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At a glance
- Best for: Renters
- Annual Fee: $0
- Reward Rate: 1X - 3X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Why we like it
The no annual fee Bilt Mastercard® is a very unique product that can turn points earned from one of your largest monthly expenses into a heap of travel rewards and other redemption options. It’s the only card that allows you to pay your rent with no transaction fees—you’ll earn 1X points on rent, up to 100,000 points a year. Many landlords don’t accept credit cards or they charge a convenience fee to use a credit card to pay rent—making it an intriguing option for renters across the US. Plus, its points can be transferred to valuable airline and hotel partners. You must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points.
Reward details
3x points on dining
2x points on travel
1x points on other purchases
1x points on rent without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points in a calendar year. When you use the card 5 times each statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you’ll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.
Pros & Cons
Pros
The greatest benefit is obvious: redeeming points earned from rent into travel rewards with no transaction fees attached.
Bilt has some excellent and unique transfer partners, like United Airlines and Hyatt.
Decent points-earning potential in other categories like 2X points on travel, 3X points on dining, and 1X points on rent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year) and other purchases.
You can earn interest on Bilt Points when you reach Silver status.
A few other nice benefits are included, such as Cellular Telephone Protection.
Cons
No sign-up bonus
Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. So you can’t use it solely for rent. I’d advise putting some restaurant bills on it, as you’ll grab 3X points on those transactions.
Overview
The average American spends over 30 percent of their income on rent.
For a committed points and miles enthusiast, that’s a heartbreaking statistic, representing a breach in their points strategy. But things are changing, and the Bilt Mastercard® is leading the charge. Not only is it the first credit card designed to earn points on one of our most significant expenses, it’s a damn fine travel card, too.
Our Bilt credit card review covers everything you need to know about one of the most valuable credit cards out there.
Who is the Bilt card best for:
If you rent, you should have this card. There is no other way to earn points on your largest monthly expense without circumventing fees and landlord rules. Opting to continue paying by check or another method leaves you with a gaping hole in your points strategy that should be filled.
Beyond renters, there’s an argument for this being an excellent card for beginners. Its earning rates are valuable but aren’t burdened by an annual fee, while its points are extremely valuable. It’s an excellent introduction to the world of points and miles.
The Bottom Line:
The Bilt Mastercard is a tremendous product, offering points and miles enthusiasts the rare chance to earn on their monthly rent payments. Beyond its obvious draw, it has generous earning rates and strong protection-based benefits that bely its lack of an annual fee.
Intro Bonus
As of right now, there is no intro bonus for the Bilt card, but this an excellent card for beginners regardless. Its earning rates are valuable and aren’t burdened by an annual fee. Plus, its points are extremely valuable.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The greatest benefit is obvious: redeeming points earned from rent into travel rewards with no transaction fees attached.
- Bilt has some excellent and unique transfer partners, like United Airlines and Hyatt.
- Decent points-earning potential in other categories like 2X points on travel, 3X points on dining, and 1X points on rent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year) and other purchases.
- You can earn interest on Bilt Points when you reach Silver status.
- A few other nice benefits are included, such as Cellular Telephone Protection.
Cons
- No sign-up bonus
- Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. So you can’t use it solely for rent. I’d advise putting some restaurant bills on it, as you’ll grab 3X points on those transactions.
Benefits & Perks
The card’s rent capabilities and its valuable currency are the most significant aspects of the card, but they’re definitely not all it offers.
Travel benefits
The card comes loaded with valuable travel benefits to complement its 2x points per dollar earning rate on the spending category. The bulk of these come in the form of protection and insurance.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $5,000
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- $5 Lyft credit after three rides in a calendar month
Note: These protections are only activated when the Bilt Mastercard is used to pay for the trip or rental car.
Dining perks
On top of the 3x points per dollar on dining, cardholders also have access to the World Elite Mastercard Concierge. This 24/7 service is used to reserve hard-to-book restaurants, offer travel advice, and lend a hand in a variety of situations. It’s one of the most underrated perks out there.
Cell phone and purchase protection
If Bilt Mastercard holders use their card to pay their cell phone bill they’ll receive up to $800 of protection against theft or damage. This is an excellent monthly bill that can be used to cover one of the five purchases required to earn points on rent.
Any other purchases made with the card are covered for 90 days for up to $10,000 from damage or theft.
Rent day benefits
Along with the monthly earning increases, each “Rent Day” typically features one-off benefits. These could be anything from bonus earning categories at specific stores or one-time free trials of hotel elite status.
The most valuable are often transfer bonuses. It’s not unheard of to see bonuses as big as 50 percent, effectively cutting the price of a reward flight in half. That could see you fly to Europe for as little as 7,500 depending on the airline on offer that month.
Rent Day challenges, typically in the form of gameshow-style trivia games, also allow users to earn some bonus points.
