BILT Credit Cards Compared: Which One is Right for You?
If you’re looking to maximize your rent or mortgage payments while earning valuable points, Bilt’s new lineup of cards might be exactly what you need. With the launch of Bilt 2.0, there are now three cards to choose from.. each with different perks, annual fees, and earning potential.
Let me break down all three options and show you exactly how much you’d need to spend to make each card worth it.
The Three Bilt Cards: Quick Overview
BILT Blue Card ($0 Annual Fee)
The entry-level option with no annual fee makes this card accessible to everyone:
- 1X Bilt Points** on all everyday spend
- 4% back in Bilt Cash** on everyday spend
- $100 in Bilt Cash** on account opening
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn both Bilt Points and Bilt Cash with zero annual cost
Best for: Anyone who wants to start earning on rent/mortgage without paying an annual fee.
BILT Obsidian Card ($95 Annual Fee)
The middle-tier card designed for everyday value with enhanced earning in key categories:
- 3X points on dining or groceries (groceries up to $25K/year)
- 2X on travel
- 1X on all other spend
- 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend
- $100 in annual Bilt Travel Hotel credits
- $200 in Bilt Cash on account opening
- Trip Delay Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more
Best for: Those who spend regularly on dining and groceries and can leverage the bonus categories.
Bilt Palladium Card ($495 Annual Fee)
The premium option with the most benefits and credits:
- 2X Bilt Points on all everyday spend
- 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend
- First-ever 50,000-point sign-up bonus + Gold Status (after qualifying spend)
- $300 in Bilt Cash on account opening
- $600 in annual credits ($400 Bilt Travel Hotel credits + $200 in Bilt Cash)
- Priority Pass access, purchase protection, no foreign transaction fees, authorized users, and more
Best for: High spenders who can maximize the travel credits and premium perks.
Understanding BILT Cash: The Key to Fee-Free Rent Payments
Here’s where things get interesting. BILT now allows you to pay rent or mortgage with “no transaction fee”, but there’s a catch.. you need to unlock your BILT Points using Bilt Cash.
Alternatively you can pay the 3% transaction fee and earn the full points otherwise. Your BILT cash will automatically apply to the transaction fee and you will be responsible for the rest.
The formula: Every $3 of Bilt Cash unlocks 100 Bilt Points, up to a maximum of 1 point per $1 of your payment.
Since all three cards earn “4% back in Bilt Cash” on everyday purchases, you need to spend “75% of your rent/mortgage amount” on the card each month to unlock the full points without paying a fee.
Example Calculations:
$1,500 mortgage:
Need $45 in Bilt Cash to unlock 1,500 points
At 4% back: $45 ÷ 0.04 = $1,125 in monthly spending (75% of $1,500)
$4,300 mortgage:
Need $129 in Bilt Cash to unlock 4,300 points
At 4% back: $129 ÷ 0.04 = $3,225 in monthly spending (75% of $4,300)
$750 mortgage:
Need $22.50 in Bilt Cash to unlock 750 points
At 4% back: $22.50 ÷ 0.04 = $562.50 in monthly spending (75% of $750)
Real-World Scenario: Which Card Wins?
Let’s compare all three cards with a realistic spending scenario:
$1,500/month mortgage
$400/month in groceries
$725/month in other purchases
Total monthly spend: $1,125 (hits the 75% threshold)
BILT Blue Card Results:
- Groceries: 400 points (1X)
- Other spend: 725 points (1X)
- Mortgage: 1,500 points (unlocked)
- Monthly total: 2,625 points
- Annual total: 31,500 points
- Annual fee: $0
Bilt Obsidian Card Results:
- Groceries: 1,200 points (3X on $400)
- Other spend: 725 points (1X)
- Mortgage: 1,500 points (unlocked)
- Monthly total: 3,425 points
- Annual total: 41,100 points
- Annual fee: $95
Extra value: 9,600 more points than Blue for $95 = about 0.99 cents per point
Bilt Palladium Card Results:
- Groceries: 800 points (2X on $400)
- Other spend: 1,450 points (2X on $725)
- Mortgage: 1,500 points (unlocked)
- Monthly total: 3,750 points
- Annual total: 45,000 points
- Annual fee: $495 (but you get $600 in credits)
Extra value over Obsidian: 3,900 more points for an extra $400 in annual fee = about 10.3 cents per point
Extra value over Blue: 13,500 more points for $495 = about 3.7 cents per point
The Verdict: Which Card Should You Choose?
