Is the Bilt Obsidian Card worth the higher annual fee?

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

Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card?

Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card?

Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card?

Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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: June 2026.

Bilt Obsidian Card vs Citi Strata Credit Card

The Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

200 cash

30,000 Flex point

Earn Rates

Category	Bilt Obsidian Card	Citi Strata Credit Card
Cosmetics	1X	3X
Dining	3X	2X
Fitness & Gyms	1X	3X
Gas Stations	1X	3X
Grocery Stores	3X	3X
Live Entertainment	1X	3X

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)

+No annual fee
+30,000 point welcome bonus
+5X points on travel booked via Citi Travel
+3X points on groceries, transit, gas, and Self-Select category
+Self-Select category flexibility (change quarterly)

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 Strata Credit Card wins in 8 of 12 categories. The Bilt Obsidian Card leads in 4.

Dining

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X vs 2X

Lyft

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X vs 1X

Travel

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Walgreens

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Gas Stations

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Transit

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Rotating Category

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Cosmetic Stores

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Fitness & Gyms

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

The Bottom Line

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

Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card?: Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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.

Related Comparisons

Amex Blue Cash Everyday vs Citi Strata Amex Green vs Citi Strata Bank Of America Customized Cash vs Citi Strata Bank Of America Unlimited Cash vs Citi Strata

Explore More

Bilt Obsidian Card — Full Review All Cardless Cards

Citi Strata Credit 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: June 2026.

Bilt Obsidian Card vs Citi Strata Credit Card

The Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

200 cash

30,000 Flex point

Earn Rates

Category	Bilt Obsidian Card	Citi Strata Credit Card
Cosmetics	1X	3X
Dining	3X	2X
Fitness & Gyms	1X	3X
Gas Stations	1X	3X
Grocery Stores	3X	3X
Live Entertainment	1X	3X

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)

+No annual fee
+30,000 point welcome bonus
+5X points on travel booked via Citi Travel
+3X points on groceries, transit, gas, and Self-Select category
+Self-Select category flexibility (change quarterly)

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 Strata Credit Card wins in 8 of 12 categories. The Bilt Obsidian Card leads in 4.

Dining

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X vs 2X

Lyft

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X vs 1X

Travel

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Walgreens

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Gas Stations

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Transit

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Rotating Category

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Cosmetic Stores

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Fitness & Gyms

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

The Bottom Line

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

Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card?: Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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.

Related Comparisons

Amex Blue Cash Everyday vs Citi Strata Amex Green vs Citi Strata Bank Of America Customized Cash vs Citi Strata Bank Of America Unlimited Cash vs Citi Strata

Explore More

Bilt Obsidian Card — Full Review All Cardless Cards

Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card

The Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card

Citi

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

200 cash

30,000 Flex point

Earn Rates

Category	Bilt Obsidian Card	Citi Strata Credit Card
Cosmetics	1X	3X
Dining	3X	2X
Fitness & Gyms	1X	3X
Gas Stations	1X	3X
Grocery Stores	3X	3X
Live Entertainment	1X	3X

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)

+No annual fee
+30,000 point welcome bonus
+5X points on travel booked via Citi Travel
+3X points on groceries, transit, gas, and Self-Select category
+Self-Select category flexibility (change quarterly)

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 Strata Credit Card wins in 8 of 12 categories. The Bilt Obsidian Card leads in 4.

Dining

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X vs 2X

Lyft

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 3X vs 1X

Travel

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Walgreens

Bilt Obsidian Card earns 2X vs 1X

Gas Stations

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Transit

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Rotating Category

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Cosmetic Stores

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Fitness & Gyms

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

The Bottom Line

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

Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card. The higher fee that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Bilt Obsidian Card or Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit Card?: Choose the Citi Strata Credit 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.

Related Comparisons

Amex Blue Cash Everyday vs Citi Strata Amex Green vs Citi Strata Bank Of America Customized Cash vs Citi Strata Bank Of America Unlimited Cash vs Citi Strata

Explore More

Bilt Obsidian Card — Full Review All Cardless Cards

Citi Strata Credit 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

−3% foreign transaction fee
−5X rate requires booking through Citi Travel portal
−Self-Select category can only change quarterly
−Lower transfer value compared to premium ThankYou cards

Live Entertainment

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Pet Shops

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Streaming

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Bilt Obsidian Card costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the Citi Strata Credit 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 Strata Credit 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

−3% foreign transaction fee
−5X rate requires booking through Citi Travel portal
−Self-Select category can only change quarterly
−Lower transfer value compared to premium ThankYou cards

Live Entertainment

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Pet Shops

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Streaming

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X 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 Strata Credit 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

−3% foreign transaction fee
−5X rate requires booking through Citi Travel portal
−Self-Select category can only change quarterly
−Lower transfer value compared to premium ThankYou cards

Live Entertainment

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Pet Shops

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X vs 1X

Streaming

Citi Strata Credit Card earns 3X 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 Strata Credit Card if you:

+Want strong rewards without a large annual fee commitment