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Is a Marriott credit card worth it?
The short answer
A Marriott card is worth it when you use its yearly Free Night Award on a night that would cost more than the annual fee in cash. The Boundless card clears that most easily: its night is worth up to 35,000 points against a $95 fee. If you won’t stay at a Marriott hotel every year, no card with a fee is worth it.
01
The fee against the free night, card by card
| Card | Annual fee | Yearly free night | Each point must be worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bold card | $0 | None | No fee to cover |
| Boundless card | $95 | Up to 35,000 points | 0.27¢ |
| Marriott Business Amex | $125 | Up to 35,000 points | 0.36¢ |
| Bountiful card | $250 | Up to 50,000 points, after $15,000 spent in a year | 0.50¢ |
| Bevy card | $250 | Up to 50,000 points, after $15,000 spent in a year | 0.50¢ |
| Brilliant card | $650 | Up to 85,000 points | 0.76¢ |
The last column is the fee divided by the night’s points cap. We rate a stay Fair from 0.70¢ a point, so a card under that figure is covered by any reasonable night at its cap.
02
Is the Brilliant card worth $650?
Its night alone needs each point to be worth 0.76¢ to cover the fee, which means using it on an expensive night up to 85,000 points. It also gives Platinum Elite status and up to $300 a year in dining credits.
It’s worth it if you’ll use the night at a luxury hotel and the status on several stays a year. Is Platinum Elite worth it?
03
What about the Bountiful card and Bevy card?
Their free night only comes after $15,000 of spending in a year, so they’re worth it if you’d spend that anyway. Otherwise you’re paying $250 for Gold Elite and bonus points on stays. Boundless vs Bevy vs Bountiful.
04
When isn't a Marriott card worth it?
- You won’t stay at a Marriott hotel every year to use the free night.
- You’d use the night on a cheap hotel. Using an award on a night that costs fewer points than its cap loses the difference, with no points back.
- You only want to keep your points active: the Bold card has no annual fee but no yearly free night.
- You’d rather earn flexible points. Chase Ultimate Rewards points can move to Marriott when a stay needs them. How Chase transfers to Marriott work.
05
How do you get the most from the free night?
Use it at a hotel near its cap, where the cash price is highest. You can add up to 25,000 of your own points to reach a pricier night. How Free Night Awards work, or compare every Marriott card.
Questions
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card worth it?
For most members, yes, if you stay at a Marriott each year. The $95 fee is covered by a free night worth up to 35,000 points, about 0.27¢ a point.
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card worth the $650 fee?
Only if you use its free night at an expensive hotel, up to 85,000 points, and you'd use Platinum Elite on several stays a year.
Is a Marriott card worth it if I rarely stay at Marriott?
No. The value is mostly in the yearly free night and status, and both need stays. A card with no fee keeps your points active without that cost.
How much does a Marriott free night need to be worth?
More than the card's annual fee in cash. On the Boundless card, that's $95, about 0.27¢ for each of the 35,000 points.
Sources: Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, Marriott Bonvoy terms. Program rules change, so confirm with Marriott before you rely on one. Award Escape is independent of Marriott.