• The Bilt Mastercard lets you earn 1x point per dollar on rent payments without transaction fees at any landlord.
• Best for renters who want to earn rewards on their largest monthly expense while building toward travel or home ownership.
• The no annual fee structure and flexible redemption options make this a solid addition to any wallet.

Introduction

Most renters watch thousands of dollars go out the door each month without earning a single rewards point. That's roughly $20,000 yearly for the average American renter—money that could've generated serious travel rewards. The Bilt Mastercard changes this reality by letting you earn points on rent payments without the transaction fees that typically make this impossible. I'm going to show you exactly how this card works, who benefits most, and whether it deserves a spot in your wallet alongside your other travel cards.

Quick Summary

Best For: Renters who want rewards on their largest monthly expense

Standout Benefit: Earn 1x point per dollar on rent without transaction fees

Biggest Drawback: Must make five transactions monthly to earn rent points

Current Offer: No sign-up bonus currently available

Bilt Mastercard Overview

The Bilt Mastercard, issued by Wells Fargo, launched in 2021 with a revolutionary concept: let renters earn rewards on their biggest monthly expense. After five years in the market, it's proven the concept works. Here's what makes it unique—there's no annual fee, you can pay any landlord (even those who don't accept credit cards), and you won't pay the typical 2.5-3% transaction fee that other rent payment services charge.

The card earns Bilt Rewards points that transfer to over 100 airline and hotel partners, including all major U.S. airlines and programs like World of Hyatt and Marriott Bonvoy. You can also use points toward fitness classes, future rent payments, or even a down payment on a home through Bilt's unique home-buying program.

The current structure rewards spending across multiple categories, though the real value comes from turning your rent into points. With the average U.S. rent hitting $1,900 monthly in 2026, that's 22,800 points annually from an expense you're paying anyway.

Key Features and Benefits

Rent Payments Without Transaction Fees

This is the card's headline feature. You can pay rent to any landlord in the United States and earn 1x point per dollar without transaction fees. Most rent payment services charge 2.5-3% fees, which would cost you $42.50 on a $1,700 rent payment. The Bilt Mastercard eliminates this cost entirely.

Here's the catch: you must make five transactions on the card each statement period to earn points on rent. If you don't hit five purchases, your rent payment earns zero points that month. This requirement, implemented to encourage broader card usage, has become a key part of the program's structure since launch.

Dining Rewards

The card earns 3x points per dollar at restaurants, including takeout and delivery services. This matches what you'd earn with cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, making it competitive for dining spend. If you're spending $400 monthly on dining, that's 1,200 points—or 14,400 points yearly from restaurants alone.

Travel Earning

Travel purchases earn 2x points per dollar, covering flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel expenses. While this doesn't match the premium travel cards, it's respectable for a no-annual-fee option. Combined with rent and dining, you're building points across your major spending categories.

Neighborhood Bonus

Bilt offers rotating neighborhood bonus categories each month, where you can earn double points at select local businesses. These change monthly and appear in the Bilt app. The practical value varies based on where you live and shop, but it's a nice bonus for neighborhood spending.

Rent Day Benefits

On the first of each month (Rent Day), Bilt runs special promotions and limited-time transfer bonuses to airline partners. Past promotions have included 100% transfer bonuses to airlines like United or American, effectively doubling your points value. These deals require quick action but can significantly boost your points balance.

Earning Structure

Here's how points add up with the Bilt Mastercard:

3x points per dollar: Dining, including restaurants, takeout, and delivery services

2x points per dollar: Travel purchases, including flights, hotels, and rental cars

1x point per dollar: Rent payments (up to 100,000 points per calendar year, must make five other purchases monthly) and all other purchases

Let's look at realistic annual earning for a typical renter in 2026:

Monthly rent: $1,900 = 22,800 points

Monthly dining: $400 = 14,400 points

Monthly travel: $200 = 4,800 points

Other purchases: $300 = 3,600 points

Total annual earnings: 45,600 points

That's enough for a round-trip domestic flight on most airlines, or several free hotel nights at mid-tier properties when you transfer to partners like Hyatt or Marriott.

Transfer Partners and Redemption Options

Bilt points transfer at 1:1 ratios to over 100 partners, including:

Airlines: United MileagePlus, American Airlines AAdvantage, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Air France-KLM, Turkish Airlines, and many more

Hotels: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards, Hilton Honors

The flexibility here matches what you'd get from premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum, but without the annual fee. This makes Bilt points genuinely valuable—you're not locked into a single program.

