Bilt Rewards is best known for letting members earn points on rent — and more recently, mortgage payments. But major changes announced in January 2026 will expand the program from one credit card to three and introduce a second rewards currency, Bilt Cash, which is earned alongside Bilt Points.
The Bilt 2.0 overhaul makes the program more complex and forces members to decide which Bilt card fits their spending — and whether earning rewards on housing payments is still worth it.
What is Bilt and how does it work?
Bilt Rewards is a loyalty program that lets members earn rewards on housing payments and everyday spending. Originally built around rent, Bilt now also offers ways to earn on mortgage payments, dining, travel and purchases made with select neighborhood partners.
Members earn rewards primarily by using a Bilt credit card, though they can also earn through Bilt’s app-based dining program and partner network. Rewards come in two forms — Bilt Points and Bilt Cash — each with its own earning structure and redemption options.
New Bilt credit card lineup now available
As part of its 2026 relaunch, Bilt moved from offering a single no-annual-fee card to a three-card lineup. Each card comes with its own annual fee, earning rates and perks, giving consumers more flexibility — but also more decisions to make.
The chart below highlights the new card lineup, earning rates, fees and Bilt card benefits you should know about.
Bilt Blue Card
Bilt Obsidian Card
Bilt Palladium Card
Annual fee
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Sign-up bonus
$100 Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved
$200 Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved
$300 Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved, plus earn 50,000 Bilt Points and Gold Status when you spend $4,000 on purchases outside of rent and mortgage in your first 3 months
Earning rates
1X Bilt Points on everyday spending
plus 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spending; or up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments
3X points on dining or grocery purchases (up to $25,000 per year), 2X points on travel, and 1X points on everyday spending, plus 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spending; or
up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments
2X Bilt Points on everyday spending, plus 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spending; or
Up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments
Benefits
No foreign transaction fees, Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection
No foreign transaction fees, $100 annual Bilt Hotel Credit ($50 credit biannually), Trip Delay Reimbursement
No foreign transaction fees, $400 annual Bilt Hotel Credit ($200 credit biannually), $200 of Bilt Cash annually, Priority Pass Select membership
Overview of the Bilt Rewards program
At its core, Bilt is designed to reward housing-related spending — a major monthly expense that traditionally hasn’t earned points. Members can pay rent and mortgage payments through the Bilt platform, even if their landlord doesn’t accept credit cards, and earn rewards in the process without any transaction fees.
Beyond housing, cardholders earn rewards on bonus categories like dining and travel, along with everyday purchases. Bilt also runs promotions such as “Rent Day” bonuses, offering opportunities to earn extra points on the first of each month through January 2027.
Difference between Bilt Points and Bilt Cash
With the introduction of Bilt 2.0, the program now includes two rewards currencies:
Bilt Points are the program’s transferable currency. They can typically be redeemed for travel through airline and hotel partners, used for travel through Bilt, applied toward future rent payments, or redeemed in other ways within the Bilt ecosystem.
Bilt Cash functions more like a rebate. Instead of transferring to travel partners, Bilt Cash is designed to offset housing expenses or reduce certain costs within the Bilt platform. While it adds flexibility, it does not offer the same outsized value potential as transferable points. It’s also important to note that Bilt Cash is subject to an annual expiration, though up to $100 of Bilt Cash earned rolls over to the next year.
Earning rewards with Bilt Cards
While cardholders always earn Bilt Points on eligible purchases with the new card lineup, they have to choose how they want to earn additional rewards. Options include:
- Option 1: Earn 4% in Bilt Cash (along with Bilt Points) on all everyday purchases
- Option 2: Skip earning Bilt Cash on everyday purchases and earn tiered rewards on your rent or mortgage payments (up to 1.25X points) based on other spending
When you opt to earn Bilt Cash on everyday purchases, you can use it to unlock dollar-for-dollar credits and benefits across the Bilt ecosystem. We’ll talk more about the ways you can redeem Bilt Cash below.
If you choose to earn tiered rewards on housing instead, the bonus rewards tiers work as follows:
- Spend 25% of your housing payment made through Bilt on everyday purchases, earn 0.5X points on housing spending.
