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

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

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 reasonably priced cobranded choices at present 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 will help you resolve 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 present providing 5 free nights (every evening valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. (Sure lodges have resort charges.)

The Daring is at present providing 60,000 bonus factors plus one free evening award (valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. (Sure lodges 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 essential to notice that the 5/24 rule applies right here. This implies you doubtless will not qualify for both card for those who’ve opened 5 or extra bank cards (from any issuer) up to now two years.

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

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

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

Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless advantages

The free evening certificates is probably the most notable distinction between these playing cards’ perks.

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

In case you use this strategically, you may rating a free evening at a resort that simply makes up for the $95 annual payment every year.

In the meantime, Daring cardholders don’t obtain a free evening certificates however do not must pay an annual payment.

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

Winner: Boundless. Most vacationers will have the ability to get greater than $95 worth from the free evening certificates.

Associated: 7 nice makes use of of Marriott free evening certificates

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

With the Boundless, you will earn:

• 6 factors per greenback spent at Bonvoy properties (You will 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 offers 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 will 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 offers 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 cellphone providers (1.4% return)
• 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases (0.7% return)

Neither card presents excellent incomes charges, and you’ll undoubtedly discover higher choices for on a regular basis spending. Nonetheless, the Boundless earns extra factors on Marriott stays and provides further factors for groceries and gasoline — although there is a spending cap. The Daring card, however, presents bonus factors on ride-hailing, which might be helpful for those who use providers like Uber or Lyft usually.

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 approach to make use of your Bonvoy factors is to redeem them for a Marriott keep. To get probably the most worth out of your factors, reap the benefits of the fifth-night-free perk, which lets you guide an award keep of 5 nights for the price of simply 4.

Moreover, you need to use your factors for present playing cards and merchandise via Marriott’s buying 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 probably the most worth from his Marriott Bonvoy factors by reserving luxurious lodges in Europe and Asia, comparable 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: The right way to 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 certainly one of practically 40 companion airline packages, together with Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus .

Most transfers to airways are at a 3:1 ratio, so you will obtain 1 airline mile for each 3 Marriott factors transferred. Moreover, while 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 superb worth in your factors, although, so we suggest utilizing it provided that it’s worthwhile to high off your airline account stability or if the airline is a switch companion 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 evening certificates, the Boundless is the most suitable choice for you. You will additionally unlock larger earn charges with the Boundless. Nonetheless, if you wish to keep away from an annual payment, the Daring is the higher possibility for you.

The right way to improve from the Marriott Bonvoy Daring to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

In case you aren’t eligible for a brand new Bonvoy bonus or are over 5/24, a product change could also be your best choice. 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 do not forget 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 may’t go unsuitable with both, as there are literally thousands of properties to select from worldwide.

As long as you may reap the benefits of that free evening certificates every year, Boundless offers a greater worth proposition for many vacationers. In any other case, the Daring is a strong selection for many who need to improve their Marriott expertise (and unlock strong journey protections) for no annual payment.

To study extra, take a look at our full evaluations of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Daring Card.

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