Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs Capital One Venture X: Which Is Better In 2025?

Capital One Venture X Rewards Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Capital One Venture X Rewards (See Rates & Fees) a standout choice for frequent travelers.

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• Its straightforward rewards structure offers a high flat rate of miles on every purchase, plus accelerated earnings on travel.
• Valuable annual credits and anniversary bonus miles help offset the cost of card membership.
• Enjoy complimentary access to a global network of airport lounges for a more comfortable travel experience.

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Pros

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• Generous rewards on travel purchases and a high flat-rate on everything else.
• Premium travel perks like annual credits and complimentary airport lounge access.
• No foreign transaction fees and robust travel insurance protections.

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Cons

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• A high annual fee may be hard to justify for infrequent travelers.
• The best rewards rates are only available for travel booked through the Capital One portal.
• Travelers loyal to a specific airline or hotel brand may find more value in a co-branded card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, ultimately depends on your personal travel style and spending habits.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: This card is best for frequent travelers loyal to Marriott properties who want to earn rewards on everyday purchases like gas, groceries, and dining.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: This card is geared toward luxury travel, offering premium benefits for those who book flights, hotels, and rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for free nights at hotels and resorts within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. You can also transfer points to a variety of airline partners.

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Miles can be redeemed for statement credits to cover recent travel purchases made on the card. Alternatively, you can use your miles to book travel through the Capital One Travel portal or transfer them to Capital One's airline and hotel partners.

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Travel Perks

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• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: This card’s travel benefits are centered on the Marriott Bonvoy program. Perks include automatic elite status, an annual free night award after your account anniversary, and no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: This card offers an annual travel credit for bookings through the Capital One Travel portal and an anniversary bonus of miles each year. Cardholders also receive access to a global network of airport lounges and pay no foreign transaction fees.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For a data-driven approach to finding your next card, a financial companion tool like Kudos helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best match for your spending habits.

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• The ability to 'test drive' credit cards by simulating your potential earnings based on your actual spending history, all without a hard credit pull.
• A detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards, using your credit report to provide personalized insights.
• Access to Kudos Boost, which provides additional rewards on top of your card's rewards when you shop at participating stores.
• A welcome offer guarantee that matches any better public offer you find within three months of being approved for a card through the platform.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is ideally suited for travelers who regularly stay at Marriott properties and want to fast-track their elite status. These value-focused individuals can maximize the anniversary free night award to more than offset the card's $95 annual fee. The card also appeals to everyday spenders looking to accumulate points quickly by earning 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent annually on combined purchases at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Venture X Rewards?

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The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is tailored for frequent travelers who seek luxury perks like airport lounge access and premium rewards without the complexities of some other high-end travel cards. Its ideal user is someone who books flights, hotels, and rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal to maximize the 5X and 10X miles earning rates. While it may not be the best fit for those loyal to a specific airline or who travel infrequently, it offers significant value for travelers who can leverage its annual travel credits and benefits to easily offset the annual fee.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, you've read our Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs Capital One Venture X comparison and neither card feels quite right for your wallet. Fortunately, the world of travel rewards cards is vast, and there are several other top-tier options available.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spend requirement for the welcome offer.
• Have a redemption strategy – Know how you plan to use your points or miles for maximum value.

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Application Strategy

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• Be aware of issuer rules – Some issuers, like Chase, have application restrictions that could affect your approval.
• Use pre-approval tools – Check your eligibility with an issuer's tool to see your offer before a hard inquiry.
• Time your application – Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement naturally.

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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What kind of rewards do these cards offer?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card primarily earns points designed for use within the Marriott Bonvoy program, while the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns flexible travel miles.

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How can I redeem rewards from each card?

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Rewards from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card are best redeemed for hotel stays within the Marriott ecosystem. The Capital One Venture X card's miles can be used to cover a wide range of travel purchases or be transferred to various airline and hotel partners.

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Do I need to be loyal to a specific hotel brand for either card?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card is built for travelers who frequently stay with Marriott properties and want to maximize their loyalty. In contrast, the Capital One Venture X card is better suited for travelers who prefer flexibility and are not tied to a single hotel chain.

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What types of benefits do these cards have?

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Both cards offer valuable travel-related benefits. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card focuses on perks within the Marriott program, such as automatic elite status, while the Capital One Venture X card provides broader premium benefits like annual travel credits and airport lounge access.

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