There are numerous journey rewards bank cards with annual charges starting from zero to a number of hundred {dollars}. Bank cards with annual charges are inclined to have higher incomes charges, further journey perks and annual advantages.
Whereas many factors and miles lovers desire the perks that include premium playing cards, no-annual-fee cobranded playing cards can nonetheless be an honest possibility for informal vacationers.
If a no-annual-fee resort bank card is in your radar, think about the Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card (see charges and costs) and the Hilton Honors American Categorical Card (see charges and costs). Each playing cards get you entry-level elite standing and have comparable bonus classes that can assist you earn factors with each buy.
Let’s evaluate the Marriott Bonvoy Daring and Hilton Honors Amex that can assist you resolve which entry-level card most accurately fits your wants.
Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex comparability
| Card | Marriott Bonvoy Daring | Hilton Honors Amex |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome provide | Earn 60,000 bonus factors and a free evening award price as much as 50,000 factors after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Sure lodges have resort charges. | Earn 100,000 bonus factors plus a $100 assertion credit score after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. |
| Annual price | $0 | $0 |
| Incomes charges |
|
|
| Per-point worth (primarily based on TPG’s June 2025 valuations) | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| Advantages |
|
|
*Eligibility and profit ranges fluctuate by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
**Eligibility and Profit degree varies by Card. Phrases, Situations and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Automotive Rental Loss or Injury Protection is obtainable by American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex welcome provide
The no-annual-fee Marriott and Hilton playing cards each have compelling bonus affords.
The Daring’s welcome bonus is price as much as $770, per TPG’s June 2025 valuations.
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This is without doubt one of the greatest affords we have seen on this card, so if you happen to’re out there for a no-annual-fee Bonvoy card, we advocate making use of now.
Alternatively, new Hilton Honors Amex cardmembers can earn 100,000 bonus factors plus a $100 assertion credit score after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
This is without doubt one of the greatest affords for this card, so it is a good time to use if you happen to’re enthusiastic about doing so.
In keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, the Hilton Honors Amex’s welcome bonus is price $600. That is a bit lower than the Daring’s present welcome provide.
Winner: Bonvoy Daring. Its extra beneficial welcome bonus makes this card the clear winner.
Associated: This month’s greatest welcome affords
Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex advantages
Each playing cards present entry-level elite standing, which is helpful when trying to begin a dedication with a resort loyalty program. The Marriott Bonvoy Daring offers automated Silver Elite standing, which incorporates primary perks like a ten% bonus on factors earned for Marriott stays, precedence late checkout (when obtainable) and complimentary Wi-Fi.
The Hilton Honors Amex’s complimentary Silver standing additionally contains comparable entry-level perks, together with a 20% level bonus and elite rollover nights. These are helpful when attempting to maximise Hilton’s fifth evening free on award stays.
Fortunately, each playing cards additionally provide a pathway to greater elite standing. The Bonvoy Daring offers you 5 elite evening credit yearly that can assist you earn a better standing. The elite evening credit earned from this card will be stacked with elite evening credit earned from the Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Categorical® Card to convey you nearer to greater elite standing with Marriott.
The Hilton Amex grants cardmembers automated Gold standing by the top of the subsequent calendar yr after they spend $20,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr.
For anybody who plans to make use of both card continuously, this is usually a nice choice to unlock an elite tier that is far more rewarding. Nonetheless, you could be sacrificing worth by not making these purchases with a card that is good for on a regular basis spending.
Equally, each playing cards don’t have any international transaction charges, so you need to use both card when touring outdoors the U.S. with out incurring charges. Each playing cards additionally include an honest record of journey and buy protections, with the Marriott Bonvoy Daring taking the lead.
The Daring comes with baggage delay insurance coverage, misplaced baggage reimbursement and journey delay reimbursement protection, together with buy safety. These are spectacular advantages in comparison with the Hilton Honors Amex, which solely offers buy safety*, prolonged warranties* and automotive rental insurance coverage.**
That is very true when contemplating that no-annual-fee playing cards usually do not include intensive journey protections.
*Eligibility and profit ranges fluctuate by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
**Eligibility and Profit degree varies by Card. Phrases, Situations and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Automotive Rental Loss or Injury Protection is obtainable by American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Daring. It has extra journey protections and a better path to greater elite standing with no minimal spending requirement.
