Bilt Blue vs Delta SkyMiles® Gold

Bilt Blue
VS
Delta SkyMiles® Gold
The short answer: The Bilt Blue delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the Delta SkyMiles® Gold if you spend more on dining, groceries.

Side-by-side comparison

Bilt BlueDelta SkyMiles® Gold
Annual feeNo annual fee$150
Welcome offer$100 in Bilt Cash on account opening50,000 Up to 90,000 SkyMiles (limited-time)
Dining1x2x
Groceries1x2x
Gas1x1x
Travel2x1x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$310$382
Points typeTransfers to airlines & hotelsLocked to Delta SkyMiles
NetworkMastercardAmex

*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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold about $382, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Bilt Blue has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold charges $150, but carries about $200 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Bilt Blue delivers more total value, about $28 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Bilt Blue earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Delta SkyMiles® Gold stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Bilt Blue if you will use travel transfers, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). 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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold if your spending leans toward dining, groceries.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Bilt Blue or the Delta SkyMiles® Gold better?
On typical household spending, the Bilt Blue comes out ahead, by roughly $28 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Delta SkyMiles® Gold 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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold?
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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold?
As of June 2026, the Bilt Blue offers $100 in Bilt Cash on account opening and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold offers up to 90,000 skymiles. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.