The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card are two popular hotel credit cards that cater to travelers seeking rewards within their respective hotel networks.
Here's our full comparison to help you decide between the two:
Marriott Boundless vs. Hilton Surpass: Comparison
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is issued by Chase and is ideal for individuals who frequently stay at Marriott hotels. The card provides additional perks, such as a generious welcome bonus, no foreign transaction fees, automatic Silver Elite status, and the option to earn Gold Elite status after spending a certain amount.
On the other hand, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass is designed for those who prefer Hilton hotels. Issued by American Express, this card comes with a generous welcome bonus, complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, Hilton resort credit and travel insurance perks.
Here's a side by side comparison of the cards main features:
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless | Hilton Amex Surpass | |
Annual Fee | $95 | $150 ( See Rates and Fees. ) |
Rewards | 6X points for every $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card. Plus, earn up to 10X points from Marriott for being a Marriott Bonvoy® member. Plus, earn up to 1X point from Marriott with Silver Elite Status. Earn 3X points for every $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. Earn 2X points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases. | Earn 12x Points on hotels & resorts at eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. Earn 6x Points on dining at U.S. restaurants , and for takeout and delivery in the U.S, on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases and 3X Points on all other purchases |
Welcome bonus | Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. | 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership |
0% Intro APR | N/A | N/A |
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | $0. ( See Rates and Fees. ) |
Purchase APR | 21.49%–28.49% variable | 20.24% – 29.24% variable APR |
Read Review | Read Review |
Top Offers
Top Offers From Our Partners
Top Offers
Marriott Boundless vs. Hilton Surpass: Point Rewards Analysis
When comparing the points rewards between the two cards, the Hilton Honors Surpass Card stands out with a significantly higher points earning rate compared to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless.
While Hilton points might be worth slightly less than Marriott points, the larger number of points earned with the Surpass card makes it a more valuable and rewarding option overall.
Spend Per Category | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless | Hilton Honors Amex Surpass |
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 22,000 points | 60,000 points |
$4,000 – Restaurants
| 8,000 points | 24,000 points |
$4,000 – Airline | 8,000 points | 12,000 points |
$5,000 – Hotels | 30,000 points | 60,000 points |
$4,000 – Gas | 8,000 points | 24,000 points |
Total Points | 76,000 points | 180,000 points |
Redemption Value (Estimated) | 1 point = ~0.8 cent | 1 point = ~0.6 cent |
Estimated Annual Value | $608 | $1,080 |
* Marriot Boundless Card: 3X on the first $6,000 spent on supermarkets
The Hilton Surpass Card offers several ways to redeem points earned through its loyalty program. You can use points to book free hotel stays, covering the cost of your room.
The Points & Money option adds extra flexibility, allowing you to combine points and cash for bookings. In addition to hotel stays, Hilton Honors members can redeem points for experiences, travel perks, shopping, and more, making the program even more versatile.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card offers diverse redemption options for travel enthusiasts. Cardholders can use points for free hotel nights at various Marriott properties worldwide, spanning luxury resorts to budget-friendly options.
Additionally, points can be redeemed for experiences, travel packages, and even transferred to airline partners.
Which Hotel Benefits You'll Get With Each Card?
There are some additional types of perks that you will see with both of these cards. Both cards offer statement credits and protections. However, there are no premium benefits with any of these cards.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
- Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status:Enjoy Silver Elite Status automatically each account anniversary year as a cardmember.
Elevate Your Status: Earn 1 Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 spent, helping you achieve higher elite status.
15 Elite Night Credits: Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, contributing to your elite status. Some restrictions apply.
1 Free Night Award: The Boundless card offers a free night award after spending $35,000 in a calendar year.
Path to Gold Status: Spend $35,000 on purchases in a calendar year to progress towards Gold Status.
DoorDash: Receive one year of complimentary DashPass, granting unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible order
- Visa Concierge: Enjoy complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge Service, providing assistance with various tasks, including finding event tickets, making restaurant reservations, and helping you select the perfect gift.
Hilton Amex Surpass Card
- Hilton Honors Gold Status: Receive complimentary Gold Status, providing benefits such as a 5th night free on standard room stays of 5+ nights, and an 80% Bonus on all Base Points to accelerate your free night earnings.
- Hilton Honors™ Upgrade to Diamond Status: Achieve Hilton Honors Diamond status by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, extending the status through the end of the next calendar year.
- Free Night Reward: Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after spending $15,000 (Surpass) or $30,000 (Aspire) on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- National Car Rental® Status: Surpass® Card Members can receive free National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status. This includes benefits like access to the Executive Area (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Enrollment is required.
- $200 Hilton Credit: Enjoy up to $50 in statement credits per quarter, totaling $200 annually, for direct purchases with Hilton properties using your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Send & Split®: In the American Express® App, Send & Split® lets you send money and split purchases with Venmo and PayPal users, paying friends without standard fees, and seamlessly splitting Amex purchases. Earn rewards for the split purchase, and enrollment is required with applicable terms.
ShopRunner: Enjoy complimentary membership with ShopRunner, providing free 2-day shipping on eligible items from a network of 100+ online stores, accessible by enrolling with your eligible Card at shoprunner.com/americanexpress.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
Which Protections You'll Get With Each Card?
Each of these cards offers travel insurance and other protection. The Hilton Surpass card offers car rental insurance, which is not available through the Marriot card, but missing lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay, and baggage insurance.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Baggage Delay Insurance: Reimburses up to $100 per day for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing when your baggage is delayed by a passenger carrier for more than 6 hours, up to a total of 5 days.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Provides coverage of up to $3,000 per passenger for damaged or lost luggage checked or carried on by you or an immediate family member when traveling.
