Bilt Rewards is a loyalty program built around one idea: turning your rent into travel rewards. The Bilt Mastercard is the only credit card that earns points on rent payments with no transaction fees. For the millions of renters who spend $1,500 to $3,000 per month on housing, that is a massive unlock.
Most credit cards either block rent payments entirely or charge a 2.5% to 3% processing fee that wipes out any rewards. Bilt solved this by partnering directly with property management companies and building a payment platform that eliminates the fee. You earn 1x point per dollar on rent, 2x on travel, and 3x on dining. The card carries a $0 annual fee.
But the real power of Bilt is not the earning rates. It is the transfer partners. Bilt points transfer 1:1 to 12+ airline and hotel programs, giving you access to some of the most valuable award redemptions in the world. With an average valuation of 2.2 cents per point, Bilt points consistently rank as the most valuable transferable currency available today.
The Bilt Mastercard: $0 Annual Fee, Premium Transfer Partners
The Bilt Mastercard charges no annual fee, which makes it unique among cards with premium transfer partners.
Here is the full earning structure:
- Rent: 1x point per dollar (up to 100,000 points per year, no transaction fee)
- Dining: 3x points per dollar
- Travel: 2x points per dollar (booked directly with airlines, hotels, car rentals, and transit)
- Everything else: 1x point per dollar
The 5-transaction minimum per statement cycle is the one catch. If you fail to make 5 transactions in a billing period, you earn zero points on rent for that cycle. This is easy to handle with small recurring charges like a Spotify subscription, iCloud storage, or a coffee purchase. Just set it and forget it.
There is no foreign transaction fee, which makes the card useful for international travel. The card also comes with cell phone protection when you pay your monthly bill with it, and basic travel protections including trip delay coverage.
Compared to the best travel credit cards of 2026, the Bilt Mastercard is not a luxury product. It does not come with lounge access or elite status. Its entire value proposition is the rent earning and the transfer partner lineup.
Every Bilt Transfer Partner, Ranked
Bilt offers 1:1 transfers to most airline and hotel partners. Here is every partner ranked by the value you can extract.
Tier 1: Best Value Partners
- World of Hyatt (1:1 ratio). Hyatt consistently delivers 2.0 to 3.5 cents per point on hotel stays. Category 1 through 4 properties are the sweet spot. A Category 4 hotel like the Hyatt Regency in a major city costs 15,000 points per night when the cash rate is $350+. That is 2.3 cents per point or better.
- Turkish Miles&Smiles (1:1 ratio). Turkish offers some of the cheapest business class awards in the industry. Round-trip business class to Europe starts at 63,000 miles. Round-trip business class to Asia can be booked for 83,000 miles. These are values that other programs cannot match.
- Air Canada Aeroplan (1:1 ratio). Aeroplan is one of the most flexible airline programs. It prices awards dynamically but the floor prices for Star Alliance partner flights are excellent. Economy to Europe from 30,000 points each way, business class from 55,000.
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1 ratio). Virgin Atlantic points are the secret weapon for booking ANA business class to Japan (60,000 points one-way) and Delta One domestic flights at reasonable rates.
Tier 2: Strong Value Partners
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue (1:1 ratio). Flying Blue runs monthly "Promo Rewards" with 25% to 50% discounts on specific routes. When a promo aligns with your travel plans, you can book business class to Europe for under 50,000 miles one-way.
- American Airlines AAdvantage (1:1 ratio). AA miles are useful for short-haul domestic flights and partner awards on Qatar Airways and Japan Airlines. Web special fares can offer solid value.
- United MileagePlus (1:1 ratio). United miles work best for close-in domestic bookings where cash prices spike. The Excursionist Perk also adds a free stopover on round-trip international awards.
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1 ratio). Asia Miles offers a distance-based chart that is competitive for premium cabin flights within Asia and to the Middle East.
- Emirates Skywards (1:1 ratio). Emirates points are expensive for Emirates' own flights, but transfers from Bilt make sense for specific fifth-freedom routes and upgrades.
Tier 3: Situational Partners
- IHG One Rewards (1:1 ratio). IHG points are worth about 0.5 to 0.6 cents each. The 1:1 transfer ratio means you are getting less value per Bilt point than most other options. Only use this if you have a specific IHG stay in mind and no better option.
- Marriott Bonvoy (1:1 ratio). Marriott points are worth about 0.7 to 0.8 cents each. The transfer ratio makes this a poor use of Bilt points in most scenarios.
- Hawaiian Miles (1:1 ratio). Hawaiian Airlines miles are useful almost exclusively for flights to Hawaii. If that is your destination, the value can be decent, but the program has limited flexibility.
