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Marriott Bonvoy credit cards can be powerful tools to help you maximize your stays with the hotel giant. Award travelers everywhere have used these cards to save thousands of dollars through free nights, upgrades, and even complimentary breakfast — and some have even parlayed them into lifetime elite status with Marriott Bonvoy.
If you’re not familiar with all the options, Marriott’s co-branded credit card lineup is as broad as it is complex. There are currently seven cards split between two issuers. And that can make it challenging to untangle the application rules and determine which card (or combination of cards) makes the most sense for you.
In this post, we’ll break down the Marriott Bonvoy credit card options, highlight their key benefits, and help you decide how they might fit into your travel strategy.
Page Contents
- Chase-Issued Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
- American Express-Issued Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
- Marriott Bonvoy Card Application Strategy
- Bottom Line
- Marriott Credit Cards FAQ
- What credit cards give you Marriott status?
- Are there any Marriott credit cards with Titanium status?
- What is the best credit card for Marriott status?
- Do Marriott credit cards have an annual fee?
- Do Marriott credit cards offer free nights?
- What credit score is needed for a Marriott credit card?
- Can I have more than one Marriott credit card at the same time?
- Is having a Marriott co-branded credit card worth it?
Chase-Issued Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
Marriott Bonvoy has four credit cards issued by Chase. Of these, three are open to new applicants, while the fourth is only available via product change.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) is the only co-branded Marriott credit card that doesn’t charge an annual fee. Yet it still comes with a handful of useful perks, including complimentary Marriott elite status and a welcome bonus.
- Welcome bonus: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card!
- Complimentary elite status: Automatic Silver Elite status — plus, you’ll receive 5 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
- Key benefits: No foreign transaction fees and Visa Signature benefits
- Earning rates: 3X Bonvoy points per $1 spent at Marriott Bonvoy® hotels, 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
The Bonvoy Bold is a solid option for those who want Marriott benefits without paying an annual fee. It’s also a good card to downgrade to if you’re product changing from a Chase-issued Marriott card that carries an annual fee.
- Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after qualifying purchases.
- Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase®!
- Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
- Earn 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services.
- 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Travel now, pay later - Break up purchases into equal monthly payments with no interest plus no plan fees on qualifying travel purchases. Terms apply.
- Pay Yourself Back® - Redeem Marriott Bonvoy® points for a statement credit to cover qualifying travel purchases made directly with airlines or at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, up to $750 total in redemptions per year.
- Member FDIC
- 3X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
- 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services
- 1X point on all other purchases
Related: Bonvoy Bold Card Review
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
The $95-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) offers great benefits for a mid-tier hotel card.
- Welcome bonus: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening, and an additional 1 Free Night Award after spending $4,000 total on eligible purchases within 4 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Redeem your Free Night Awards for a one-night stay at properties with a redemption level up to 50,000 points per night, a total value of 200,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees. 2026 Exclusive Offer: Get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually.
- Complimentary elite status: Automatic Silver Elite status (receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually) — plus earn Gold Status after spending $35,000 on your card in a calendar year
- Key benefits: Free Night Award (up to 35,000 points) after your first account anniversary, earn 1 Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 you spend, no foreign transaction fees, and Visa Signature benefits
- Earning rates: 6X Bonvoy points per $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining, and 2X points per $1 on all other purchases
The Marriott Boundless offers a solid mix of benefits in exchange for a reasonable annual fee. The welcome bonus can help offset the annual fee in year one, and the Free Night Award you’ll receive each year after your first cardmember anniversary can help offset the annual fee in years two and beyond.
- Earn up to 4 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
- 2026 Exclusive Offer: Get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually.
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
- Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
- Member FDIC
- 6X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
- 3X points for every $1 spent on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Related: Marriott Boundless Review
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card is the most premium Chase-issued Marriott card currently open to new applicants. It carries a $250 annual fee and a handful of benefits.
- Welcome bonus: Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in the first three months.
- Complimentary elite status: Automatic Gold Elite status — plus, you’ll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
- Key benefits: Earn a Free Night Award each calendar year after $15,000 in spend (up to 50,000 points), no foreign transaction fees, and Visa Signature benefits
- Earning rates: 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4X points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, and 2X points on all other eligible purchases
The main selling points of the Marriott Bountiful are the automatic Gold Elite status and the Free Night Award you can earn after meeting the annual spending requirement. For the right traveler, this card can make sense, but it doesn’t feel like the most well-rounded Chase-issued Marriott card currently available.
- 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4X points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card
The The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card is a bit of an enigma. Arguably, it’s one of the most interesting Chase-issued Marriott cards you can have, but you’ll need to jump through a few hoops to get it.
