Chase Freedom Rise® vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®
Side-by-side comparison
| Chase Freedom Rise® | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $95 |
| Welcome offer | $25 statement credit | |
| Dining | 1.5x | 3x |
| Groceries | 1.5x | 3x |
| Gas | 1.5x | 3x |
| Travel | 1.5x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1.5x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1.5x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $437 | $671 |
| Points type | Pools with Chase → transferable | Locked to Marriott Bonvoy |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Chase Freedom Rise® | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $25 statement credit | 125,000 points + 1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 pts) |
| To earn it | Set up autopay in first 3 months | $3,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $462 | $2,326 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $437 | $576 |
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Chase Freedom Rise® | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | None | None |
| Points & redemptions | Transferable (paired with a premium card) | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, the Chase Freedom Rise® earns transferable points with a higher redemption ceiling, while the other is capped nearer a flat cent. Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Only the Chase Freedom Rise® earns transferable points. Its Chase Ultimate Rewards move to World of Hyatt, United, Air Canada, Southwest, and British Airways Avios, where a point can be worth several cents on a premium-cabin redemption, far above its cash value. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® stays locked to a single airline or hotel program, so its ceiling is nearer a penny per point no matter how you redeem.
These solve different problems: the Freedom Rise is about getting approved and building credit, the Boundless is about earning Marriott stays and an annual free night.
The Freedom Rise earns simple cash and is approvable for new credit. The Boundless is a hotel co-brand whose annual free-night award can, on its own, be worth more than its $95 fee if you stay at Marriott. One builds your credit foundation; the other rewards hotel loyalty.
Pros and cons
- Approvable for people new to credit (580+)
- Flat 1.5% with no annual fee
- Builds toward the Chase ecosystem
- No fee to justify
- No category bonuses or travel perks
- 1.5% base, a starter earn rate
- A card you’ll graduate from
- Annual free-night award (up to 50,000 points), often worth more than the fee
- Elevated Marriott earning plus points on everyday categories
- Automatic Silver status and elite-night credits
- A large Marriott points welcome bonus
- $95 fee, best justified by Marriott stays
- Points locked to Marriott (a modest per-point value)
- Free night capped at 50,000 points
- Limited value if you don’t stay at Marriott
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Approval / credit building | Freedom Rise | Built for new credit; the Boundless needs good credit. |
| Free night | Marriott Boundless | An annual award that can exceed the fee; the Rise has none. |
| Everyday earning | Freedom Rise | Flat 1.5% cash vs Marriott points. |
| Annual fee | Freedom Rise | $0 vs $95. |
| Best for | Depends | Credit-builders vs Marriott loyalists. |
The verdict
If you’re building credit, the Freedom Rise is the right card, the Boundless requires established credit and only pays off with Marriott stays, while the Rise gets you approved, earns a real 1.5%, and sets up your Chase future. Start here.
If your credit is solid and you stay at Marriott even a couple of nights a year, the Boundless is easy to justify, the annual free-night award frequently exceeds the $95 fee by itself, before you count the welcome bonus and Silver status. They aren’t true rivals: one establishes credit, the other rewards hotel loyalty. Choose by which fits your situation.