Beyond transfers, you can redeem Bilt points for:

Rent payments: Apply points directly to future rent at a value of 0.55 cents per point

Home down payment: Use points toward a down payment through Bilt's partnership with mortgage lenders

Fitness classes: Book classes at select studios

Art and merchandise: Purchase from Bilt's marketplace

Most cardholders will get maximum value from airline and hotel transfers, where points typically value at 1.5-2 cents each with smart redemptions.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Earn 1x points on rent without transaction fees at any landlord in the U.S.
• No annual fee makes this a zero-cost addition to your wallet.
• Points transfer to 100+ airline and hotel partners at competitive ratios.
• 3x points on dining matches top rewards cards in this category.
• Monthly Rent Day promotions offer bonus transfer opportunities.
• Unique home-buying benefit lets you use points toward a down payment.

Cons

• Five-purchase monthly requirement means you forfeit rent points if you don't use the card elsewhere.
• No welcome bonus unlike most other travel cards.
• 1x earning on general purchases is below average for rewards cards.
• 100,000-point annual cap on rent payments limits earnings for high-rent areas.
• Rent Day promotions require constant monitoring and quick action.

How Bilt Mastercard Compares

The Bilt Mastercard occupies a unique space because no other card lets you earn rewards on rent without fees. However, let's compare it to other no-annual-fee cards in the travel rewards space.

Against the Chase Freedom Unlimited, Bilt offers superior earning on dining (3x vs 3x) and travel (2x vs 1.5x), plus the rent payment feature. Chase's advantage is the simple 1.5% cash back on everything else and the ability to transfer points to Chase Ultimate Rewards partners if you have a premium Chase card.

Compared to the Capital One Venture X (which has a $395 annual fee), Bilt can't match the welcome bonus, lounge access, or 2x earning rate on all purchases. But if you're a renter, the Bilt Mastercard captures value from an expense category that the Venture X doesn't touch.

The real comparison should be against paying rent with no rewards at all. If you're currently paying $1,900 monthly in rent through a traditional check or ACH transfer, you're leaving 22,800 points on the table every year. That's the true opportunity cost.

Who Should Get the Bilt Mastercard

Great Fit For:

• Renters who pay $1,000+ monthly and want to earn rewards without transaction fees
• People who can easily make five monthly purchases to meet the earning requirement
• Travelers who value flexible points that transfer to multiple airline and hotel programs
• Anyone looking to add a no-annual-fee card to complement their existing travel credit card portfolio
• Future homebuyers interested in using rewards toward a down payment

Not Ideal For:

• Homeowners who don't have monthly rent payments
• Renters who prefer simple cash back over travel rewards points
• People who won't remember to make five purchases monthly
• Anyone seeking a large welcome bonus to jumpstart their points balance
• Cardholders who want high earning rates on general spending beyond rent and dining

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need my landlord's permission to pay rent with the Bilt Mastercard?

No. Bilt's system allows you to pay any landlord in the United States regardless of whether they accept credit cards. The company sends your landlord payment via check, ACH transfer, or wire based on what works best. Your landlord receives payment exactly as they normally would.

What counts toward the five-purchase requirement?

Any purchase made with your Bilt Mastercard counts toward the five-transaction minimum, including small purchases like coffee or groceries. Rent payments don't count toward this requirement. Returns and credits don't count either. You need five settled purchase transactions each statement period.

Can I use Bilt points for anything besides travel?

Yes. Beyond airline and hotel transfers, you can redeem points for future rent payments, apply them toward a home down payment through Bilt's program, book fitness classes, or shop in Bilt's marketplace. However, airline and hotel transfers typically offer the best value per point.

Is there a limit to how much rent I can earn points on?

Yes. You can earn up to 100,000 points on rent payments per calendar year. At 1x point per dollar, this means the first $100,000 of annual rent earns points. For most renters, this cap won't matter. If your monthly rent is $1,900, you'll earn 22,800 points yearly—well below the cap.

How do Rent Day promotions work?

On the first of each month, Bilt announces special promotions in the app. These often include transfer bonuses to specific airline partners (sometimes 100% bonuses, doubling your points), bonus points for dining, or other limited-time offers. The promotions change monthly and typically require you to opt in through the app before transferring points or making purchases.

Final Verdict

The Bilt Mastercard solves a real problem for renters: turning your largest monthly expense into travel rewards without paying transaction fees. The no-annual-fee structure means there's minimal downside to adding it to your wallet, and the flexible transfer partners give you solid redemption options when you're ready to book travel.

The five-purchase monthly requirement is the main friction point. If you'll naturally use this card for dining and occasional purchases, meeting that threshold is easy. If you're someone who might forget and lose a month of rent earnings, that's frustrating.

For renters paying $1,500+ monthly who want to maximize rewards across all spending categories, the Bilt Mastercard is worth getting. Pair it with a strong general travel card for non-category spend, and you've built a simple two-card system that captures rewards on rent, dining, travel, and everything else.

The lack of a welcome bonus means you're playing the long game here. This isn't a card you get for a quick points boost—it's a card that quietly builds your points balance month after month through everyday spending that you're doing anyway.

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