Bilt Obsidian vs Amex Gold

Bilt Obsidian earns more on travel, hotels and transit; American Express Gold Card earns more on dining, groceries and airfare.

Which one suits you

  • Pick it if

    Bilt Obsidian

    Most of your spending is on travel, hotels and transit.

    $95 annual fee

  • Pick it if

    American Express Gold Card

    Most of your spending is on dining, groceries and airfare.

    $325 annual fee

American Express Gold Card costs $230 more a year. On dining it earns $1.50 more per $100, so it makes up the difference after about $15,300 a year of dining.

Rates change, so verify them with the issuer before you apply.

Category by category

What each card earns on a $100 purchase, with points at typical values and every bonus cap unused.

CategoryBilt Obsidian American Express Gold CardEarns more
Dining$4.50 4.5%$6.00 6%American Express Gold Card (+$1.50)
Groceries$4.50 4.5%$6.00 6%American Express Gold Card (+$1.50)
Gas$1.50 1.5%$1.50 1.5%Tie
Travel$3.00 3%$1.50 1.5%Bilt Obsidian (+$1.50)
Airfare$3.00 3%$4.50 4.5%American Express Gold Card (+$1.50)
Hotels$3.00 3%$1.50 1.5%Bilt Obsidian (+$1.50)
Transit$3.00 3%$1.50 1.5%Bilt Obsidian (+$1.50)
Streaming$1.50 1.5%$1.50 1.5%Tie
Drugstores$1.50 1.5%$1.50 1.5%Tie
Online shopping$1.50 1.5%$1.50 1.5%Tie
Wholesale clubs$1.50 1.5%$1.50 1.5%Tie
Everything else$1.50 1.5%$1.50 1.5%Tie
Annual fee$95$325