Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Gold Card or Bilt Obsidian?

The American Express Gold Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 points, worth roughly $2,000, versus $200 Bilt Cash (~$200) on the Bilt Obsidian.

Is the American Express Gold Card's $325 annual fee worth it compared to the Bilt Obsidian?

At $325/yr, the American Express Gold Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Bilt Obsidian's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.

Can I have both the American Express Gold Card and Bilt Obsidian?

Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Bilt / Cardless) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.

Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Bilt Obsidian first?

Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Gold Card: $8,000 spend in 6 months. Bilt Obsidian: $0 in 0 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

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Side-by-side

American Express Gold Card vs Bilt Obsidian

Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Gold Card comes from American Express at $325/yr; the Bilt Obsidian from Bilt / Cardless at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the American Express Gold Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,800 more in estimated value) than the Bilt Obsidian's. Get the American Express Gold Card first; revisit the Bilt Obsidian after you've earned that bonus.

Feature	American Express Gold Card	Bilt Obsidian
Annual fee	$325	$95
Sign-up bonus	100,000 points	$200 Bilt Cash
Bonus value (est.)	$2,000	$200
Min spend to unlock bonus	$8,000 in 6 mo	$0 in 0 mo
Issuer	American Express	Bilt / Cardless
Card category	travel	travel
Best earning category (Prepaid_hotels_amex)	5x	1x
Transfer partners	amex-mr	bilt
Headline benefits	4x on restaurants worldwide 4x on U.S. supermarkets $120 dining credit $120 Uber Cash	$100 Bilt Travel hotel credit Pick 3x dining OR groceries $300 Bilt Dining partner credit $120 Lyft credit (via Bilt Cash)

Read the full review

American Express Gold Card

$325/yr · 100,000 points

Read the full review

Bilt Obsidian

$95/yr · $200 Bilt Cash

Editorial take: American Express Gold Card

The ultimate foodie card, earning bonus points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. Plus over $400 in easy-to-use statement credits make the annual fee a no-brainer.

Editorial take: Bilt Obsidian

The headline tier of Bilt 2.0, launched February 7, 2026 by Cardless after the Wells Fargo era ended. Strongest for renters who eat out (or buy groceries) and use Lyft. The $100 hotel credit pays back most of the AF if you stay 2+ nights anywhere on the Bilt Travel portal. Pair with the no-fee Blue if you want a no-AF anchor too.

The real-world take

TL;DR. Two cards with surprising overlap on dining and groceries. Obsidian ($95) is Bilt 2.0's middle tier and earns 3x on dining-or-groceries (your choice based on monthly pattern), 2x travel, 1x rent, plus a $100 Bilt Hotel credit and Lyft credits. Gold ($325) earns 4x at restaurants worldwide and 4x at U.S. supermarkets. Gold has the higher earn rate. Obsidian has rent, a much lower fee, and unique transfer partners (American, Alaska).

The three dimensions that actually decide it. First, fee. $230 difference. Obsidian wins on raw cost. Second, earn rate on dining and groceries. Gold's 4x edges Obsidian's 3x, but Obsidian's "your choice each month between dining and groceries" is more flexible if your spend shifts. Third, transfer programs. Bilt has American Airlines (unique among credit card programs). Amex has Delta and broader international partners.

Real customer scenario for each. If you spend $1,500 a month on dining and groceries and want one of the highest earn rates in the category, Gold's 4x earns 72,000 MR a year on those categories alone. If instead you also pay rent, want to transfer to American (rare), and prefer a much lower fee, Obsidian is the smarter pick at $95.

The trap to avoid. Counting Gold's Uber, Resy, Dunkin', and dining credits as a wash with Obsidian's lower fee. The Gold credits require behavioral fit. If you do not already use Uber or Dunkin' and do not eat at Resy partners, the Gold's effective fee is $325 minus only what you would have spent anyway, which is often not much.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Gold Card or Bilt Obsidian?: The American Express Gold Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 points, worth roughly $2,000, versus $200 Bilt Cash (~$200) on the Bilt Obsidian.
Is the American Express Gold Card's $325 annual fee worth it compared to the Bilt Obsidian?: At $325/yr, the American Express Gold Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Bilt Obsidian's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the American Express Gold Card and Bilt Obsidian?: Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Bilt / Cardless) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Bilt Obsidian first?: Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Gold Card: $8,000 spend in 6 months. Bilt Obsidian: $0 in 0 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.