Hilton Honors American Express Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Annual fees: Hilton Honors American Express Card $0/yr, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card $95/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Hilton Honors American Express Card on dining, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card on dining.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Hilton Honors American Express CardAmerican Express · No annual fee
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit CardChase · $95/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Hilton Honors American Express Card$0LowestMarriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card$95
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Hilton Honors American Express Card70,000 pointsMarriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card—
- Rewards
- Hilton Honors American Express CardHilton HonorsMarriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy
- Foreign transaction fee
- Hilton Honors American Express CardNoneMarriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit CardNone
- Network
- Hilton Honors American Express CardAmerican ExpressMarriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Hilton Honors American Express Card5xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card3x
- Gas Stations
- Hilton Honors American Express Card5xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card3x
- Grocery Stores
- Hilton Honors American Express Card5xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card3x
- Everything else
- Hilton Honors American Express Card3xHighestMarriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card2x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Hilton Honors American Express Card—Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
- Up to $100 airline credits (through 6/30/2027) · $100 one-time
- Dining & delivery
- Hilton Honors American Express Card—Marriott Bonvoy Boundless 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 Boundless Credit Card- 15 Marriott Bonvoy Elite Night Credits Awarded Annually
- Gold Elite status at $35,000 annual card spend
- Automatic Silver Elite with 10% points bonus on stays
- 1 Free Night Award worth up to 35,000 points/year
- 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 Boundless Credit Card- 24/7 concierge for travel, dining, and 4+ services
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on International Purchases
- 24/7 travel and emergency assistance in 200+ countries
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Hilton Honors American Express Card—Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
- Up to $500 Trip Delay Reimbursement for Extended Delays
- Baggage
- Hilton Honors American Express Card—Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
- Up to $3,000 Lost Luggage Reimbursement per Traveler
- Up to $500 Baggage Delay Insurance Coverage
- Rental car
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Car rental insurance (secondary coverage)
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card- Rental car CDW saves $15-30/day on collision waiver
- Purchase & returns
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Up to $1,000 per item against damage or theft
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card- Up to $500 Purchase Protection Against Theft and Damage
- Other protections
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card- 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 Boundless Credit Card- Automatic Silver Elite status
- 15 elite night credits per year
- 6X card points at participating Marriott hotels; up to 17X combined with eligible Bonvoy membership and Silver Elite earnings
- Anniversary Free Night Award (up to 35,000 points)
- 3X on dining, gas, and grocery (first $6,000 combined annually)
- 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 Boundless Credit Card- Only 2X on non-bonus category purchases
- Silver Elite has limited benefits
- Points locked to Marriott ecosystem
- 3X bonus categories have combined $6,000 annual spend cap
- Free Night Award capped at 35,000 points (mid-tier properties)
Expert Analysis
The Hilton Honors American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless 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 Boundless Credit Card leads with 17X on Marriott Hotels. Overall, the Hilton Honors American Express Card wins in more bonus categories (5 vs 1) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $0/yr vs $95/yr, the Hilton Honors American Express Card is the more accessible option. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card needs to deliver at least $95 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap.
Key Differences
- Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 7X on Hilton Properties vs 2X for the other
- Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 7X on Hilton Hotels Resorts vs 2X for the other
- Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X on Dining vs 3X for the other
- The Hilton Honors American Express Card costs $0/yr vs $95/yr — a $95 annual gap
- Hilton Honors American Express Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 2X on non-bonus spending)
- Different networks: Hilton Honors American Express Card is AMEX, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless 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 2X. Over a year, that's 16,800 vs 4,800 points — a 12,000-point advantage.
$200/month on hilton hotels resorts
Hilton Honors American Express CardHilton Honors American Express Card earns 7X vs 2X. Over a year, that's 16,800 vs 4,800 points — a 12,000-point advantage.
$200/month on marriott hotels
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card earns 17X vs 3X. Over a year, that's 40,800 vs 7,200 points — a 33,600-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
Hilton Honors American Express CardWithout heavy spending in the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card's premium categories, the $95 fee difference is hard to recover. The Hilton Honors American Express Card delivers better overall value for moderate spenders.
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 keeping annual costs low and earning more on everyday purchases. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card if:
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on marriott hotels. At $95/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment 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 4 of 4 categories. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card leads in 0.
Dining
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 3X
Grocery Stores
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 3X
Gas Stations
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 5X vs 3X
Everyday purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Card earns 3X on all other spending vs 2X
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 Boundless 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: $168 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $73 Year one: $133 | 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: $672 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $577 Year one: $637 | Hilton Honors American Express Card | Hilton Honors American Express Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the Hilton Honors American Express Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $95 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card includes travel credits, complimentary hotel status. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $95 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $95 fee gap means the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card needs roughly $95 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on dining and gas stations and everyday spend.
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Hilton Honors American Express Card if you:
- +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 2X on the other card.
Published annual fees: Hilton Honors American Express Card $0/yr, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card $95/yr — a $95 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Hilton Honors American Express Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $95 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card also lists travel credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Card has a higher base earn rate (3X vs 2X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
- What benefits does the Hilton Honors American Express Card have that the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card doesn't?
- The Hilton Honors American Express Card focuses on earn rates, while the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card offers travel credits.
- Should I get the Hilton Honors American Express Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Hilton Honors American Express Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $95/yr.
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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.