Head-to-head comparison of every feature, fee, and perk
No annual fee
No annual fee
3x
1x
$400
$420
7/10
7/10
| Category wins | 5/6 | 1/6 |
| Fees & APR | ||
| Annual Fee | No annual fee★ Lowest | No annual fee |
| Purchase APR | 22.49% – 30.49% | 21.49% – 28.49% |
| Intro APR (Purchases) | ||
| Intro APR (Balance Transfer) | ||
| Foreign Txn Fee | None★ Lowest | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 3% | 5% |
| Rewards | ||
| Rewards Type | Points | Points |
| Base Rewards Rate | 3x★ Highest | 1x✗ Lowest |
| Bonus Categories | 7x Hilton Purchases · 5x Restaurants · 5x Supermarkets | 14x Marriott Purchases · 2x Other Travel |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $400 value✗ Lowest | $420 value★ Highest |
| Eligibility | ||
| Credit Score | Good (670-749) | Good (670-749) |
| Network | American Express | Visa |
| At a Glance | ||
| Best For | Occasional Hilton guests who want no-fee hotel rewards | Occasional Marriott guests who want a no-fee hotel card |
| Ratings | ||
| User Rating | 4.2 / 5★ Highest | 4.1 / 5✗ Lowest |
| Editor Score | 7 / 10★ Highest | 7 / 10 |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply |
| Full Review | View details → | View details → |
| Pros & Cons | ||
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Both are free hotel cards, but the Hilton card is significantly stronger for everyday spending. Hilton: 7x at Hilton, 5x dining/groceries/gas, 3x everything else + Silver status. Marriott: 14x at Marriott, 2x travel, 1x everything else + Silver Elite + 15 elite nights. The Hilton card wins as an everyday card (5x vs 1x on most spending), while the Marriott card wins on hotel earning rate (14x vs 7x) and elite night credits.
Winner: Hilton Honors American Express Card
Much stronger everyday earning rates outside of hotels
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It depends on your spending habits. The Hilton Honors American Express Card has no annual fee and earns 3x 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.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card has no annual fee while the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card has no annual fee. Both cards have the same annual fee, so the decision comes down to rewards structure and perks.
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.