Bilt Obsidian vs Chase Sapphire Preferred: which card is better for renters?

The Bilt Obsidian® wins for renters because it earns up to 1.25X points on rent with no transaction fee, a feature the Chase Sapphire Preferred® doesn't offer at all. If you pay $2,000 in rent monthly, that's an extra 30,000 points per year just from housing payments alone.

Can I use both the Bilt Obsidian and Chase Sapphire Preferred together?

Yes, and renters should genuinely consider it. The Bilt Obsidian® covers rent and groceries while the Chase Sapphire Preferred® handles travel bookings and dining, so they don't overlap in day-to-day spending categories.

Which card earns more on groceries?

The Bilt Obsidian® earns 3X points on groceries (up to $25,000 per year) compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred®'s 1X on the same category. If you spend $500 monthly on groceries, the Obsidian generates 18,000 points annually versus 6,000 with the Sapphire Preferred.

How do I decide between Bilt Obsidian vs Chase Sapphire Preferred for travel?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® earns 5X on Chase Travel bookings and connects into Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners like Hyatt and United, making it the better pick if you book travel frequently. The Bilt Obsidian® earns 2X on travel but brings no annual fee and unique rent earning, so it wins if you're newer to travel cards or pay rent monthly.

Can I earn points on rent without paying a transaction fee with the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred doesn't earn points on rent payments at all. The Bilt Obsidian is the only card in this comparison that earns on rent, offering up to 1.25X points with no transaction fee, which creates a major value gap for renters paying housing costs monthly.

Bilt Obsidian vs Chase Sapphire Preferred: which has a lower annual fee?

The Bilt Obsidian has no annual fee, while the Chase Sapphare Preferred carries a $95 annual fee. For renters who aren't sure they'll spend enough on travel to justify a recurring cost, the Obsidian's $0 fee creates a structural advantage right from the start.

What's the best credit card for someone paying $2,500 in rent monthly?

The Bilt Obsidian is your best option because it earns up to 1.25X points on rent with no transaction fee, generating roughly 37,500 points per year just from housing payments. The Chase Sapphire Preferred can't earn on rent at all, so it misses out on this category entirely.

Do both cards charge foreign transaction fees?

No, neither the Bilt Obsidian nor the Chase Sapphire Preferred charges foreign transaction fees. Both cards are solid choices for international travel without worrying about extra costs on purchases made abroad.

Which card earns more points when booking flights directly with airlines?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2X points on direct airline bookings, while the Bilt Obsidian also earns 2X on travel. They tie on this category, but the Sapphire Preferred pulls ahead with 5X when you book through the Chase Travel portal instead of directly with airlines.

Should I apply for the Bilt Obsidian or Chase Sapphire Preferred first if I want both cards?

Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred first because of Chase's 5/24 rule, which automatically declines applications if you've opened five or more credit cards across any issuer in the last 24 months. The Bilt Obsidian doesn't have this restriction, so you can add it to your wallet later without timing concerns.

How much do I need to spend on groceries for the Bilt Obsidian to beat the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Any amount makes the Bilt Obsidian better for groceries because it earns 3X points (up to $25,000 per year) compared to the Sapphire Preferred's 1X. If you spend $400 monthly on groceries, the Obsidian generates 14,400 points annually versus 4,800 with the Sapphire Preferred.

Can I book hotels with points using the Bilt Obsidian or Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Yes, both cards let you transfer points to hotel partners for bookings. The Chase Sapphire Preferred transfers to Hyatt and other Ultimate Rewards partners, while the Bilt Obsidian transfers to its own lineup of hotel partners and offers up to $100 in annual Bilt Travel Hotel credits for qualifying stays.

Which card is better for someone who doesn't travel often but pays rent?

The Bilt Obsidian wins for non-travelers who pay rent because it earns up to 1.25X on housing payments with no annual fee, plus 3X on groceries. The Chase Sapphire Preferred's $95 fee and travel-focused earn rates don't make sense if you're not booking flights or hotels regularly.

