Bilt Obsidian vs Bilt Palladium
Side-by-side comparison
| Bilt Obsidian | Bilt Palladium | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $495 |
| Welcome offer | $200 Bilt Cash + 50,000 points | 50,000 points + Gold Status + $300 Bilt Cash |
| Dining | 3x | 2x |
| Groceries | 3x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 2x |
| Travel | 2x | 2x |
| Streaming | 1x | 2x |
| Everything else | 1x | 2x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $490 | $583 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Bilt Obsidian | Bilt Palladium |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $200 Bilt Cash + 50,000 points | 50,000 points + Gold Status + $300 Bilt Cash |
| To earn it | $4,000 in 3 months | $4,000 in 90 days |
| Est. first-year value* | $1,395 | $1,488 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $695 | $688 |
This one splits by time horizon. In year one the Bilt Palladium is ahead by roughly $93, thanks largely to its welcome offer. But the Bilt Obsidian earns more every year after, so if you keep it, it overtakes the Bilt Palladium after about 14 years. Chasing the sign-up bonus and open to canceling before the second annual fee? Take the Bilt Palladium. Planning to keep it for years? The Bilt Obsidian pulls ahead.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Bilt Obsidian | Bilt Palladium |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | Yes — Priority Pass |
| Annual credits | ~$300/yr (2 credits) | ~$600/yr (2 credits) |
| Points & redemptions | Transferable to airline & hotel partners | Transferable to airline & hotel partners |
On perks and redemptions, only the Bilt Palladium gets you into airport lounges; the Bilt Palladium carries the heavier credit stack (about $600 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Both cards earn Bilt Rewards, so they transfer to the identical partners at the same ratios, headlined by Alaska / Atmos, Air Canada, World of Hyatt, American Airlines, and Turkish. On transfers there is no difference between them; the choice comes down to earning and perks, not where the points can go.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Bilt Obsidian earns about $490 a year in rewards and the Bilt Palladium about $583, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Bilt Obsidian charges $95, but carries about $300 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. 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 Bilt Obsidian delivers more total value, about $156 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and dining. 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 Palladium 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 Obsidian if your spending leans toward dining, groceries. Pick the Bilt Palladium if your spending leans toward gas, streaming, everything else.