Top 5 Bilt Sweet Spots with Math
These are the five most valuable ways to use Bilt points right now, with real redemption math.
1. Hyatt Category 1-4 Hotels
World of Hyatt is the single best use of Bilt points for hotel stays. Category 1 through 4 properties regularly deliver 2.0 to 3.5 cents per point. A Park Hyatt or Andaz property at the Category 7 or 8 level can yield even higher value on peak dates. Since Bilt transfers 1:1 to Hyatt, 15,000 Bilt points become 15,000 Hyatt points with zero leakage.
2. Turkish Miles&Smiles Business Class to Europe
Turkish Airlines' award chart prices business class to Europe at just 31,500 miles each way for round-trip bookings. That is one of the lowest business class award costs from any program. Turkish business class is a premium product with lie-flat seats, excellent catering, and Istanbul lounge access. At 63,000 Bilt points round-trip, you are getting over 8 cents per point in value.
3. Virgin Atlantic for ANA Business Class to Japan
ANA's "The Room" business class is one of the best products in the sky, and Virgin Atlantic miles are the cheapest way to book it. At 60,000 points one-way from the West Coast to Japan, this is a legendary sweet spot. ANA releases award space to Virgin Atlantic regularly, especially 3 to 4 months before departure. Transfer your Bilt points to Virgin Atlantic, search on the Virgin Atlantic website, and book directly.
4. Aeroplan Economy to Europe
Aeroplan prices economy flights to Europe at 30,000 points each way at the lowest level. While 1.4 cents per point is below the Bilt average, economy flights to Europe are a practical redemption for budget-conscious travelers. The real upside is the Star Alliance network, which gives you routing options on United, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, LOT, and more. Aeroplan also allows free stopovers on round-trip awards, so you can visit two cities for the same points cost.
5. Flying Blue Promo Rewards to Europe
Flying Blue runs monthly promo awards that slash the cost of specific routes by 25% to 50%. When business class to Paris drops to 45,000 miles one-way (standard is 72,000), the value is exceptional. The trick is having points ready to transfer when a promo drops. Check the Flying Blue promo page on the 1st of each month and transfer from Bilt when you see a route that works.
Rent Day: How to Maximize the 1st of Every Month
Rent Day falls on the 1st of every month and offers boosted earning rates on all purchases, not just rent.
On Rent Day, Bilt typically offers:
- Double points on dining: 6x instead of 3x
- Double points on travel: 4x instead of 2x
- Triple points on Lyft rides: with the Bilt + Lyft partnership
- Bonus points challenges: complete activities in the Bilt app for extra points
- Partner promotions: transfer bonuses to select airline and hotel partners
The dining bonus alone makes Rent Day valuable. If you spend $200 on dining on the 1st, you earn 1,200 points instead of the standard 600. Over a year, that adds up to an extra 7,200 points just from timing your restaurant spending.
Some Rent Days also include special earning on Bilt's fitness and lifestyle partners. While these are smaller bonuses, they contribute to the overall point balance over time. The key strategy is simple: schedule your biggest dining and travel purchases for the 1st of each month.
The Optimal Bilt Earning Strategy
Bilt's earning rates are competitive but not the highest in every category. Here is how to fit the card into a broader points strategy.
Use Bilt for:
- Rent (no other card earns here without fees)
- Dining on Rent Day (6x is best-in-class)
- Travel on Rent Day (4x is competitive)
Use other cards for:
- Everyday spending (cards like Amex Gold at 4x grocery or Chase Sapphire Preferred at 3x dining offer better non-Rent-Day rates)
- Travel outside of Rent Day (the Venture X or Amex Platinum offer better travel multipliers)
If you pay $2,000 per month in rent, that is 24,000 Bilt points per year from rent alone. Add in strategic Rent Day dining and travel spending, and you can realistically earn 35,000 to 50,000 Bilt points per year. At 2.2 cents per point, that is $770 to $1,100 in travel value from a $0 annual fee card.
For a deeper look at how other flexible point currencies compare, check out the Chase Ultimate Rewards guide and the Amex Membership Rewards guide.
Bilt vs. Chase vs. Amex: How the Ecosystems Compare
Bilt competes directly with Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards as a transferable points currency. Each has distinct strengths.
