Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Brilliant: Which tier is right for you?

The Marriott Bonvoy program stands out with credit card collaborations from two different issuers: Chase and American Express.

If you’re shopping for a new card, you might find yourself torn between the mid-tier Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase and the premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.

Choosing between a mid-tier and premium credit card is tough. When two banks have different application rules for these cards, the choice becomes even more complicated.

Today, we’re clarifying the choice and helping you figure out whether the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is the better fit for you.

Comparing Bonvoy Boundless and Bonvoy Brilliant

*Eligibility and benefit levels differ by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more information. Policies are insured by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

**Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more information. Policies are insured by AMEX Assurance Company.

Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Brilliant sign-up bonus

Currently, the Bonvoy Boundless is offering new applicants 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

In contrast, the Bonvoy Brilliant is offering new applicants the chance to earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of card membership.

Both Boundless and Brilliant provide bonus points that can be redeemed for any hotel stay, with no limit on the points required. You also have the option to use these points to enhance your airline miles, which we’ll explore further below.

When it comes to eligibility, the Bonvoy Boundless falls under Chase's 5/24 rule, meaning you will likely be denied if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months. Moreover, American Express restricts you to earning the welcome bonus for each card only once in a lifetime. Therefore, if you’ve previously received a bonus on the Bonvoy Brilliant, you won’t qualify for a new one.

In addition to these issuer guidelines, Bonvoy has its own eligibility criteria. Be sure to review all of these and confirm your eligibility before applying for either card.

Winner: Bonvoy Brilliant. It provides more points.

Bonvoy Boundless vs. Bonvoy Brilliant perks

Both cards are designed for those who frequently stay at Marriott Bonvoy properties, so you can anticipate a range of benefits related to stays at Marriott locations, among other advantages.

The Bonvoy Boundless is a mid-tier credit card that provides valuable perks for a $95 annual fee. It includes complimentary Silver Elite status and the opportunity to achieve Gold Elite status after spending $35,000 within a calendar year.

With the Boundless, you also receive 15 elite night credits annually, one elite night credit towards status for every $5,000 spent, complimentary premium Wi-Fi at Marriott Bonvoy locations, various travel protections (including baggage delay, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip delay reimbursement), purchase protection, and no foreign transaction fees.

As a premium credit card with a $650 annual fee, the Bonvoy Brilliant provides enhanced benefits like complimentary Platinum Elite status and 25 elite night credits each year.

The card includes a variety of statement credits that offset the annual fee, such as up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible dining purchases worldwide, up to $120 in statement credits for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck, and up to $100 luxury property credit for eligible stays of two nights or more at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis hotels. Enrollment is required for certain benefits.

A choice award that can be earned after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, along with a Priority Pass Select membership granting access to over 1,600 lounges and a complimentary ShopRunner membership, further highlight why this card excels over the Boundless in this category. Enrollment is necessary for certain benefits.

Moreover, the Brilliant includes travel protections like car rental insurance*, baggage insurance**, trip cancellation and interruption insurance^, and trip delay insurance^, along with shopping protections such as purchase protection**, return protection, and cellphone protection^.

**Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for further details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

^Eligibility and benefit levels differ by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for further details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Winner: Bonvoy Brilliant. The Brilliant offers significantly more benefits that effectively counterbalance its high annual fee.

Comparing point earnings with the Bonvoy Boundless and Bonvoy Brilliant

Both cards allow you to earn 6 points per dollar on purchases made at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 3 points per dollar when dining out (the Brilliant applies to restaurants globally, while the Boundless covers dining purchases up to $6,000 each year, including gas stations and grocery stores).

They both yield 2 points per dollar on most other purchases, with the Brilliant offering a boosted 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline.

These earning structures are similar to those of other hotel co-branded cards. However, you may find better earning potential with a more general travel card for purchases beyond Marriott.

Winner: Bonvoy Brilliant. It offers unlimited dining rewards and provides 50% more points when booking flights directly with an airline.

Redeeming points with the Bonvoy Boundless versus Bonvoy Brilliant

Both Bonvoy credit cards accumulate Marriott points through your spending, which are automatically credited to your Bonvoy account.

You can use these Bonvoy points for hotel stays and Marriott Bonvoy Moments, purchase merchandise through Marriott shopping, or transfer them to over 35 airline programs.

Generally, your best option for maximizing value is through hotel stays. However, since Marriott operates on a dynamic pricing model, the number of points required for a stay will vary based on the hotel, room type, occupancy, and cash rate.

To make the most of your points, consider utilizing Bonvoy's fifth-night-free benefit. This allows you to book a five-night stay using points but only pay for four nights.

TPG credit card writer Chris Nelson recently took advantage of this benefit during his stay at the JW Marriott Sao Paulo, paying with points for four nights and receiving the fifth night at no cost.

Winner: Tie. Both cards earn Bonvoy points and offer identical redemption options.

Transferring points between the Bonvoy Boundless and Bonvoy Brilliant

You can transfer your Bonvoy points to any of Marriott's 39 airline partners. Generally, the conversion rate is 3 Marriott points for every 1 airline mile. Additionally, for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred to most airline partners, Marriott awards 5,000 bonus airline miles, with the exception of American Airlines AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles, and Delta SkyMiles.

This can be a beneficial use of your points in certain situations, like transferring to American Airlines AAdvantage to take advantage of sweet spots. However, transferring points to airlines often yields lower value, so we typically advise against this option unless you need to top off your miles balance.

Furthermore, you can effortlessly transfer points between Marriott Bonvoy accounts, whether between accounts owned by the same person or to a friend or family member. Point transfers are free and can be completed online.

Winner: Tie. Both cards provide access to the same transfer partners and allow transfers to friends and family.

Should I choose the Bonvoy Boundless or the Bonvoy Brilliant?

The Bonvoy Boundless, with its affordable $95 annual fee, is ideal for those new to Marriott Bonvoy or for travelers who visit Marriott properties a few times each year. In contrast, the Bonvoy Brilliant, which has a significantly higher $650 annual fee, is tailored for dedicated Marriott fans seeking Platinum Elite status and looking to maximize benefits such as up to $300 in dining credits.

Final thoughts

After confirming your eligibility to apply for either Chase's Bonvoy Boundless or Amex's Bonvoy Brilliant, your decision should reflect your travel patterns and how frequently you stay at Marriott locations. If you’re just starting out with Marriott, the Bonvoy Boundless is a solid option with its lower annual fee. However, if you’re a loyal Marriott guest, the Bonvoy Brilliant, with its extensive benefits, is sure to enhance your hotel experiences.

For more information about these cards, check out our comprehensive reviews of the Bonvoy Boundless and Bonvoy Brilliant.