Editorial take: Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful
Mid-tier Marriott card. The 50k free night cert can pay for the fee on a single stay at a Cat 5 property, but Hyatt is a more valuable program for most people, consider that card first.
Every feature is free during beta. No credit card, no catch.
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful comes from Chase at $250/yr; the Citi Double Cash from Citi at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
If you're not sure you'll use premium perks, start with the Citi Double Cash, its annual fee is significantly lower and the bonus values are similar. Upgrade later if you find yourself using the higher-tier benefits.
| Feature | Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful | Citi Double Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $250 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | 85,000 Bonus Points | $200 cash back |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $200 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $4,000 in 3 mo | $1,500 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Chase | Citi |
| Card category | hotel | cashback |
| Best earning category (Marriott_hotels) | 6x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | citi-ty |
| Headline benefits |
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Mid-tier Marriott card. The 50k free night cert can pay for the fee on a single stay at a Cat 5 property, but Hyatt is a more valuable program for most people, consider that card first.
The OG flat 2% card. The cash back is paid as ThankYou Points, and those points transfer directly to Citi's airline and hotel partners at 0.7 of the premium ratio (1,000 points = 700 miles at most partners); moving them onto a Citi Strata Premier or Strata Elite account gets the printed ratios, 1:1 at most partners. Rock solid for non-bonus spend.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.