Bilt Rewards strengths:
- Only option for earning on rent
- $0 annual fee
- Hyatt and Turkish as transfer partners (Chase has Hyatt, Amex does not)
- Highest average point valuation at 2.2 cents per point
Chase Ultimate Rewards strengths:
- Broader everyday earning with cards like Sapphire Preferred/Reserve and Freedom Unlimited
- Hyatt, United, Southwest, and British Airways as partners
- Pay Yourself Back and Travel Portal options for 1.25x to 1.5x value
- Larger ecosystem of earning cards
Amex Membership Rewards strengths:
- Largest transfer partner list (20+ partners)
- Delta, ANA, Singapore Airlines, and British Airways as exclusive partners
- Higher earning rates on Gold (4x dining, 4x grocery) and Platinum (5x flights)
- Frequent transfer bonuses
The smart play is not choosing one over the others. Bilt handles rent and Rent Day spending. Chase handles everyday dining and Hyatt stays. Amex handles premium travel bookings and niche partner redemptions. Together, they cover almost every transfer partner worth using.
When Not to Transfer Bilt Points
Transferring points to the wrong partner at the wrong time is the fastest way to destroy value. Bilt points are worth 2.2 cents each on average, so any redemption below that threshold means you left money on the table.
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Transferring to IHG or Marriott for low-value stays. A 40,000-point IHG night at a $180 hotel is only 0.45 cents per point. You gave up $880 in average Bilt value for a $180 room.
- Booking domestic economy flights with miles when cash prices are low. A $120 domestic flight booked with 12,500 United miles is only 0.96 cents per point. Pay cash and save your points for premium cabin international flights.
- Transferring without checking award availability first. Always confirm award space exists before you transfer. Bilt transfers are instant to most partners, but once the points leave Bilt, you cannot reverse the transfer.
- Buying points to top off an award. If you are short on points, consider whether the math favors buying or waiting to earn more organically.
The general rule: only transfer Bilt points when you are getting at least 1.8 to 2.0 cents per point in value. Anything below that, and you should either find a different redemption or pay cash.
Transfer Times and Process
Bilt points transfer instantly to most partners, which is a significant advantage over some competitors.
- Instant transfers: Hyatt, American Airlines, United, Air France/KLM, IHG, Marriott
- Near-instant (under 24 hours): Turkish, Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific, Emirates
- Up to 48 hours: Hawaiian Miles
To transfer, log into the Bilt app or website, navigate to the rewards section, select your partner, enter your loyalty program number, and choose the number of points to transfer. Points transfer in increments of 1,000 for most partners.
One important note: Bilt points do not expire as long as your Bilt account remains active. There is no rush to transfer. Let your points accumulate until you have a specific redemption in mind.
Who Should Get the Bilt Mastercard?
The Bilt Mastercard is worth it for anyone who pays rent, period. The $0 annual fee and the ability to earn points on your largest monthly expense make it an easy addition to any wallet.
The card is especially valuable for:
- Renters paying $1,500+ per month: At $2,000/month rent, you earn 24,000 points per year, worth $528+ in travel.
- People who want Hyatt access without Chase: Bilt is the only non-Chase card that transfers to Hyatt.
- Travelers targeting premium cabin flights to Europe or Asia: Turkish and Virgin Atlantic transfers unlock some of the best business class deals available.
- Points collectors who want to diversify: Having Bilt alongside Chase and Amex gives you access to nearly every major airline and hotel program.
The card is less ideal as a primary spending card for non-rent purchases. The 1x rate on general spending is below average, and the 3x dining and 2x travel rates only lead the market on Rent Day when they double. Use it strategically for rent and Rent Day, and pair it with higher-earning cards for everyday spend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bilt charge a fee for paying rent with the Mastercard?
No. Bilt charges zero transaction fees for rent payments. This is the core feature that makes the card unique. Other cards charge 2.5% to 3% processing fees on rent, which wipes out any rewards earned.
What happens if I do not make 5 transactions in a billing cycle?
You will not earn any points on your rent payment for that cycle. The 5-transaction minimum applies to the full statement period. The simplest solution is setting up 5 small recurring charges like streaming subscriptions that post automatically each month.
Can I transfer Bilt points to both airline and hotel partners?
Yes. Bilt points transfer 1:1 to airline partners like American Airlines, United, Turkish, and Virgin Atlantic, as well as hotel partners like Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott. You can split your points across multiple partners.
Is there a limit on how many points I can earn on rent?
Yes. Bilt caps rent earning at 100,000 points per calendar year. At $2,000 per month in rent, you would hit 24,000 points annually, well below the cap. You would need to pay over $8,333 per month in rent to reach the limit.
Do Bilt points expire?
No. Bilt points do not expire as long as your account remains active and in good standing. There is no requirement to earn or redeem within a specific timeframe, so you can accumulate points over multiple years for a large redemption.
