The short answer
What you're paying for
The math: is Obsidian worth it?
Obsidian is straightforward. The value comes from rent earning plus the monthly loyalty points:
| Earn Source | Spend | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (2x) | $12,000/yr | $180 |
| Travel & dining (3x) | $2,000 | $90 |
| 12 monthly loyalty points | — | $18 |
| Total annual value | $288 |
$288 in value against $95 fee. That's $193 of profit at modest spending levels. If you spend more on travel and dining, the value grows.
What's YOUR Obsidian actually worth?
Run Your Free Fee Check →Enter your rent and spending. See your exact ROI.
When the Obsidian makes sense
Keep it if you rent and spend on travel or dining regularly. The 2x rent earn is the core benefit. If you pay $1,000/month rent, that's $360 in annual points value before any other spending. The fee is a no-brainer.
The Obsidian is simpler than the Palladium. No housing mode to activate each year, no rotating monthly benefits to track. Your earn rates are fixed. This simplicity has value if you don't want to think about category management.
Transfer partners matter. The ability to move Bilt points to United, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, etc. means your points are worth 1.5–2¢ each vs. cash back at 0.7–1¢.
When you should downgrade or upgrade
If you pay less than $600/month in rent or don't value transfer partners, cancel it. The earn rate alone might not justify the fee. A no-fee cash back card could be simpler.
If you pay $1,500+/month in rent and want housing mode flexibility, upgrade to the Palladium ($495/yr). You'll earn more on rent and get rotating monthly benefits.
Benefits that add up
- Monthly loyalty bonus — 1 point every month just for having the card, worth $18/year on its own.
- Transfer partners — Bilt points transfer to 9 airlines, worth 50% more than typical cash back.
- Trip protections — standard coverage for trip delay, cancellation, and luggage.
- New card bonus — typically 50,000–75,000 points, worth $750–1,125 in value.
The monthly loyalty bonus is underrated. Most cards don't give you free points just for keeping the card open.
The bottom line
The Bilt Obsidian is the best rent-rewards card for most renters. At $95/year, it pays for itself quickly through 2x rent earning. If you rent, this is a clear keeper.