Bilt Mastercard vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
A side-by-side breakdown of fees, welcome offers, earning rates and travel perks — so you can see which card is worth it for how you actually spend.
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | No traditional bonus; earn points on rent with no fee | 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months |
| Rewards rate | 3X on dining, 2X on travel, 1X on rent payments (up to 50,000 points/year), 1X on everything else | 5X on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X on all other travel purchases; 1X on all other purchases. Plus, 5X on Peloton equipment/accessories (over $150, up to 25,000 pts) through Dec 2027 and 5X on Lyft through Sep 2027. |
| Best for |
|
|
| Key benefits |
|
|
| Card network | — | Visa Signature |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Recommended credit | Good to Excellent (670–850) | Good to Excellent (670–850) |
Bilt Mastercard
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Same 13 Chase transfer partners as the $795 Sapphire Reserve at a fraction of the cost
- Primary rental car collision damage waiver — the best travel protection at this price tier
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance up to $10,000 per person
- 3x on dining, online groceries, and streaming covers daily household spend
- $50 annual hotel credit partially offsets the already-low $95 fee
- No airport lounge access — a gap that competing premium cards fill
- 10% anniversary points bonus ending October 1, 2026
- Chase Travel portal required for 5x on flights (not direct airline bookings)
- Limited statement credits beyond the $50 hotel credit
Common questions
Is the Bilt Mastercard or Chase Sapphire Preferred better?
Bilt Mastercard suits renters, while Chase Sapphire Preferred is stronger for flexibility. The Bilt Mastercard carries a $0 annual fee versus $95 for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, so the right pick depends on how much of each card's credits you'll actually use.
What is the annual fee on each card?
The Bilt Mastercard has a $0 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee. Weigh that against each card's annual credits — a higher fee often nets out lower once you use the travel and dining credits.