Trip Delay Reimbursement: Covers unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket when your common carrier travel is delayed for more than 12 hours or necessitates an overnight stay.
Purchase Protection: Safeguards your new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days, with coverage up to $500 per claim and a maximum of $50,000 per account.
Hilton Amex Surpass Card
- Extended Warranty: Use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases and benefit from an extended warranty, matching the Original Manufacturer's Warranty for up to one additional year on warranties of 5 years or less in the United States or its territories.
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: When using your eligible Card to reserve and pay for a rental vehicle, and declining the collision damage waiver, you're covered for damage or theft in a covered territory. Exclusions apply, and the coverage is secondary without liability coverage.
- Global Assist® Hotline: As a Card Member, access the Global Assist® Hotline for travel assistance over 100 miles from home, providing services like lost passport replacement, translation, missing luggage, and emergency legal and medical referrals. Costs from third-party service providers are the Card Member's responsibility.
Dispute Resolution: If faced with unrecognized charges or billing issues, American Express collaborates with you and the merchant to resolve the problem promptly.
Purchase Protection: Covered Purchases made with your Eligible Card are protected for up to 90 days from the purchase date, covering theft or accidental damage, with limits of up to $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per calendar year.
Top Offers
Top Offers From Our Partners
Top Offers
When You Might Prefer The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?
You might prefer the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card over the Hilton Amex Surpass in the following situations:
Frequent Marriott Stays: If you're a loyal Marriott Bonvoy member, the Boundless card offers a higher points earning rate on Marriott stays, along with other hotel benefits. This can be a significant value if you often stay at Marriott properties.
Value for Points on Specific Redemptions: Choose the Bonvoy Boundless if you find that Marriott's point redemption options align better with your travel preferences. Assess the value of points for specific hotels, room upgrades, or travel packages to maximize your rewards.
Desire for Marriott Elite Status: If achieving and maintaining elite status with a hotel loyalty program is a priority, Marriott's Silver elite status, which is included with the Boundless card, provides some valuable perks, such as priority check-in, late checkout, and a free room upgrade (subject to availability).
When You Might Prefer The Hilton Amex Surpass?
You might prefer the Hilton Amex Surpass card over the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless in the following situations:
Hilton Hotel Preference: Choose the Hilton Surpass if you have a strong preference for staying at Hilton hotels. The card provides benefits like complimentary Gold status, room upgrades, and bonus points, enhancing your experience within the Hilton portfolio.
Flexible Points Redemption Options: Choose the Surpass if you appreciate flexibility in redeeming points. Hilton Honors points can be used not only for hotel stays but also for experiences, shopping, and more, offering a versatile range of redemption options beyond just accommodations.
You Spend A Significant Amount On Dining, Gas, And Groceries: The Hilton Surpass card offers 6x points earning rate on dining, gas, and grocery purchases, making it a good option for everyday spending in these categories. This can help you rack up points more efficiently for valuable rewards.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're in search of a travel credit card offering hotel rewards, there are several compelling alternatives worth exploring:
The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Capital One Venture X Rewards | |
Annual Fee | $695. See Rates & Fees | $550 | $395 |
Rewards |
1X – 5X
5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
|
1X – 10X
5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals and dining when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
| 1X – 10X
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
|
Welcome bonus |
80,000 points
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
|
60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
| 75,000 miles
75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0. See Rates & Fees | $0 | $0
|
Purchase APR | See Pay Over Time APR | 21.99% – 28.99% variable APR | 19.99% – 29.74% (Variable) |
Compare Hilton Honors Amex Surpass Card
The Surpass card boasts a notably higher annual fee, justified by its superior rewards ratio and benefits compared to the Hilton Honors card.
If you can maximize your points, rewards, and benefits, the Hilton Aspire is our winner. But, if your spend is not so high – the Surpass wins.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hilton Aspire Card: How They Compare?
The Hilton Honors Surpass wins at estimated cashback, while the Amex Gold card is the winner for everyday spending and extra benefits.
Despite having a higher annual fee, the Hilton Surpass card is our winner with higher estimated annual cashback and better extra hotel perks.
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. Hilton Amex Surpass: Side By Side Comparison
The Hilton Surpass and World of Hyatt card are two of the best medium tier hotel cards with great cash back rates and extra hotel perks.
World of Hyatt Card vs. Hilton Amex Surpass: Side By Side Comparison
Compare Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card
While there is no big difference when it comes to points rewards, the Brilliant offers lounge access, credit statements, and Platinum status.
In our opinion, the new Marriott Bountiful isn't worth the higher annual fee compared to the traditional Boundless card. Here's why.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs Boundless: Side By Side Comparison
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy is more expensive than the Boundless. Are the extra benefits worth the difference? We don't think so. Here's why.
The Marriott Boundless offers great perks for Marriot lovers, while the Preferred card wins when it comes to general travel-related rewards.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Comparison
Both cards offer similar rewards ratio and hotel perks, so overall it comes down to which hotel chain you like better – IHG or Marriot?
IHG One Rewards Premier vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Side By Side Comparison
The World of Hyatt Card is our winner – it offers a significantly higher annual cash back for the average consumer than Marriott Boundless.
World of Hyatt Card vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which Hotel Card Is Best?
Surprisingly, despite having no annual fee – the Wyndham Rewards Earner offers higher estimated cash back, which is why it's our winner.
Wyndham Rewards Earner vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which Hotel Card Is Best?