That’s because this $450-annual-fee card is no longer open to new applicants. Instead, it’s only available via product change from any of the three Chase-issued Marriott cards mentioned above, provided you’ve held that card for at least a year.
- Welcome bonus: None (card not open to new applications)
- Complimentary elite status: Automatic Gold Elite status — plus, you’ll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
- Key benefits: $300 annual travel credit, Free Night Award (up to 85,000 points) after your first account anniversary, Priority Pass™ Select membership, no foreign transaction fees, and Visa Infinite benefits
- Earning rates: 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 3X points for every $1 spent on dining, car rentals and airline purchases, and 2X points on all other eligible purchases
These are great benefits, and in our opinion, this card is well worth jumping through the hoops to add to your wallet.
Related: Ritz-Carlton Card Card Review
American Express-Issued Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
The Marriott Bonvoy credit card portfolio also includes three American Express-issued cards: two for personal use and one for business owners.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card
The Amex-issued card with the lowest annual fee in the Marriott portfolio is the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, which carries a $250 annual fee(Rates & Fees).
- Welcome bonus: Earn 175,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 5/13/2026.
- Complimentary elite status: Automatic Gold Elite status — plus, you’ll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
- Key benefits: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year (up to 50,000 points), earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott at participating properties, and no foreign transaction fees(Rates & Fees)
- Earning rates: 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4X points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, and 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Like other Marriott cards, the key to justifying the annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card is maximizing the welcome offer in year one and getting top value from the Free Night Award in years two and beyond.
(Terms Apply)
- Earn 175,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 5/13/2026.
- Earn 6X 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.
- Marriott Bonvoy® 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®. Terms apply.
- Earn up to 18.5X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 25% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Gold Elite status.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® 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, receive 15 Elite Night Credits towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- Booking the trip is easy. Avoiding delays is next to impossible. If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up large purchases into monthly installments with a fixed fee. A fixed monthly fee is shown upfront so you'll know exactly how much you'll pay. Plus, you'll still earn rewards for the purchases you plan the way you usually do.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4X points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Related: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card Review
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is Marriott’s most premium co-branded card. And it also carries the highest annual fee in the lineup at $650 (Rates & Fees).
- Welcome bonus: Earn 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 5/13/2026.
- Complimentary elite status: Automatic Platinum Elite status — plus, you’ll receive 25 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
- Key benefits: Free Night Award (up to 85,000 points) after your first account anniversary, Brilliant Earned Choice Award after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, up to $300 in Brilliant Dining Credits (up to $25 per month), Priority Pass Select membership, no foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees), and more (Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.)
- Earning rates: Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
There are several ways to justify the annual fee on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. You can offset much of it by maximizing the welcome bonus in year one and the Free Night Award in years two and beyond. But you can also extract significant value from the card’s statement credits — and, if you’re a big spender, from the Brilliant Earned Choice Award.
(Terms Apply)
- Earn 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 5/13/2026.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- A Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite member will earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member.
- 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®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® 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 ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card 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.
- With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport 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 comfortable location.
- Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- 6X points on purchases at Marriott Properties
- 3X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Related: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Review
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
The only Marriott Bonvoy business card currently open to new applicants is the (aptly named) Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. It carries a relatively modest $125 annual fee(Rates & Fees) and offers a solid mix of benefits for business owners.
- Welcome bonus: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases and an extra 2 Free Night Awards after you spend an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Complimentary elite status: Automatic Gold Elite status — plus, you’ll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
- Key benefits: Receive 1 Free Night Award each year after your card renewal month (up to 35,000 points), plus earn an additional Free Night Award after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year. You’ll also receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, no foreign transaction fees(Rates & Fees), and more (Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.)
- Earning rates: 6x points 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, and 2x points on all other eligible purchases
For business owners who value Marriott Bonvoy perks, there aren’t many co-branded options available. But the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card can be a reasonable addition to your wallet, and for the right cardholder, its annual fee is easy to justify.
(Terms apply)
- WELCOME OFFER: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases and an extra 2 Free Night Awards after you spend an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points, for a total potential value of up to 250,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
- Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.
- 6x 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. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
- Terms apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible 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 Marriott Bonvoy® points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Related: Marriott Bonvoy Business Card Review
Marriott Bonvoy Card Application Strategy
Before applying for a Marriott credit card, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Your Chase 5/24 status: Know where you stand before applying. Remember that the number of cards you open in a 24-month period can affect your eligibility for Chase-issued Marriott cards. That doesn’t necessarily mean you must apply for a Chase card first, but you should factor 5/24 into your broader strategy.
