US Bank Altitude Reserve vs Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
US Bank Altitude Reserve wins 3-2. Mobile-pay maximizers — 3x on Apple/Google/Samsung Pay transactions. Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard is still the right call if pay rent without fees — only no-fee card that earns points on rent..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | US Bank Altitude Reserve | Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | · $400 | No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 5% (travel) | · 3% (travel) |
| Base reward rate | 1.5% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | = No FX fee | = No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel) | = No welcome bonus — value lives in rent payments |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | · 720 | 670 |
| Editorial rating | 4.6/5 | · 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
US Bank Altitude Reserve
- 5x on prepaid hotels and car rentals via US Bank Travel
- 3x on travel + mobile-wallet purchases
- 1.5x redemption rate when used for travel
- $325 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass Select (4 free visits/year)
- Up to $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard
- 1x points on rent (up to 100K points/year, no transaction fee)
- 3x on dining
- 2x on travel
- 1x on everything else
- Transfer to 14 airline + hotel partners
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees
FAQ
›US Bank Altitude Reserve vs Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard: which is better?
US Bank Altitude Reserve wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use US Bank Altitude Reserve for its best categories, Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
US Bank Altitude Reserve: 50,000 points after $4,500 in first 3 months (worth $750 toward travel). Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard: No welcome bonus — value lives in rent payments.