Is the Bilt Obsidian Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Bilt Obsidian Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Custom Cash Card?

Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.

Should I get the Bilt Obsidian Card or the Citi Custom Cash Card?

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Bilt Obsidian Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Is the Bilt Obsidian Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Bilt Obsidian Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Custom Cash Card?

Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.

Should I get the Bilt Obsidian Card or the Citi Custom Cash Card?

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Bilt Obsidian Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Is the Bilt Obsidian Card worth the higher annual fee?

The Bilt Obsidian Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Custom Cash Card?

Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.

Should I get the Bilt Obsidian Card or the Citi Custom Cash Card?

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Bilt Obsidian Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

CardRewards

Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Our analysis is based on publicly available card data and is reviewed regularly by our editorial team. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content. Last updated: May 2026.

Bilt Obsidian Card vs Citi Custom Cash Card

The Citi Custom Cash Card ($0/yr) is better for everyday value, while the Bilt Obsidian Card ($95/yr) is worth it for frequent travelers who can use its premium perks. Here's the full comparison.

Bilt Obsidian Card

Cardless

Citi Custom Cash Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

200 cash

200 Cash

Earn Rates

Category	Bilt Obsidian Card	Citi Custom Cash Card
Dining	3X	5X
Drugstores	1X	5X
Fitness & Gyms	1X	5X
Gas Stations	1X	5X
Grocery Stores	3X	5X
Home Improvement	1X	5X

Benefits & Features

Network

MASTERCARD

Key Benefits

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

+3x points on your choice of dining or grocery (up to $25K/year on grocery)
+2x points on travel
+Earn up to 1x points on rent and mortgage with no transaction fees
+$200 Bilt Cash welcome bonus upon approval (no spending required)
+$100 annual Bilt Travel hotel credit ($50 semiannually)

+Automatic 5% cash back on top spending category with no activation required
+No annual fee makes it easy to keep long-term for credit history
+10 eligible bonus categories including dining, gas, groceries, streaming, and transit
+0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
+Pairs with Strata Premier to unlock ThankYou Points transfer partners

Cons

−$95 annual fee plus $50 per authorized user
Complex earning structure for housing rewards (requires spending tiers or Bilt Cash redemption)

Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Custom Cash Card wins in 10 of 12 categories. The Bilt Obsidian Card leads in 2.

Dining

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Grocery Stores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Lyft

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X vs 1X

Travel

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 2X

Walgreens

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Drugstores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Fitness & Gyms

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Gas Stations

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Home Improvement

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

The Bottom Line

The Citi Custom Cash Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $95), making it the more accessible option.

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the Bilt Obsidian Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bilt Obsidian Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Bilt Obsidian Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Custom Cash Card?: Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
Should I get the Bilt Obsidian Card or the Citi Custom Cash Card?: Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Bilt Obsidian Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Explore More

Bilt Obsidian Card — Full Review All Cardless Cards

Citi Custom Cash Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Cardless cards · Citi cards

Editorial disclosure: The analysis on this page is based on publicly available card data and is updated regularly. CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or editorial content. Last updated: May 2026.

Bilt Obsidian Card vs Citi Custom Cash Card

The Citi Custom Cash Card ($0/yr) is better for everyday value, while the Bilt Obsidian Card ($95/yr) is worth it for frequent travelers who can use its premium perks. Here's the full comparison.

Bilt Obsidian Card

Cardless

Citi Custom Cash Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

200 cash

200 Cash

Earn Rates

Category	Bilt Obsidian Card	Citi Custom Cash Card
Dining	3X	5X
Drugstores	1X	5X
Fitness & Gyms	1X	5X
Gas Stations	1X	5X
Grocery Stores	3X	5X
Home Improvement	1X	5X

Benefits & Features

Network

MASTERCARD

Key Benefits

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

+3x points on your choice of dining or grocery (up to $25K/year on grocery)
+2x points on travel
+Earn up to 1x points on rent and mortgage with no transaction fees
+$200 Bilt Cash welcome bonus upon approval (no spending required)
+$100 annual Bilt Travel hotel credit ($50 semiannually)

+Automatic 5% cash back on top spending category with no activation required
+No annual fee makes it easy to keep long-term for credit history
+10 eligible bonus categories including dining, gas, groceries, streaming, and transit
+0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
+Pairs with Strata Premier to unlock ThankYou Points transfer partners

Cons

−$95 annual fee plus $50 per authorized user
Complex earning structure for housing rewards (requires spending tiers or Bilt Cash redemption)

Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Custom Cash Card wins in 10 of 12 categories. The Bilt Obsidian Card leads in 2.

Dining

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Grocery Stores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Lyft

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X vs 1X

Travel

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 2X

Walgreens

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Drugstores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Fitness & Gyms

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Gas Stations

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Home Improvement

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

The Bottom Line

The Citi Custom Cash Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $95), making it the more accessible option.

