With its first card launched in 2021, Bilt made waves as the first major rewards program to let consumers earn points on housing payments with no transaction fees. But the Bilt ecosystem has now grown beyond a single card, and currently includes three distinct options as of early 2026: Bilt Blue Card, Bilt Obsidian Card, and Bilt Palladium Card. (See rates and fees.)
Each of these unique rewards cards targets a different type of spender, from budget-conscious renters to frequent travelers chasing premium perks. Understanding how these cards differ — and how their rewards structures fit into the picture — can help you decide which option actually makes sense for your wallet. This guide breaks down what each Bilt card offers, who each is best for, and how to choose based on your lifestyle and monthly spending.
Bilt Blue, Obsidian, and Palladium: What each card offers
Where the previously offered Bilt Mastercard credit card (no longer available) offered generous rewards on housing payments and everyday spending, Bilt card options now come in three different tiers with annual fees that range from $0 to $495. (See rates and fees.) The three cards earn 1X to 2X points and the option to earn Bilt Cash on everyday spending.
An important quirk in the new program is that users can choose between two options to earn points on housing. Flexible Bilt Cash allows cardholders to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spending and use Bilt Cash to unlock points on rent up to 1X (up to $100 of Bilt Cash rolls over to the next calendar year). The Housing Only option allows you to earn up to 1.25X points on housing based on how much you spend on non-housing purchases each month.
While the new “Bilt Cash” program is a flexible, dollar-for-dollar credit that can be used for travel, dining, and fitness or to unlock points on rent or mortgage payments, it’s worth noting that the redemption options for traditional Bilt rewards points haven’t changed. Despite the new card options, Bilt points are still redeemable for gift cards, Amazon.com purchases, credits toward rent, a home down payment, and more. And in the travel realm, rewards can be redeemed for travel through the Bilt Travel Portal or point transfers to airline and hotel programs like United MileagePlus, Southwest Airlines, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt.
Bilt rewards credit card details for each card type are below:
Bilt Blue Card: No annual fee, basic rewards
- Annual fee: $0
- Welcome bonus: Earn $100 Bilt Cash upon card approval
- Everyday rewards: Earn 1X point per dollar spent on everyday purchases
- Bilt Housing-Only option: Earn up to 1X point per dollar spent on housing payments through Bilt + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases
- Flexible Bilt Cash option: Earn up to 1.25X points per dollar spent on housing payments through Bilt via a tiered spending system
- Bilt card benefits: Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection
- Foreign transaction fees: None (See rates and fees)
Bilt Obsidian Card: Mid-tier perks and bonus categories
- Annual fee: annual_fees
- Welcome bonus: Earn $200 Bilt Cash upon card approval
- Everyday rewards: Earn 3X points per dollar on your choice of groceries (up to $25,000 per year) or dining. Your 3X category choice remains in effect for the entire calendar year. Additionally, you’ll earn 2X points per dollar spent on travel and 1X point per dollar spent on everyday spending.
- Bilt Housing-Only option: Earn up to 1X point per dollar spent on housing payments through Bilt + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases
- Flexible Bilt Cash option: Earn up to 1.25X points per dollar spent on housing payments through Bilt via a tiered spending system
- Bilt card benefits: Receive a $100 annual Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit (applied twice a year, as $50 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings) trip delay reimbursement
- Foreign transaction fees: None (See rates and fees)
Bilt Palladium Card: Premium benefits and high-value welcome offer
- Annual fee: annual_fees
- Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 Bilt points and Gold elite status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases within 90 days of account opening; also earn $300 in Bilt Cash upon card approval
- Everyday rewards: Earn an unlimited 2X points per dollar on everyday purchases
- Bilt Housing-Only option: Earn up to 1X point per dollar spent on housing payments through Bilt + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases
- Flexible Bilt Cash option: Earn up to 1.25X points per dollar spent on housing payments through Bilt via a tiered spending system
- Bilt card benefits: Receive a $400 annual Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit (applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings), $200 in Bilt Cash annually, Priority Pass Select membership ($469/year value); see Guide to Benefits)
- Foreign transaction fees: None (See rates and fees)
Bilt Cash vs. Bilt Points: How they work together
While Bilt points value remains high due to its transfer partners, the refreshed program introduces a more layered reward structure. Cardholders now earn base rewards on everyday spending but must choose between receiving Flexible Bilt Cash on those purchases or tiered bonus rewards on housing payments (rent or mortgage) as their additional incentive.
Flexible Bilt Cash option
If you opt to receive additional rewards as Bilt Cash, you can use this rewards currency for a range of flexible options. Examples include:
- Use Bilt Cash to unlock points for rent or mortgage payments without any transaction fees. With this option, every $30 in Bilt Cash you redeem earns 1,000 points (up to 1X of your monthly rent or mortgage payment).
- Redeem toward Bilt Travel hotel bookings
- Redeem for Lyft rides (up to $10 in credit monthly)
- Use Bilt Cash for up to $10 monthly in Walgreens credit
- Use Bilt Cash to bring additional guests into Priority Pass lounges
- Redeem for up to $25 in monthly credit toward select dining partners
Beyond these basic options, Bilt Cash offers additional redemption methods, each subject to specific terms and conditions.
