Editorial take: American Express Green Card
Hard to justify vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred at $95 with stronger earning. The CLEAR credit is nice but only useful if your airport has CLEAR lines. Most people are better off with Sapphire or Amex Gold.
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Side-by-side
American Express Green Card vs Bilt Obsidian
Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Green Card comes from American Express at $150/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 Green Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($520 more in estimated value) than the Bilt Obsidian's. Get the American Express Green Card first; revisit the Bilt Obsidian after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | American Express Green Card | Bilt Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | 40,000 Membership Rewards points | $200 Bilt Cash |
| Bonus value (est.) | $720 | $200 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 3 mo | $0 in 0 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Bilt / Cardless |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| Best earning category (Travel) | 3x | 2x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | bilt |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
American Express Green Card
$150/yr · 40,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
Bilt Obsidian
$95/yr · $200 Bilt Cash
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.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Green Card or Bilt Obsidian?
- The American Express Green Card has the bigger bonus, 40,000 Membership Rewards points, worth roughly $720, versus $200 Bilt Cash (~$200) on the Bilt Obsidian.
- Is the American Express Green Card's $150 annual fee worth it compared to the Bilt Obsidian?
- At $150/yr, the American Express Green 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 Green 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 Green Card or the Bilt Obsidian first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Green Card: $3,000 spend in 3 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.