Bilt Blue vs Capital One Quicksilver Student

Bilt Blue
VS
Capital One Quicksilver Student
The short answer: The Capital One Quicksilver Student delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the Bilt Blue if you spend more on travel.

Side-by-side comparison

Bilt BlueCapital One Quicksilver Student
Annual feeNo annual feeNo annual fee
Welcome offer$100 in Bilt Cash on account opening$50 cash bonus
Dining1x1.5x
Groceries1x1.5x
Gas1x1.5x
Travel2x1.5x
Streaming1x1.5x
Everything else1x1.5x
Est. yearly rewards*$310$437
Points typeTransfers to airlines & hotelsPools with Capital One → transferable
NetworkMastercardVisa

*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 Bilt Blue earns about $310 a year in rewards and the Capital One Quicksilver Student about $437, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Bilt Blue has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Capital One Quicksilver Student has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the Capital One Quicksilver Student delivers more total value, about $78 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on everything else and groceries. Both earn transferable points rather than flat cash, so the deciding factor is whose transfer partners reach the airlines and hotels you would actually book. On the sign-up bonus, the Bilt Blue currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Bilt Blue if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the Capital One Quicksilver Student if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Bilt Blue or the Capital One Quicksilver Student better?
On typical household spending, the Capital One Quicksilver Student comes out ahead, by roughly $78 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Bilt Blue 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 Bilt Blue and the Capital One Quicksilver Student?
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 Bilt Blue or the Capital One Quicksilver Student?
As of June 2026, the Bilt Blue offers $100 in Bilt Cash on account opening and the Capital One Quicksilver Student offers $50 cash bonus. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.