Amex Business Gold vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold: Which Is Better In 2026?

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

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• It provides an excellent entry point into the Marriott Bonvoy program without the commitment of an annual fee.
• Cardholders automatically receive Silver Elite status, a valuable perk for a card in this category.
• The card includes strong travel protections and the flexibility to transfer points to various airline partners.

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Pros

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• Grants automatic Silver Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program upon approval.
• Provides an annual boost of Elite Night Credits to help you reach higher status tiers faster.
• Includes valuable travel protections, a notable perk for an entry-level hotel card.

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Cons

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• The potential to earn points is lower compared to premium cards in the Marriott Bonvoy family.
• It lacks an annual free night award, a common perk on other hotel credit cards.
• The included elite status provides only foundational benefits, lacking the more valuable perks of higher tiers.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® vs American Express® Business Gold Card

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Amex Business Gold or Marriott Bonvoy Bold, depends entirely on your spending habits and financial goals. One card is built to reward business expenses, while the other is tailored for travelers loyal to a specific hotel brand.

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• American Express® Business Gold Card: This card is best suited for business owners, particularly those with variable expenses across different categories who want to maximize their rewards on company spending.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: This card is ideal for frequent travelers and Marriott loyalists who want to earn hotel points and enjoy basic elite status benefits.

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Redemption

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American Express® Business Gold Card: Points earned with this card are highly flexible and can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs. Redemptions can also cover travel, statement credits, and other business-related expenses.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: The points you accumulate are best used for stays and upgrades at hotels and resorts within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. You can also redeem points for flights and car rentals through the program's travel partners.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the right choice, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare thousands of cards based on your actual spending.

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• Test drive a credit card: This feature allows you to simulate potential earnings with a new card based on your real transaction history before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval chances for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, the platform will match it.
• Personalized card matching: Get matched with cards that will earn you the most rewards by connecting your bank accounts to analyze your spending patterns.
• Extra rewards: Earn additional rewards on top of your card's benefits through programs like Kudos Boost and a $100 Kudos Kickstart+ for adding select approved cards to your wallet.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card is best suited for established businesses with significant and varied annual spending, particularly those with over $50,000 in yearly expenses. Its key feature is the ability to automatically earn 4X points on the top two spending categories each billing cycle, which is perfect for companies with fluctuating costs across areas like U.S. advertising, shipping, or technology providers (Terms Apply). This makes it a powerful tool for entrepreneurs who value flexible rewards and want to maximize earnings on their largest business expenses without being locked into pre-selected categories.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bold®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® is an excellent choice for travelers who want to earn Marriott Bonvoy points without committing to an annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for occasional Marriott guests who can benefit from the automatic Silver Elite status and the 15 Elite Night Credits provided annually. Ultimately, this card is ideal for budget-conscious individuals or those just starting with hotel rewards who still value travel protections and the ability to earn points on everyday spending.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Amex Business Gold vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold comparison has helped you realize that neither card is the perfect match for your wallet, don't worry. There are several other excellent cards worth considering.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Review your credit score, as a good to excellent score is often necessary for approval.

• Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet any minimum spend requirements for a welcome offer.

• Research how you will use the card's points and benefits to confirm it's a good fit for you.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application before a large purchase to help meet spending requirements.

• Consider cards with flexible spending limits if your expenses vary throughout the year.

• Start with a no-annual-fee card to build a relationship with a card issuer.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I transfer points from the American Express® Business Gold Card to Marriott Bonvoy?

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Yes, American Express Membership Rewards points earned with the Business Gold card can be transferred to the Marriott Bonvoy program; Terms apply. Transfer ratios can vary, so it's best to check the current rate before initiating a transfer.

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What are the annual fees for these cards?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card has an annual fee, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card does not. It's always a good practice to confirm current fee information directly with the card issuers.

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Is the Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card a good choice for business expenses?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card is a personal card, so its reward categories are not optimized for business spending. A dedicated business credit card will likely offer better returns on typical business expenses.

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