Beta

Every feature is free during beta. No credit card, no catch.

Skip to content
RewardZ Travel
All credit cards
Side-by-side

Bilt Palladium vs Discover it Cash Back

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Bilt Palladium comes from Bilt / Cardless at $495/yr; the Discover it Cash Back from Discover at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Bilt Palladium is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($925 more in estimated value) than the Discover it Cash Back's. Get the Bilt Palladium first; revisit the Discover it Cash Back after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureBilt PalladiumDiscover it Cash Back
Annual fee$495$0
Sign-up bonus50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold statusCashback Match (first year, unlimited)
Bonus value (est.)$1,125$200
Min spend to unlock bonus$4,000 in 3 mo$0 in 12 mo
IssuerColumn N.A.Discover
Card categorytravelcashback
Best earning category (Other)2x1x
Transfer partnersbiltNone
Headline benefits
  • $400 Bilt Travel hotel credit
  • $200 Bilt Cash every year
  • Priority Pass + 2 guests
  • Flat 2x on everyday spend
  • 5% rotating categories
  • First-year match
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign tx fees
Read the full review
Bilt Palladium
$495/yr · 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status
Read the full review
Discover it Cash Back
$0/yr · Cashback Match (first year, unlimited)

Editorial take: Bilt Palladium

Bilt 2.0's top tier ($495 AF), launched February 7, 2026 with Column N.A. as issuer and Cardless as servicer. A flat 2x everyday card that stacks $400 of Bilt Travel hotel credit, $200 of Bilt Cash a year, and Priority Pass with 2 guests. It does not have Obsidian's 3x category, so it wins on credits and lounge access rather than on multipliers. For Bilt loyalists who use the hotel credit and the lounges, the math works; for everyone else, Obsidian is plenty.

Editorial take: Discover it Cash Back

The first-year Cashback Match effectively doubles your earnings, someone who earns $300 in cash back gets $600 total. It's the best no-fee first card for building credit with real rewards.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Bilt Palladium or Discover it Cash Back?
The Bilt Palladium has the bigger bonus, 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status, worth roughly $1,125, versus Cashback Match (first year, unlimited) (~$200) on the Discover it Cash Back.
Is the Bilt Palladium's $495 annual fee worth it compared to the Discover it Cash Back?
At $495/yr, the Bilt Palladium is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Discover it Cash Back's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Bilt Palladium and Discover it Cash Back?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Column N.A. and Discover) 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 Palladium or the Discover it Cash Back first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Bilt Palladium: $4,000 spend in 3 months. Discover it Cash Back: $0 in 12 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.