- Marriott application rules: Review your credit card history and make sure you understand the welcome offer eligibility rules. Cross-issuer restrictions between Chase and American Express can be complicated, so double-checking before you apply can save you a lot of frustration.
- Elite Status strategy: With the right Marriott card pairing, you can start each year with up to 40 Elite Night Credits. If you’re targeting a higher tier than what your current card provides automatically, a strategic pairing can give you a valuable head start each year.
Related: The Best Co-Brand Credit Card for Each Hotel Loyalty Program: Perks and Why They're Worth Getting
Bottom Line
As you can see, there’s no shortage of Marriott co-branded cards that earn points, offer Free Night Awards, and provide automatic elite status. The key is choosing the one that best aligns with your travel patterns and overall credit card strategy. So, take your time, weigh the benefits against the annual fee, and think about how each card fits into your broader goals before submitting that next application.
$95Rates & Fees
- 6X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
- 3X points for every $1 spent on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
$650Rates & Fees
(Terms Apply)
- 6X points on purchases at Marriott Properties
- 3X points at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
$125Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x Marriott Bonvoy® points on each dollar of eligible 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 Marriott Bonvoy® points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Marriott Credit Cards FAQ
What credit cards give you Marriott status?
There are seven credit cards that give cardholders Marriott Bonvoy status. The no-annual-fee Marriott Boundless grants Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card, Marriott Bountiful, Ritz-Carlton Card, and Marriott Bonvoy Business Card offer Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is the only credit card to offer Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status.
Are there any Marriott credit cards with Titanium status?
Unfortunately, there are no Marriott credit cards offering Marriott Titanium Elite status. However, Marriott co-branded cards do offer a quicker path to Titanium, as several offer automatic elite nights that help cardholders reach the 75-night threshold for Titanium status. Consider both personal and business credit cards to get you there faster.
What is the best credit card for Marriott status?
The best credit card for Marriott status is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. The card offers Marriott Platinum Elite status for as long as you hold the card. No Marriott credit card offers Titanium or Ambassador status, meaning this is the highest level of status you can receive automatically.
Do Marriott credit cards have an annual fee?
All Marriott co-branded credit cards have an annual fee, except for the Bonvoy Bold. However, this card offers the most pared down slate of benefits. If you're looking to maximize your experience with the Marriott Bonvoy elite program with a co-branded credit card, one with an annual fee will offer more benefits.
Do Marriott credit cards offer free nights?
Yes, several Marriott credit cards offer free nights as a yearly account anniversary benefit and for spending on the card. There are free night certificates for 35,000 points, 50,000 points, and 85,000 points, which can all be topped off with 15,000 extra Marriott Bonvoy points from your account. Several cards offer the ability to earn free nights based on your yearly spending, as well.
What credit score is needed for a Marriott credit card?
While there are many factors that go into a successful credit card application, very good to excellent credit is recommended before applying for a Marriott credit card.
Can I have more than one Marriott credit card at the same time?
Yes! However, you'll want to make sure you're aware of Marriott credit card application rules to ensure you qualify for the welcome bonus. Marriott even rewards those with both a personal and business Marriott co-branded card by granting them up to 40 Elite Night Credits towards status each year.
Is having a Marriott co-branded credit card worth it?
If you stay at Marriott properties frequently throughout the year, a Marriott co-branded card can be completely worth it. However, understanding your stay patterns and weighing that against annual fees and other credit card options is important before making any decision on your next credit card.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
I have Chase Boundless right now. And Amex Bevy some time ago. I just tried to apply for Amex Brilliant and was notified that I wasn’t eligible for sign up bonus. Is this for life, or do I need to wait awhile? I thought since I never had Brilliant I could still get it.
Not quite for life.
At least at the time of this comment, the Brilliant restrictions say you can’t:
(i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card or the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card in the last 30 days
(ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card in the last 90 days, or
(iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card in the last 24 months.
Have you gotten the Boundless within the past 24 months? If so, that’s probably what’s blocking you — and you’d just have to wait out that period.
Hi, please help shed some light. I have SPG $95 AE bonvoy now (since 2010). I would like to apply for Chase brilliant 250K points. I’ve did the research and it’s either 30 days never have had the card (which I qualify) or 30 days cancellation period on the existing spg card. Any thoughts? Thanks!
We get much more into the nitty-gritty of Marriott card eligibility in this post: https://awardwallet.com/credit-cards/marriott-bonvoy/marriott-card-application-rules/
Are you referring to the Chase Bonvoy Boundless card’s 5 night certificates (each worth up to 50k) offer? If so, it does look like you’d need to cancel (or potentially product change?) your existing card and then wait 30 days.
