Blue vs. Obsidian vs. Palladium
While the original Bilt Mastercard® (no longer available) was sunset in February 2026, Bilt did so while also rolling out multiple other options.
Bilt now offers three rewards credit cards that allow you to earn rewards on your rent or mortgage payments. While Bilt’s program can be a little more complex than simple cash-back cards, the Bilt Points these cards earn (and the Bilt Cash and credits they offer) can be very rewarding.
CNBC Select highlights all three Bilt credit cards to help you decide if you want to apply, and if so, which one would be the best fit for your lifestyle.
Who are Bilt credit cards for?
The Bilt credit cards were designed with housing rewards in mind. Using any of the three Bilt cards, you can pay your rent or mortgage with your credit card with no transaction fees and earn rewards on that spending.
Each card provides two ways to earn rewards: Housing-only rewards or flexible Bilt Cash. The housing-only option is exactly what it sounds like; instead of earning Bilt Cash, you can earn up to 1.25X points on housing payments.
Bilt 2.0 housing payment option 1
| Points earned on housing payment | Minimum everyday spend as a % of monthly rent/mortgage (Example $2,000 rent) |
|---|---|
| 0.5X points | Minimum of 25% of monthly payment ($500) |
| 0.75X points | Minimum of 50% of monthly payment ($1,000) |
| 1.0X points | Minimum of 75% of monthly payment ($1,500) |
| 1.25X points | 100% or more of monthly payment ($2,000+) |
Source: Bilt Rewards
If you choose to earn Bilt Cash, you’ll still earn up to 1X points on your housing payments, provided you unlock it by spending Bilt Cash. But you can also spend that earned currency within the Bilt ecosystem (ranging from accelerated earnings on your card to fitness classes).
Bilt 2.0 housing payment option 2
| Points earned on housing payments | Up to 1X Bilt points |
| Bilt Cash earned on Bilt card spending | 4% Bilt Cash on every purchase |
| Bilt Cash cost to earn points on housing payments | 3% of payment amount ($30 Bilt Cash per 1,000 Bilt Points) |
In addition to being great for those looking to earn on housing payments, Bilt credit cards can also be an attractive option for those located in larger cities. Through the Bilt Neighborhood loyalty program, you can link any credit card you have (not just Bilt cards) and earn Bilt Points and exclusive benefits at local partner restaurants and fitness studios. Bilt partners with over 20,000 local restaurants, plus fitness options like SoulCycle or CorePower Yoga.
Bilt Points are among the most valuable rewards currencies, mostly due to their flexibility with transfer partners. Bilt offers 25 different transfer partners (20 airlines and five hotels), including popular programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt.
Which Bilt card should you apply for?
With annual fees ranging from $0 to just shy of $500, Bilt provides options for those new to Bilt and those who are already comfortable with the program and looking to maximize its value. Make sure you do thorough research before choosing a card, though. You’re only allowed to own one Bilt card at a time, and Bilt currently doesn’t support upgrading or downgrading between cards.
Bilt Blue Card: $0-annual-fee starter card
The card only earns 1X Bilt Points, which isn’t amazing but does unlock the ability to earn transaction-free rewards on your housing payments. The card also doesn’t charge a fee for additional authorized users, so you can add someone else to your card to earn rewards more quickly.
Who is this for?
The Bilt Blue Card is ideal if you want to dip your toes into the world of Bilt but don’t want to pay an annual fee to do so. The card doesn’t come with many additional perks, so it may primarily serve as a way to earn rewards on rent or mortgage payments.
It’s a better fit for modest spenders, as it only earns 1X Bilt Points (as opposed to the two other Bilt cards, which have better earnings rates). If you plan on putting most of your spending on this card or want stronger rewards, one of the other two cards might be a better fit.
The Bilt Blue Card offers a solid entry card to the world of Bilt, offering 1X on everyday purchases without charging an annual fee.
- Earns ultra-valuable flexible rewards
- No annual fee
- Can earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments
- Additional steps for no-fee rent payments
- Bilt Cash redemptions are complicated
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 1X points on everyday spend
- Welcome offer: $100 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved.
