Hilton Honors American Express Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Hilton Honors American Express Card leads on dining; the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card on grocery stores.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Hilton Honors American Express CardAmerican Express · No annual fee
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardChase · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Hilton Honors American Express Card$0Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Hilton Honors American Express Card70,000 pointsMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card45,000 points
- Rewards
- Hilton Honors American Express CardHilton HonorsMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy
- Foreign transaction fee
- Hilton Honors American Express CardNoneMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardNone
- Network
- Hilton Honors American Express CardAmerican ExpressMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Hilton Honors American Express Card5xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Gas Stations
- Hilton Honors American Express Card5xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
- Grocery Stores
- Hilton Honors American Express Card5xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Cable TV
- Hilton Honors American Express Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Food Delivery
- Hilton Honors American Express Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Ridesharing
- Hilton Honors American Express Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Streaming
- Hilton Honors American Express Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Telecom
- Hilton Honors American Express Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2x
- Everything else
- Hilton Honors American Express Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Dining & delivery
- Hilton Honors American Express Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- DoorDash DashPass
Perks & access— means none on record
- Hotel status & programs
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Automatic Hilton Honors Silver Elite Status
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status
- 5 Elite Night Credits annually
- Other perks
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Amex Offers
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- No foreign transaction fees
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Hilton Honors American Express Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- $500 trip delay reimbursement
- Baggage
- Hilton Honors American Express Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- Up to $3,000 lost luggage coverage per trip
- Up to $100 a day for baggage delays over 6 hours · up to $500
- Rental car
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Car rental insurance (secondary coverage)
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Auto rental coverage up to $60,000
- Purchase & returns
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Up to $1,000 per item against damage or theft
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Purchase protection for new items · up to $500
- Extended warranty
- Hilton Honors American Express Card—Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- Extended warranty protection for eligible purchases · up to $1
- Other protections
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- No annual fee ever
- Automatic Hilton Silver status with 20% bonus points and late checkout
- Path to Gold status after $20,000 annual spend
- Solid 7X earning at Hilton properties, 5X at restaurants/supermarkets/gas
- No foreign transaction fees
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- No annual fee makes it risk-free to hold long-term
- Automatic Silver Elite status with 10% bonus on stays and priority late checkout
- 5 Elite Night Credits annually toward status qualification
- No foreign transaction fees
- 2x earning on everyday categories (groceries, streaming, rideshare, food delivery)
- Cons
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Only Silver status (lower than Surpass/Aspire Gold grants)
- Lower earn rates than premium Hilton cards (7X vs 12X at Hilton)
- No annual credits or free night rewards
- Points locked to Hilton with no transfer flexibility
- Amex network less accepted internationally than Visa/Mastercard
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card- Only Silver Elite status (Gold and Platinum provide much better benefits)
- Low 1x earning on non-bonus purchases
- Only 5 Elite Night Credits vs 15-25 on premium cards
- No free night award benefit
- No lounge access or premium travel perks
Expert Analysis
The Hilton Honors American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card's strongest category is Hilton Properties at 7X, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card leads with 14X on Marriott Hotels. Overall, the Hilton Honors American Express Card wins in more bonus categories (8 vs 1) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
Both cards carry a $0/yr annual fee, so the decision comes down purely to rewards structure and benefits — there's no fee math to worry about.
Key Differences
- Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 7X on Hilton Properties vs 1X for the other
- Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 7X on Hilton Hotels Resorts vs 1X for the other
- Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X on Dining vs 1X for the other
- Hilton Honors American Express Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 1X on non-bonus spending)
- Different networks: Hilton Honors American Express Card is AMEX, Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is VISA
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$200/month on hilton properties
Hilton Honors American Express CardHilton Honors American Express Card earns 7X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 16,800 vs 2,400 points — a 14,400-point advantage.
$200/month on hilton hotels resorts
Hilton Honors American Express CardHilton Honors American Express Card earns 7X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 16,800 vs 2,400 points — a 14,400-point advantage.
$200/month on marriott hotels
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 14X vs 3X. Over a year, that's 33,600 vs 7,200 points — a 26,400-point advantage.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Hilton Honors American Express Card if:
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on hilton properties and hilton hotels resorts and earning more on everyday purchases. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Get the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card if:
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on marriott hotels. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Cash back simplicity has its own appeal if you prefer straightforward rewards.
Category-by-Category Winner
The Hilton Honors American Express Card wins in 9 of 9 categories. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card leads in 0.
Dining
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 2X
Gas Stations
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 1X
Streaming
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3X vs 2X
Telecom
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3X vs 2X
Cable TV
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3X vs 2X
Ridesharing
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3X vs 2X
Food Delivery
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3X vs 2X
Everyday purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3X on all other spending vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Hilton Honors American Express Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $182 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $182 Year one: $462 | Rewards: $97 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $97 Year one: $412 | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Hilton Honors American Express Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $730 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $730 Year one: $1,010 | Rewards: $386 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $386 Year one: $701 | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Hilton Honors American Express Card |
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Hilton Honors American Express Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
- +Prefer a high flat rate across all spending
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Hilton Honors American Express Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 3X on the Hilton Honors American Express Card vs 1X on the other card.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
- Should I get the Hilton Honors American Express Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card?
- Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.
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Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.