What happens if I spend more than $25,000 on groceries with the Bilt Obsidian?

You'll earn 1X points on grocery spending above $25,000 per year instead of 3X. The cap resets annually, so if you hit the limit mid-year, your grocery earn rate drops to the base rate until the calendar year rolls over.

Bilt Obsidian Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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The Bilt Obsidian Card is one of the newest entrants to the "low annual fee transferable points" space and is rightfully compared against the likes of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

This debate hinges on whether or not you have monthly housing payments or if you are willing to juggle Bilt Cash. When you elect to earn Flexible Bilt Cash, Bilt can earn up to 1X on rent, which for someone paying $2,000 rent per month, can mean an additional 24,000 points per year that the Sapphire Preferred simply can't match.

Despite the fact that both cards have similar transfer partners, Chase fights back with a much larger 100,000-point welcome bonus (a limited-time offer, and one of the highest this card has ever carried) and a sturdier/more reliable banking infrastructure.

Why Get the Bilt Obsidian

The Obsidian is built for people who want to put housing payments, usually their biggest monthly expense, to work.

Unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X (when choosing to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend)
3X points on your choice of grocery (up to $25K/year) or dining
Earn 2X on travel, and 1X on all other payments

By redeeming Bilt Cash against your rent, you can essentially get an additional 1.33 points for every $1 spent on your card (limits apply). For instance, let's say you spend $500/mo on your card and your rent is $1,000.

You'll earn $20 Bilt Cash, which you can turn into Bilt Points at a rate of $0.03 Bilt Cash = 1 Bilt Point
This means, $20 Bilt Cash = 666 Bilt Points
So, you earn 500 Bilt Points (from 1x spend $500/mo) + 666 Bilt Points = 1,166 Bilt Points for $500 spend (2.33x)

Why Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Sapphire Preferred is the stronger pick for frequent travelers who don't want to deal with Bilt Cash, especially those who already regularly use the Chase Travel portal.

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening; a limited-time offer and one of the best bonuses this card has ever carried (much larger than the Obsidian’s)
With the refresh starting June 15, 2026, the card will earn 5x points on Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, online groceries, gas, EV charging, and vacation homes from top brands like Airbnb and Vrbo.
It also earns 2x points on other travel purchases
While you can access many transfer partners at a 1:1 value, Hyatt will soon be nerfed to a 4:3 ratio, which is unfortunate if you plan on using your points this way

It also now carries $600+ in potential credits, which is crazy for a $95 annual fee card.

Final Thoughts on the Bilt Obsidian and Chase Sapphire Preferred Comparison

We think these cards shouldn't really be thought of as head to head competitors; rather, they do very well when combined together, especially if you have monthly housing payments.

You can track both in one place via nextcard wallet and see which one pulls ahead based on your actual spending patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card has better transfer partners?

Both programs hold up well here. Chase Ultimate Rewards has strong transfer partners, including United, Air France/KLM, and World of Hyatt. However, Sapphire Preferred transfers to World of Hyatt are moving to a 4:3 ratio, which weakens one of Chase's biggest historical advantages. Bilt Rewards overlaps with several major Chase partners and adds unique partners of its own, including Atmos and Japan Airlines. Neither program is obviously superior for every traveler, but Bilt has the slight edge if you care mainly about partner breadth and Hyatt-style transfer value.

Can you hold both cards at the same time?

Yes, and for renters or homeowners, the Bilt Obsidian Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can be a compelling combination.

Since Obsidian lets you choose 3x on either grocery, up to $25,000 per year, or dining, it pairs well as a high-earning grocery card alongside the Sapphire Preferred, which earns 3x on dining.

The Preferred also has stronger travel protections and better travel booking earn rates through Chase Travel. One thing to keep in mind: Chase’s 5/24 rule means application order matters. If you plan to hold both cards, getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card first is generally the safer move before adding other cards, especially since it usually has the larger new cardmember bonus.

Bilt Obsidian Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card