Comparison of Canada and U.S. Chase Marriott Credit Cards
This idea came from a comment in my Top Credit Card Higher than Normal Sign Up Bonuses post. Thanks Jeff!
Both Canada and the United States offer their own versions of a co-branded Marriott Rewards credit card, each offered by the Chase Bank. In the U.S., there are currently 2 completely different offers to watch out for. Canada also has two offers, but I will only mention one of them, which I will explain below. Let’s start with the highlights of each credit card:
U.S. Chase Marriott Rwards Premier Credit Card (87,500 offer)
- $85 annual fee
- No annual fee for supplementary cardholders
- Earn 80,000 sign up bonus points (after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months)
- Earn 7,500 bonus points (for adding a supplementary cardholder and make a purchase in the first 3 months)
- Earn 5 points for every $1 spent at participating Marriott Rewards and SPG hotels
- Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on airline tickets, car rental agencies and restaurants
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- Receive 15 nights credit towards Elite qualifying status every year
- Earn 1 elite credit for every $3,000 spent on purchases
- Receive 1 anniversary bonus free night stay at a Category 1-5 hotel every year (after the first year)
- No foreign transaction fees
U.S. Chase Marriott Rwards Premier Credit Card (157,500 offer)
- $85 annual fee (first year fee waived)
- No annual fee for supplementary cardholders
- Earn 150,000 sign up bonus points (after spending $30,000 in the first year, calculated on 5 points for every $1 spent on the first $30,000 in spending)
- Earn 7,500 bonus points (for adding a supplementary cardholder and make a purchase in the first 3 months)
- Earn 5 points for every $1 spent at participating Marriott Rewards and SPG hotels
- Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on airline tickets, car rental agencies and restaurants
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- Receive 15 nights credit towards Elite qualifying status every year
- Earn 1 elite credit for every $3,000 spent on purchases
- Receive 1 anniversary bonus free night stay at a Category 1-5 hotel every year (after the first year)
- No foreign transaction fees
Canada Chase Marriott Premier Visa Credit Card
- $120 annual fee (first year fee waived)
- No annual fee for supplementary cardholders
- Earn 50,000 sign up bonus points after the first purchase
- the first 3 months)
- Earn 5 points for every $1 spent at participating Marriott Rewards and SPG hotels
- Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on airline tickets, car rental agencies and restaurants
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- Receive 15 nights credit towards Elite qualifying status every year
- Receive 1 anniversary bonus free night stay at a Category 1-5 hotel every year (after the first year)
- No foreign transaction fees
There is also a 30,000 sign up bonus offer, but because it is a worse offer, I will not even include it in this list. The two U.S. ones offer a significant enough competitive different to warrant two separate listings.
Annual Fees
The card with the lower annual fee and first year fee waived is the winner!
Winner: U.S. 157,500 offer
Sign Up Bonuses
Hands down the 157,500 sign up bonus offer is the best. It is obviously a steep spend requirement, which is going to be a different topic of discussion. For this category, we are talking solely about sign up bonus.
Keep in mind that there is no actual sign up bonus offer with this card. You need to spend $30,000 within the first year and they multiple that $30,000 spending by 5 to reach 150,000. So the cardholder is earning 5 points at a time for every $1 spent. Thereafter, the regular earning ratios apply.
Winner: U.S. 157,500 offer
Spending Requirement
I normally do not discuss this category, but it is worthwhile to mention. Let’s disregard the sign up bonus for a second, to me, the Canadian version is the best, because we only need one purchase to qualify for the sign up bonus, compared to the $3,000 or $30,000 spending requirements in the U.S.
Don’t get me wrong, if I had to choose, I would still prefer the 157,5000 sign up bonus offer overall, but for this specific factor, the Canadian version comes out ahead!
Winner: Canada
Earning Ratios
They all actually have the exact same earning ratios (kudos to the Canadian version!). I will give the deal breaker to the one that offers a promotion up front, where you can earn 5 points for every $1 spent on all purchase for the first $30,000 in spending. Perfect card to use for MS?
Note that currency fluctuations can play a role on which one was more value.
Winner: U.S. 157,500 offer
Elite Status Qualification
The U.S. versions offer a nice touch with allowing cardholders to earn 1 elite credit for every $3,000 in spending.
Winner: U.S.
Other Benefits
Both countries’ credit cards offer the anniversary free night, as well as foreign transaction fees waived. Yes, I am still going to have a tie-breaker on this one. It is more impressive for the Canadian version to offer both perks comparatively speaking. U.S. co-branded credit cards are highly competitive, so these are almost considered standard benefits.
Winner: Canada
Conclusion
I do not know about you, but I am quite impressed with the Canadian version, relatively speaking. However, the 157,500 sign up bonus points with the first year fee waived promotion really blows everyone out of the water (assuming you can reach the spending requirement).
What are your thoughts about these credit cards?
Also, please let us know in the comment section below if you would like to see other Canada versus U.S. credit cards comparisons!
You are missing a key point in comparing earning ratios: The Canadian card offers the points based on CANADIAN dollar spend. In other words, you earn 5 points per USD0.75 spent at hotels… or 34% more!
Yes. The currency fluctuations is too iratic to predict. I try to write my posts to have a more lasting effect. But yes, at any given time, currency fluctuations play a role. I will add a line about that.
Too bad there is no referral program for any of these cards.
If they did, I suspect the cards may not be as good. A trade off.
Very weak analysis. to properly analyze the 157 offer, compare the difference in bonus relative to the spend required. Basically, the offer requires spending $27k for an additional 70k points. That’s less than 3 points per dollar.
3 points per dollar should be the baseline for spending on a marriott card, as spend on the spg card earns 1 spg point (3 marriott points) per dollar.
Depends how you look at it. Having the option to earn 3 points per dollar is better than the standard 1 or 2 points per dollar.
If I get a Marriott card on the first offer (87,500) and spend $3000 on that card and $27,000 on my SPG card, I can then convert those 27,000 starpoints to 81,000 Marriott points. Together with the 87500 + 3000, that’s 171,500, which is better than 157,500. The only reason the second offer might be better is if the spending cannot be practically put on the SPG card. That could arise if the applicant doesn’t have and can’t get the SPG card, or if the contemplated spend has a higher cost for Amex charges (Plastiq) or doesn’t accept Amex at all.
Yes, AMEX will come out better, unless it is not accepted. Also, the FYF is not on the 87,500 offer. It’s gotta be a decision on the overall package.
I have the Canadian card and 1 important feayyre of the card for me is that there is no foreign currency fees.
So it’s now my favourite card for purchases in USD (except groceries/gas on which 4% cash back + 2,5% fee is still better)
Yea. Awesome benefit to have!
Hi @Matthew,
Thank you for your great posts. Could you tell us that what is your credit card portfolio and why? Cheers.
I will look into a new post. For now, this is my most recent one: http://pointshogger.boardingarea.com/my-credit-card-portfolio
Thanks so much!
Great post. I like my Marriott Visa card but Wow the gap between the 2 cards is huge. I wish Canada based banks could be a little more competitive.
Yea. It’s a wide gap, but I still think the Canadian one is relatively competitive.