Bilt Mastercard review 2024: A must-have travel rewards card for renters
Updated 3:41 p.m. UTC March 7, 2024
Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy.
Renters in the United States can earn rewards on rent, travel and dining for no annual fee with the Bilt World Elite Mastercard®. Add in more than a dozen airline and hotel transfer partners and the Bilt credit card is one of the best travel cards on the market. However, people who prefer straightforward cash back won’t find this card to be a good fit. This Bilt World Elite Mastercard® review will help you determine if it’s the right card for your needs.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 50+ cards analyzed.
- 8 data points considered.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Bilt Mastercard basics
- Annual fee: $0.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Rewards: Earn 1 point per $1 on rent payments without a transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points each year), 2 points per $1 on travel (when booked through the Bilt Travel Portal or directly with an airline, hotel, car rental or cruise company), 3 points per $1 on dining and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. At least five transactions must be made per statement period to earn these rewards.
- APR: See terms for current APR. A balance transfer fee of up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5 applies.
- Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.
- Other perks and benefits: Elite status based on your annual spending, broad range of reward redemption options, travel protection benefits and Purchase Security (theft and damage protection).
- Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? No.
Bilt Mastercard review
Paying rent with a credit card has long been frowned upon, whether your landlord charges a pesky surcharge for credit card payments or only accepts handwritten checks. Enter the Bilt World Elite Mastercard®, which completely shakes up the landscape for renters across the U.S.
This unique card lets you pay rent at virtually any apartment without incurring transaction fees — and use the points you earn toward flights and hotel nights booked either through the issuer’s travel portal or directly with airline and hotel loyalty programs after transferring your rewards.
You’ll earn 1 point per $1 on rent payments without a transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points each year), 2 points per $1 on travel (when booked through the Bilt Travel Portal or directly with an airline, hotel, car rental or cruise company), 3 points per $1 on dining and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. At least five transactions must be made per statement period to earn these rewards. It would take roughly $8,334 in rent spending per month to hit the calendar year maximum of 100,000 points earned on rent.
If you fail to swipe your card five times in a month however, you’ll only earn 250 points on rent, so this should be a card you keep in your wallet and use regularly.
There are a few ways to pay rent with the Bilt Mastercard. The company maintains agreements with more than 2 million rental homes across the country as part of the “Bilt Rewards Alliance.” If you happen to live in one of these properties, you can seamlessly pay your rent on the Bilt Rewards app.
For any other rental homes outside of this alliance, Bilt generates a unique account number and routing number for you on the app. Simply use these numbers (in place of your personal checking account) to pay in your landlord’s online portal and your monthly rent will get charged to your Bilt Mastercard — again without paying any transaction fees.
If you do not have an online portal, Bilt can send a physical check to your landlord.
You have the option of turning on a feature called BiltProtect, which lets your rent payment be debited from a checking account rather than added to your credit card balance. You’ll still earn points on your rent — and this feature can be a good way to keep your card’s utilization ratio low.
But if you own a home, the Bilt Mastercard currently does not offer points on mortgage payments.
As the Bilt Mastercard has improved its offerings over the years, it’s clear that it has evolved into a travel and lifestyle must-have for those who want to get maximum value from their everyday expenses — making it one of the best rewards credit cards to have at your disposal.
Pros
- Earn points on rent: You could earn up to 100,000 points each calendar year on rent payments alone.
- Additional freebies for cardholders: From double points on Rent Day (on all non-rent spending) to elevated rewards through Bilt Dining to elite status benefits, Bilt Rewards is one of the most innovative loyalty programs out there.
- Bilt points transfer 1:1 to several partner airline and hotel loyalty programs: From Hyatt to Emirates, the award travel possibilities are endless.
- Cellular Telephone Protection: When you pay your monthly cellphone bill with this card, this coverage can reimburse you up to $800 if your phone is damaged or stolen (up to two claims per 12-month period and subject to a $25 deductible).
- Travel and everyday benefits: Cardholders get Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (primary coverage, except for residents of the state of New York, for whom this is secondary coverage), access to the World Elite Mastercard Concierge Service, Purchase Security (theft and damage protection) and World Elite Mastercard benefits such as Lyft Credits.
- No Foreign Currency Conversion Fees: Travel abroad without worrying about an extra charge being tacked on every time you use your card.
