Bonvoy Daring vs. Boundless: Which card is greatest for you?

Marriott gives 5 private bank cards to new candidates, with annual charges starting from none to a whopping $650 per 12 months.

Briefly, there is a card for everybody, whether or not you are a die-hard Marriott fan or an occasional traveler searching for free award nights.

Chase points the 2 most inexpensive cobranded choices at the moment open to new candidates: the Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card (see charges and charges) and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card (see charges and charges). Each include beneficial welcome bonuses.

Let’s break down the cardboard particulars that can assist you determine which inserts your technique higher.

Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless comparability

Associated: Does it make sense to carry a number of Marriott Bonvoy bank cards?

Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless welcome bonus

The Boundless is at the moment providing 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. (Sure inns have resort charges.)

The Daring is at the moment providing 60,000 bonus factors plus one free night time award (valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. (Sure inns have resort charges.)

TPG’s June 2025 valuations peg Marriott Bonvoy factors at 0.7 cents every, successfully making the entire bonus on the Daring value as much as $770 and the entire bonus on the Boundless value as much as $1,750.

Since Chase points each playing cards, it is vital to notice that the 5/24 rule applies right here. This implies you possible will not qualify for both card if you happen to’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards (from any issuer) previously two years.

As well as, Marriott-specific eligibility necessities apply to merchandise issued by Chase and American Specific. Make sure to confirm your eligibility earlier than making use of.

Winner: Boundless. Its sign-up bonus is value considerably greater than the Daring.

Associated: The most effective time to use for these Chase playing cards based mostly on supply historical past

Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless advantages

The free night time certificates is essentially the most notable distinction between these playing cards’ perks.

Every year in your account anniversary, Boundless cardholders get a free night time certificates value as much as 35,000 factors — and you may add as much as 15,000 further factors if the resort prices greater than that.

Should you use this strategically, you’ll be able to rating a free night time at a resort that simply makes up for the $95 annual price every year.

In the meantime, Daring cardholders don’t obtain a free night time certificates however do not need to pay an annual price.

In any other case, the playing cards supply related perks. With both card, you may get computerized Silver Elite standing and robust journey and buy protections from Chase. Plus, you will not pay any international transaction charges with these playing cards when touring overseas.

Winner: Boundless. Most vacationers will be capable to get greater than $95 worth from the free night time certificates.

Associated: 7 nice makes use of of Marriott free night time certificates

Incomes factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

With the Boundless, you may earn:

• 6 factors per greenback spent at Bonvoy properties (You may earn as much as 17 factors per greenback on eligible Marriott stays: as much as 10 factors from being a Bonvoy member, 6 factors from this card and 10% bonus factors from the Silver elite standing the cardboard supplies for a complete 11.9% return on spending based mostly on TPG’s June 2025 valuations)
• 3 factors per greenback spent on the primary $6,000 in mixed purchases at gasoline stations, grocery shops and eating places (2.1% return)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases (1.4% return)

The Daring, in the meantime, earns:

• 3 factors per greenback spent at Bonvoy properties (You may earn as much as 14 factors per greenback on eligible Marriott stays: as much as 10 factors from being a Bonvoy member, 3 factors from this card and 10% bonus factors from the Silver elite standing the cardboard supplies for a complete 9.8% return on spending based mostly on TPG’s June 2025 valuations)
• 2 factors per greenback spent at grocery shops and on ride-hailing, choose meals supply, choose streaming, web, cable and telephone providers (1.4% return)
• 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases (0.7% return)

Neither card gives excellent incomes charges, and you may positively discover higher choices for on a regular basis spending. Nevertheless, the Boundless earns extra factors on Marriott stays and offers further factors for groceries and gasoline — although there is a spending cap. The Daring card, alternatively, gives bonus factors on ride-hailing, which may very well be helpful if you happen to use providers like Uber or Lyft typically.

Winner: Boundless. It earns extra factors than the Daring on most purchases.

Associated: Greatest resort bank cards

Redeeming factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Each the Daring and the Boundless earn Marriott Bonvoy factors, so they provide the identical redemption choices.

The obvious and beneficial manner to make use of your Bonvoy factors is to redeem them for a Marriott keep. To get essentially the most worth out of your factors, benefit from the fifth-night-free perk, which lets you ebook an award keep of 5 nights for the price of simply 4.

Moreover, you need to use your factors for reward playing cards and merchandise via Marriott’s procuring portal, however once more, we suggest avoiding this path to get most worth out of your factors.

TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson will get essentially the most worth from his Marriott Bonvoy factors by reserving luxurious inns in Europe and Asia, corresponding to The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna and the JW Marriott Beijing Central. He additionally takes benefit of the fifth-night-free perk on award stays.

Winner: Tie. Each playing cards earn Marriott Bonvoy factors and supply the identical redemption choices.

Associated: redeem factors with the Marriott Bonvoy program

Transferring factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

With both card, you even have the choice to switch your Bonvoy factors to one among almost 40 accomplice airline packages, together with Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus .

Most transfers to airways are at a 3:1 ratio, so you may obtain 1 airline mile for each 3 Marriott factors transferred. Moreover, once you switch factors to United MileagePlus, you’ll obtain 10,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 factors transferred.

This redemption typically does not yield a great worth in your factors, although, so we suggest utilizing it provided that you want to prime off your airline account steadiness or if the airline is a switch accomplice of any bank card loyalty packages like Copa Airways.

Winner: Tie. Each playing cards have the identical switch companions.

Associated: When does it make sense to switch Marriott factors to airways?

Ought to I get the Marriott Bonvoy Daring or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?

If you need to use the annual free night time certificates, the Boundless is the best choice for you. You may additionally unlock larger earn charges with the Boundless. Nevertheless, if you wish to keep away from an annual price, the Daring is the higher possibility for you.

improve from the Marriott Bonvoy Daring to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Should you aren’t eligible for a brand new Bonvoy bonus or are over 5/24, a product change could also be your only option. Each the Bonvoy Daring and the Bonvoy Boundless are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule and, extra particularly, Marriott Bonvoy eligibility restrictions.

To request an improve (or downgrade), name the quantity on the again of your card. Simply keep in mind that doing so will imply you forfeit your new card’s welcome bonus in the meanwhile.

Associated: The last word information to bank card upgrades

Backside line

Whatever the card you select, each Marriott playing cards are an effective way to introduce your self to the Bonvoy program and all its redemption prospects. You’ll be able to’t go improper with both, as there are millions of properties to select from worldwide.

As long as you’ll be able to benefit from that free night time certificates every year, Boundless supplies a greater worth proposition for many vacationers. In any other case, the Daring is a stable alternative for individuals who wish to improve their Marriott expertise (and unlock stable journey protections) for no annual price.

To study extra, try our full evaluations of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Daring Card.

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Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card
Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Daring Card

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