- Redeem Bilt Cash for dollar-for-dollar value toward fitness classes, hotel bookings, Home Delivery orders, Lyft rides, and more. At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your Blue Card at Bilt’s network of 50,000+ merchants
- Other benefits: No foreign transaction fees, Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection, Purchase Assurance, MasterRental Coverage (See Guide to Benefits)
Balance transfer fee
Bilt Obsidian Card: Mid-level rewards on dining or groceries
The most traditional rewards card out of the three is the Bilt Obsidian Card (see rates and fees). It carries a $95 annual fee and earns 3X points on your choice of groceries (on up to $25,000 in spending year, then 1X points) or dining, 2X points on travel and 1X points on everyday spend.
The Obsidian Card also comes with up to a $100 Bilt Travel Hotel credit, applied in $50 increments twice a year, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings. As a welcome bonus, you’ll receive $200 in Bilt Cash.
Who is this for?
The Bilt Obsidian Card will probably generate the most value for foodies who live in metropolitan areas (i.e., more opportunities to use Bilt Neighborhood perks) and those who want to benefit from earning rewards on housing payments.
If your spending is concentrated at restaurants and grocery stores, this card could be a great option — and if you use the Points Accelerator, which can increase your rewards rates.
This card also provides value to casual travelers. Not only do you get $100 in hotel credits, but the strong 3X rate on groceries or dining will earn you Bilt Points more quickly for use toward travel bookings.
The Bilt Obsidian Card offers 3X Bilt Points on key everyday categories, like dining or groceries, plus comes with a $100 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit (split semi-annually each calendar year)
- Earns ultra-valuable flexible rewards
- Can earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage
- High return on dining or grocery purchases
- Additional steps for no-fee rent payments
- Cap on earning bonus Bilt points for groceries
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 3X points on your choice of grocery (up to $25K/year) or dining. Your 3X category choice remains in effect for the entire calendar year.
- 2X points on travel
- 1X points on everyday spend
- Welcome offer: $200 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved.
- $100 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $50 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
Balance transfer fee
Bilt Palladium Card: Premium perks with flat rate rewards
While the two other Bilt cards only offer Bilt Cash for a welcome bonus, the Palladium Card offers 50,000 Bilt Points and Gold elite status after spending $4,000 on purchases (excluding rent or mortgage) in the first 90 days, plus $300 in Bilt Cash.
Further, the Palladium offers a higher $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit (split into two $200 chunks twice yearly) for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings, and the card earns a flat 2X Bilt Points on everyday spend.
The Bilt Palladium Card earns 2X Bilt Points on everyday purchases, and your choice of up to 1X on rent and mortgage payments
- Earns ultra-valuable flexible rewards
- Simple flat-rate rewards earning
- Can earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments
- Additional steps for no-fee rent payments
- High annual fee
- Bilt Cash redemptions are complicated
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
Balance transfer fee
What credit score do you need for a Bilt credit card?
Bilt cards are targeted to those with good to excellent credit scores, or a FICO Score ranging from 670 to 850. In general, premium travel credit cards are among some of the most difficult to qualify for, and Bilt doesn’t have exact credit score requirements on its site. Per Bilt’s website, applications are “subject to terms and credit approval.”
One thing that the Bilt card could benefit from adding is some sort of preapproval or soft inquiry option. Currently, all new Bilt card applicants undergo a hard check on their credit during the application process.
FAQs
What are the three Bilt cards?
Bilt currently offers three different credit cards, the Blue Card, Obsidian Card and Palladium Card, with respective annual fees of $0, $95 and $495.
Is there a downside to Bilt Rewards?
It depends on how you look at it. In general, Bilt Rewards are relatively complex compared to most other major credit card rewards systems. Plus, a lot of Bilt Neighborhood’s value is easier to access in major cities, so if you live in a smaller city, your options might be more limited.
Should I earn Bilt Cash or more housing rewards?
It honestly depends on how you want to use either system. Bilt Cash provides additional flexibility and options but requires you to be more active in managing your card. The housing-only option is straightforward and can earn you 25% more on housing rewards, but you lose access to earning Bilt Cash.
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