Cons
- Need to make at least five transactions (of any amount) in your billing period: If you fail to meet this threshold, the maximum rewards you can earn on rent each month is just 250 points, and you won’t earn rewards on any non-rent purchases.
- No welcome offer: Unlike many other cash-back and travel credit cards, there’s no welcome bonus for new applicants.
- Can’t earn points on mortgages: The Bilt Mastercard currently does not offer a way to earn rewards on your mortgage payments.
Bilt Mastercard rewards
With the Bilt Mastercard you can earn 1 point per $1 on rent payments without a transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points each year), 2 points per $1 on travel (when booked through the Bilt Travel Portal or directly with an airline, hotel, car rental or cruise company), 3 points per $1 on dining and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. At least five transactions must be made per statement period to earn these rewards.
Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has an annual income of $84,352 and $46,495 in rent and expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card (including rent). Given that estimate, here’s what our example household might earn using the Bilt credit card:
SPENDING CATEGORY | SPENDING AMOUNT | POINTS PER DOLLAR | POINTS EARNED |
---|---|---|---|
Rent
| $21,408 annually | 1 point
| 21,408 points
|
Travel
| $2,941
| 2 points
| 5,882 points
|
Dining
| $3,526
| 3 points
| 10,578 points
|
Other
| $18,620
| 1 point
| 18,620 points
|
TOTAL
| $46,495
| 56,488 points
|
There are several other ways to score points outside of rent and typical card spending. Through Bilt Dining, cardholders can earn between 2X and 10X points at select restaurants through the program in nearly two dozen cities. That’s one of the most impressive return rates we’ve seen on restaurant spend from any card on the market.
Is eating out a big part of your budget? You’ll want one of the cards on our list of best credit cards for restaurants.
Plus, cardholders can earn double points on non-rent purchases on the first of every month, known as “Rent Day.” During Rent Day, the Bilt Mastercard earns 6 points per $1 on dining, 4 points per $1 on travel and 2 points per $1 on other eligible purchases (excluding rent).
And, you can earn additional points thanks to a partnership with Lyft. By linking your Bilt and Lyft accounts, you’ll earn 2 points per $1 on Lyft rides. When you link your accounts and use the Bilt Mastercard to pay for Lyft rides, that earning rate rises to a total of 5 points per $1.
The Bilt Mastercard does not offer a welcome bonus, which is a drawback compared to some competing cards. However, some cardholders have received promotions during their first few days with the card, such as an elevated earning rate of 5 points per $1 on non-rent spending for five days. Also, once you’re a cardmember, you can refer friends to the Bilt Mastercard and earn 2,500 points per successful referral — plus, for every fifth successful referral, you’ll earn an additional 10,000 points — up to 50 total successful referrals.
Despite being a newer loyalty program, Bilt Rewards offers some of the most prolific redemption options available — particularly for travel. With numerous airline and hotel loyalty partnerships, you can transfer your Bilt points to any of these programs at a simple 1:1 ratio. Some of Bilt’s most valuable partners include Emirates, United Airlines MileagePlus and World of Hyatt, where you can find outstanding value for flights and hotel stays. Pro tip: You can get 100 points for every loyalty program you link to your Bilt account.
For even more travel options, you can book a flight, hotel, rental car or excursion at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Bilt’s travel portal powered by Expedia.
Additional redemption options include popular fitness classes like SoulCycle and SolidCore, the ability to save your points towards next month’s rent payment or towards a down payment on a future home, or redeem them as a statement credit against your card balance.
You can also shop with your points on Amazon or through Bilt’s curated catalog of art, decor and apparel. But note that the best value will typically come from using your points for travel — points are only worth 0.7 cents each toward Amazon purchases and just 0.55 cents each when redeeming them toward a rent payment or statement credit, for example.
Want the full scoop on leveraging your Bilt points? See our 2024 Bilt Rewards program guide for details.
Bilt Mastercard perks
A distinctive benefit of the Bilt rewards program is the ability to earn elite status based on the points you earn with your account. There are four tiers:
- Blue (entry-level).
- Silver (50,000 points).
- Gold (125,000 points).
- Platinum (200,000 points).
It’s also possible to earn Bilt elite status through eligible credit card spending, such as non-rent purchases made with your Bilt Mastercard.
Based on your elite status tier, Bilt members can get interest on points and enjoy promotions throughout the year, and the loyalty program has hinted there’s plenty to come in the months ahead.
