75/ 100 · Worth considering
Marriott guests who stay 5+ nights a year and want the annual free-night certificate (up to 35k points) — when redeemed at a $200+/night Marriott property, the cert alone clears the $95 AF.
Find your matchMarriott Bonvoy Boundless vs Hilton Honors Surpass
Two mid-tier hotel co-brands that operate as free-night-certificate machines first, earning rate second. The right pick is almost entirely a function of which hotel chain you actually stay at — neither card creates loyalty value; it captures it.
Scored against our published methodology · Updated July 19, 2026
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American Express
Hilton Honors Surpass
75/ 100 · Worth considering
Hilton loyalists who stay 8+ nights a year and value the automatic Hilton Gold status (mid-tier) + 12x earning on Hilton stays + annual free-night certificate after $15k of spend.
Find your matchBest for — by the numbers
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless leads on lower published Annual fee, lower published Ongoing APR (from), higher published Fee-structure score.
- Hilton Honors Surpass leads on higher published Rewards score.
Per-spec leads are computed from each issuer's published facts and our scored methodology — there is no single overall winner. Reviewed July 19, 2026. ClearValue Cards earns compensation through our CardRatings partnership, paid when a reader clicks out to CardRatings from our match tool, and through separately labeled, paid partner placements (marked "Advertiser Disclosure · Sponsored") that sit outside our card rankings. Neither compensation source influences editorial scoring or ordering.
Head-to-head, by the spec
| Spec | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless | Hilton Honors Surpass |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $150 |
| 0% intro APR period | None | None |
| Ongoing APR (from) | 19.24% | 19.49% |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Rewards score | 13/20 | 14/20 |
| Fee-structure score | 15/20 | 14/20 |
| ClearValue score | 75/100 | 75/100 |
| Late fee | Up to $40 | Up to $40 |
A check marks the card that leads that spec on published figures. Rows with no marker are either tied or judgment calls (fee wording, late-fee terms) where a single "winner" would misrepresent the data.
What matters most to you?
Tap the spec you care about — we'll show which card leads on it.
For Annual fee, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless leads ($95).
Pick the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless if
Marriott guests who reliably stay 5+ nights/yr at properties priced near 35k Bonvoy points
Boundless free-night cert (35k Bonvoy) is straightforward when redeemed at a $200-300/night property. Marriott's portfolio is larger and the cert math is more flexible.
See your matchesPick the Hilton Honors Surpass if
Hilton guests staying 8+ nights/yr who want automatic Gold status
Hilton Gold status (mid-tier) ports onto the card from day 1 — guaranteed room availability rules + 5th-night-free on award stays. The status is the moat, not the points.
See your matchesSkip both if
Travelers without strong chain loyalty. A Sapphire Preferred or Venture X covers any hotel + earns transferable points; both cards are loyalty-capture tools, not flexible travel cards.
Weighing the numbers yourself? Run our free annual fee value calculator.
Not sure which one is right for you?
Answer a few questions about how you spend and we'll point you to the cards that actually fit — no guesswork.
Take the 60-second quizThe full breakdown
Annual fee
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: $95
Hilton Honors Surpass: $150
Free-night certificate
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 35k Bonvoy points (annual)
Hilton Honors Surpass: Requires $15k spend in calendar year to earn
Elite status conferred
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Silver Elite (low-tier, marginal perks)
Hilton Honors Surpass: Gold (mid-tier, room upgrades + 5th-night-free on awards)
Earning on hotel stays
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 17x at Marriott (6x card + 10x Bonvoy elite + base)
Hilton Honors Surpass: 12x at Hilton
Portfolio match
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Marriott / Bonvoy chains (Westin, Ritz, Sheraton, AC, JW)
Hilton Honors Surpass: Hilton chains (Hampton, Embassy, DoubleTree, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad)
Frequently asked
Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless better than the Hilton Honors Surpass?
Neither is universally better — it depends on how you spend. On our published 100-point methodology the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless scores 75/100 (Worth considering) and the Hilton Honors Surpass scores 75/100 (Worth considering). Marriott guests who reliably stay 5+ nights/yr at properties priced near 35k Bonvoy points should lean Marriott Bonvoy Boundless; hilton guests staying 8+ nights/yr who want automatic Gold status should lean Hilton Honors Surpass. Take the 60-second quiz to see which fits your profile.
What is the annual fee difference between the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless and the Hilton Honors Surpass?
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless carries $95, sourced from the issuer's published Schumer Box as of July 17, 2026. The Hilton Honors Surpass carries $150, as of July 16, 2026. Fees change — confirm the current number at the issuer before you decide.
Which card fits me better, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless or the Hilton Honors Surpass?
Marriott guests who reliably stay 5+ nights/yr at properties priced near 35k Bonvoy points tend to do better with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless; hilton guests staying 8+ nights/yr who want automatic Gold status with the Hilton Honors Surpass. If neither describes you cleanly, take the 60-second quiz for a match.
How did ClearValue score the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless versus the Hilton Honors Surpass?
We score every card across five dimensions — effective rewards, fee structure, audience fit, transparency, and the weakness named — 0–20 each for a 100-point total. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless earned 75/100 and the Hilton Honors Surpass earned 75/100. Scoring follows our published methodology and is never influenced by compensation.
Keep comparing
Independent editorial comparison. ClearValue Cards is not a card issuer, a bank, or a lender. ClearValue Cards earns compensation through our CardRatings partnership, paid when a reader clicks out to CardRatings from our match tool, and through separately labeled, paid partner placements (marked "Advertiser Disclosure · Sponsored") that sit outside our card rankings. Neither compensation source influences editorial scoring or ordering. Card facts are sourced from each issuer's published Schumer Box and terms — confirm current numbers at the issuer. See disclosure.