Amex Gold vs Bilt Mastercard
Last updated July 2026
Amex Gold
The best dining and grocery card in the U.S.
Advantages
- 4x MR points on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25K/yr) and on restaurants worldwide
- 3x MR points on flights booked directly with airlines
- $120 annual dining credit at Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and more
- $120 annual Uber Cash
- $100 annual Resy credit + $84 annual Dunkin' credit
Drawbacks
- $325 annual fee (raised from $250 in late 2024)
- Credits are fragmented and expire monthly, you'll only capture full value if you use these merchants
- 1x on non-bonus spending; foreign transaction fees are 0% but base rate is weak
Bilt Mastercard
The only credit card that earns points on rent
Advantages
- 1x points on rent up to 100K points/yr with no transaction fee (unique to Bilt)
- No annual fee
- 3x on dining, 2x on travel, 1x on everything else
- Transfer partners include Hyatt, American, United, Air France/KLM, Marriott, and 15+ others
- Rent day (1st of month) doubles multipliers on non-rent spending
Drawbacks
- Must use the card 5+ times per statement to earn any rewards, easy to miss
- Base 1x on non-bonus categories same as Sapphire Preferred
- Points from rent capped at 100,000/yr
Amex Gold and Bilt Mastercard both play in rewards credit cards, but they're aimed at different buyers. Amex Gold is built for heavy diners and grocery shoppers spending $2K+/mo in those categories. Bilt Mastercard is built for renters spending $1,500+/mo on rent who want points without paying a fee. Which one fits depends on which of those descriptions sounds more like you.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Amex Gold | Bilt Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $325 | $0 |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x on most spending | 1x on most spending |
| Bonus Categories | 4x dining and U.S. supermarkets; 3x flights | 1x rent (up to 100K/yr), 3x dining, 2x travel |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Typically 60K-100K MR points | No traditional bonus; occasional targeted offers |
| Transfer Partners | 20+ airline and hotel partners | 15+ including Hyatt, American, United, Air France |
| Annual Travel Credit | None, credits are dining/Uber-focused | -- |
| Dining/Lifestyle Credits | $120 dining + $120 Uber + $100 Resy + $84 Dunkin' annually | -- |
| Insurance Protections | Trip delay, baggage, purchase protection | Cell phone protection; rental car secondary |
| Unique Feature | -- | Only card that earns points on rent with no fee |
| Earn Requirement | -- | Must use card 5+ times/month to earn rewards |
Too Close to Call
Amex Gold and Bilt Mastercard land roughly even overall; the right pick depends on which of their strengths matters more to you.
Amex Gold's standout strength: 4x MR points on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25K/yr) and on restaurants worldwide. Bilt Mastercard's standout strength: 1x points on rent up to 100K points/yr with no transaction fee (unique to Bilt). Neither dominates across the board, and both have well-known weak spots. Amex Gold's biggest drawback: $325 annual fee (raised from $250 in late 2024). Bilt Mastercard's biggest drawback: Must use the card 5+ times per statement to earn any rewards, easy to miss. Pick the one whose strengths line up with what you actually need.
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