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 likely to have higher incomes charges, further journey perks and annual advantages.
Whereas many factors and miles lovers choose the perks that include premium playing cards, no-annual-fee cobranded playing cards can nonetheless be an honest choice 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 Specific 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 closely fits your wants.
Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex comparability
| Card | Marriott Bonvoy Daring | Hilton Honors Amex |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome supply | Earn 60,000 bonus factors and a free evening award value as much as 50,000 factors after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Sure resorts 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 differ by card. Phrases, circumstances 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, Circumstances and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Automobile Rental Loss or Injury Protection is obtainable by means of American Specific Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex welcome supply
The no-annual-fee Marriott and Hilton playing cards each have compelling bonus gives.
New Marriott Bonvoy Daring cardholders will earn 60,000 bonus factors and a free evening award value as much as 50,000 factors after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Sure resorts have resort charges.
The Daring’s welcome bonus is value as much as $770, per TPG’s June 2025 valuations.
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That is considered one of the very best gives we have seen on this card, so when you’re out there for a no-annual-fee Bonvoy card, we suggest making use of now.
However, 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 gives for this card, so it is a good time to use when you’re desirous about doing so.
In keeping with TPG’s June 2025 valuations, the Hilton Honors Amex’s welcome bonus is value $600. That is a bit lower than the Daring’s present welcome supply.
Winner: Bonvoy Daring. Its extra precious welcome bonus makes this card the clear winner.
Associated: This month’s greatest welcome gives
Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex advantages
Each playing cards present entry-level elite standing, which is helpful when seeking to begin a dedication with a resort loyalty program. The Marriott Bonvoy Daring offers computerized Silver Elite standing, which incorporates primary perks like a ten% bonus on factors earned for Marriott stays, precedence late checkout (when accessible) and complimentary Wi-Fi.
The Hilton Honors Amex’s complimentary Silver standing additionally consists of 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 supply a pathway to greater elite standing. The Bonvoy Daring provides you 5 elite evening credit yearly that can assist you earn the next standing. The elite evening credit earned from this card may be stacked with elite evening credit earned from the Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card to deliver you nearer to greater elite standing with Marriott.
The Hilton Amex grants cardmembers computerized Gold standing by means of the tip of the following calendar yr after they spend $20,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr.
For anybody who plans to make use of both card steadily, this generally is a nice choice to unlock an elite tier that is way more rewarding. Nevertheless, 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 have no overseas 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 automobile 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 differ by card. Phrases, circumstances 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, Circumstances and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Automobile Rental Loss or Injury Protection is obtainable by means of American Specific Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Daring. It has extra journey protections and a neater path to greater elite standing and not using a 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 cellphone providers
- 1 level per greenback spent on different purchases
It is necessary to do not forget that though this card earns 3 factors per greenback spent on Marriott purchases, being a Marriott Bonvoy member provides you a bonus 11 factors per greenback spent on Marriott purchases, because of 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 accordance with TPG’s June 2025 valuations.
In the meantime, the Hilton Honors Amex earns 7 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases made instantly with Hilton portfolio properties. This consists of 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 accordance 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. fuel stations and three factors per greenback spent all over the place else.
Regardless of Hilton Honors factors being valued barely lower than Bonvoy factors, the cardboard gives extra alternatives to earn factors. Nevertheless, we do not suggest utilizing a resort bank card for nonbonus spending except you are attempting to earn elite standing or a welcome bonus.
Winner: Hilton Honors Amex. It comes with higher incomes charges in common spending classes.
Associated: The most effective no-annual-fee resort bank cards
Redeeming factors with the Marriott Bonvoy Daring vs. Hilton Honors Amex
As a Marriott Bonvoy Daring cardholder, you possibly can, in fact, redeem factors for Marriott stays. Or, you possibly can switch them to a protracted record of airline companions. Nevertheless, utilizing your factors totally free nights at Marriott resorts normally provides you the very best worth.
Marriott has a dynamic pricing mannequin for its redemptions, which suggests charges fluctuate primarily based on varied elements, together with money charges. To stretch your factors additional, you possibly can maximize the Marriott Money + Factors fee, which lets you break up the associated fee between factors and money. Should you’re quick on factors, this can assist 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 may be eligible for the “Keep for five, Pay for 4” profit, which supplies members the lowest-cost award evening totally free.
TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson not too long ago redeemed 47,000 Bonvoy factors per evening for a three-night keep on the JW Marriott Resort 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 software, Factors Explorer, that can assist you discover award costs primarily based on location or sorts of holidays you are focused on.
TPG bank cards author Augusta Stone not too long ago redeemed 130,000 Hilton Honors factors for a two-night keep at Cover by Hilton London Metropolis. It is a nice redemption because the property is inside strolling distance of the Tower Bridge.
As a rule of thumb, ensure to calculate what number of factors you may want for a keep to assist decide if redeeming factors is value it versus paying money. I’ve amassed practically 800,000 Bonvoy factors and am considering redeeming them for a keep within the normally costly Maldives or transferring my factors to an airline to redeem for premium-cabin airfare.
Associated: The bank cards that assist gas my luxurious journey
Winner: Marriott Bonvoy Daring. Marriott has extra properties in complete, so it needs to be simpler to seek out redemptions on your factors.
Ought to I get the Marriott Bonvoy Daring or Hilton Honors Amex?
The Marriott Bonvoy Daring and Hilton Honors Amex are entry-level cobranded resort playing cards that supply respectable worth for being no-annual-fee bank cards. Should you’re not after top-tier elite standing and are in search of simply the fundamentals or are simply beginning out with a resort bank card, you possibly can’t go improper with both choice. The selection comes right down to which model you favor and whether or not both card’s restricted perks might be of use to you.
Associated: How to decide on a resort bank card
Backside line
The Marriott Bonvoy Daring Credit score Card and Hilton Honors American Specific Card are entry-level, no-annual-fee playing cards that ship primary advantages and a few journey protections. Despite the fact that these playing cards present a pathway to the next elite standing, they are not something spectacular.
Frequent vacationers may discover it worthwhile to use for a cobranded card with the next annual price to entry many extra advantages.
As a frequent traveler, I would not have a cobranded resort card. Nevertheless, I do have The Platinum Card® from American Specific, which offers me with Gold elite standing with each Marriott and Hilton and makes the cardboard value it (enrollment required). This may very well be a card value contemplating if you would like elite standing with each manufacturers and premium journey perks.
That mentioned, when you’re simply beginning out, these playing cards are a sensible choice to start out your loyalty journey with both program.
To be taught extra, learn our full opinions 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.