Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®
VS
PayPal Cashback Mastercard
The short answer: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if you spend more on travel, streaming.

Side-by-side comparison

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Annual fee$95No annual fee
Welcome offer95,000 125,000 points + 1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 pts) (limited-time)No current offer
Dining3x1.5x
Groceries3x1.5x
Gas3x1.5x
Travel1x1.5x
Streaming1x1.5x
Everything else2x1.5x
Est. yearly rewards*$671$437
Points typeLocked to Marriott BonvoyCash back only
NetworkVisaMastercard

*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 Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® earns about $671 a year in rewards and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard about $437, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® charges $95, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® delivers more total value, about $138 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and everything else. 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 Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® 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 Boundless® if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas. Pick the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if your spending leans toward travel, streaming.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® or the PayPal Cashback Mastercard better?
On typical household spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® comes out ahead after its annual fee, by roughly $138 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the PayPal Cashback Mastercard 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 Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
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 Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® or the PayPal Cashback Mastercard?
As of June 2026, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® offers 125,000 points + 1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 pts) and the PayPal Cashback Mastercard offers no current offer. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.