Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Bold

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card can help travelers earn a lot of rewards and benefits.

The Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold serves as Marriott's entry-level credit card option with bonus points on hotel stays and travel purchases. While it provides useful benefits like Silver Elite status and travel protections, you'll find more limited earning potential compared to Marriott's premium card options.

This article will compare each card based on several factors to help you make an informed decision on which card is the best to add to your wallet.

Full Review: Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

Overview: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold

Welcome Bonuses

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Let’s begin with one of the most attractive aspects of the Chase Sapphire Preferred: the welcome bonus. Currently, new cardholders can earn the following welcome bonus:

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold

The Bonvoy Bold Card currently offers the following welcome bonus:

Earn 45,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

Earning Rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points and offers bonus points on spending in several categories:

• 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Travel;
• 5 points per dollar on Lyft purchases (through March 2025);
• 5 points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $250 or more (through March 2025, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points);
• 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out;
• 3 points per dollar on online grocery store purchases (excludes Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs);
• 3 points per dollar on select streaming services;
• 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through Chase Travel; and
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible spending.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold

The Bonvoy Bold Card allows cardholders to earn Marriott points at the following rates:

• 3 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program;
• 2 points per dollar at grocery stores;
• 2 points per dollar on rideshare and select food delivery;
• 2 points per dollar on select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Winner:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred wins having higher earning rates across multiple spending categories.

Card Benefits and Perks

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Marriott Bonvoy Bold

The Bonvoy Bold Card offers the following benefits for its cardholders:

• Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status.
• 15 Elite Night Credits.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Trip delay insurance.
• Baggage delay insurance.
• Lost luggage reimbursement.
• Purchase protection.

Winner:

Chase Sapphire Preferred. The Sapphire Preferred offers extra travel protections like trip delay insurance and primary rental car insurance, which can save hundreds of dollars each year.

Value of the Annual Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee, which may give some people pause. However, as a frequent traveler, I’ve found that the card’s benefits and rewards can easily offset this cost.

Think about it this way: if you take advantage of the welcome bonus and redeem those points for travel, you’ve already recouped the annual fee many times over. Plus, the ongoing rewards and perks like travel insurance, hotel credit, and no foreign transaction fees can save you money and provide peace of mind during your trips.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold

The Bonvoy Bold Card has no annual fee, making it an accessible entry point into the Marriott Bonvoy program.

Winner:

Bonvoy Bold Card because it has no annual fee.

Redeeming Rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points, one of the most flexible currencies in the rewards space. You can redeem them for statement credits, gift cards or purchases through Chase Travel, where the standard rate is one cent per point.

Sapphire Preferred cardholders also get access to Points Boost, which raises that value to between 1.25 and 2 cents per point on select bookings. You'll see 1.5 cents per point on stays booked through The Edit by Chase Travel, and 1.25-1.75 cents toward select flights depending on the airline and class of service.

Still, transferring to airline and hotel partners tends to deliver the most value. The Sapphire Preferred gives you access to all 14 of Chase's partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France KLM Flying Blue, British Airways, Emirates, Hyatt, Iberia, IHG, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, Virgin Atlantic, and Wyndham.

Nearly all of these transfer at 1:1. World of Hyatt is the exception on this card: transfers moved from 1:1 to a 4:3 ratio, a real downside if you lean on Hyatt the way many cardholders do.

Even so, Hyatt's fixed award chart can produce outsized value. A Park Hyatt Maldives redemption starts around 33,400 transferred points, well below the cash rate of $1,000-plus a night. And moving 72,500 points to Virgin Atlantic can get you into ANA first class between the West Coast and Japan, a seat that would otherwise run into the thousands of dollars.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold

Marriott Bonvoy points offer versatile redemption options, with hotel stays typically providing the best value. We value Marriott points at 0.82 cents per point based on our data study, but you can get the best value at luxury properties or during peak seasons. The program's dynamic pricing model means rates fluctuate, so flexibility in your travel dates can help maximize value.

A standout feature is the fifth night free on award stays, effectively giving you a 20% discount on longer bookings. This benefit applies to consecutive award nights and can significantly stretch your points. Marriott also offers Cash + Points options, allowing you to combine cash and points for more flexibility.

Transferring Bonvoy points to airline partners is another valuable option. With a 3:1 transfer ratio for most airlines and a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred, this can be an excellent way to top up airline accounts or access niche programs. However, transfer times vary, so plan accordingly.

For unique experiences, consider Marriott Bonvoy Moments. These exclusive events and activities, often unavailable for cash purchase, can provide memorable opportunities for point redemptions.

While Marriott allows point redemptions for flights, car rentals, and cruises, these typically offer lower value compared to hotel stays or airline transfers. Unless you have a specific need or excess points, it's generally best to avoid these options.

Winner:

Chase Sapphire Preferred. The Sapphire Preferred card offers better redemption value and more flexibility.

The Verdict

If you’re looking to earn rewards from your travels, the Sapphire Preferred and Marriott Bonvoy Bold are great options.

But the Chase Sapphire Preferred is likely the best option for most people because it offers more benefits and ways to earn points. Plus, you can transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy and other airline and hotel partners.

The Bonvoy Bold Card is best for travelers who occasionally stay at Marriott hotels. It offers decent rewards and benefits, but it’s not as versatile as the Sapphire Preferred.