Chase Bonvoy Boundless vs American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
On an illustrative household's spending, Chase Bonvoy Boundless comes out about $564 a year ahead once both annual fees are paid.
The short version
- Over a year: Bonvoy Boundless nets $335 and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant nets −$229, after fees of $95 a year and $650 a year.
- Where it flips: Bonvoy Boundless stays ahead at every level of spending this looks at, from a fraction of that household's to many times it.
- Category by category: Bonvoy Boundless earns more on 3, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant on 1 — the table below. Pick by where most of your money goes.
- What they pay in: both earn Marriott Bonvoy, so the rates compare directly.
Priced on a household spending $2,205 a month on a card — the assumption, in full. Credits, perks and welcome offers are not priced; each card's page lists them.
Where each one earns more
| Spending on | Bonvoy Boundless per $100 |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant per $100 | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $2.19 3x |
$1.46 base rate |
Bonvoy Boundless |
| Gas Stations | $2.19 3x |
$1.46 base rate |
Bonvoy Boundless |
| Flights | $1.46 base rate |
$2.19 3x |
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant |
| Food Delivery | $2.19 3x |
$1.46 base rate |
Bonvoy Boundless |
Only categories where the two differ and at least one pays a bonus, plus everything else. No rotating or chosen categories are switched on, and a rate that needs the issuer's travel portal is not counted.
Side by side
| Bonvoy Boundless | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Chase | American Express |
| Annual fee | $95 a year | $650 a year |
| Foreign transaction fee | none | none |
| Earns | Marriott Bonvoy | Marriott Bonvoy |
| A year, before the fee | $430 | $421 |
| A year, after the fee | $335 | −$229 |
| Rates checked | 2026-08 | 2026-09 |
Protections one has and the other does not
| Benefit | Bonvoy Boundless | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase protection | Yes | — |
| Extended warranty | Yes | — |
| Priority Pass lounges | — | Yes |
From each issuer's benefit summary (Bonvoy Boundless: 2026-09; Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: 2026-09). Summaries leave out exclusions — read the full guide to benefits before relying on one.
Each card on its own
- Chase Bonvoy Boundless — every rate, where it ranks, what the issuer lists besides rewards
- American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant — every rate, where it ranks, what the issuer lists besides rewards
- Every hotel card, ranked
- Which card adds the most to your own wallet