Apple Card vs Bilt Palladium

Apple Card
VS
Bilt Palladium
The short answer: The Apple Card delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

Apple CardBilt Palladium
Annual feeNo annual fee$495
Welcome offerNo current offer50,000 points + Gold Status + $300 Bilt Cash after $4,000 in 90 days
Dining2x2x
Groceries2x2x
Gas2x2x
Travel2x2x
Streaming2x2x
Everything else2x2x
Est. yearly rewards*$583$583
Points typeCash back onlyTransfers to airlines & hotels
NetworkMastercardMastercard

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the Apple Card earns about $583 a year in rewards and the Bilt Palladium about $583, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Apple Card has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Bilt Palladium charges $495, but carries about $600 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Apple Card delivers more total value, about $195 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it skips the annual fee the other charges. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Bilt Palladium earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Apple Card pays plain cash back. Favor the Bilt Palladium if you will use travel transfers, the Apple Card if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Bilt Palladium currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Apple Card or the Bilt Palladium better?
On typical household spending, the Apple Card comes out ahead, by roughly $195 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Bilt Palladium can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Apple Card and the Bilt Palladium?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Apple Card or the Bilt Palladium?
As of June 2026, the Apple Card offers no current offer and the Bilt Palladium offers 50,000 points + Gold Status + $300 Bilt Cash after $4,000 in 90 days. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.