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the Bilt Obsidian Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bilt Obsidian Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Bilt Obsidian Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Custom Cash Card?: Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
Should I get the Bilt Obsidian Card or the Citi Custom Cash Card?: Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Bilt Obsidian Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Explore More

Bilt Obsidian Card — Full Review All Cardless Cards

Citi Custom Cash Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Cardless cards · Citi cards

Bilt Obsidian Card vs Citi Custom Cash Card

The Citi Custom Cash Card ($0/yr) is better for everyday value, while the Bilt Obsidian Card ($95/yr) is worth it for frequent travelers who can use its premium perks. Here's the full comparison.

Bilt Obsidian Card

Cardless

Citi Custom Cash Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

200 cash

200 Cash

Earn Rates

Category	Bilt Obsidian Card	Citi Custom Cash Card
Dining	3X	5X
Drugstores	1X	5X
Fitness & Gyms	1X	5X
Gas Stations	1X	5X
Grocery Stores	3X	5X
Home Improvement	1X	5X

Benefits & Features

Network

MASTERCARD

Key Benefits

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

+3x points on your choice of dining or grocery (up to $25K/year on grocery)
+2x points on travel
+Earn up to 1x points on rent and mortgage with no transaction fees
+$200 Bilt Cash welcome bonus upon approval (no spending required)
+$100 annual Bilt Travel hotel credit ($50 semiannually)

+Automatic 5% cash back on top spending category with no activation required
+No annual fee makes it easy to keep long-term for credit history
+10 eligible bonus categories including dining, gas, groceries, streaming, and transit
+0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months
+Pairs with Strata Premier to unlock ThankYou Points transfer partners

Cons

−$95 annual fee plus $50 per authorized user
Complex earning structure for housing rewards (requires spending tiers or Bilt Cash redemption)

Category-by-Category Winner

The Citi Custom Cash Card wins in 10 of 12 categories. The Bilt Obsidian Card leads in 2.

Dining

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Grocery Stores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 3X

Lyft

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X vs 1X

Travel

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 2X

Walgreens

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Drugstores

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Fitness & Gyms

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Gas Stations

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Home Improvement

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

The Bottom Line

The Citi Custom Cash Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $95), making it the more accessible option.

Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the Bilt Obsidian Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bilt Obsidian Card worth the higher annual fee?: The Bilt Obsidian Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the Citi Custom Cash Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Custom Cash Card?: Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
Should I get the Bilt Obsidian Card or the Citi Custom Cash Card?: Choose the Citi Custom Cash Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Bilt Obsidian Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Explore More

Bilt Obsidian Card — Full Review All Cardless Cards

Citi Custom Cash Card — Full Review All Citi Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Cardless cards · Citi cards

−Bilt Cash expires at year-end with only $100 rollover

−Grocery bonus category capped at $25K/year spending

−Hotel credit requires 2-night minimum via Bilt Travel portal

−$500 monthly cap limits value for high spenders (max $25/month in bonus rewards)
−3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international travel
−Cannot manually select bonus category - algorithm chooses based on spend
−Only one Custom Cash card allowed per person
−48-month restriction on welcome bonus if you've had one before

Live Entertainment

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Streaming

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Transit

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Bilt Obsidian Card costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the Citi Custom Cash Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $95 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.

Bottom line: The $95 difference is small enough that the Bilt Obsidian Card's extra perks make it worth considering for most cardholders.

Which Card Is Right for You?

Get the Citi Custom Cash Card if you:

+Want strong rewards without a large annual fee commitment

−Bilt Cash expires at year-end with only $100 rollover

−Grocery bonus category capped at $25K/year spending

−Hotel credit requires 2-night minimum via Bilt Travel portal

−$500 monthly cap limits value for high spenders (max $25/month in bonus rewards)
−3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international travel
−Cannot manually select bonus category - algorithm chooses based on spend
−Only one Custom Cash card allowed per person
−48-month restriction on welcome bonus if you've had one before

Live Entertainment

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Streaming

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Transit

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

Bottom line: The $95 difference is small enough that the Bilt Obsidian Card's extra perks make it worth considering for most cardholders.

Which Card Is Right for You?

Get the Citi Custom Cash Card if you:

+Want strong rewards without a large annual fee commitment

−Bilt Cash expires at year-end with only $100 rollover

−Grocery bonus category capped at $25K/year spending

−Hotel credit requires 2-night minimum via Bilt Travel portal

−$500 monthly cap limits value for high spenders (max $25/month in bonus rewards)
−3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international travel
−Cannot manually select bonus category - algorithm chooses based on spend
−Only one Custom Cash card allowed per person
−48-month restriction on welcome bonus if you've had one before

Live Entertainment

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Streaming

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Transit

Citi Custom Cash Card earns 5X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

Bottom line: The $95 difference is small enough that the Bilt Obsidian Card's extra perks make it worth considering for most cardholders.

Which Card Is Right for You?

Get the Citi Custom Cash Card if you:

+Want strong rewards without a large annual fee commitment