Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.
Choosing between the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (no annual fee) and the Bilt Obsidian Card ($95/yr) comes down to where you spend most. Bilt Obsidian Card needs about $400 a month in dining, counting that spending alone, to make up its $95 higher annual fee over Blue Cash Everyday. Below that, Blue Cash Everyday comes out ahead. Enter your monthly spending above to see which comes out ahead for you.
Strongest in groceries at 3% (up to $6,000/yr). 3% at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations, and online retail (each up to $6,000/yr).
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply NowStrongest in dining at 3%. 3x on dining or grocery (your choice), 4x on hotels through Bilt Travel, up to 1.25x on rent and mortgage.
Perfect if: You want a strong rewards rate with no spending caps to worry about.
Apply Now| Feature | Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express | Bilt Obsidian Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $95 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $200 after $2,000 spend in 6 months | None |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.7% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1% | 1% |
| Travel Rewards | 1% | 2% |
| Dining Rewards | 1% | 3% |
| Groceries Rewards | 3% (up to $6,000/yr) | 1% |
| Gas Rewards | 3% (up to $6,000/yr) | 1% |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
None |
4% on hotels through Bilt Travel Earns 4% only on hotels booked through Bilt Travel, Bilt's own booking site. Hotels booked anywhere else earn 2%. 3% on flights through Bilt Travel Earns 3% only on flights booked through Bilt Travel. Flights booked direct with an airline earn 2%. 3% on Lyft Earns 3% only on Lyft rides, after linking your Bilt and Lyft accounts. Other rideshare and travel earns 2%. |
| Key Benefits | 3% at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations, and online retail (each up to $6,000/yr). | 3x on dining or grocery (your choice), 4x on hotels through Bilt Travel, up to 1.25x on rent and mortgage. |
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express pulls ahead for groceries, gas spending.
Bilt Obsidian Card wins on travel, dining.
The $95/year fee difference means Bilt Obsidian Card needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express carries $264/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings), while Bilt Obsidian Card carries $100/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.