Bilt 3x dining or Autograph 3% dining… what's better?

I need help deciding which is the better card for dining and delivery.

Currently, I have the Smartly card at 2.5% cash back which I use for everything (I can’t go for the cards that give 3% or more yet).

Since I spend a lot on food, I want to know what’s the best option for me. I’m new to both these cards and still figuring out their dining rewards and how to redeem them. Any advice on what I should think about?

I’m leaning towards Bilt because it needs a minimum of 5 transactions, which sounds easy to manage. But I’m not sure if the 3x dining is better or worse than the Autograph’s 3% cash back. Is there a better option out there?

I don’t want to carry too many cards, so I’m trying to find the right balance between the cards I keep on me and getting good rewards. Right now, besides Smartly, I only carry a USAA Amex for 5% back at gas stations. Most of my other rewards cards are for online payments, so I can set it up and forget about them. For instance, I have my streaming services, phone, and toll fees linked to the Autograph for 3%. Dining is a major expense, so it feels worth having a physical card. Another thing is I use a parking garage for work where I swipe a few times a week, and I think Autograph would work there too. That might help me decide over Bilt, but I’ll need to make sure I hit those Bilt transactions in a smart way.

If cash back is more your thing, go with Autograph.

If you prefer points, then Bilt is the way to go.

I don’t really get the worries about making 5 transactions with Bilt. If you rent, that counts as one right there. Getting 4 more transactions each month shouldn’t be too tough if you’re out and about.

@Hunter
Yeah, that’s part of my question too. I could easily use Bilt 4 times if it’s my dining card. But if there’s a better choice and I don’t use Bilt, it wouldn’t make sense to work for those 4 transactions each month just for that. How do points stack up against cash? What’s the difference?

@DanaCreditGuide
Using Bilt gets you points that can be used for statement credits or shopping on Amazon, but those points lose value below 1 cent each.

You can transfer points at a 1 to 1 ratio to some partners and there are a few more options too.

The WF Autograph keeps points at 1 cent each, and you can redeem them for statement credits, transfer them to some partners, plus a few other options.

@Hunter
So if I buy something on Amazon with Bilt points, I’d get 1 to 1 right? But for statement credit, it’s worth less?

DanaCreditGuide said:
@Hunter
So if I buy something on Amazon with Bilt points, I’d get 1 to 1 right? But for statement credit, it’s worth less?

Not quite, shopping on Amazon gives you about 0.75 cents per point, while statement credit is roughly 0.5 cents.

DanaCreditGuide said:
@Hunter
So if I buy something on Amazon with Bilt points, I’d get 1 to 1 right? But for statement credit, it’s worth less?

Just grab an Amazon gift card on the first each month. You’ll earn 2x points and that’d count as one of your 5 transactions. Pay your rent and you’ll only need 3 more transactions.

@DanaCreditGuide
You could always use it for minor purchases like bus fares, coffee, or similar if hitting 4 transactions is tricky. For instance, a $2 charge doesn’t hurt if you miss out on a larger multiplier from another card. It’s really a minor loss.

@DanaCreditGuide
Are you saying you prefer to physically carry cards? Aren’t most people just using their phones to tap and pay?

@Hunter
Don’t forget, Autograph also earns points too.

@Hunter
The stress about needing 5 transactions comes from folks who get really into maximizing rewards on every dollar spent. It’s good to aim for rewards, but stressing over small transactions isn’t really necessary. Just use Bilt for small purchases like bus fares or coffee, which might even fall under dining anyway.

@Laine
I don’t have a Bilt card myself, but I’ve thought about it. The 4 transactions required have held me back.

  • I don’t usually go to coffee shops.
  • I usually load my transit fare onto a card, so using any card besides my company benefits debit card means losing some cash back unless I keep receipts.

I think I could probably make it work with dining, but I don’t want to feel forced to eat out 4 times a month.

@Dolph
Do you not have other small purchase opportunities in your everyday life? Coffee and bus fares were just examples.

Pick up a piece of fruit from the cafeteria during lunch. Or grab snacks from vending machines. You could also use it for smaller subscription fees, like the 99-cent iCloud service if that’s something you use. Many possibilities exist.

If carrying too many cards bothers you, the Autograph makes sense since it gives 3% on dining and 5 other categories.

Personally, I think Bilt points are more valuable, so I’d always choose Bilt over those two. You can also use Bilt without carrying the card. Just link it to Apple Pay or Google Wallet. Same goes for the WF card. I only have my Smartly card with me. My wallet only holds 3 cards, including my driver’s license and car key.

@Spence
I agree, Bilt is great. The fact that I can transfer points to Hyatt is a big plus for me.

What kind of wallet do you use? Mine is two-sided, holding my driver’s license, debit card, and 2 credit cards. It gets tough deciding which cards to take. How do you manage that?

@Kel
I have the Apple MagSafe Wallet. I don’t really choose; I just take one card with me. Nearly all the time I use Apple Pay. That rare moment I actually need to pull out a physical card, it’s the only one I carry with me. Super easy.

@Kel
I’m curious about people who always carry a debit card. How often do you suddenly need cash?

North said:
@Kel
I’m curious about people who always carry a debit card. How often do you suddenly need cash?

It’s super rare for me. I grew up in places that only took cash for restaurants and grocery stores, so I learned early on.

@Kel
Some places still operate on cash only.