This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.
Paying your rent with a credit card can be an effective way to achieve credit card signup bonuses and rewards. You can also earn money on a big chunk of your monthly spending. It would help if you considered using the best credit card for paying rent since it doesn’t have a fee and earns rewards. Keep reading to learn why.
The Best Credit Card for Paying Rent: The Bilt World Elite Mastercard
For many, the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® is the best rent-paying credit card. First and foremost, there is no fee to use this credit card, which is impressive as most rent payment platforms charge tenants a 3% transaction fee.
There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fee. It also has several ways to redeem your points, with award travel being the most valuable.
Apply Now: Bilt World Elite Mastercard®
Another perk is that the Bilt Card is a metal credit card, which gives it more durability.
How to Earn Bilt Points on Rent
Rent payments earn 1 point per $1 (up to 50,000 points per year) on one property per month.
Earning 1x points doesn’t sound earth-shattering, but consider that you’re not paying any transaction fees. In comparison, the cheapest competing platforms charge from 2.85% to 3.99% unless you have a charitable landlord that doesn’t pass on the merchant fee to their tenants.
How Does Bilt Pay Rent?
To start paying rent through Bilt, follow these steps:
- Create a Bilt Rewards account. It’s free and only takes several minutes.
- Connect Your Home: Enter your home address to connect your credit card number.
- Schedule Payments: Use the Bilt App to send payments and collect reward points.
When the Bilt Rewards Alliance originally launched, only properties managed by participating companies qualified for bonus points. Now, this option is available to all tenants.
If your landlord isn’t a Bilt Alliance partner, the app will send payment by ACH or mailed check. You still get to earn the 1x points on rent and pay no fees.
Other Ways to Earn Bilt Points
The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® earns up to 3x points on purchases:
- 3x on dining
- 2x on travel
- 1x on rent payments through the Bilt App (up to 50,000 points per year)
- 1x on everything else
Not bad for a $0 annual fee card.
Redeeming Bilt Points
One of the highest Bilt Point values is for travel redemptions, which can be worth 1.25 cents per point when you book award travel through the Bilt Travel Portal (powered by Expedia).
You can also transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to 12+ loyalty programs including:
- American Airlines
- Asia Miles
- Hawaiian Airlines
- United Airlines
- World of Hyatt
Points are worth 1 cent or less for fitness, shopping, and rent payments.
If you’re only renting for a short time, you may decide to keep your loyalty points to fund your mortgage down payment. This option has the most valuable redemption with each point worth 1.5 cents. However, not every cardholder will be buying a house, so it’s not the most practical option for many.
There isn’t a cash back redemption method.
Additional Bilt Card Benefits
The Bilt Rewards Credit Card is a Mastercard World Elite product. You can read more about the Rewards and Benefits. Some of its best card perks include:
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Trip delay insurance
- Primary auto rental coverage (on most US and international rentals)
- Cell phone protection
- Lyft and DoorDash credits
Apply Now: Bilt World Elite Mastercard®
Best Credit Card for Paying Rent: Alternative Options
While the best credit cards for paying rent listed below are likely to incur processing charges, they also offer enticing rewards. Here are a few other options you might consider.
Citi Double Cash Card
The Citi® Double Cash Card lets you earn Citi ThankYou points on purchases. Earn up to 2% cash back on all purchases. You will earn 1% on the purchase and another 1% on balance payments to earn a total of 2% back. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
Cash redemptions are another valuable option as each point is worth 1 cent.
The annual fee is $0, but the foreign transaction fee is 3%. This is one of the best Citi credit cards.
Learn more: Citi® Double Cash Card
X1 Card
The X1 Card doesn’t have an annual fee and automatically earns at least 2x points on purchases. Cardholders can earn:
- 2x points on every purchase regardless of category
- 3x points every time you spend $1,000 in a month
- 4x, 5x, and even 10x points for every friend who gets a card
- Up to 10x points at leading online stores such as Apple, Nike, and Sephora when you shop in the X1 App
It’s possible to redeem your points for travel credits, shopping credits, and cash back. Unfortunately, this card doesn’t have travel transfer partners, so it’s harder to get maximum mileage from X1 points.
There is no annual fee on this card. You can get more details in our X1 Card review.
Apply and learn more here: X1 Card
Southwest Credit Cards
The Southwest Airlines credit cards are also a prime candidate for paying rent if you need the points to qualify for the Companion Pass®. This perk reduces the flight expense for one travel companion to fees and taxes (usually $5.60 one-way) for up to two years when they fly with you.
You can try for one of the best Southwest credit cards to earn bonus Rapid Rewards. A rent payment can help meet the bonus offer spending minimum. These bonus miles also apply toward Companion Pass status.
Depending on which card you have, you can also receive Upgraded Booking, point bonuses on card anniversaries, and the opportunity to earn tier qualifying points (TQPs) for A-List status.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns 2x miles on purchases and up to 10x on travel purchases through Capital One Travel. You can redeem your miles as a travel statement credit or transfer at a 1:1 ratio to participating airlines and hotels.
This card also offers a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and a 10,000-miles card anniversary bonus.
The annual fee is $395.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has the most similar rewards program to the Bilt Mastercard.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns unlimited:
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Anniversary Hotel Credit)
- 3x points on dining (including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out)
- 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target®, Walmart®, and wholesale clubs)
- Also 3x points on select streaming services
- 2x points on all other travel purchases
- 1x point per $1 spent on all non-bonus purchases
When it comes to redeeming your points, they are worth 1.25 cents when booking award trips through Chase. There are also many 1:1 travel transfer partners including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and World of Hyatt.
While you’re more likely to pay transaction fees on rent payments, a 10% anniversary bonus helps offset the fee. At the end of each card membership year, you receive a bonus equivalent to 10% of your yearly point earnings.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred annual fee is $95. You can read more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
Summary
If you’re serious about finding a credit card for paying rent long-term, the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® is your best option as you don’t have to worry about transaction fees. Its rewards program is pretty impressive for a fee-free credit card too.
However, you may also consider rotating your payment method to the best limited-time credit card offers to have an easier time meeting the spending challenge. These outsized bonuses can usually exceed the transaction fee costs.
Related Articles:
The problem with the Bilt Mastercard is that it’s issued by Wells Fargo. I got one last year, and have already had tons of problems with the bank. Stuff like its automatic payment system not working, fees that people can’t explain, etc. Meanwhile, the “customer service” has been super unhelpful.