Bilt Blue vs PayPal Cashback Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison
| Bilt Blue | PayPal Cashback Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $100 in Bilt Cash on account opening | No current offer |
| Dining | 1x | 1.5x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1.5x |
| Gas | 1x | 1.5x |
| Travel | 2x | 1.5x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1.5x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1.5x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $310 | $437 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Cash back only |
| Network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
*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 PayPal Cashback Mastercard about $437, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Bilt Blue has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard 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. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Bilt Blue earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the PayPal Cashback Mastercard pays plain cash back. Favor the Bilt Blue if you will use travel transfers, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard if you want simplicity. 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 PayPal Cashback Mastercard if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.