Don't be scared off by the fact that this card doesn't come with a welcome offer—you might find you can get just as much or more value as the cards that have hefty sign up offers—including its awesome monthly promos. Additionally, Bilt is the only card out there that lets you earn points just for paying your rent (up to 100,000 points each calendar year), no transaction fees attached. They also have some competitive rewards to begin with, but those rewards are doubled on the first day of every month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 points per month), allowing you to squeeze even more value out of every dollar you spend, if you use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. Oh, and did we mention they have more than a dozen hotel and airline transfer partners? For a $0 annual fee card it really doesn't get better than this.
[.redeem]3x[.redeem] per $1 for dining purchases
[.redeem]2x[.redeem] per $1 on travel purchases
[.redeem]1x[.redeem] per $1 on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points per calendar year
[.redeem]1x[.redeem] per $1 on other purchases
Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. Select "Learn More" to learn about the product features, terms, and conditions.
🏆 Daily Drop's Most Popular Card
Annual Fee: $95
Best for 2X on Everyday Spending
Best for 2X on Everyday Spending
Annual Fee: $95
Our goal is to help you explore the world affordably and experience life changing travel by maximizing miles and points. Our team of travel and credit card experts is here to help you make decisions about which cards belong in your wallet. Based on your travel goals, we offer unbiased advice to help you make the best choices. Keep in mind that our suggestions require responsible credit card use.
Here at Daily Drop, we score cards based on six different categories: annual fee, welcome offer, point redemption value, rewards rates, benefits, and travel protections. You’ll notice that APR is not considered because we never recommend carrying a credit card balance if your goal is to maximize miles and points for travel. While these scores are opinion-based, our team has earned and redeemed millions of miles and points and has traveled to almost every country in the world. After all, we wouldn’t be Daily Drop if we weren’t practicing what we preach.
The Bilt Card is a must-have for renters! I’ve been maximizing points on my rent for years and while the extra fees for using a card have always been worth it, it didn’t make those fees any less painful. Enter Bilt. I earned over 80,000 points in my first year thanks to normal spending, rent, and all of the (very fun) bonuses they offer. There are so many hidden ways to earn points. Not to mention they have some of the best transfer partners in their family (ahem… looking at you Hyatt). Don’t let the no signup offer steer you away either because there might be a little treat in store for you when you get yours… maybe… no promises ;)
We love this card so much that we have a dedicated YouTube video showcasing its benefits. Check it out here 👇
$0 intro annual fee the first year, then $95
[.pro]Earn points on rent payments without fees[.pro]
[.pro]Points are flexible and valuable for travel bookings[.pro]
[.pro]No annual fee makes it a cost-effective choice[.pro]
[.con]This card does not offer a welcome bonus[.con]
[.redeem]3x[.redeem] per $1 for dining purchases
[.redeem]2x[.redeem] per $1 on travel purchases
[.redeem]1x[.redeem] per $1 on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points per calendar year
[.redeem]1x[.redeem] per $1 on other purchases
Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points. Select "Learn More" to learn about the product features, terms, and conditions.
[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Using points for statement credits or cash back. While this is an option, it doesn’t provide the best value.[.dontreco]
[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Redeeming points for gift cards. This can be a decent value but still falls short compared to travel redemptions. [.sometimesreco]
[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Using points for travel bookings. You’ll get the most value by transferring your points to Bilt’s travel partners. [.alwaysreco]
[.favhotels] Our favorite hotels to book with this card [.favhotels]
Bilt Rewards has several hotel transfer partners, including:
[.favairlines] Our favorite airlines to fly with this card [.favairlines]
Here are some of Bilt’s primary airline transfer partners:
But how can I actually transfer my Bilt points? Transferring your Bilt points is simple. Log in to your Bilt Rewards account, go to the transfer points section, and choose your preferred partner. It’s that easy!
Oh yeah, did we mention that the Bilt Card has a pretty nice list of transfer partners? In case you need convincing, here’s that list:
Want to know how to book a Disney World vacation using miles and points? Well, good news! Brendan did just that, and he breaks down every detail in this video 👇
Why? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another great complementary card to the Bilt Mastercard. It offers unlimited 2x miles on every purchase, making it a versatile option for all your spending. The Venture X also provides up to a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, which can significantly offset travel expenses. Combining the Bilt Mastercard with the Venture X allows you to earn rewards on rent and travel expenses efficiently. The Venture X card also comes with perks like airport lounge access through Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges (yay!), and a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (yay, again!).
Why? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent companion to the Bilt Card for a few key reasons. First, it offers substantial earning potential on travel and dining, with 5x points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards® and 3x points on dining, making it a strong complement to the Bilt Card’s points structure. By pairing these two cards, you can maximize your points across various spending categories. Plus, the Sapphire Preferred's points can be transferred to numerous travel partners, including airlines and hotels that overlap with Bilt’s partners, allowing you to pool your points for even bigger rewards. The Sapphire Preferred also offers valuable travel protections and a $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, adding extra benefits for frequent travelers.
If you're paying rent and not earning rewards on those payments, you're losing money (girl math!). The Bilt Card allows you to earn points on rent without any transaction fees (up to 100,000 points per year). This is a game-changer for renters who want to make their largest monthly expense work for them. Imagine earning points towards your next vacation, just by paying your rent. The Bilt Rewards program lets you transfer points to top travel partners, making those rent payments even more valuable. Plus, Bilt's Rent Day promotion offers double points on rent payments made on the first of each month, adding even more value to your routine expenses.
For those frequenting the airport, the Bilt Card offers a range of travel perks that make it the ideal addition to your wallet. Earn 3x points on dining, 2x points on travel, and 1x points on all other purchases. With transfer partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, Emirates Skywards, and World of Hyatt, you can turn your points into free flights and hotel stays. Easy. Bilt also offers travel protections such as trip cancellation insurance and no foreign transaction fees, which is just an added bonus!
Love redecorating or upgrading your living space? The Bilt Card can help you earn rewards while doing so. Use your card to shop at furniture stores, home improvement retailers, and online marketplaces, earning points on every purchase. Those points can also be transferred to Bilt's travel partners. Plus, Bilt points can be redeemed for fitness classes or experiences, adding more lifestyle benefits to your card.
Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is below 670, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the Bilt Card, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.
A decent credit score of 670-850 is recommended for the Bilt Mastercard. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, use the reconsideration line, and be granted the Bilt Card. The worst they can say is “no,” and more often than not, we’ve found these people want to help!