Bilt Obsidian vs Marriott Bonvoy Bold®

Bilt Obsidian
VS
Marriott Bonvoy Bold®
The short answer: The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

Bilt ObsidianMarriott Bonvoy Bold®
Annual fee$95No annual fee
Welcome offer$200 in Bilt Cash on account opening60,000 points
Dining3x4x
Groceries3x4x
Gas1x2x
Travel2x2x
Streaming1x2x
Everything else1x2x
Est. yearly rewards*$490$763
Points typeTransfers to airlines & hotelsLocked to Marriott Bonvoy
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 Obsidian earns about $490 a year in rewards and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® about $763, 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 Marriott Bonvoy Bold® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® delivers more total value, about $219 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 Obsidian earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the Bilt Obsidian if you will use travel transfers, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, gas.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Bilt Obsidian or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® better?
On typical household spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® comes out ahead, by roughly $219 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Bilt Obsidian 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 Obsidian and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold®?
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 Obsidian or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold®?
As of June 2026, the Bilt Obsidian offers $200 in Bilt Cash on account opening and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® offers 60,000 points. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.