Bilt Obsidian Card

Bilt Obsidian Card Overview

The Bilt Obsidian Card is the mid-tier offering in the Bilt 2.0 lineup, sitting between the no-annual-fee Blue Card and the premium $495 Palladium. With a $95 annual fee, the Obsidian is designed for cardholders who want elevated earning rates without the hefty price tag of the top-tier card. The key draw is the ability to earn 3X points on your choice of dining or groceries, 2X on travel, and up to 1X on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee. For renters looking for a solid mid-range option among travel credit cards, the Obsidian delivers strong value in everyday spending categories.

Rewards Structure

The Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X Bilt Points on your choice of dining or grocery purchases, capped at $25,000 per calendar year on grocery. Your category selection is locked for the entire calendar year, so choose carefully based on where you spend the most. Beyond the 3X category, the card earns 2X points on travel purchases including flights, hotels, car rentals, and rideshares. Everyday purchases earn 1X points, and rent or mortgage payments made through the Bilt app earn up to 1X with no transaction fee.

Bilt also offers an alternative earning mode: instead of accumulating Bilt Points, you can opt to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases. Bilt Cash can be redeemed for fitness classes, hotel stays, Lyft rides, and other lifestyle perks. If you prefer flexibility in how you redeem, the Bilt Cash option is worth considering. For those focused on maximizing transfer partner value, sticking with Bilt Points and transferring to airline and hotel partners will typically yield the highest return. The Obsidian is a strong contender among the thanks to its 3X dining earning rate.

Bilt Cash and Hotel Credit

New Obsidian cardholders receive a $200 Bilt Cash welcome offer upon approval. This Bilt Cash can be used across the Bilt ecosystem for fitness, hotels, Lyft, and other redemption options. In addition, the card comes with a $100 annual Bilt Travel Hotel credit, distributed as two $50 statement credits per year for qualifying hotel bookings made through the Bilt Travel Portal.

Keep in mind that Bilt Cash balances over $100 expire at the end of each calendar year. This means you need to redeem regularly to avoid losing accumulated value. If you prefer to let rewards accumulate without worrying about expiration, Bilt Points are the better choice since they do not expire as long as your account remains open. Bilt Points transfer at favorable ratios to partners like American Airlines, Hyatt, United, and Turkish Airlines, making them particularly valuable for travelers who plan redemptions strategically.

Fees and APR

The Bilt Obsidian Card's purchase APR ranges from 26.74% to 34.74% variable, which is above the current national average for credit cards. This makes the Obsidian a poor fit for anyone who plans to carry a balance month to month. However, the absence of a penalty APR is a notable benefit — a late payment will not trigger an even higher interest rate. The $0 foreign transaction fee also makes the card practical for international travel.

Who Is the Bilt Obsidian Card Best For?

The Bilt Obsidian Card is best suited for renters or mortgage holders who spend heavily on dining or groceries and want to maximize their earning potential without paying a $495 annual fee. If you consistently spend $5,000 or more per year in your chosen 3X category, the Obsidian provides enough incremental value over the free Blue Card to justify its $95 fee. The $100 annual hotel credit and $200 Bilt Cash welcome offer further help offset the cost.

Travelers who want 2X on travel plus no foreign transaction fees will find the Obsidian practical for both domestic and international trips. The Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit adds additional value for frequent hotel guests. However, if you spend less than $5,000 per year in the 3X category, the free Blue Card may be a better choice since it still earns 1X on rent with no annual fee. For those seeking the highest possible earning rates and premium perks like Priority Pass, the Palladium is the card to consider among the .

How to Apply

You can apply for the Bilt Obsidian Card through the Bilt app or website. The application requires good to excellent credit (typically a FICO score of 670 or higher). Approval decisions are generally provided within a few business days. If you are already a Bilt Blue Card holder, you may be eligible to upgrade to the Obsidian directly within the Bilt app.

Bilt Obsidian vs Blue vs Palladium

The Obsidian is the sweet spot in the Bilt lineup. It adds 3X on your top spending category (dining or grocery) and 2X on travel for just $95 per year — benefits the free Blue Card doesn't offer. The $100 annual hotel credit alone covers most of the fee if you book one Bilt Travel stay per year.

The Blue Card makes sense if you want rent rewards with zero commitment. The Palladium is for maximizers willing to pay $495 for 2X on all everyday purchases, $400 in hotel credits, and Priority Pass. If your spending is concentrated in dining or groceries and you don't need lounge access, the Obsidian delivers the best value per dollar of annual fee.

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How It Compares to Other $95 Annual Fee Cards

At $95 per year, the Bilt Obsidian competes with the Chase Sapphire Preferred (3X dining, 2X travel, 5X on Chase Travel), the Capital One Venture (2X on everything), and the Citi Strata Premier (3X on travel, gas, grocery, restaurants). The Obsidian's edge is rent rewards and the $100 hotel credit. The Sapphire Preferred wins on a broader travel ecosystem and higher welcome bonus. Choose the Obsidian if rent is your largest expense; choose Sapphire Preferred or Strata Premier for broader travel rewards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bilt Obsidian Card worth $95?

The Bilt Obsidian Card is worth $95 if you spend enough in its 3X bonus category to outpace the free Bilt Blue Card. Spending roughly $3,200 per year on dining or grocery at 3X (versus 1X on the Blue) earns enough extra points to cover the fee. The $100 annual Bilt Travel Hotel credit further offsets the cost. If your dining or grocery spend is lower, the Blue Card is a better fit.

What is the difference between Bilt Obsidian and Palladium?

The Bilt Palladium Card costs $495 per year versus $95 for the Obsidian. The Palladium earns 2X on all everyday purchases (versus 1X on the Obsidian), includes a $400 annual hotel credit (versus $100), offers $200 annual Bilt Cash, Priority Pass lounge access, and a 50,000-point welcome bonus with Gold Status. The Obsidian is better for moderate spenders focused on dining or grocery categories.

Can you earn points on rent with Bilt?

Yes. All Bilt cards, including the Obsidian, earn up to 1X Bilt Points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee. Payments must be made through the Bilt app or website. This is a unique benefit across the entire Bilt card lineup that no other credit card issuer offers.

Does the Bilt Obsidian Card have a foreign transaction fee?

No. The Bilt Obsidian Card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid choice for international travel alongside its 2X travel earning rate.

What credit score do you need for the Bilt Obsidian Card?

The Bilt Obsidian Card generally requires good to excellent credit (typically a FICO score of 670 or higher). Bilt does not publicly disclose exact minimum score requirements, so applicants with scores in the upper 600s to 700s have the best approval chances.