American Express Gold Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Head-to-head comparison of every feature, fee, and perk
At a Glance
Annual Fee
$250
vs
No annual fee
Base Rewards
1x
vs
1x
Sign-Up Bonus
$600
vs
$420
Editor Score
9/10
vs
7/10
Detailed Comparison
| Category wins | 5/6 | 1/6 |
| Fees & APR | ||
| Annual Fee | $250✗ Highest | No annual fee★ Lowest |
| Purchase APR | 29.49% | 21.49% – 28.49% |
| Intro APR (Purchases) | ||
| Intro APR (Balance Transfer) | ||
| Foreign Txn Fee | None★ Lowest | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | None | 5% |
| Rewards | ||
| Rewards Type | Points | Points |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x★ Highest | 1x |
| Bonus Categories | 4x Restaurants · 4x Groceries · 3x Flights | 14x Marriott Purchases · 2x Other Travel |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $600 value★ Highest | $420 value✗ Lowest |
| Eligibility | ||
| Credit Score | Excellent (750+) | Good (670-749) |
| Network | American Express | Visa |
| At a Glance | ||
| Best For | Foodies and grocery shoppers | Occasional Marriott guests who want a no-fee hotel card |
| Ratings | ||
| User Rating | 4.6 / 5★ Highest | 4.1 / 5✗ Lowest |
| Editor Score | 9 / 10★ Highest | 7 / 10✗ Lowest |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply |
| Full Review | View details → | View details → |
| Pros & Cons | ||
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Our verdict: Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
The American Express Gold Card ($250/year) and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card (no annual fee) compete on different axes. The American Express Gold Card's strongest category is 4x on Restaurants, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card leads with 14x on Marriott Purchases. The American Express Gold Card costs $250 more per year, so you need at least $250 in incremental rewards to justify it over the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card. At typical spend levels this breaks even somewhere between $7,500 and $15,000 in bonus-category purchases annually. Our scoring model gives the edge to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card — it leads on 3 of the 5 key dimensions we evaluate. That said, this ranking is algorithmic; your specific spending pattern can flip the answer.
Leads on 3 of 5 key comparison dimensions
Dimension-by-dimension
| Dimension | American Express Gold Card | Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $250/year | no annual fee |
| Base Reward Rate | 1x on everything | 1x on everything |
| Top Bonus Category | 4x on Restaurants | 14x on Marriott Purchases |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in 6 months | 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $2,000 in 3 months |
| Credit Score Required | excellent | good |
Green checkmark indicates the card that leans stronger on that dimension. Our scoring model evaluates these quantitatively — your specific needs may shift the answer.
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Common Questions
Which is better: American Express Gold Card or Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card?
It depends on your spending habits. The American Express Gold Card has a $250 annual fee and earns 1x base rewards. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card has no annual fee and earns 1x base rewards. Compare their bonus categories above to see which aligns better with your spending.
What is the annual fee difference between American Express Gold Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card?
The American Express Gold Card has a $250 annual fee while the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card has no annual fee. The American Express Gold Card costs $250 more per year, so it needs to deliver that much extra value in rewards and perks to justify the difference.
Can I have both the American Express Gold Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card?
Yes, since these cards are from different issuers (American Express and Chase), you can hold both. Many people pair cards from different banks to maximize bonus category coverage across all their spending.