Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold®

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier
VS
Marriott Bonvoy Bold®
The short answer: The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

Southwest Rapid Rewards® PremierMarriott Bonvoy Bold®
Annual fee$149No annual fee
Welcome offer50,000 85,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points (limited-time)30,000 60,000 points (limited-time)
Dining2x4x
Groceries2x4x
Gas1x2x
Travel1x2x
Streaming1x2x
Everything else1x2x
Est. yearly rewards*$382$763
Points typeLocked to Southwest Rapid RewardsLocked to Marriott Bonvoy
NetworkVisaVisa

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier earns about $382 a year in rewards and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® about $763, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier charges $149, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® delivers more total value, about $531 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and groceries. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® better?
On typical household spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® comes out ahead, by roughly $531 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold®?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold®?
As of June 2026, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier offers 85,000 Rapid Rewards® bonus points and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® offers 60,000 points. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.