Bilt Mastercard Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
It’s the only credit card that lets you earn points on rent with no transaction fee. Even better, you can transfer those reward points to one of Bilt’s airline or hotel partners for maximum value. Their partners offer some of the best opportunities for redemptions, and there are other solid multipliers to help earn even more points outside your rent payments.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The Bilt Mastercard is the card you want to be able to earn rewards on your rent payments. While there is no welcome offer, this is the only card on the market that allows you to earn transferable points from your rent payment. There is no annual fee and no transaction fee for paying your rent with this card. Bilt basically acts as an intermediary by sending a check or using online payments on your behalf if your landlord charges a credit card processing fee for rent (as most who accept credit cards do). Not only do you not have to pay an extra fee to use this Bilt card, you’ll also earn rewards for paying your rent. The fact that you can then transfer those earned points to high value airline and hotel partners (like Alaska, Southwest, United, FlyingBlue, Hyatt, and IHG, among others) is icing on the cake.
There are some nice spending multipliers to help collect even more points, but there is a crucial rule you need to be aware of. In order to earn points, you have to use the card AT LEAST 5 times each statement period. So you can’t get this card and only charge your rent to it once per month. You will need to make at least 4 more purchases each month to collect your points. The card offers the following spending multipliers:
- 1x points on rent, up to 100,000 per year
- 5x points at Bilt Neighborhood Dining partners
- 3x points on all other dining purchases
- 5x points on Lyft rideshare
- 2x points on travel (booked directly or through the Bilt travel portal)
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
The exceptions where this card might not be good for you:
- If you own your home/apartment and have a mortgage, this card does not benefit you
What to Know About Bilt Rewards
Bilt Rewards are quickly becoming valuable in the points and miles world, but only if you’re a renter.
- Earn up to 100,000 points in rewards from your monthly rent payments by putting it on the Bilt Mastercard
- There is no annual fee or extra charge for doing this as Bilt acts as an intermediary and sends a check if your landlord doesn’t accept credit cards or charges a fee for using one
- You can then cash those points in for high value redemptions
- Bilt has an impressive array of transfer partners that rivals Chase and American Express, so you can turn that rent payment into free airfare and/or hotel stays pretty easily
How The Bilt Mastercard Credit Card Fits In The Bilt Rewards Ecosystem
This is the only card offered by Bilt, and there is no other comparison when it comes to earning rewards for paying your rent. There are only a few other options for paying your rent outside of normal payment methods through your checking account, but all charge some type of fee (like Plastiq and PlacePlay).
If your landlord accepts credit cards, you can always use a card that offers 2x rewards on every purchase, like the Capital One Venture card, but many landlords will charge a percentage fee for using a card. So you’d have then make sure the multiplier you’re getting back + how you redeem those points would be worth more than the percentage charged. Why jump through all those hoops though when you could just get the Bilt card and make it easy on yourself?
Card Information
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $0 | 1.5 ¢ | $96 | $0 |
$96
|
Spend Categories
3X points
4.5¢ Per Dollar Spent
2X points
3¢ Per Dollar Spent
3X points
4.5¢ Per Dollar Spent
Card Benefits
Point Transfer Options
Transfer To Spouse/Partner No
Transfer To Friends No
Travel Partner Transfers
Outside Point System Bilt Rewards
Transfers Out To
1:1 93% value retained
1:1 100% value retained
1:1 87% value retained
1:1 73% value retained
1:1 80% value retained
1:1 87% value retained
1:1 33% value retained
1:1 80% value retained
1:1 40% value retained
1:1 0% value retained
1:1 47% value retained
1:1 80% value retained
1:1 87% value retained
1:1 67% value retained
1:1 80% value retained
1:1 87% value retained
1:1 93% value retained
1:1 113% value retained