Bilt Obsidian vs Citi Strata Premier℠
Side-by-side comparison
| Bilt Obsidian | Citi Strata Premier℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $95 |
| Welcome offer | $200 in Bilt Cash on account opening | 60,000 ThankYou® Points |
| Dining | 3x | 3x |
| Groceries | 3x | 3x |
| Gas | 1x | 3x |
| Travel | 2x | 3x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $490 | $551 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Bilt Obsidian | Citi Strata Premier℠ |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $200 in Bilt Cash on account opening | 60,000 ThankYou® Points |
| To earn it | No minimum spend | $4,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $895 | $1,056 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $695 | $456 |
This one splits by time horizon. In year one the Citi Strata Premier℠ is ahead by roughly $161, thanks largely to its welcome offer. But the Bilt Obsidian earns more every year after, so if you keep it, it overtakes the Citi Strata Premier℠ after about 2 years. Chasing the sign-up bonus and open to canceling before the second annual fee? Take the Citi Strata Premier℠. Planning to keep it for years? The Bilt Obsidian pulls ahead.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Bilt Obsidian | Citi Strata Premier℠ |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | ~$300/yr (2 credits) | None |
| Points & redemptions | Transferable to airline & hotel partners | Transferable to airline & hotel partners |
On perks and redemptions, the Bilt Obsidian carries the heavier credit stack (about $300 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
The Bilt Obsidian earns Bilt Rewards, which transfers to Alaska / Atmos, Air Canada, World of Hyatt, American Airlines, and Turkish. The Citi Strata Premier℠ earns Citi ThankYou, reaching American Airlines, Turkish, Avianca, and Air France-KLM. Most transfers are 1:1 on both, so the partners themselves, not the ratios, are what separate them.
The standout difference is the crown-jewel partner: for the Bilt Obsidian it is Alaska and Hyatt, a rare pairing that covers both a top airline and a top hotel program; for the Citi Strata Premier℠ it is American Airlines AAdvantage at 1:1, one of the only ways to transfer points to AA. Pick the program whose best partners match the trips you would actually book.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Bilt Obsidian earns about $490 a year in rewards and the Citi Strata Premier℠ about $551, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Bilt Obsidian charges $95, but carries about $300 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Citi Strata Premier℠ charges $95, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Bilt Obsidian delivers more total value, about $89 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it carries more in annual statement credits. Both earn transferable points rather than flat cash, so the deciding factor is whose transfer partners reach the airlines and hotels you would actually book. On the sign-up bonus, the Citi Strata Premier℠ currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Citi Strata Premier℠ if your spending leans toward gas, travel.