Bilt Mastercard vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Credit card showdown
The Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees) and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are two of the most popular credit cards available. They both target specific people, with the Bilt Mastercard aimed at renters and the Sapphire Preferred geared toward everyday travelers.
That said, the two cards overlap in some key areas. Today, I’ll go through the details of the Bilt Mastercard and the Chase Sapphire Preferred so you can decide which is right for you — or if it makes sense to have both.
Bilt Mastercard vs. Sapphire Preferred comparison
| Bilt Mastercard | Chase Sapphire Preferred | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 (see rates and fees) | $95 |
| Welcome offer | None | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening, plus up to $300 in statement credits for Chase Travel℠ purchases in the first cardholder year. |
| Bonus categories |
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| Standout benefits |
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Bilt Mastercard vs. Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus
There isn’t a lot of competition here. The Bilt Mastercard doesn’t offer a welcome bonus, unlike the Sapphire Preferred.
Currently, new Sapphire Preferred cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus up to $300 in statement credits for Chase Travel purchases made in the first year of account opening.
According to TPG’s October 2024 valuations, 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth $1,230. If you’re able to take advantage of the full $300 travel credit, that brings your value up to $1,530.
While that’s a lot of value, it’s important to note that this card often offers more points for the same amount of spending. If you value points more than statement credits, I advise waiting for a different offer before applying.
Welcome bonuses are a heavy factor in determining what card I open, so the Bilt Mastercard lacking one has caused me to delay opening it in favor of other cards.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred. Since the Bilt Mastercard doesn’t have a welcome offer, the winner is clear here.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions
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Bilt Mastercard vs. Sapphire Preferred benefits
Both of these cards offer great benefits. The Bilt Mastercard‘s most well-known perk is its ability to earn you points (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year) on rent without incurring additional transaction fees. Additionally, the card offers special perks on the first of every month, dubbed “Bilt Rent Day.”
These Bilt Rent Day benefits can vary, but in the past, we’ve seen perks like complimentary Hilton Gold status for a limited time, transfer bonuses when moving points to airline partner programs and special cruise deals. Given that the Bilt Mastercard has no annual fee (see rates and fees), I’m a big fan of this particular benefit.
Other notable benefits include No Foreign Currency Conversion Fees (see rates and fees) and travel protections, such as:
The Sapphire Preferred offers great benefits for a $95 annual fee. With this card, you’ll receive a $50 annual credit for hotel purchases booked through Chase Travel.
My favorite perk with this card is its complimentary DashPass membership (when activated by Dec. 31, 2027). I love to order food delivery at the end of a busy week, so having my membership cost covered by my Sapphire Preferred is a fantastic benefit.
The Sapphire Preferred also provides bonus points equal to 10% of your spending in the previous year, delivered to your Ultimate Rewards account after your account anniversary. Plus, this card gives me access to Chase’s transfer partners so I can redeem Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value.
Like the Bilt Mastercard, the Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees and includes certain travel protections, including:
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Baggage delay insurance
- Travel and emergency assistance services
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred. This card has a few more benefits than the Bilt Mastercard, including additional travel protections and a statement credit. Despite that, it’s a close race; the Bilt Mastercard also has a lot to offer.
Earning points on the Bilt Mastercard vs. the Sapphire Preferred
Both cards earn points on similar purchases, but the Sapphire Preferred has more bonus categories than the Bilt Mastercard.
With the Bilt Mastercard, you’ll earn:
- 3 points per dollar spent on dining
- 2 points per dollar spent on travel
- 1 point per dollar spent on rent (up to 100,000 points per calendar year)
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Meanwhile, Sapphire Preferred cardholders earn:
- 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel
- 3 points per dollar spent on dining (including takeout and delivery), online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and select streaming services
- 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel purchases
- 1 point per dollar spent on everything else
I want to note that the Bilt Mastercard earns double points on the first of each month, excluding rent payments. That means you’ll earn 6 points per dollar spent on dining, 4 points per dollar spent on travel and 2 points per dollar spent on everything else. Extra points are capped at 1,000 points each Bilt Rent Day, but if you can maximize it, this is a nice bonus-earning opportunity each month. Just keep in mind, you must use your Bilt Mastercard five times each statement period to earn points (see rewards and benefits).
Winner: Bilt Mastercard. While the Sapphire Preferred has more bonus categories, the Bilt Mastercard earns points on rent and offers a double points bonus once each month.
Redeeming points on the Bilt Mastercard vs. the Sapphire Preferred
With the Bilt Mastercard, you can redeem your points for fitness classes, merchandise from the Bilt Collection, Amazon purchases, rent payments, down payments and travel.
Redeeming your points for travel will always give the best value, but I find the other redemption options interesting. Amazon and merchandise are common redemption choices, but being able to redeem points for rent or a down payment on a house makes the Bilt Mastercard stand out among the competition.
As for the Sapphire Preferred, you can redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, travel and curated experiences through Chase. As with Bilt points, the most valuable way to use your Ultimate Rewards points is for travel.
One important note is that the Sapphire Preferred grants cardholders the ability to redeem their Ultimate Rewards points through Chase Travel for greater value; with this redemption method, you’ll get 1.25 cents per point instead of the typical 1 cent per point.
Winner: Tie. Both cards offer a variety of redemption options. Some may prefer being able to use their points for rent or a down payment, while others may enjoy the elevated value received from redeeming Ultimate Rewards points through Chase Travel.
Related: Why I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as my next credit card
Transferring points with the Bilt Mastercard vs. the Sapphire Preferred
Both of these cards have airline and hotel partners that cardholders can transfer points to. Currently, Bilt offers 16 total transfer partners, while Chase comes in slightly behind with 14 partners.
Notable partners that both cards share include:
Bilt has a few transfer partners that Chase does not, including Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Avianca LifeMiles and Turkish Miles&Smiles. Meanwhile, Chase enjoys access to Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest Rapid Rewards and JetBlue TrueBlue, all airlines that Bilt cardholders can’t transfer to.
Augusta Stone, a credit cards writer at TPG, recently used Bilt points to help pay for a trip to Miami for a cruise. She transferred 9,000 points to World of Hyatt to top off her account for a 12,000-point redemption. She also transferred an additional 19,000 points to American Airlines AAdvantage to put toward a 31,000-point award ticket.
While American Airlines is no longer a Bilt transfer partner, this is a great example of how to get a lot of value from transfer partners.
Winner: Tie. This matchup comes down to personal preference since both cards share major transfer partners and have options that the other does not.
Should I get the Bilt Mastercard or the Sapphire Preferred?
Both of these cards have great benefits, solid earning categories and a fantastic range of transfer partners. If you rent an apartment and spend a lot on dining, I recommend choosing the Bilt Mastercard. However, I recommend the Sapphire Preferred if you travel frequently or find Chase’s transfer partners more appealing.
Related: 6 reasons I love my Bilt Mastercard as a renter in the most expensive city in the US
Bottom line
While you might be in a position where you have to choose one or the other, I believe that these cards can make a powerful pair in your wallet. Having both cards opens up a huge range of transfer partners for you to access and covers many common bonus categories. Plus, only one of these cards has an annual fee (see Bilt Mastercard rates and fees).
Before applying for either card, carefully weigh the pros and cons of each and consider your personal goals. Regardless of which option you pick, you’ll have a powerful card to add to your wallet.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Bilt Mastercard and the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Bilt Mastercard
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Related: How to choose your best credit card strategy
For rates and fees on the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits on the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