This no-annual-fee card also has your back on your travels domestically or abroad, with complimentary Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and No Foreign Currency Conversion Fees.
In addition to earning double points (on non-rent spending) on Rent Day, Bilt cardholders can look forward to playing Point Quest, a monthly trivia game that allows you to earn up to 250 points, and playing in the Rent Free game show for the chance to win your rent covered.
How the Bilt Mastercard compares to other rewards credit cards
Bilt Mastercard vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
For a modest $95 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers numerous bonus categories. You’ll earn 5 points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not waive transaction fees for paying your monthly rent, making it potentially expensive to pay your rent with the card.
You can use your points to book travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal at a rate of 1.25 cents per point. Alternatively, you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points 1:1 to 14 various airline and hotel partners, with some overlap with Bilt in loyalty programs.
Finally, the Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with a new cardmember offer of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Don’t want to pay to carry a card? One of the best no-annual-fee credit cards might be the right choice for your wallet.
Bilt Mastercard vs. Citi Double Cash® Card * The information for the Citi Double Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Citi Double Cash Card is a great cash-back option with no annual fee. This card is particularly attractive if you’re looking for the utmost simplicity and don’t want to keep up with bonus categories. You’ll earn 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, plus, for a limited time, 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
Furthermore, the Citi Double Cash Card offers a lengthy 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% to 29.24%. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed in the first four months. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
While the Citi Double Cash Card does not have access to the full lineup of Citi ThankYou® transfer partners that you’d get with the Citi Prestige® Card (which is not currently accepting new applicants), you can redeem rewards earned with your Double Cash Card at any time for a statement credit or direct deposit. However, it doesn’t offer an option to waive transaction fees to use the card to pay your rent.
Bilt Mastercard vs. Prime Visa * The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you want to earn generous rewards on several everyday categories, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is another solid no-annual-fee card to consider — although a Prime membership, which starts at $139 a year, is required to apply. If you’re a Prime member, you can earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market with an eligible Prime membership, 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), and 1% back on all other purchases.
New cardholders can also get a $200 Amazon gift card for Prime members upon approval. Rewards can be redeemed for cash back, future Amazon purchases, gift cards and more. Households who often “Amazon it” can greatly benefit from the rewards earned on this card. However, it’s not a good choice when it comes to paying your rent — as like most cards, you’ll have to pay a transaction fee.
The Bilt Mastercard is right for you if:
- You’re looking to start earning points on rent, making it a virtual no-brainer.
- Even if you’re not a renter, those who want to avoid paying an annual fee and earn bonus points on travel and dining expenses can greatly benefit from holding this card.
- You want to be a smarter traveler with access to several airline and hotel transfer partners, a slew of travel insurance protections, and No Foreign Currency Conversion Fees.
If you’ve gotten this far and don’t feel the Bilt Mastercard is a good fit, check out our list of the best credit cards for some alternative options.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of travel credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. We factored the following into our analysis:
- Annual fees.
- Travel reward rates.
- Value of rewards.
- Redemption options.
- Additional benefits that a card may offer for travelers, such as travel insurance.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
It’s recommended to have a 670 or higher credit score for your best shot at approval for the Bilt Mastercard.
Yes, the Bilt Mastercard’s originally designed for users to earn rewards on rent without incurring the transaction fee often charged for paying rent by credit card. You may be able to pay rent through the Bilt app, through your property’s online portal with an account number and routing number provided by Bilt, or by having Bilt send your landlord a physical check.
Yes, the Bilt Mastercard can be used anywhere that accepts Mastercard payments. You can also pay with your Bilt Mastercard internationally as it waives all Foreign Currency Conversion Fees.
Using the Bilt Mastercard can help you build credit the same way as using most credit cards does — your activity is reported to the credit bureaus, so keeping your balance low and always paying on time can help you build your credit history.
Plus, those who live in a Bilt Alliance property have the opportunity to enroll in rent reporting, which allows Bilt to report your rent payments directly to the three major credit bureaus.
Depending on your creditworthiness, you may be approved instantly. If Bilt needs more information from you before approving your application, it could take several business days.
You can pay off your Bilt Mastercard statement within the Bilt app via the “Wallet” tab. The Bilt Mastercard is a Wells Fargo-issued card, so you can also check your credit card statement and pay it online at Wells Fargo’s website.
*The information for the Citi Double Cash® Card and Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.