Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs United Explorer Card
Both are Chase cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.
Everything else
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold 0.8% 1x base rate
Dining
- United Explorer Card 2.4% 2x
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold 0.8% 1x base rate
Groceries
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold 1.5% 2x
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Phone & internet
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold 1.5% 2x
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Flights
- United Explorer Card 3.6% 3x
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold 0.8% 1x base rate
Hotels
- United Explorer Card 2.4% 2x
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold 0.8% 1x base rate
Rideshare & taxis
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold 1.5% 2x
- United Explorer Card 1.2% 1x base rate
What the numbers are doing
United Explorer Card tops everything else at 1.2% only because this table values its points at 1.2 cents each. Value them at one cent and Marriott Bonvoy Bold wins that category instead.
The table is earn rate only — annual fees are not netted out of it. These cards charge Marriott Bonvoy Bold $0 and United Explorer Card $150 a year, so a thin lead in one category may not cover the difference.
Where they differ: United Explorer Card takes everything else, dining, flights and hotels; Marriott Bonvoy Bold takes groceries, phone & internet and rideshare & taxis.
| Category | Best card |
|---|---|
| Everything else | United Explorer Card1.2% |
| Dining | United Explorer Card2.4% |
| Groceries | Marriott Bonvoy Bold1.5% |
| Phone & internet | Marriott Bonvoy Bold1.5% |
| Flights | United Explorer Card3.6% |
| Hotels | United Explorer Card2.4% |
| Rideshare & taxis | Marriott Bonvoy Bold1.5% |
Content preview. Apple Wallet controls the layout; visible categories vary by device. Categories that rank the same as Everything else are left off; every other category is in pass details.
Every category, every card
Everything else
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold — 0.8%
Dining
- United Explorer Card — 2.4%
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold — 0.8%
Groceries
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold — 1.5%
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
Phone & internet
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold — 1.5%
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
Flights
- United Explorer Card — 3.6%
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold — 0.8%
Hotels
- United Explorer Card — 2.4%
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold — 0.8%
Rideshare & taxis
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold — 1.5%
- United Explorer Card — 1.2%
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