“Eligibility for the new cardmember bonus: The bonus is not available to you if you (1) are a current cardmember, or were a previous cardmember within the last 30 days, of Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card (also known as The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express)”
Nice to able to earn points on the Bonvoy card even though they are devalued; however getting Marriott status (Gold elite) has not gotten us a single room upgrade over 21 stays Jan to Apr 2019. Don’t expect it. Book other rooms than Marriott and get what you want instead of anticipating an upgrade.
Thank you for the detailed post. Much appreciated.
Too bad the Bonvoy cards earn 33% less points on regular purchases compared to SPG
The Bonvoy Brilliant annual $300 statement credit offsets the $450 annual fee pretty nicely. Even so, agree that point accrual and gold status vs platinum could be better. Still may consider in the future..Thanks for the great insight!
One problem I have run into in the past with Marriott Rewards (now Bonvoy) is that free night certificates are only good for a certain level of hotel, and very often in big cities such as Washington DC, and london, there are no hotels at that level. So, you end up having to stay far away or not use the certificate.
AMEX and Chase scramble to divide up the strangely renamed Marriott affinity credit card pie:
Badly Branded Bonvoy Boundless/ Brilliant Battles Belie Bad Bank Business Breakup
Great info to read. Can’t believe they debuted Bonvoy commercials during the Oscars telecast!
The Amex luxury card is pretty disappointing, comparing to all other high annual fee cards. Wonder if it’s due to dual-issuer agreement which makes Amex less compelled to give very competitive features.
Awesome! Thank you for clarifying this
Between the two, I personally like the Amex cards. Customer service is above all.
I need to wait a few more months until I’m eligible again to apply, but am bookmarking the application rules post. Thanks!
Quite the tangled web of cards. Thanks for making some sense of it.
Is there a way to convert AAdvantage miles to Marriott points?
Love Marriott brand hotels, especially now they are even bigger with SPG hotels. Would def consider getting the co-brand new cards.
I’ve had the Chase Marriott cars for years and recently upgraded it. Would there be good reason to apply for the AmEx Marriott card to take advantage of their sign on bonus points, or would I be ineligible for it?
Eligibility depends on the exact card you hold, when you applied for it, and the last time you received a bonus on it. Check out the bullet points next to the card you want to apply for in our updated Marriott card application rules post.
Rich
Thanks for the though breakdown of the new types of credit cards.
Thanks for the breakdown. It is helpful as I am debating whether to go with Hilton or Marriott for my travel and will get a CC to enhance earnings.
The 2x points on all non Marriott spending isn’t enough to make me jump for the new card.
Thanks for this article, it helps a lot. I still can’t get over the name Bonvoy though!
Amex wouldn’t allow the Bonvoy Business if you have Chase Marriott Personal
Sure do miss earning the 3x SPG points on the old SPG card…
I need a new Marriott card!
be careful if you have had the bonus from Amex before (for SPG) then you may not be eligible for the new AMEX bonvoy cards. There are some specific rules around this. search other blogs for more detailed info about it.
Statement credits for the Luxury card have the potential to completely negate the annual fee if you spend on certain things.
I don’t like how bonus points are limited to US locations but that’s across the board with Amex.
Love Marriott experience every time I stayed. Great to be part of the program.
Wow what amazing deals – wish we had something similar in the UK! Still have the SPG Amex at a fairly poor earning rate (with minimal benefits for annual fee) and a Marriott MasterCard which is closed to new applicants!
thank for the information. very helpful
I’m still sorting through the Marriott Bonvoy program overall now that it has consolidated, but this is a great summary of the different cards I’ll have a choice of with the new program when I decide if the fees will be worth it. Very helpful, thanks.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the UK, where the SPG card is still available.
Great layout to best understand what you get where. I’m waiting for the no AF card from Chase. I wonder when they might put that out. I don’t use Marriott enough to justify the cards with the AF right now.
Just wish one was available in Australia.
with this new bonvoy launch, the credit card offerings have gotten pretty messed up. The new AmEx bonvoy business card didn’t provide any additional benefits but they still increased the annual fee. That on top of the loss of 1/3 rd of the earning rate. I”m likely going to cancel the card.
It is really a wonderful gift to us that you are able to analyze this amount of data and clearly explain it to the rest of us. Thank you!
making it more confusing everyday so you either squander your points, never use them or never earn them… I miss the old days
Can the 100,000 AE points be transferred to United Airlines or Marriott? Previously to transfer AE points to either program one had to transfer AE to Marriott then from Marriott to UA. There wasn’t a direct transfer from AE to UA. It’s been a while since I did this so I may be mistaken. The basic question …can I transfer the business AE 100,000 points to either Marriott or UA?
