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Amex Green vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Green Card is a great option for earning bonus points on a wide range of travel and dining purchases. Terms apply.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is designed for travelers who want to earn accelerated Marriott Bonvoy points on hotel stays, dining, and at grocery stores.
American Express® Green Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of what makes the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) a compelling choice for frequent travelers.
- It earns generous rewards on a broad range of travel and dining purchases.
- Points can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs, providing great redemption versatility.
- The card includes useful travel benefits like a statement credit toward a CLEAR+® membership and no foreign transaction fees; terms apply.
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.
Pros
- Generous rewards on a broad range of travel, transit, and dining purchases.
- Flexible rewards program with numerous airline and hotel transfer partners.
- Annual statement credits for popular travel services and no foreign transaction fees; terms apply.
Cons
- The annual fee is relatively high for a mid-tier travel card.
- Some of the card's travel credits have limited utility, and a key lounge access benefit is being discontinued.
- Getting the most value from your points requires effort, as some redemption options are less valuable than others.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here's a closer look at the specific benefits and features that make the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card a compelling option.
- You'll receive automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which comes with valuable perks like preferred room upgrades and late checkout.
- The card helps you climb the loyalty ladder faster with annual elite night credits and offers a free night award when you meet a yearly spending goal.
- It features a rewarding earning structure for hotel stays and everyday spending, plus you'll get bonus points on every paid stay.
Pros
- Receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which provides valuable on-property perks like preferred room upgrades and late checkout.
- Accelerate your rewards with bonus points on every paid stay at participating hotels and a strong earning rate on everyday purchases like dining and groceries.
- Get a head start toward higher status tiers with an annual deposit of elite night credits, plus the opportunity to earn a free night award each year.
Cons
- The annual fee is substantial, and the card may not provide enough value to justify its cost compared to other Marriott cards.
- It does not include an automatic annual free night award, which is a standard perk on many competing hotel cards; earning one requires meeting a significant spending threshold.
- The card offers no pathway to earn top-tier elite status through spending, and the bonus earning rates on some everyday purchases are capped annually.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs American Express® Green Card
Categories
Deciding which is better, Amex Green or Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful, depends on your personal travel and spending habits. One card offers flexible rewards across a wide range of travel and dining purchases, while the other is tailored for travelers loyal to a specific hotel brand.
- American Express® Green Card: This card is best for travelers who want to earn rewards on a broad definition of travel and dining, offering valuable points that can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: This card is ideal for frequent Marriott Bonvoy guests seeking mid-tier hotel benefits, complimentary elite status, and the ability to earn points specifically for stays within the Marriott ecosystem.
Redemption
American Express® Green Card: Points earned with this card offer great flexibility, as they can be redeemed for travel through the issuer's portal or transferred to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card: Rewards are earned as Marriott Bonvoy points, which are best used for free nights at hotels and resorts within the extensive Marriott portfolio, though they can also be transferred to airline partners.
Travel Perks
- Ecosystem & Redemption: The American Express® Green Card offers a flexible travel ecosystem, with points that can be transferred to a wide array of airline and hotel partners. In contrast, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is centered on the Marriott Bonvoy program, with points primarily used for stays at Marriott properties.
- Airport Lounge Access: With the American Express® Green Card, you can receive an annual statement credit for lounge access purchased through LoungeBuddy (Terms Apply). The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ card does not offer a comparable airport lounge benefit.
- Hotel Status & Perks: The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card provides complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and the opportunity to earn a Free Night Award after meeting an annual spending requirement. The American Express® Green Card does not come with automatic hotel elite status.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are good companions for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
Instead of relying on generic "best of" lists, Kudos lets you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards using your actual spending data to find the perfect match.
- Use the Test Drive feature to simulate your potential earnings with any card before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
- Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
- Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points with Kudos Boost when shopping at your favorite online stores.
- Receive personalized card recommendations tailored to your unique transaction history.
- Take advantage of a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match any better public offer you find within three months of joining.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?
The American Express® Green Card is a great fit for travelers who spend heavily on dining and transit and enjoy the challenge of maximizing points and perks. Its value shines through the 3X Membership Rewards® points earned on travel and at restaurants worldwide, which can be transferred to a long list of airline and hotel partners. While it takes some effort, cardholders who take advantage of the annual statement credits for services like CLEAR Plus can find the card well worth its annual fee; Terms apply.
Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful?
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card is designed for the frequent Marriott guest who wants more than a basic hotel card but isn't ready for a premium price tag. This cardholder values the automatic Gold Elite status and wants to maximize rewards on everyday spending, earning 4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 spent annually on combined dining and grocery store purchases (then 2 points per dollar). It's an ideal fit for someone who can comfortably spend $15,000 on the card each year to unlock the valuable free night award, a key benefit that isn't automatically granted.
Alternatives to Consider
If neither the American Express® Green Card nor the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card is the right choice for you, don't worry. The Amex Green vs Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful comparison focuses on just two options in a wide world of excellent travel rewards cards.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score to ensure it aligns with the card’s typical requirements.
- Plan your spending to meet any welcome offer requirements without overextending your budget.
- Review issuer eligibility rules, as you may not qualify for a welcome offer if you have or have had similar cards.
Application Strategy
- Research transfer partners to understand how you will use your points for maximum value.
- Try multiple methods if the best welcome offer isn't available to you at first.
- Check co-branded card restrictions, as some issuers limit welcome offers if you have or have had similar cards.
Our Methodology
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.
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
Is the American Express® Green card good for beginners?
The Amex Green card can be a solid choice for those new to travel rewards, offering broad bonus categories for transit, travel, and dining. However, its annual fee means beginners should ensure they can utilize its benefits to get sufficient value.
What are Marriott Bonvoy points worth?
The value of Marriott Bonvoy points fluctuates, but they are generally valued at around 0.7 to 0.9 cents each. Your redemption value ultimately depends on the specific hotel, travel dates, and the cash price of the room.
Should I get a hotel credit card or a general travel card?
A hotel credit card like the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card is ideal for brand-loyal travelers, while a general travel card like the Amex Green offers more flexibility. The best choice depends entirely on your travel style and loyalty preferences.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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