Incomes factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex
The Marriott Bonvoy Daring earns factors on the following charges:
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at properties collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 2 factors per greenback spent on groceries; ride-hailing providers; choose meals supply providers; and choose streaming, web, cable and telephone providers
- 1 level per greenback spent on different purchases
It is vital to keep in mind that though this card earns 3 factors per greenback spent on Marriott purchases, being a Marriott Bonvoy member offers you a bonus 11 factors per greenback spent on Marriott purchases, due to Silver Elite standing.
This brings the incomes potential for Marriott purchases as much as 14 factors per greenback spent when utilizing the Bonvoy Daring, a 9.8% return on spending in keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations.
In the meantime, the Hilton Honors Amex earns 7 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases made straight with Hilton portfolio properties. This contains paying for the room and on-site spending at US eating places and spas.
Just like the Bonvoy Daring, the Hilton Honors Amex earns extra than simply the bottom factors with Hilton purchases. Due to their complimentary Hilton Honors Silver standing, cardmembers additionally earn a further 12 factors per greenback spent, for a complete of 19 factors per greenback spent (a 9.5% return on spending, in keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations).
The Hilton Honors beats the Marriott Bonvoy Daring on non-hotel spending as you earn 5 factors per greenback spent at U.S. eating places (together with takeout and supply), U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gasoline stations and three factors per greenback spent in all places else.
Regardless of Hilton Honors factors being valued barely lower than Bonvoy factors, the cardboard affords extra alternatives to earn factors. Nonetheless, we do not advocate utilizing a resort bank card for nonbonus spending until you are attempting to earn elite standing or a welcome bonus.
Winner: Hilton Honors Amex. It comes with higher incomes charges in in style spending classes.
Associated: The perfect no-annual-fee resort bank cards
Redeeming factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex
Marriott has a dynamic pricing mannequin for its redemptions, which suggests charges fluctuate primarily based on numerous components, together with money charges. To stretch your factors additional, you may maximize the Marriott Money + Factors fee, which lets you cut up the fee between factors and money. When you’re quick on factors, this will help you cowl your total keep.
Better of all, Marriott additionally offers a free evening profit on award bookings. When redeeming factors for a keep of 5 consecutive nights, you will be eligible for the “Keep for five, Pay for 4” profit, which provides members the lowest-cost award evening free of charge.
TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson just lately redeemed 47,000 Bonvoy factors per evening for a three-night keep on the JW Marriott Lodge Beijing.
Hilton Honors redemptions are fairly much like Marriott Bonvoy’s, since award nights are additionally dynamically priced.
The Hilton Honors program additionally offers a fifth free evening on award stays as an elite member, so it is best to analysis completely different dates on your property of curiosity to get the very best worth on your hard-earned factors. In contrast to Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors has a nifty instrument, Factors Explorer, that can assist you discover award costs primarily based on location or forms of holidays you are considering.
TPG bank cards author Augusta Stone just lately redeemed 130,000 Hilton Honors factors for a two-night keep at Cover by Hilton London Metropolis. This can be a nice redemption because the property is inside strolling distance of the Tower Bridge.
As a rule of thumb, be certain to calculate what number of factors you will want for a keep to assist decide if redeeming factors is price it versus paying money. I’ve amassed practically 800,000 Bonvoy factors and am considering redeeming them for a keep within the often costly Maldives or transferring my factors to an airline to redeem for premium-cabin airfare.
Associated: The bank cards that assist gasoline my luxurious journey
Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Daring. Marriott has extra properties in complete, so it ought to be simpler to seek out redemptions on your factors.
Ought to I get the Marriott Bonvoy Daring or Hilton Honors Amex?
Associated: How to decide on a resort bank card
Backside line
Frequent vacationers may discover it worthwhile to use for a cobranded card with a better annual price to entry many extra advantages.
As a frequent traveler, I would not have a cobranded resort card. Nonetheless, I do have The Platinum Card® from American Categorical, which offers me with Gold elite standing with each Marriott and Hilton and makes the cardboard price it (enrollment required). This could possibly be a card price contemplating if you’d like elite standing with each manufacturers and premium journey perks.
That stated, if you happen to’re simply beginning out, these playing cards are a sensible choice to begin your loyalty journey with both program.
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluations of the Marriott Bonvoy Daring and the Hilton Honors Amex.
Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Daring
Apply right here: Hilton Honors Amex
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors Amex, please click on right here.
