Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Annual fees: Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card $0/yr, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card on grocery stores, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card on dining.

Card data as of November 13, 2026.

Overview

Annual fee
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
$0
Lowest
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
$229
Welcome offerCurrent public offer
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
45,000 points
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
60,000 points
Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Foreign transaction fee
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
None
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
None
Network
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Visa Signature
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Visa Signature

Earn ratesPer $1 spent

Cable TV
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
2x
Highest
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
1x
Dining
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
1x
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
2x
Highest
Food Delivery
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
2x
Highest
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
1x
Gas Stations
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
1x
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
2x
Highest
Grocery Stores
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
2x
Highest
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
1x
Ridesharing
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
2x
Highest
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
1x
Streaming
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
2x
Highest
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
1x
Telecom
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
2x
Highest
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
1x
Everything else
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
1x
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
1x

Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record

Dining & delivery
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
  • DoorDash DashPass
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
  • $10/mo Instacart+
  • DoorDash DashPass · $10 monthly

Perks & access— means none on record

Hotel status & programs
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
  • Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status
  • 5 Elite Night Credits annually
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
—
Airline perks
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
—
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
  • Unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades
  • 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points
  • Free Preferred or Standard seat selection at booking
  • Free first checked bag for you and 8 companions
  • Boarding benefit
  • Inflight purchase discount
Other perks
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
  • 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 7,500 points every year

Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record

Trip insurance
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
  • $500 trip delay reimbursement
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
  • $500,000 travel accident insurance
Baggage
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
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
  • Up to $3,000 lost luggage coverage per trip
  • $100/day baggage delay coverage, up to 3 days · up to $300
Rental car
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
  • Auto rental coverage up to $60,000
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
—
Purchase & returns
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
  • Purchase protection for new items · up to $500
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
  • $500 per claim on theft or damage
Extended warranty
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
  • Extended warranty protection for eligible purchases · up to $1
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
  • Extended warranty adds up to 1 year
Other protections
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
  • 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
  • 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
  • 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
  • 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)

Pros & cons

Pros
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)
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
  • 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost every year accelerates path to free companion flights
  • 7,500 anniversary bonus points ($112+ value) help offset the annual fee
  • Earn 2,500 TQPs toward A-List status per $5K annual spend
  • Unlimited Extra Legroom seat upgrades at 48 hours when available
  • Free first checked bag for cardholder and up to 8 passengers on same reservation
Cons
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
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
  • $229 annual fee is steep compared to mid-tier airline cards
  • Legacy $75 travel credit and EarlyBird benefits ended December 2025
  • Only 1x points on non-category purchases limits everyday earning
  • No lounge access included despite premium pricing
  • Southwest's limited route network reduces card utility for some travelers
Add a 3rd or 4th card to this comparison →

Expert Analysis

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card represent two different tiers within the same card family. The core question is whether the premium card's benefits justify the higher annual fee — and the answer depends on your spending habits and travel frequency.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card's strongest category is Marriott Hotels at 14X, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card leads with 3X on Southwest Purchases. Neither card dominates across the board — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.

At $0/yr vs $229/yr, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is the more accessible option. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card needs to deliver at least $229 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap. It offers free checked bags, which can cover that gap for active users.

Key Differences

  • Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 14X on Marriott Hotels vs 1X for the other
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X on Grocery Stores vs 1X for the other
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X on Streaming Internet Cable Phone vs 1X for the other
  • The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card costs $0/yr vs $229/yr — a $229 annual gap
  • Only the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers free checked bags

Spending Scenarios

Which card wins in real-world spending situations?

$200/month on marriott hotels

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 14X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 33,600 vs 2,400 points — a 31,200-point advantage.

$600/month on grocery stores

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 14,400 vs 7,200 points — a 7,200-point advantage.

$200/month on southwest purchases

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.

$200/month on rapid rewards partners

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.

Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card

Without heavy spending in the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card's premium categories, the $229 fee difference is hard to recover. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card delivers better overall value for moderate spenders.

Who Should Get Which?

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 and grocery stores and keeping annual costs low. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.

Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card if:

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on southwest purchases and rapid rewards partners and maximizing premium card benefits. At $229/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.

Upgrade & Downgrade Path

Many cardholders start with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card and upgrade to the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card as their southwest purchases spending increases. You can often hold both cards simultaneously to maximize earn rates across all categories.

If you're considering downgrading from the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, tally up how much value you actually extract from its southwest purchases earn rates and benefits each year. If you're consistently leaving credits unused, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card likely delivers better value per dollar of annual fee.

Category-by-Category Winner

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card wins in 6 of 8 categories. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card leads in 2.

W

Grocery Stores

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X

W

Streaming

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X

W

Telecom

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X

W

Cable TV

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X

W

Ridesharing

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X

W

Food Delivery

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X

W

Dining

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X

W

Gas Stations

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card earns 2X 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.

The better card depends on how much you spend.

ScenarioMarriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardOngoing winnerYear-one winner
Light spender: $1,000/month
Rewards: $97
Credits (our usable estimate): $0
− Annual fee ($0)
Ongoing: $97
Year one: $412
Rewards: $188
Credits (our usable estimate): $75
− Annual fee ($229)
Ongoing: $34
Year one: $784
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Heavy spender: $4,000/month
Rewards: $386
Credits (our usable estimate): $0
− Annual fee ($0)
Ongoing: $386
Year one: $701
Rewards: $750
Credits (our usable estimate): $75
− Annual fee ($229)
Ongoing: $596
Year one: $1,346
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit CardSouthwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card costs $229/yr — that's $229 more than the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $229 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card includes dining credits, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $229 fee gap for your own usage.

Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $229 fee gap means the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card needs roughly $229 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on dining and gas stations and everyday spend.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card means losing:

  • -Free checked bags

Which Card Is Right for You?

Get the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card if you:

  • +Do most of your spending at grocery stores

Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card if you:

  • +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out

The Bottom Line

The better card depends on how much you spend.

Published annual fees: Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card $0/yr, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card $229/yr — a $229 difference before welcome offers and credits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card worth the higher annual fee?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card costs $229/yr vs $0/yr for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $229 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card also lists dining credits).
Which card earns more rewards, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card or Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card?
Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
What benefits does the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card have that the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card doesn't?
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card focuses on earn rates, while the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offers dining credits.
Should I get the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card?
Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $229/yr.

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.

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.