Is the Bilt Obsidian Card worth the higher annual fee?

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

Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or SoFi Smart Card?

The Bilt Obsidian Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

Should I get the Bilt Obsidian Card or the SoFi Smart Card?

Choose the SoFi Smart 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 SoFi Smart Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or SoFi Smart Card?

The Bilt Obsidian Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

Should I get the Bilt Obsidian Card or the SoFi Smart Card?

Choose the SoFi Smart 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 SoFi Smart Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or SoFi Smart Card?

The Bilt Obsidian Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

Should I get the Bilt Obsidian Card or the SoFi Smart Card?

Choose the SoFi Smart 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.

Bilt Obsidian Card vs SoFi Smart Card

The SoFi Smart 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.

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

200 cash

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Earn Rates

Category	Bilt Obsidian Card	SoFi Smart Card
Grocery Stores	3X	5X
Dining	3X	1X
Lyft	3X	1X
Travel	2X	1X
Walgreens	2X	1X
Rent	1X	1X

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)

—

Cons

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

—

Category-by-Category Winner

The Bilt Obsidian Card wins in 4 of 5 categories. The SoFi Smart Card leads in 1.

Dining

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X vs 1X

Grocery Stores

SoFi Smart Card earns 5X vs 3X

Lyft

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X vs 1X

Travel

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Walgreens

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Bilt Obsidian Card costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the SoFi Smart 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 Bilt Obsidian Card if you:

+Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out

Get the SoFi Smart Card if you:

The Bottom Line

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

Choose the SoFi Smart 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 SoFi Smart Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or SoFi Smart Card?: The Bilt Obsidian Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
Should I get the Bilt Obsidian Card or the SoFi Smart Card?: Choose the SoFi Smart 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

SoFi Smart Card — Full Review All SoFi Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Cardless cards · SoFi 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 SoFi Smart Card

The SoFi Smart 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.