The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® (See terms and conditions) is the best way to pay rent with a card, as you can earn 1 Bilt Point per dollar in rent payments without transaction fees (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year). Plus, the annual Bilt points cap is lifted to earn more points on rent. Here are 5 of the best reasons the Bilt Card is worth it.
Learn more: Bilt World Elite Mastercard® (See terms and conditions)
Is the Bilt Card Worth It?
Yes, we believe the Bilt card is worth it for those wanting to earn on rent expenses, and love point ecosystems. Before we get into why the Bilt Card is worth it, you may also want to visit our Bilt card review to learn even more about the Bilt card. Also, the Bilt card will do a check on your credit score when you apply, which is standard.
1. Earn Bilt Rent Rewards
The Bilt Credit Card is unique as you can pay rent without transaction fees and earn 1 point per $1 (up to 100,000 Bilt Points per calendar year). The previous limit was 50,000 points per year, but this limit increased in April 2023 which helps renters in the most expensive cities. Here’s my expert post on how much 10,000 Bilt points are worth.
More importantly, Bilt will mail a check or send an ACH transfer to the landlord when they don’t accept credit card payments. There is no additional transaction cost to the cardholder for this service.
Further, it’s possible to automatically deduct the rent balance from a linked banking account as soon as one business day after the rent payment posts. The BiltProtect feature lets you earn rent rewards but also prevents carrying a balance and maxing out your credit utilization ratio. As a result, it’s safe to pay rent with a credit card as you earn rewards while protecting your finances.
As a comparison, other rent payment processors usually charge a 3% transaction fee which usually offsets the value of the purchase rewards.
Related: Which Is The Best Credit Card For Paying Rent? Earn Rewards on Bills
2. No Credit Card Transaction Fees with Bilt Card
In addition to not paying payment processing fees on rent payments, the Bilt Card has no annual fee (See Rates & Fees). You won’t have to pay any foreign transaction fees either (See Rates & Fees).
Not worrying about service fees makes it easy to keep this card for the long haul to build credit. You’re also able to maximize your purchasing power on every purchase.
While Bilt has no transaction fees, some merchants may pass on the payment processing fee. Specifically, you will usually encounter this fee when paying utilities or at select small businesses and medical providers offering cash or check payment discounts.
Watch Out for These Bilt Card Fees
Some of the other fees for optional services include:
- Purchases and balance transfers
- Cash advances
- Late payments
Like other cards, one-time fees apply for balance transfers (5% or $5 minimum) and cash advances (5% or $10 minimum). Additionally, the purchase APR interest charges can accrue.
3. Earn Bonus Bilt Points on Daily Spending
Another reason the Bilt Card is worth it is for earning rewards on daily spending. Many people associate the Bilt Mastercard with earning credit card points on rent payments, but you can earn up to 3x points on select purchase categories:
- 3x on dining
- 2x on travel
- 1x on non-bonus purchases
- 1x on rent payments (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year)
However, you must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. Read more about the Rewards and Benefits to learn more.
This card has a competitive rewards program that becomes even more valuable for most purchases made on the first day of each month.
With the Rent Day promotion, cardholders can earn double the points (up to 1,000 bonus points per month) for dining, travel, and non-rent spending occurring on the first day of every month. So, you can earn up to 6 points per dollar instead of 3 points by timing your purchases.
Bilt also offers other Rent Day promotions that include contests to win a free month of rent, complimentary SoulCycle classes, and elite travel benefits.
Related: What Credit Score Do You Need for the Bilt World Elite Mastercard?
4. Flexible Bilt Rewards Point Redemptions
The Bilt card has flexible and valuable redemption options for various categories, including travel, experiences, and merchandise. There are several ways each Bilt point can be worth at least 1 cent.
For most Bilt cardholders, award travel is the best redemption option for two reasons:
- 25% travel redemption bonus (1.25 cents) when booking award trips through the Bilt Travel Center
- 1:1 point transfers to airlines and hotels (includes United Airlines, Hawaiian, World of Hyatt, and more)
If you’re patient and plan on buying a house soon, the most valuable way to redeem Bilt rewards is for home loan down payments. In this case, each point is worth 1.5 cents.
Other redemption options and point values include:
- Fitness classes (1 cent)
- Bilt Collection curated decor and apparel (1 cent)
- Amazon.com shopping credits (0.7 cents)
Unfortunately, direct cashback isn’t an option, but it’s easy to use your Bilt points for travel and experiences and get the maximum redemption value.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Travel Rewards
5. Extra Travel Benefits with the Bilt Card from Wells Fargo
In addition to the limited-time Rent Day benefits like complimentary airline or hotel elite status, cardholders enjoy these built-in travel perks that can help you save money:
- Trip cancellation and interruption reimbursement: Up to $5,000 for non-refundable travel
- Trip delay protection: Up to $200 per day ($1,800 maximum benefit for all covered persons) after 6 hours of delay for essential expenses
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Primary coverage up to $50,000 on qualifying rentals
- Lyft credits: Take 3 rides in a calendar month and receive a $5 ride credit
- DoorDash savings: 3 months of free DoorDash DashPass membership for new members. Additionally, new and existing members get $5 off the first 2 orders.
These perks are another reason the Bilt Card is worth it. Read more about the Rewards and Benefits to learn more.
Besides these additional travel protection benefits and discounts, the card also offers two valuable purchase protection benefits in the event of theft or loss:
- Cell phone protection: Up to $800 per claim (subject to a $25 deductible) due to theft or damage. Two claims can be submitted per rolling 12-month period. (Guide to Benefits)
- Purchase protection: Up to $10,000 per claim due to theft or damage occurring within 90 days of the purchase date on qualifying items.
Related: Credit Cards to Pay Your Cell Phone Bill With Each Month
Summary of Is the Bilt Card Worth It?
So, in conclusion, is the Bilt Card worth it? Yes, the Bilt card and its benefits are easily worth the application if you pay rent. Hopefully, several of these perks will increase your confidence to try for the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® especially if you have a good credit score. You can squeeze the most value from this card by using it for rent and travel rewards. Simultaneously, it’s also competitive for having no annual fee and its complimentary credit card insurance benefits that protect your wallet in several stressful situations.
More Info: Bilt World Elite Mastercard® (See terms and conditions)
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Can I earn on business rent?
Yes, if you pay any rent you can earn.
Great overview of the Bilt Card! Your points really highlight why it could be a valuable choice for many. The benefits and features you’ve outlined make a compelling case. Are there any specific perks or drawbacks that users should watch out for when considering the Bilt Card?
Thank you! I’m glad you liked the article. Honestly, the perks are great and getting 25% more value is also comparable to the top travel cards. Plus, Bilt seems to be adding more value to its program all the time. But, the card does require good credit, and that might make it harder to get. And of course, a drawback of any card is not being able to use the perks or not benefitting from the rewards categories.
I live in a retirement community. Our monthly fee includes “rent,” food, medical services, transportation, cleaning, etc. How would that work with a Bilt card?
Hi Benita! If you are paying rent via a check or an online portal, you should be able to use Bilt with no transaction fees. You can read more here. Or, if you have further questions, you can contact Bilt here.