Bilt Mastercard vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
Last updated July 2026
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
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Premium travel card with the strongest transfer partners
Advantages
- $300 annual travel credit auto-applies to any travel purchase (easiest premium credit to use)
- Priority Pass Select + access to newly-opened Chase Sapphire Lounges
- 3x on dining and general travel; 5x on flights and 10x on hotels/cars via Chase Travel
- Points transfer to Chase's 14 partners including United, Hyatt, and Southwest
- Points worth 1.5c each when redeemed through Chase Travel portal
Drawbacks
- $550 annual fee ($795 as of the 2025 refresh), still steep
- No Centurion lounge access
- Priority Pass restaurants no longer included (removed in 2019)
Bilt Mastercard and Chase Sapphire Reserve both play in rewards credit cards, but they're aimed at different buyers. Bilt Mastercard is built for renters spending $1,500+/mo on rent who want points without paying a fee. Chase Sapphire Reserve is built for travelers who want the strongest transfer partners for domestic redemptions. Which one fits depends on which of those descriptions sounds more like you.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Bilt Mastercard | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $795 (2025 refresh) |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x on most spending | 1x on most spending |
| Bonus Categories | 1x rent (up to 100K/yr), 3x dining, 2x travel | 3x dining + travel; 5x flights, 10x hotels/cars via Chase Travel |
| Sign-Up Bonus | No traditional bonus; occasional targeted offers | Typically 60K-100K UR points |
| Transfer Partners | 15+ including Hyatt, American, United, Air France | 14 partners including United, Hyatt, Southwest |
| Unique Feature | Only card that earns points on rent with no fee | -- |
| Earn Requirement | Must use card 5+ times/month to earn rewards | -- |
| Insurance Protections | Cell phone protection; rental car secondary | Trip cancellation, primary rental car, delay |
| Annual Travel Credit | -- | $300 easy annual travel credit + Chase Travel credits |
| Lounge Access | -- | Priority Pass Select + Chase Sapphire Lounges |
Too Close to Call
Bilt Mastercard and Chase Sapphire Reserve land roughly even overall; the right pick depends on which of their strengths matters more to you.
Bilt Mastercard's standout strength: 1x points on rent up to 100K points/yr with no transaction fee (unique to Bilt). Chase Sapphire Reserve's standout strength: $300 annual travel credit auto-applies to any travel purchase (easiest premium credit to use). Neither dominates across the board, and both have well-known weak spots. Bilt Mastercard's biggest drawback: Must use the card 5+ times per statement to earn any rewards, easy to miss. Chase Sapphire Reserve's biggest drawback: $550 annual fee ($795 as of the 2025 refresh), still steep. Pick the one whose strengths line up with what you actually need.
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