Earning rewards & redeeming points
Earning rewards
If your landlord accepts credit cards, the process is no different than usual. Simply pay your rent, and reap the benefits. If they only accept checks, fear not—Bilt will send a check on your behalf once you’ve paid in the smartphone app.
To ensure you earn the points on your rent, you’ll need to use the card five more times in every statement period. There’s no threshold for that spending: it could be a cup of coffee or your weekly grocery shop. It’s a good idea to use it to pay for a few scheduled payments like a Netflix account—that way you won’t forget and lose your points.
Bilt Mastercard holders earn 1x point for every dollar spent on rent up to 100,000 a year. To hit that mark, your rent would have to be over $8,000 a month, so the majority of us are looking at maximum earnings in most scenarios.
While the product’s main selling point is its rent-paying abilities, it also functions as a traditional credit card that can be used on a day-to-day basis. It has no annual fee, adding to its incredible value, and on top of the 1x point per dollar on rent spending, cardholders also earn:
- 2x points per dollar on travel
- 3x points per dollar on dining
- 1x point per dollar on everything else
Every “Rent Day,” or firstof the month, cardholders receive double points on all spending besides rent. That equates to:
- 4x points per dollar on travel
- 6x points per dollar on dining
- 2x points per dollar on everything else
Redeeming points
Despite being a newcomer on the scene, Bilt Rewards points are making a big impact on the travel rewards industry. Leading outlets are already naming them as one of the most valuable points currencies available. Bankrate has them valued higher than American Express Memberships Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.
That high valuation comes from its already impressive array of transfer partners. As of the date of publication, Bilt Rewards can be transferred to:
Airlines:
- Aer Lingus Aerclub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
- Avianca Lifemiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Emirates Skywards
- Hawaiin Airlines HawaiinMiles
- Iberia Plus
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- United Airlines MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Hotels
- IHG One Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
There are some incredible partners on that list, from the most valuable hotel program, World of Hyatt to the reliable Air Canada Aeroplan. Turkish, British Airways, Air France/ KLM, Virgin, and Avianca all have tremendous sweet spots, too. It’s also one of the few ways to earn Alaska Airlines miles outside of flying with the airline.
Transferring Bilt Rewards effectively is the key to maximizing their value. Make sure to check some of our guides to booking high-value flights. Each of the following articles can make use of Bilt Rewards.
Is this card right for you?
At first glance, you may assume its only real use is earning on rent. While that’s a valid reason in itself for opening the card, take a look at those earning rates again.
3x points per dollar on dining and 2x points per dollar on travel
That’s the same earning rate as the Chase Sapphire Preferred. That card has an annual fee of $95 and (technically speaking) less valuable points than Bilt Rewards. The only thing the Preferred has over the Bilt card is its intro bonus of 60,000 points. While that’s not easy to ignore, it does mean the Bilt Mastercard could begin to look like a money-saving alternative once the Preferred’s bonus is earned.
If you’re super organized and can bulk-book your travel, you could also capitalize on Rent Day and grab 4x points per dollar on your travel for the month. There’s no card getting a rate that high. Obviously, that takes a little more preparation and foresight, but it’s worth the effort.
Regardless, if you rent, you should have this card. There is no other way to earn points on your largest monthly expense without circumventing fees and landlord rules. Opting to continue paying by check or another method leaves you with a gaping hole in your points strategy that should be filled.
Read also: Our Guide to Traveling With Points and Miles This Year
- Best for: Renters
- Annual Fee: $0
- Reward Rate: 1X - 3X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Why we like it
The no annual fee Bilt Mastercard® is a very unique product that can turn points earned from one of your largest monthly expenses into a heap of travel rewards and other redemption options. It’s the only card that allows you to pay your rent with no transaction fees—you’ll earn 1X points on rent, up to 100,000 points a year. Many landlords don’t accept credit cards or they charge a convenience fee to use a credit card to pay rent—making it an intriguing option for renters across the US. Plus, its points can be transferred to valuable airline and hotel partners. You must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points.
Reward details
3x points on dining
2x points on travel
1x points on other purchases
1x points on rent without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points in a calendar year. When you use the card 5 times each statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you’ll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.
Pros & Cons
Pros
The greatest benefit is obvious: redeeming points earned from rent into travel rewards with no transaction fees attached.
Bilt has some excellent and unique transfer partners, like United Airlines and Hyatt.
Decent points-earning potential in other categories like 2X points on travel, 3X points on dining, and 1X points on rent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year) and other purchases.
You can earn interest on Bilt Points when you reach Silver status.
A few other nice benefits are included, such as Cellular Telephone Protection.
Cons
No sign-up bonus
Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. So you can’t use it solely for rent. I’d advise putting some restaurant bills on it, as you’ll grab 3X points on those transactions.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
