Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card are two credit cards that are currently popular in the market, each offering unique benefits tailored to different types of consumers.

The Chase 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 Bonvoy Boundless offers valuable rewards for Marriott stays plus an annual free night certificate valid at properties costing up to 35,000 points. While the card provides good baseline benefits for Marriott guests, its true strength lies in helping you achieve higher elite status tiers through its 15 annual elite night credits.

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 Reviews: Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.

Overview: Sapphire Preferred vs. Bonvoy Boundless

Welcome Bonus

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred currently offers the following welcome bonus:

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

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless:

The Bonvoy Boundless currently offers the following welcome bonus:

Earn 4 Free Night Awards (each up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.

Earning Points

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 the Chase travel portal;
• 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, including Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, Youtube TV, Pandora, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Hulu, and ESPN+;
• 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase travel portal; and
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible spending.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless:

The Bonvoy Boundless® earns Marriott points at the following rates:

• 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program;
• 3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, dining; and
• 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Winner:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers more opportunities to earn rewards throughout the year, as it has a broader range of bonus categories compared to the Marriott Boundless Card. The Sapphire Preferred’s bonus categories include dining, travel, and select streaming services.

On the other hand, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card may be a better option for those who frequently stay at Marriott hotels, as it offers benefits and rewards geared specifically towards Marriott Bonvoy members.

However, if you don’t stay at Marriott hotels regularly, the only standout feature of the Boundless Card is its unlimited 2x points per dollar spent on all other purchases. In this case, the Chase Sapphire Preferred may still be a better choice due to its wider range of bonus categories and more flexible redemption options.

Card Benefits

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

The  Chase Sapphire Preferred offers nice benefits, including:

• Receive 25% more value on points redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Ultimate Rewards.
• 10% Points Bonus for each Cardmember anniversary.
• A complimentary one-year subscription to DashPass by DoorDash when you enroll by December 31, 2024.
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip).
• Primary car rental insurance.
• Lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000 per passenger)
• Baggage delay insurance (up to $100 per day for five days).
• Trip delay insurance (up to $500 per ticket for a delay longer than 12 hours or overnight).
• Extended warranty.
• 120 days purchase protection (up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per year).
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Free 6-month membership to Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024).

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless:

The Bonvoy Boundless® offers nice benefits to justify its $95 annual fee, including:

• Anniversary free night certificate (up to 35,000 points)
• Marriott Silver Elite Status
• 15 elite night credits to help you reach Gold and above.
• Baggage delay insurance ($100 a day for five days for a delay over 6 hours).
• Lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000)
• Trip delay insurance ($500 per ticket for 12+ hours or overnight delay).
• 120-Day purchase protection ($500 per claim capped at $50,000 per account).
• No foreign transaction fees.

Winner:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred provides a wider range of benefits such as complimentary subscriptions, bonus points, and a $50 credit for hotel stays.

While the Boundless Card’s annual free night certificate is a valuable benefit for loyal Marriott customers, it falls short of competing with the overall benefits package offered by the Sapphire Preferred.

Annual Fee

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with an annual fee of $95.

While some users might be initially deterred by this cost, it’s important to consider the value and benefits that come with the card.

The rewards points, travel benefits, and purchase protections can help offset the cost of the annual fee for frequent travelers.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless:

The Bonvoy Boundless® comes with an annual fee of $95, but it can be offset by utilizing the free annual hotel night.

Winner:

It’s a tie.Both the Sapphire Preferred and Boundless cards have the same annual fee, which can also be offset by each of their respective benefits.

Redeeming Points

Chase Sapphire Preferred:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points, one of the most flexible points currencies.

You can use your points to book flights, hotel stays, and even rent a car through Chase Travel — all at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point. For example, 100,000 points are equivalent to $1,250 towards travel.

You can unlock even more value than 1.25 cents per point by transferring rewards to Chase airline and hotel partners.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless:

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. Chase points can be redeemed at a higher value of 1.25 cents each for travel through Chase. Additionally, Chase points can be transferred to several partners at a 1:1 ratio, potentially allowing for an even higher redemption value depending on how they are used.

Meanwhile, Marriott points are only valuable for hotel redemptions within their own hotel network, with a redemption value ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 cents per Marriott point. And for airline redemptions on Marriott, we don’t really recommend it unless it’s necessary due to the low transfer ratios.

The Verdict

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a more versatile option that caters to a wider range of consumers. With rewards on travel, dining, streaming, and groceries, the card offers something for everyone.

On the other hand, the Bonvoy Boundless can be a valuable option for loyal Marriott customers. It lets you earn points for your stays and comes with a free anniversary night.

While both cards offer valuable benefits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is undeniably a superior option. Its broad range of reward categories and benefits makes it an excellent choice for those who want to earn rewards on everyday purchases.

Therefore, it may be the better option for most consumers, particularly those who prioritize flexibility and versatility in their credit card rewards program.

Which card are you going to choose?