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.
Table of Contents
Overview: Sapphire Preferred vs. Bonvoy Boundless
- Earn 125,000 Bonus Points + 1 Free Night Award after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening. Each Free Night Award valued up to 50,000 points.
- 6x Points at Marriott Hotels & Resorts
- One Annual Free Night Award (Up to 35,000 Points Every Year After Account Anniversary)
- Automatic Silver Elite Status + 15 Elite Credits
- $95 Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
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:
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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless:
The Bonvoy Boundless currently offers the following welcome bonus:
Earn 125,000 Bonus Points + 1 Free Night Award after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening. Each Free Night Award valued up to 50,000 points.
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 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 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 at grocery stores, gas stations, and on dining;
- 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:
10% Points Bonus: You will earn bonus points equivalent to 10% of your total spending in points earned with your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card during the past account anniversary year. For example, if you spent $10,000 during your cardmember year, you would receive an additional 1,000 points ($10,000 * 10% = 1,000 points).
$50 Hotel Credit: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers up to $50 in statement credits every account anniversary year if you book your hotel stays through Chase Travel.
DashPass Membership: This card offers a one-year DashPass membership for free, which includes DoorDash and Caviar, offering unlimited deliveries with free delivery fees and reduced service fees for eligible purchases. The offer must be activated by December 31, 2027. Once the free membership is over, you will be automatically enrolled in DashPass at the prevailing monthly rate.
Instacart Membership: Have your groceries delivered to your doorstep with a complimentary 6-month Instacart+ membership plus a $15 credit once every quarter. Enrollment is required by July 31, 2024.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose.
Travel Benefits
Primary Rental Car Insurance: When you rent a car and pay with this card, you’ll receive comprehensive coverage including damage and theft protection. Simply decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver and charge the entire rental to your card to activate coverage. This insurance covers damage, theft, and valid loss-of-use charges worldwide.
Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: This protection reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses if you need to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to covered situations like severe illness or weather events. Coverage activates when you pay for your trip with the card, but it’s important to note that reimbursement only applies for specific covered reasons rather than any cancellation.
Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card.
Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive.
Purchase Benefits
120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.
Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless:
The Bonvoy Boundless offers the following benefits and perks:
Free Annual Hotel Night: You will receive a free night certificate for up to 35,000 points after every cardmember anniversary.
Marriott Silver Elite Status: Receive automatic Silver Elite status by holding the Boundless card. The benefits of Silver Elite are a 10% points bonus on qualifying rates, priority late check-out (if available), and Marriott’s Ultimate Reservation Guarantee.
Elite Night Credits: Receive 15 elite night credits to help you get closer to higher Marriott elite status.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose.
Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive.
120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.
Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card.
Visa Signature Concierge: Your card comes with a dedicated 24/7 concierge service ready to assist with your lifestyle needs. Whether you need help securing dinner reservations, finding event tickets, or planning travel arrangements, your personal concierge is just a phone call away.
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 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 Boundless:
The Bonvoy Boundless comes with a $95 annual fee, making it a mid-range option in the Marriott card lineup. You’ll receive a free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points each year upon renewal, which could easily provide several hundred dollars in value and offset the annual fee.
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 offers exceptional flexibility when it comes to points redemption, allowing you to create the travel experiences you’ve been dreaming of.
One popular redemption option is booking travel through the Chase Travel portal. Here, your points are worth 1.25 cents apiece, meaning that a substantial amount of points can be redeemed for a significant value towards travel. I’ve used this option to book flights, hotels, and rental cars, and I appreciate the simplicity of the process. Plus, when you book through the portal, you can still earn airline miles and hotel points on your reservations.
If you’re looking to stretch your points even further, transfer to Chase’s airline and hotel partners. Some notable transfer partners include United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, British Airways, Air France/KLM, Hyatt, and Marriott. By strategically transferring points, you can unlock incredible redemption opportunities like first-class flights or luxurious resort stays.
In my experience, transferring points to Hyatt has yielded some of the most valuable redemptions. By leveraging my Ultimate Rewards points, I’ve booked top-tier properties like the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme and the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort for a fraction of the cash price.
Of course, if you’re not in the mood for travel, you can always redeem your points for statement credits or gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point. While this may not provide the most bang for your buck, it’s a decent option to have for those times when you need a little extra cash in your pocket.
Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
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Aer Lingus
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Air Canada Aeroplan
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Air France/KLM
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British Airways
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Emirates
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Hyatt Hotels
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Iberia
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IHG Hotels
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JetBlue
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Marriott
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Singapore
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Southwest
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United
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Virgin Atlantic
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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.
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Marriott Bonvoy Points Transfer Partners
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| Marriott points transfer at a rate of 3 Marriott points to 1 airline mile with a transfer bonus of 5,000 airline miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points. | |
Aegean Miles+Bonus
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Aer Lingus AerClub
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Aeromexico ClubPremier
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Air Canada Aeroplan
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Air China PhoenixMiles
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Air France/KLM Flying Blue
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Air New Zealand [200 to 1 Ratio]
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Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
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American Airlines AAdvantage*
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ANA Mileage Club
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Asiana Airlines
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Avianca Lifemiles*
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British Airways Executive Club
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Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
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China Southern Airlines
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Copa Airlines ConnectMiles
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Delta SkyMiles*
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Emirates Skywards
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Etihad Guest
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Frontier Miles
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Hainan Airlines
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Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
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Iberia Plus
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InterMiles
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Japan Airlines
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Korean Air*
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LATAM Airlines
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Qantas Frequent Flyer
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Qatar Airways Privilege Club
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Saudia Alfursan
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Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
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Southwest Rapid Rewards
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TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
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Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
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Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
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United MileagePlus®
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Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
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Virgin Australia
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| * Transfer Bonus Does Not Apply | |
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?
- Earn 125,000 Bonus Points + 1 Free Night Award after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening. Each Free Night Award valued up to 50,000 points.
- 6x Points at Marriott Hotels & Resorts
- One Annual Free Night Award (Up to 35,000 Points Every Year After Account Anniversary)
- Automatic Silver Elite Status + 15 Elite Credits
- $95 Annual Fee