Choose the BILT Blue if:
You’re just getting started with points and miles
You don’t want to pay an annual fee
You have a lower spending amount each month
You value simplicity
Choose the BILT Obsidian if:
You spend at least $400-500/month on dining and groceries
You want enhanced earning without a huge annual fee
The $100 hotel credit offsets most of the $95 fee
You travel occasionally and can use the trip delay insurance
Choose the BILT Palladium if:
You’re a high spender who can maximize the 2X earning
You can use the $600 in annual credits ($400 hotel + $200 Bilt Cash)
The 50,000-point welcome bonus is attractive to you
You value Priority Pass lounge access and premium perks
Your net annual fee after credits is effectively -$105 ($495 fee – $600 credits)
Why I’m NOT Choosing Bilt (And You Might Not Either)
Here’s my honest take: the 75% spending requirement is a dealbreaker for my strategy.
As someone who opens 4-5 credit cards per year to maximize sign-up bonuses, I typically need to hit $6,000 in spending within 3 months for each new card. Sometimes I burn through that quickly, other times I’m pushing it right up to the deadline. That’s already a challenge with my natural spending.
If I committed to a Bilt card with a $1,500 mortgage, I’d need to dedicate $1,125 per month just to unlock fee-free rent payments. That’s $3,375 over 3 months – more than half of my typical sign-up bonus spending requirement.
The math just doesn’t work for churners.
Let’s say you’re working on a new Chase Sapphire Preferred (60,000 points after $4,000 spend in 3 months):
Bilt requirement: $3,375 over 3 months
CSP requirement: $4,000 over 3 months
Total needed: $7,375 in 3 months**
For most people, that’s unsustainable without manufactured spending or drastically changing your spending habits.
For most people, that’s unsustainable without manufactured spending or drastically changing your spending habits.
The “Max Points” Trap: Why Paying the 3% Fee Doesn’t Make Sense
Some might think, “Why not just pay the 3% transaction fee and earn maximum points?” Let me show you why that’s a bad deal. Using the Obsidian card with only $400/month in grocery spend, you’d earn $16/month in Bilt Cash (4% back). That only unlocks about 533 points fee-free on a $1,500 mortgage. To earn the remaining 967 points, you’d pay $29.01/month in transaction fees – that’s $348.12 annually. Add the $95 annual fee, and you’re paying $443.12 total for 32,400 points. That’s 1.37 cents per point, which is terrible value when BILT points are typically valued at 1.5-2 cents each for transfers. You’re essentially paying almost the full value of the points just to earn them. The math only works if you’re meeting that 75% spending threshold to unlock points fee-free. Otherwise, you’re better off putting that mortgage payment on a card with a good welcome bonus.
When BILT DOES Make Sense
Don’t get me wrong – BILT can work brilliantly for the right person:
High natural spenders who can comfortably handle both the 75% Bilt requirement AND sign-up bonuses on other cards
People who aren’t opening multiple cards per year and want a consistent, long-term earning strategy
Those who value simplicity over juggling multiple welcome bonuses
Business owners with enough monthly spend to cover both BILT requirements and new card bonuses
If you can afford to run $8,000-10,000+ in monthly spending, you could absolutely make Bilt work alongside your churning strategy. But for the average person opening 4-5 cards a year? The 75% rule essentially locks you into using Bilt as your primary card, which means missing out on lucrative sign-up bonuses in other ecosystems.
Final Thoughts
The beauty of Bilt’s new system is that all three cards earn 4% BILT Cash, which means the 75% spending threshold applies equally across the board. The real difference comes down to how you earn Bilt Points and whether the annual fee makes sense for your spending patterns.
For most people with moderate spending, the Obsidian card offers the best value – especially if you’re spending on groceries and dining regularly. The Blue card is perfect for those just starting out, while the Palladium makes sense for high spenders who can leverage the credits and premium benefits.
But here’s the real question: Does committing to BILT align with your overall points and miles strategy?
If you’re a churner like me who thrives on sign-up bonuses, the 75% spending rule might be too restrictive. You’ll need to honestly assess whether you can handle both the BILT requirements and your typical $4,000-6,000 welcome bonus spending every few months.
What matters most is running your own numbers based on your actual spending habits AND your broader strategy. Calculate that 75% threshold for your rent/mortgage, look at your monthly spending, factor in your card opening velocity, and choose the path that maximizes your earning potential without stretching yourself too thin.
For me? I’m passing on BILT for now and sticking with my churning strategy. But your situation might be different – and that’s perfectly okay.
Happy earning!
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