Bilt Rewards: Earn points on rent, transfer bonuses and more

Each year, the Flying Frugal Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in credit cards, loyalty programs, and travel. Click here for more details on our winner selection process and methodology for the 2024 Flying Frugal Awards.

If you’re in search of a loyalty program that caters to renters, Bilt Rewards stands out as a great choice. As a member, you earn Bilt Points simply by paying rent and making daily purchases. These points can be redeemed for travel with loyalty partners, rent, future down payments, fitness classes, and more.

Additionally, using the Bilt Mastercard® incurs no transaction fees (please refer to rates and fees) for rent payments. You can earn up to 100,000 points from rent within a calendar year.

We’re excited to announce that the Bilt Mastercard (see rates and fees) has won the Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Rewards Credit Card at the 2024 Flying Frugal Awards. This card is an excellent tool for renters as it allows you to accumulate valuable Bilt points on your rent payments with no extra transaction fees. To earn points, you must make at least five transactions with the card each statement period (see rewards and benefits).

Though we highly recommend the card, you don’t need it to earn or redeem points within the Bilt Rewards program.

According to Flying Frugal’s May 2025 valuations, Bilt points are worth 2.05 cents each, but there are various ways to maximize their value. Let’s explore all the details of the Bilt Rewards program and how you can earn and redeem points for the best possible value.

What is Bilt Rewards?

Bilt Rewards is a loyalty program that allows you to earn points redeemable for travel, Amazon purchases, home decor, fitness classes, and more. Members can earn Bilt points by linking a qualifying card to their account and transacting with Bilt partners.

Most notably, you can earn Bilt points while paying your rent. With the Bilt Mastercard, you will earn points without any transaction fees (see rates and fees).

How to Earn Bilt Rewards Points

You don’t need a Bilt Mastercard or to pay rent to collect Bilt points. There are nine primary methods to earn Bilt points.

1. Earning Points by Paying Rent

By paying your rent with the Bilt Mastercard, you can earn 1 point for each dollar spent, capped at 100,000 points a year.

Rent payments can be made through the Bilt app. If your landlord only accepts physical checks, you can still pay with the app, and Bilt will send your landlord a check each month, allowing you to earn points without incurring additional fees (see rates and fees). Payments can also be processed through Venmo or your landlord’s online portal if applicable.

As of April 2025, other credit cards may be used for rent payments, though this may not be ideal. Using a Visa, Discover, or Mastercard, you’ll earn 1 Bilt point per dollar spent. With American Express, you’ll earn 1 Bilt point for every $2 spent, but this method incurs a 3% transaction fee.

2. Earning Points with the Bilt Mastercard

The Bilt Mastercard offers a straightforward earning structure:

• 5 points for each dollar spent with Bilt Dining partners and Lyft (once accounts are linked)
• 3 points for every dollar spent on dining
• 2 points per dollar on travel booked directly or through Bilt’s travel portal, as well as on Walgreens purchases and prescriptions
• 1 point per dollar on rent payments (up to 100,000 points per year) and all other purchases

You must use your card at least five times in each statement period to earn points.

This card comes with no annual fee (see rates and fees) and solid perks, including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Cancellation Protection, and No Foreign Transaction Fees (see rates and fees).

You don’t need to pay rent to apply!

3. Earning Points through Bilt Dining

Bilt features its own dining rewards program, Bilt Dining.

Link any Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card to the Bilt Dining program to earn up to 3 points per dollar spent at participating restaurants when using an eligible card in your Bilt Wallet. This can significantly enhance your earnings. For instance, paying with the Bilt Mastercard and linking it will net you a total of up to 6 points per dollar, translating to a fantastic 12.3% return on dining expenses, according to Flying Frugal’s May 2025 valuations.

Bilt states you can earn up to 10 points for each dollar spent at Bilt Dining restaurants when paying with any linked eligible card. There is no cap on the points you can earn through this program.

4. Earning Points on the Bilt Travel Portal

Powered by Expedia, the Bilt travel portal allows you to earn points from flights, hotel bookings, car rentals, and activities. Members earn 1 point per dollar spent, while Bilt Mastercard holders earn 2 points per dollar spent. This can escalate to 4 points per dollar spent if the purchase is charged to the Bilt Mastercard.

5. Earning Points through Referrals

Refer a friend to the Bilt Mastercard, and earn 2,500 points for each successful referral, up to 50 total. Refer five friends to earn an additional 10,000 bonus points. This can be done through the website or app.

6. Earning Points with Lyft

Linking your Bilt account with Lyft allows you to earn 2 Bilt points for every dollar spent on Lyft rides. Additionally, if you pay with your Bilt Mastercard, you earn 3 extra points per dollar spent.

7. Earning Points with Fitness Studios

Members can earn up to 10 points for every dollar spent on fitness classes booked through the Bilt app.

This includes studios like SoulCycle, Pure Barre, Barry’s, and Rumble Boxing.

8. Earning Points by Playing Rent Free

Bilt offers a game show-style opportunity for members to earn additional points on the first of every month: Rent Free.

This game is designed like “Family Feud,” featuring a new guest each month. Members can earn points by selecting top-three answers, with double points for correct rankings and triple points if the guest picks the same answer.

