Editorial take: Bilt Mastercard
The only card that earns points on rent with no fees. Pair it with Rent Day on the 1st of each month for bonus earning, then transfer to top partners like Hyatt at 1:1. A must-have for renters.
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Side-by-side
Bilt Mastercard vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
Both are travel travel cards. The Bilt Mastercard comes from Bilt / Wells Fargo at $0/yr; the Chase Sapphire Preferred from Chase 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred is the stronger pick today — the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,500 more in estimated value) than the Bilt Mastercard's. Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred first; revisit the Bilt Mastercard after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Bilt Mastercard | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | No public offer | 75,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $0 | $1,500 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $0 in 0 mo | $5,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Bilt / Wells Fargo | Chase |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| Best earning category (Dining) | 3x | 3x |
| Transfer partners | bilt | chase-ur |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Bilt Mastercard
$0/yr · No public offer
Read the full review
Chase Sapphire Preferred
$95/yr · 75,000 points
Editorial take: Chase Sapphire Preferred
The best starter travel card, period. Transferable points, solid bonus categories, and a low annual fee make this the card we recommend to almost everyone getting into the points game.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Bilt Mastercard or Chase Sapphire Preferred?
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred has the bigger bonus — 75,000 points, worth roughly $1,500, versus No public offer (~$0) on the Bilt Mastercard.
- Is the Bilt Mastercard's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
- The Bilt Mastercard has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Chase Sapphire Preferred's $95 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Chase Sapphire Preferred's benefits to clear $95 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Bilt Mastercard.
- Can I have both the Bilt Mastercard and Chase Sapphire Preferred?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bilt / Wells Fargo and Chase) 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 Bilt Mastercard or the Chase Sapphire Preferred first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bilt Mastercard: $0 spend in 0 months. Chase Sapphire Preferred: $5,000 in 3 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.