Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card Review: 2026 Benefits and Welcome Offer Worth It?

When you're comparing Marriott Bonvoy credit card options and trying to figure out which one fits your travel pattern, the Boundless sits in an interesting middle spot between the no-fee Bold and the $650 Brilliant.

The free night award each account anniversary can save you hundreds of dollars. And the card's 2026 airline credit is new this year, and it can help you make further use of the annual fee. We'll walk through the bonus (limited time offer ending in March 2026), how the automatic Silver Elite status works, and whether you should grab this card or look at one of the other Marriott options instead.

TLDR:

• The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card earns 6x points at Marriott properties and includes automatic Silver Elite status for a $95 annual fee.
• Current welcome bonus offers 5 Free Night Awards (worth up to 250,000 points total) after spending $3,000 in 3 months (ends March 11, 2026).
• You get an annual Free Night Award (valid at properties up to 35,000 points) and a $100 airline credit split across two periods in 2026.

What Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card

The is a hotel rewards card from Chase that earns Marriott Bonvoy points across the brand's over 9,700 hotel properties. It charges a $95 annual fee and targets frequent Marriott guests who want Silver Elite status and a yearly free night certificate (valid at properties costing up to 50,000 points per night) after your first account anniversary.

You'll earn 6 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3 points per dollar on your first $6,000 spent each year at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants, and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome Bonus: 5 Free Night Awards (Ends March 11, 2026)

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless currently offers 5 Free Night Awards after you spend $3,000 within your first 3 months of account opening (ends Mar 11, 2026). Each certificate works at hotels costing up to 50,000 points per night, giving you a potential total value of 250,000 Bonvoy points.

This elevated bonus seems to come around every so often. For example, one of our team members got it back in July 2025. That said, you need to make sure you have specific use cases in mind for the Free Night Awards.

The $3,000 spending requirement breaks down to roughly $1,000 per month, or about $33 per day in everyday purchases.

2026 Exclusive Airline Credit Benefit

The Boundless includes an exclusive airline credit for cardholders in 2026, offering up to $100 back on airfare purchases split biannually ($50 for January through June and another $50 for July through December).

To trigger each $50 credit, you need at least $250 in direct airline purchases during that six-month window. Eligible spending includes base fares, seat selections, checked bags, and in-flight purchases charged directly from an airline, not through third-party booking sites.

The credit posts automatically after you hit the $250 threshold. No enrollment or carrier selection needed. The benefit resets in July for another potential $50 back, helping offset the $95 annual fee.

It's not a super exciting benefit but it can be useful if you are planning on flying this year.

How to Earn Points With the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card

The earning structure has three tiers:

• At Marriott Bonvoy hotels, you get 6 points per dollar, which stacks with your member points.
• You then get 3 points per dollar at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants, but only on your first $6,000 in combined annual spending across these categories. After hitting that cap, earnings drop to 2 points per dollar. This limit resets each cardmember year.
• All other purchases earn 2 points per dollar

Understanding Marriott Bonvoy Points Value

Marriott Bonvoy points are worth an average of 0.77 cents each when you redeem for hotel stays, so 10,000 points equals about $77 in hotel value. This baseline helps you decide whether booking with points or cash makes more sense for your next trip.

Actual value varies based on the property category and timing. Luxury hotels and peak-season reservations often deliver stronger redemption rates, while budget properties during slower periods can fall below average. Comparing the points price and cash rate before booking reveals when you're getting above-average return.

The annual Free Night Award certificates skip this calculation because they work at properties costing up to 35,000 points, regardless of cash price. Booking a $270+ per night room with your certificate delivers you amazing value.

Annual Free Night Award (Worth Up to 35,000 Points)

This is one of the most important parts of the card that makes it an instant keeper card in almost everyone's wallet.

After your first card anniversary, you get one Free Night Award certificate valued at properties costing up to 35,000 Bonvoy points per night. This benefit repeats each year you keep the card open and helps offset the $95 annual fee if you use it.