Additionally, the top 10 scorers can win free rent for a month (up to $2,500), while the next 600 highest scorers will earn Bilt points. Ties are broken based on who played first.

9. Earning Points on Home Purchases

In 2024, Bilt introduced an avenue to earn points through home buying. Collaborating with eXp Realty, members earn 1 point for every $2 spent on a home purchase. For instance, buying a $500,000 home would net you 250,000 Bilt points, valued at $5,125 based on Flying Frugal’s May 2025 valuations.

Bilt Rewards Elite Status Tiers

Bilt features four status tiers, achievable either by earning points or through fast-track status earned via spending in the Bilt ecosystem.

Fast-track status cannot be earned through rent payments but can be achieved through bookings with SoulCycle, dining with linked cards, Lyft rides, and travel bookings via Bilt.

All Bilt Rewards members start at the Blue tier.

Here’s a brief overview:

Your member status is determined by the total points earned during a calendar year, with the option of receiving the higher status through qualifying points or spending. Your status remains valid for the rest of the year and the following year.

Bilt Platinum Members and Air France-KLM Flying Blue Status Match

As a Bilt Platinum member, you can obtain 12 months of Flying Blue Gold status by transferring 10,000 Bilt points to activate it via the Bilt app. The points can be utilized for a future Air France-KLM flight, and the status comes with airline perks like elite benefits on SkyTeam, including Delta Airlines.

Status may take up to three business days to activate. More information on benefits can be found on their respective pages.

Maximizing Your Bilt Points

Bilt Rewards offers various ways to utilize your points, though not all yield equal value.

The best method for redeeming your points is often through transfers to Bilt’s airline and hotel partners.

Transferring Bilt Points

Joining these loyalty programs is free, regardless of past affiliation. By transferring your Bilt points to the right programs, you can achieve at least 2.05 cents per point in value — often more — allowing you to secure luxurious experiences.

**Flying Frugal has not yet tested transferring Bilt points to these programs.

Best Transfer Partners

Bilt Rewards partners with several reputable airline and hotel loyalty programs like Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and World of Hyatt. These programs maintain standard award charts, allowing for predictable rates and often more value.

Transfer Bonuses

Bilt Rewards frequently offers exceptional transfer bonuses during Rent Day (the first of every month), including significant bonuses for select carriers like Emirates Skywards and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.

Medium-Value Redemption Options

While the following options yield decent value (at least 1 cent per point), they may not be the optimal choice for maximizing your Bilt points.

Saving Points for a Down Payment on a Home

Bilt allows members to save points towards a future home down payment, with a value of 1.5 cents per point. This means 10,000 Bilt points would equate to $150 off your down payment.

Redeem Points for Travel through the Bilt Portal

You can also use points in the Bilt travel portal for flights, accommodation, rental cars, and activities at a rate of 1.25 cents per point.

Poor-Value Redemption Options

To get the most value from your Bilt points, consider avoiding some of the following redemption methods.

Using Points for Amazon Purchases

You can redeem Bilt points on Amazon, but points are worth just 0.7 cents each when used this way, making it a less favorable option.

For example, to cover a $100 Amazon purchase, you would need around 14,300 Bilt points, falling short of Flying Frugal’s May 2025 valuation of 2.05 cents per point.

Shopping the Bilt Collection

The Bilt Collection offers a range of items, yet its value rarely exceeds 1 cent per point, making it a less attractive option.

Redeeming Points for Fitness Classes

Points can also be redeemed for classes at brands like SoulCycle and Y7 Studio, but the value typically hovers around 1 cent per point.

Redeeming Points for Rent

Helping cover a future rent payment might sound enticing, but you would only receive 0.55 cents per point through this route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Bilt Mastercard Charge Fees for Rent Payments?

No, using the Bilt Mastercard to pay rent through Bilt Rewards doesn’t incur transaction fees (see rates and fees). You can earn a maximum of 100,000 points on rent payments each year, and it is necessary to make at least five transactions in each statement period to accumulate points.

Can You Use Bilt Without the Bilt Mastercard?

Absolutely! Enrollment in Bilt Rewards and the ability to earn points does not require you to hold the Bilt Mastercard.

Must My Landlord Partner with Bilt?

No, you can still use Bilt to pay your rent even if your landlord is not participating in the program.

What is the Value of Bilt Points?

According to Flying Frugal’s May 2025 assessments, Bilt points are valued at 2.05 cents each. Different redemption methods may also result in varying values for your points.

Is the Bilt Mastercard Worth It?

The Bilt Mastercard may be beneficial for those wishing to earn points on rent without transaction fees (see rates and fees). With notable bonus categories, it could be a great pick if you value the program’s partners. However, it lacks a traditional welcome bonus, and certain features may be less beneficial in areas with limited options. It’s essential to weigh your preferences before applying.

Conclusion

Bilt Rewards presents a compelling choice for both renters and non-renters, thanks to its alliances with lucrative airline and hotel loyalty programs that enable you to unlock outstanding value. Points transfer seamlessly at a simple 1:1 ratio (except for Accor), typically processed instantly.

Even if you’re not renting or don’t wish to apply for the Bilt Mastercard, linking your Lyft account, participating in Bilt Dining, and booking travel can help you earn substantial points.

Access Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here.
Explore Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.