supply has the next general level worth.

Related: Marriott 50K-point free night time certificates: 7 finest resorts on this planet to make use of your award redemption

Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Brilliant advantages

Both playing cards are geared towards those that keep at Marriott Bonvoy portfolio properties, so you possibly can anticipate finding quite a lot of advantages regarding Marriott property stays, amongst different advantages.

The Bonvoy Boundless is a mid-tier bank card that gives helpful advantages for only a $95 annual price. It comes with complimentary Silver Elite standing with the choice to earn Gold Elite standing after spending $35,000 on purchases in a calendar yr.

With the Boundless, you will additionally obtain:

• 15 elite night time credit a yr
• One elite night time credit score towards elite standing for each $5,000 spent
• Complimentary premium Wi-Fi at Marriott Bonvoy properties
• No overseas transaction charges
• Travel protections (baggage delay insurance coverage, misplaced baggage reimbursement and journey delay reimbursement)
• Purchase safety

As a premium bank card with an annual price of $650, the Bonvoy Brilliant gives higher-tier advantages akin to complimentary Platinum Elite standing and 25 elite night time credit yearly.

Here are some assertion credit that assist offset that top annual price:

• Up to $300 (as much as $25 per 30 days) in assertion credit for eating at eating places worldwide
• A $120 assertion credit score for Global Entry each 4 years or as much as $85 for TSA PreCheck each 4 1/2 years
• Up to $100 luxurious property credit score legitimate on eligible stays of two nights or extra at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis resorts

Enrollment is required for choose advantages, and phrases apply.

You’ll additionally obtain a Priority Pass Select membership, granting you entry to over 1,700 lounges. Enrollment is required, and phrases apply. The Boundless does not supply lounge entry, so this makes the Brilliant a greater possibility for many frequent vacationers. That mentioned, if you have already got a card with Priority Pass entry, this profit will not do something for you.

Additionally, the Brilliant comes with a powerful array of journey and buying protections, together with:

• Car rental insurance coverage**
• Baggage insurance coverage***
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance coverage****
• Trip delay insurance coverage****
• Purchase safety***
• Return safety*****
• Cellphone safety****

Both playing cards supply free night time awards, however the Bonvoy Brilliant’s free night time award is value considerably extra. With the Bonvoy Boundless, your free night time award is barely value 35,000 factors. With the Bonvoy Brilliant, you possibly can redeem your free night time award for as much as 85,000 factors. Additionally, with each free night time awards, you possibly can prime them up with as much as 15,000 factors out of your Bonvoy account.

**Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Not all automobile sorts or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, situations and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is obtainable by means of American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

***Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Terms, situations and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

****Eligibility and profit ranges fluctuate by card. Terms, situations and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

*****Eligibility and profit ranges fluctuate by card. Terms, situations and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars.

Winner: Bonvoy Brilliant. The Brilliant has way more advantages that simply offset its steep annual price, and its free night time award is way more helpful.

Related: Marriott elite standing: What it’s and the way to earn it

Earning factors with the Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Brilliant

These two playing cards earn 6 factors per greenback spent on purchases at taking part Marriott Bonvoy resorts. They additionally each earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, however the Bonvoy Boundless is topic to a spending cap on that class.

Along with incomes 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, the Boundless earns 3 factors per greenback spent on groceries and gasoline station purchases, on the primary $6,000 in mixed spending annually.

Both playing cards earn 2 factors per greenback spent on most different purchases, with the Bonvoy Brilliant incomes an elevated 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked immediately with the airline.

Since the Boundless earns extra on grocery shops and gasoline stations (topic to the spending cap talked about above), it could be a greater possibility for these hoping to have a one-card pockets.

These incomes constructions are akin to different lodge cobranded playing cards. Still, you will seemingly get a greater incomes fee utilizing a extra basic journey card for purchases outdoors of Marriott.

Winner: Bonvoy Brilliant. It does not cap eating earnings and earns extra factors when reserving flights immediately with an airline.

Related: Best Marriott bank cards

Redeeming factors with the Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Brilliant

Both Bonvoy bank cards earn Marriott factors which can be routinely deposited into your Bonvoy account by means of bank card spending.

You can redeem these Bonvoy factors for lodge stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments and merchandise by means of Marriott buying. You may also switch them to over 35 airline applications.

Most of the time, lodge stays are the best choice for max worth. However, since Marriott makes use of a dynamic pricing mannequin, the variety of factors you will want for a keep will depend on the lodge, the room sort, occupancy and the money fee.

One option to maximize your factors is to make the most of Bonvoy’s fifth-night-free perk. This perk lets you e book a stick with factors for 5 nights and solely pay for 4 nights.

Chris Nelson, a bank cards author at TPG, used this profit for a keep on the JW Marriott Hotel Sao Paulo. He paid with factors for 4 nights and bought the fifth night time free.

Winner: Tie. Both playing cards earn Bonvoy factors and have the identical redemption choices.

Related: How to redeem Marriott factors for upgraded rooms

Transferring factors with the Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Brilliant

You can switch your Bonvoy factors to any of Marriott’s 39 airline companions. Most transfers to airways are at a 3:1 ratio, which means you will obtain 1 airline mile for each 3 Marriott factors transferred.

Marriott additionally offers 5,000 bonus airline miles for each 60,000 Marriott factors you switch to airline companions, apart from American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles and Delta SkyMiles. Plus, whenever you switch factors to United MileagePlus, you’ll obtain 10,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 factors transferred.

Transferring factors generally is a sensible choice in some particular situations, akin to transferring them to American Airlines AAdvantage to make the most of candy spots. However, you will often get a decrease worth out of your factors should you switch them to airways, so we usually suggest avoiding this selection besides to prime off your miles balances when wanted.

Additionally, you possibly can simply switch factors between Marriott Bonvoy accounts, whether or not between two accounts belonging to the identical individual or transferring factors to a good friend or member of the family. Point transfers are free and could be accomplished on-line.

Winner: Tie. Both playing cards have entry to the identical switch companions and may switch to family and friends.

Related: Should you switch lodge factors to airline companions?

Should I get the Bonvoy Boundless or the Bonvoy Brilliant?

The Bonvoy Boundless, with an inexpensive $95 annual price, is the only option for newbie vacationers and those that keep at Marriott properties simply a few instances annually. Conversely, with a a lot increased $650 annual price, the Bonvoy Brilliant is finest for Marriott loyalists who need Platinum Elite standing and may maximize its different advantages.

Related: Free nights and simple standing: Why I’ve 3 Marriott Bonvoy bank cards and pay over $1,200 in annual charges

Bottom line

Once you have confirmed that you’re eligible to use for both Chase’s Bonvoy Boundless or Amex’s Bonvoy Brilliant, the selection comes right down to your journey habits and the way usually you keep at Marriott properties.

If you are a newbie traveler otherwise you aren’t dedicated to Marriott, contemplate the extra inexpensive Bonvoy Boundless. If you are a devoted Marriott vacationer, you possibly can’t go incorrect with the Bonvoy Brilliant and its plethora of advantages to assist elevate your lodge stays.

To study extra, see our full evaluations of the Bonvoy Boundless and the Bonvoy Brilliant.

---

Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

---

For charges and costs of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click on right here.