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Side-by-side

Mastercard Black Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Mastercard Black Card comes from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $699/yr; the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless from Chase at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($980 more in estimated value) than the Mastercard Black Card's. Get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless first; revisit the Mastercard Black Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureMastercard Black CardMarriott Bonvoy Boundless
Annual fee$699$95
Sign-up bonusNo public welcome offer4 Free Night Awards
Bonus value (est.)$0$980
Min spend to unlock bonus$0 in 0 mo$3,000 in 3 mo
IssuerBarclays (Luxury Card)Chase
Card categorytravelhotel
Best earning category (Luxury_card_travel)2x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
  • $200 airline credit
  • $100 dining credit
  • Priority Pass Select
  • 1.5cpp cash back, 2cpp airfare
  • Free night award annually
  • 15 elite qualifying nights
  • 6x at Marriott properties
  • Silver Elite status
Read the full review
Mastercard Black Card
$699/yr · No public welcome offer
Read the full review
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
$95/yr · 4 Free Night Awards

Editorial take: Mastercard Black Card

The mid tier of the Barclays Luxury Card lineup. The $200 airline + $100 dining credits offset $300 of the $699 AF before lounge value, and the 1.5cpp cash-back rate is the best of the Luxury Card tiers. Still hard to beat Sapphire Reserve or Venture X on transferable-points flexibility, but the all-stainless body and concierge appeal to some.

Editorial take: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

One of our favorite keeper cards. The free night award on every card anniversary easily exceeds the $95 fee, and the 15 elite qualifying nights help you reach Marriott status faster.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Mastercard Black Card or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless has the bigger bonus, 4 Free Night Awards, worth roughly $980, versus No public welcome offer (~$0) on the Mastercard Black Card.
Is the Mastercard Black Card's $699 annual fee worth it compared to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?
Premium cards like the Mastercard Black Card ($699/yr) earn their fee through credits, travel, dining, lounge access, statement reimbursements. If you'd actively use $699+ of those credits, the math works. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless at $95/yr trades some perks for a lower commitment.
Can I have both the Mastercard Black Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Barclays (Luxury Card) and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the Mastercard Black Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Mastercard Black Card: $0 spend in 0 months. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: $3,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

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.