Regards,
Nick
Still no direct transfer between Membership Rewards and United. You can transfer Membership Rewards to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio but it’s not a recommended use of your points as Amex points are much more valuable than Marriott Points.
Helpful info. as these restrictions/qualifications are continually getting more complicated and requiring more careful consideration.
I do think Bonvoy is the worst name of any loyalty program.
This is a huge help in understanding the nuances of the cards. I find these explanations extremely helpful. Thanks! I think I know which direction I’m heading towards finally!
Thanks for the breakdown. 4x points at gas stations, the extra night and auto status on the business card is a worthwhile consideration for me.
Thanks for sharing the breakdown. Very helpful!
Looking to mortgage shop around September so I will have to miss out on any credit card sign ups until after all of that is complete.
It’s very confusing, they should have stuck with either Chase or Amex.
Too many rules to even get a card.
Thanks for this, much appreciated.
Great info. Want this deal.
Thank you for pointing out the most valuable card for us.
strange the UK SPG Amex is still available for new sign-ups.
I’m still really not sure which marketing agency thought bonvoy was a good name?! But putting that aside, I’ve found the integration betweeen Marriott and SPG fairly smooth, and I’m enjoying being able to book some top end former spg properties using points advance.
Imagine them announcing it at the airports for people are apart of that status.
Wow! This lays it out all out nicely compared to other posts I’ve seen about these changes. Thank you! And thank you for the Marriott card eligibility link – super helpful as I strategize which cards to get in what order!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I don’t understand why the Bonvoy business card is any better, especially with the increased fee since there is no increase in benefit with the increase in fee. Unless you are spend significantly in the bonus categories (which by the way are bonus categories for other cards as well and provides better value there), its much better to just get the personal chase version.
Ability to get a second free night, the higher bonus categories and currently higher welcome bonus put it above the personal version IMO
Thank you for the clarity. Heavily invested in SPG / Marriot and looking toward getting new program card.
Thanks for reminding me of the AMEX ‘Welcome Tool’ to ascertain eligibility (since Chase is out (5/24).
Business card it is! Needed a cooling couple months before my next chase business card
The Automatic Silver Elite status is good.
Will have to think about what to do next!
Wow, I’m actually impressed by the premium card… elite status, $300 Marriott credit, and annual free night cert is pretty compelling.
I have both the Bonvoy Brilliant card and the business card and will probably keep them. With the 300 dollar credit, the luxury card annual fee is reasonable. I wish it had a better earn rate at their hotels — the same earn rate as the other cards is disappointing. I agree that the business card has the best for category earnings. It will be my gas card when there are no quarterly gas bonuses.
A very confusing line up of cards compared to other chains. Thanks for the rundown on the latest changes.
I have no idea what I’m going to do with my remaining cards. I previously dropped the business versions of my SPG and Marriott cards.
Too bad Amex isn’t an option for entry level – partner doesn’t like Chase due to banking scandals
Don’t think business card is better one. Bonus categories may be better but how many readers here are using only one card?
With effectively $150 fee for Brilliant, $125 for business is really high.
Anyway, we will still keep two Lux, 1 Amex biz, 2 Chase Biz for a while.
Some useful information here, thanks.
Being burdened with Chase 5/24 I do not have to worry about any new Chase cards at this time.
I very much appreciate your spinning of a “burden” into “no worry for me here.” Turning such a negative on its head is probably a tool that serves you well in life. And, I need to take a lesson from you!
Thanks for the info. This seems to be the clearest explanation I’ve seen, so far.
you’re welcome!
Seems to me the luxury card gets the most bang for the buck.
Well that makes sense!
The “Cross over” rules (see Marriott card eligibility resource.) are really a PITA. I suddenly have an Amex Bonvoy card and my husband has a Chase Bonvoy card. I was the lucky one – I got approved for the new Amex Bonvoy Business card; my husband was the unlucky one. He upgraded his Chase Marriott card i November and got points AND he hasn’t had the card for 24 months yet.
Couldn’t agree more. Basically an act of collusion. Not saying it’s illegal or anything like that, but to see companies start to partner in this way is concerning.
The $95 is justified with the card. I wish it was a little higher or offered more points, but it’s worth it and justified for sure.
The free night is worth it. I wish it was a little more value/higher levels, but it’s still good enough to justify.
I hope they clarify the posting times of when the free night cert will hit out accounts
I’m really sad Amex is not issuing the basic consumer card anymore.
Yea, its difficult to pick up cards with Chase if youve been in the space a while