You can even add up to 15,000 points to this FNA to book rooms that cost more than the certificate's value. For example, if you want to book a room costing 45,000 points with this FNA, you can add 10,000 points to extend the base certificate's potential.

Certificates expire 12 months after issuance.

Automatic Silver Elite Status and Path to Gold

The card grants you automatic Silver Elite status while your account remains open. This tier adds a 10% bonus on base points earned during stays, stacking with the 6 points per dollar you earn from card spend at Marriott properties. Silver also includes priority late checkout status.

Is Silver worth it? No, not really. It's certainly better than nothing, but it doesn't really deliver any tangible value in my eyes.

Spending $35,000 on purchases in a calendar year earns you Gold Elite status for the following year. Gold status increases your points bonus to 25% on stays and adds room upgrades (when available at check-in) and enhanced late checkout (2 p.m. when available). The $35,000 spending threshold works out to roughly $2,917 per month.

Is this worth doing? Probably not either... getting Gold status is relatively trivial/simple. You can get an <amex-platinum> to get Gold status instantly.

Comparing the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless to Other Marriott Cards

The Boundless sits between the no-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and the $650 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.

• The Bold skips the annual fee but loses the yearly free night certificate and automatic Silver status.
• The Brilliant adds Priority Pass lounge access and a higher free night cap (up to 85,000 points annually) but costs $555 more per year. That said, it also comes with more worthwhile Marriott perks, such as instant Platinum status and 25 Elite Night Credits

If I were choosing between the Bold and Boundless, I'd almost always go with the Boundless. I travel semifrequently, so I always need a hotel night, and the Boundless consistently saves me money.

Deciding between the Brilliant and Boundless is more complicated. The Brilliant's annual fee is much higher, but it carries a slew of higher valued perks. You'll need to think through this comparison more carefully.

Accessing the Ritz-Carlton Card

One of the coolest things about the Boundless is that it gives you a way to get one of the most elusive cards in the space: the Ritz-Carlton Card. You can read more about it here, but in a nutshell:

• You need to hold the Boundless for at least 12 months
• You need to have a credit limit of at least $10,000
• You can then contact Chase to request a product change into this card

The Ritz is famous because it has a $450 annual fee but comes with:

• $300 annual airline incidental credit
• Chase Sapphire Lounge & Priority Pass access (with up to two guests per visit)
• Global Entry application fee credit
• Annual up to 85k Marriott FNA

The best part is that authorized users cost nothing and get the same lounge access policies.

Final Thoughts on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless makes sense if you stay in a hotel at least once per year. This annual free night certificate makes the card a "keeper" since it will always consistently provide year over year value.

We love this card because it typically has a fantastic bonus and provides immense value every year. For me, after the first 12 months, I also upgraded it to the Ritz-Carlton card and use it to give lounge access to my relatives.

It's certainly worth a look if you travel at any frequency.

FAQ

How long does it take to receive the annual Free Night Award certificate?

Your certificate posts to your account after your first card anniversary and then repeats each year you keep the card open, giving you 12 months to book a stay.

Can I use the $100 airline credit on third-party booking sites like Expedia?

No, the credit only works on direct airline purchases, including base fares, seat selections, checked bags, and in-flight purchases charged straight from the airline.

What happens if I want to book a hotel that costs more than 35,000 points with my Free Night Award?

You can add up to 15,000 points from your account to extend the certificate's value, letting you book properties priced up to 50,000 points per night.

How much do I need to spend each month to hit Gold Elite status?

You'd need to spend roughly $2,917 per month (or $35,000 in total purchases during a calendar year) to earn Gold Elite status for the following year. That said, this is not a worthwhile perk to pursue. There are much better places for you to put your spending.

Does the 3x earning rate at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants apply to all spending?

No, the 3x rate only applies to your first $6,000 in combined annual spending across these three categories, then it drops to 2x after you hit that cap.