Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card vs United Explorer Card
Annual fees: Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card $0/yr, United Explorer Card $150/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card on grocery stores, United Explorer Card on dining.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardChase · No annual fee
United Explorer CardChase · $150/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card$0LowestUnited Explorer Card$150Waived first year
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card45,000 pointsUnited Explorer CardUp to 80,000 miles
- Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardMarriott BonvoyUnited Explorer CardUnited MileagePlus
- Foreign transaction fee
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardNoneUnited Explorer CardNone
- Network
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardVisa SignatureUnited Explorer CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Cable TV
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2xHighestUnited Explorer Card1x
- Dining
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1xUnited Explorer Card2xHighest
- Food Delivery
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2xHighestUnited Explorer Card1x
- Grocery Stores
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2xHighestUnited Explorer Card1x
- Hotels
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1xUnited Explorer Card2xHighest
- Ridesharing
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2xHighestUnited Explorer Card1x
- Streaming
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2xHighestUnited Explorer Card1x
- Telecom
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card2xHighestUnited Explorer Card1x
- Everything else
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card1xUnited Explorer Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card—United Explorer Card
- $100 United travel
- $100 JSX flights
- $100 United Hotels
- $50 Avis/Budget travel
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS
- 25% United inflight
- Rideshare & transit
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card—United Explorer Card
- $5/mo rideshare credit · $5 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- DoorDash DashPass
United Explorer Card- $10/mo Instacart+ · $10 monthly
- 3-mo Instacart+
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card—United Explorer Card
- 2 United Club one-time passes annually
- Hotel status & programs
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status
- 5 Elite Night Credits annually
United Explorer Card— - Airline perks
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card—United Explorer Card
- Free first checked bag for you plus companion
- Priority boarding on all United flights
- Other perks
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service
United Explorer Card- No foreign transaction fees
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
- United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Events
- Earn 10,000-mile award discount after $20K annual spend
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- $500 trip delay reimbursement
United Explorer Card- Trip cancellation coverage up to $6,000 per trip
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 per person after 12 hours
- 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
United Explorer Card- Baggage delay coverage up to $100/day for 3 days
- Lost luggage coverage up to $3,000 per person
- Rental car
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- Auto rental coverage up to $60,000
United Explorer Card- Rental car insurance up to $60,000 coverage
- Purchase & returns
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- Purchase protection for new items · up to $500
United Explorer Card- Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
- Extended warranty
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- Extended warranty protection for eligible purchases · up to $1
United Explorer Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Other protections
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)
United Explorer Card—
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)
United Explorer Card- $0 intro annual fee first year, then $150—reasonable for the benefits
- Free first checked bag for cardholder and companion saves up to $200 roundtrip
- 3x miles on United, 2x on dining and hotels—solid everyday earning
- Up to $530+ in annual credits (United travel, hotels, rideshare, Instacart, JSX)
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year worth $100+
- 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
United Explorer Card- Only 1x miles on non-category spend limits earning potential
- Best credits require hitting $10K-$20K spend thresholds
- No United Club membership—just 2 single-use passes
- Priority boarding is Group 2, not as early as premium cards
- Miles locked to United MileagePlus with limited transfer flexibility
Expert Analysis
Both the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card and United Explorer Card come from the same issuer, but they target different spending profiles. Understanding where each card excels helps you pick the one that matches your lifestyle — or decide if holding both makes sense.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card's strongest category is Marriott Hotels at 14X, while the United Explorer Card leads with 2X on United Purchases. Overall, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card wins in more bonus categories (5 vs 4) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $0/yr vs $150/yr, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is the more accessible option. The United Explorer Card needs to deliver at least $150 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap. It offers airport lounge access, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, 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 $150/yr — a $150 annual gap
- Only the United Explorer Card offers airport lounge access and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$200/month on marriott hotels
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardMarriott 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 CardMarriott 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 united purchases
United Explorer CardUnited Explorer Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
$400/month on dining
United Explorer CardUnited Explorer Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 9,600 vs 4,800 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit CardWithout heavy spending in the United Explorer Card's premium categories, the $150 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 United Explorer Card if:
The United Explorer Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on united purchases and dining and maximizing premium travel perks. At $150/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
Since both cards are from the same issuer, you may be able to hold both or product-change between them. Check with your issuer for current policies.
Holding both cards can make sense if you want to maximize earn rates across different spending categories.
Category-by-Category Winner
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card wins in 6 of 8 categories. The United Explorer Card leads in 2.
Grocery Stores
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Streaming
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Telecom
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Cable TV
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Ridesharing
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Food Delivery
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card earns 2X vs 1X
Dining
United Explorer Card earns 2X vs 1X
Hotels
United Explorer 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.
Both scenarios favor the United Explorer Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card | United Explorer Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $97 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $97 Year one: $412 | Rewards: $166 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $198 Year one: $1,188 | United Explorer Card | United Explorer Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $386 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $386 Year one: $701 | Rewards: $662 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $694 Year one: $1,684 | United Explorer Card | United Explorer Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The United Explorer Card costs $150/yr — that's $150 more than the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $150 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The United Explorer Card includes travel credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $150 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $150 fee gap means the United Explorer Card needs roughly $150 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on dining and hotels 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:
- -Airport lounge access
- -Free checked bags
- -Global Entry credit
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 United Explorer Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the United Explorer Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Published annual fees: Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card $0/yr, United Explorer Card $150/yr — a $150 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the United Explorer Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The United Explorer Card costs $150/yr vs $0/yr for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $150 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the United Explorer Card also lists lounge access, travel credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card or United Explorer 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 United Explorer Card doesn't?
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card focuses on earn rates, while the United Explorer Card offers lounge access, travel credits.
- Should I get the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card or the United Explorer Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the United Explorer Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $150/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.