When you're deciding between the Bilt Blue Card and the Citi Double Cash® Card, the math changes completely if you have monthly rent or mortgage payments. The Bilt Blue is built (no pun intended) to unlock rewards on housing spend, which most cards can't touch. The Double Cash gives you up to 2% back on literally everything with little mental overhead.
For renters/homeowners who value travel points, the Bilt Blue is likely the obvious winner, but if you don't have housing expenses or prefer straight cashback, the Double Cash might be the better fit.
Comparing the Bilt Blue and Citi Double Cash
The Bilt Blue is a no annual fee card that earns 1X points on everyday purchases and up to 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend (when electing to earn rewards via Flexible Bilt Cash). The Citi Double Cash® Card earns up to 2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy, 1% as you pay), also with no annual fee.
If you pay for rent or mortgage, the Bilt Blue is the clear pick. Earning points on housing payments with no transaction fee is something the Double Cash, and most other cards, simply can't match. When you convert your Bilt Cash to Bilt Points through your monthly housing payment, you'll earn up to 1X of your monthly rent or mortgage payment.
Bilt generally has stronger transfer partners, such as Atmos, Hyatt, and United. It's worth noting that the Double Cash earns "ThankYou Points" which can also be transferred to partners like Air France at a 1:0.7 ratio. Unfortunately, the Double Cash alone cannot transfer its points to Citi's most elusive partner: American Airlines (for that, you need a Citi Strata Premier® Card)
The Bilt Blue wins here, but with a small caveat. If you're willing to engage with the Bilt Cash system to unlock points on housing payments, the Bilt Blue turns your monthly rent into actual rewards that exceed that of the Double Cash. The Double Cash can't touch housing payments in any meaningful way. That said, if managing Bilt Cash feels like too much overhead, the Double Cash's up to 2% on everything keeps life simple without leaving you feeling like you're missing out.
FAQs
Which card has better transfer partners?
Bilt Points transfer to a solid lineup of airline and hotel partners, which is where the real value ceiling opens up. The Double Cash does have transfer options through Citi's ecosystem at a 1:0.7 ratio, including JetBlue, Wyndham, and Choice, but the program is considerably thinner on its own. Pairing the Double Cash with a premium Citi card like the Citi Strata Premier unlocks American Airlines (a key partner) and 1:1 transfers, but as a standalone card, Bilt's transfer partner depth is stronger.
Which card is better for international spending?
The Bilt Blue, without question. Bilt Cards charge no foreign transaction fees, while the Double Cash charges a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad. If you travel internationally even occasionally, that 3% adds up quickly and offsets a good chunk of whatever cash back you'd be earning. For trips outside the US, the Bilt Blue is the easy call between the two.
If I don't have monthly rent, which card should I get?
Hands down, the Double Cash. Without monthly rent/mortgage payments, you'll have no easy way to use your Bilt Cash. Sure, you can use it for various monthly credit redemptions, but those are somewhat limited in their potential value.
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