Opting for housing-only rewards instead
If you prefer to earn Bilt exclusive bonus rewards on housing-only instead, you’ll earn more traditional rewards points instead of Bilt Cash on a tiered basis. Housing-only rewards tiers work as follows:
- Spend 25% of your housing payment made through Bilt on everyday purchases, earn 0.5X points on housing spending.
- Spend 50% of your housing payment made through Bilt on everyday purchases, earn 0.75X points on housing spending.
- Spend 75% of your housing payment made through Bilt on everyday purchases, earn 1X points on housing spending.
- Spend 100% of your housing payment made through Bilt on everyday purchases, earn 1.25X points on housing spending.
- Note: To reach the maximum 1.25X multiplier on the “housing-only” path, your non-housing spending for the month must equal or exceed 100% of your total housing payment.
How does this work in the real world? Let’s say you pay a monthly housing payment of $3,000 with your Bilt card. With the housing-only option for additional rewards, you would receive the following based on how much you charged to your card.
- Spend $750 on additional purchases (25% of your housing) and earn 1,500 points for that rent or mortgage payment.
- Spend $1,500 (50% of your housing) on additional purchases and earn 2,250 points for that rent or mortgage payment.
- Spend $2,250 (75% of your housing) on additional purchases and earn 3,000 points for that rent or mortgage payment.
- Spend $3,000+ (100%+ of your housing) on additional purchases and earn 3,750 points for that rent or mortgage payment.
Which option is best?
Should you opt to receive additional rewards as Bilt Cash, or should you choose bonus rewards on housing purchases instead? At the end of the day, it really depends on which Bilt card you sign up for, how much you plan to spend each month, and how you plan to redeem your rewards in the end.
Earning housing-only rewards is generally most effective for those who use their card for a high volume of everyday purchases. By matching everyday spending to the amount paid toward housing through Bilt, cardholders can reach the maximum 1.25X Bilt points in additional rewards.
Conversely, for those with lower non-housing spending or a preference for the Bilt Cash ecosystem, opting for Bilt Cash as the additional reward may provide more utility.
➤ LEARN MORE:How Bilt works: A simple guide to earning and redeeming rewards
Which Bilt card fits your lifestyle?
Selecting a Bilt card requires comparing everyday reward rates, card-specific benefits, and annual fees. With three tiers available, the optimal choice depends on your monthly spending volume, primary purchase categories, and how effectively the included perks and credits align with your lifestyle.
While all three cards offer rewards on housing payments, their varying fee structures and bonus categories are designed to accommodate different cardholder profiles.
Best for rent or mortgage payments: Blue or Obsidian
If your primary goal is earning rewards on housing payments without paying an annual fee, the Bilt Blue Card is an easy choice. It offers transaction fee-free rent or mortgage payments, basic rewards on everyday purchases, and no foreign transaction fees — making it a solid entry point into the Bilt ecosystem.
That said, those who spend heavily on dining or groceries may find more value in the Bilt Obsidian Card. The ability to earn 3X points in popular everyday categories (up to the annual cap) can quickly outweigh the annual_fees annual fee, especially if you also take advantage of the biannual hotel credit and trip delay reimbursement.
Best for frequent travelers: Palladium
The Bilt Palladium Card was clearly designed for high spenders and frequent travelers who want premium perks baked into their card. Between the Priority Pass Select membership, generous annual hotel credits and recurring Bilt Cash, much of the annual_fees annual fee can be offset if you regularly use the card’s benefits.
The welcome bonus is also the most compelling in the lineup, particularly for travelers who value Bilt’s airline and hotel transfer partners. If you’re already spending enough each month to unlock higher housing-only rewards or maximize everyday earnings, Palladium can deliver outsized value compared to the lower-tier cards.
Best for everyday spending: Obsidian or Palladium
For everyday spending, the choice largely comes down to scale. The Obsidian Card shines for moderate spenders thanks to its 3X bonus categories and manageable annual fee. These benefits make it well suited for households that want bonus rewards on dining and groceries without committing to a premium card.
The Palladium, on the other hand, is better for those with consistently high monthly spending who want simplicity and a Priority Pass Select membership. Unlimited 2X points on all purchases removes the need to track categories, and the card’s other perks can make sense for users who travel often, redeem rewards strategically or both.
How to decide based on your monthly budget
When choosing a Bilt card, start by looking at your monthly housing payment and how much you realistically spend on non-housing purchases each month. If your everyday spending is low, paying an annual fee may not make sense — even with better bonus categories. If your spending is high enough to unlock higher housing-only rewards or maximize credits, a Bilt card with an annual fee could be more valuable.
It’s also important to decide upfront whether you prefer the flexibility of Bilt Cash or the potential upside of earning more Bilt Points on housing payments. That choice will play a huge role in how much value you get from your chosen card over time.
Bottom line: Which Bilt credit card is right for you?
With three distinct card tiers, Bilt provides several paths for earning rewards on both housing and everyday purchases. The Bilt Blue Card offers a straightforward, no-annual-fee entry point; the Bilt Obsidian Card adds bonus categories for everyday spenders; and the Bilt Palladium Card is tailored for those seeking high-end travel benefits.
The ideal choice hinges on a cardholder’s monthly budget and how they plan to utilize the available perks. By evaluating these factors against the program’s different earning structures, users can select the tier that best fits their financial profile.