- Spend 50% of your housing payment made through Bilt on everyday purchases, earn 0.75X points on housing spending.
- Spend 75% of your housing payment made through Bilt on everyday purchases, earn 1X points on housing spending.
- Spend 100% of your housing payment made through Bilt on everyday purchases, earn 1.25X points on housing spending.
How does this translate into bonus rewards on housing? Imagine you pay a $2,000 monthly rent payment with your Bilt credit card each month. If you opt for the tiered housing-only bonus rewards, you would receive the following amount in points each month based on your additional spending:
- Spend $500 on additional purchases (25% of your housing) and earn 1,000 points for that rent or mortgage payment.
- Spend $1,000 (50% of your housing) on additional purchases and earn 1,500 points for that rent or mortgage payment.
- Spend $1,500 (75% of your housing) on additional purchases and earn 2,000 points for that rent or mortgage payment.
- Spend $2,000+ (100%+ of your housing) on additional purchases and earn 2,500 points for that rent or mortgage payment.
BONUS TIP!
To hit that maximum 1.25X rate on your housing payment, your “everyday” card spending (groceries, dining, etc.) must equal or exceed the cost of your rent or mortgage for that month. If your everyday spending is lower, your housing multiplier will drop to 1X, 0.75X, or 0.5X based on the spend-to-housing ratio.
Earning from Bilt Neighborhood partners
Bilt also partners with restaurants, fitness studios, and local businesses in select cities through its Bilt Neighborhood program. Members can earn additional rewards when dining or shopping at participating locations, typically by linking a card in the Bilt app.
These partnerships expand earning opportunities beyond housing and travel, making it possible to rack up rewards on everyday experiences — especially for members who live in markets where Bilt’s local network is strongest.
Ways to redeem Bilt Rewards
With so many ways to earn, it’s helpful to take a moment to look at how these rewards actually work for you. Since Bilt uses a two-currency system, your redemption options will depend on whether you’re using Bilt Points or Bilt Cash. While Bilt Points offer great flexibility for travel, Bilt Cash acts more like a rewarding rebate to help cover your everyday housing costs. A quick look at the differences will ensure you’re getting the most value every time you redeem
Redeeming Bilt Cash for partner credits
Bilt Cash is primarily used for credits within the Bilt platform. Members can apply it toward eligible partner purchases, housing-related expenses, or select in-app redemptions.
Examples of ways to redeem Bilt Cash include:
- Use toward Bilt Travel hotel bookings
- Use toward Lyft rides (up to $10 in credit monthly)
- Redeem Bilt Cash for up to $10 monthly in Walgreens credit
- Redeem Bilt Cash to bring additional guests into Priority Pass lounges
- Redeem for up to $25 in monthly credit toward select dining partners
Unlocking rent payment rewards with Bilt Cash
If you’re focused on maximizing rewards on your rent or mortgage payment, you can also use Bilt Cash to unlock points for housing without transaction fees. Every $30 in Bilt Cash you redeem earns 1,000 points (up to 1X of your monthly rent or mortgage payment).
Using Bilt Points for travel and transfers
Bilt Points are the program’s most valuable currency for many members. Points can be redeemed for travel through Bilt’s portal or transferred to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Bilt airline transfer partners include:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Canada
- Air France – KLM
- Alaska Airlines & Hawaiian Airlines
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Etihad Guest
- Emirates
- Iberia
- Japan Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- TAP Air Portugal
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines
- Virgin Red
Bilt hotel transfer partners include:
- Accor Live Limitless
- Hilton Honors
- IHG One Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
Transfer partners typically help members unlock the highest potential value, particularly for premium cabin flights or high-end hotel stays. That said, the value of Bilt Points you receive depends on award availability and how strategically you redeem.
Other ways to use Bilt Points
If you decide not to use Bilt Points for travel, there are other options to consider. Alternate Bilt Point redemptions you can make include:
- Credits toward rent payments
- Fitness classes
- Gift cards
- Home down payment
- Lyft rides
- Purchases through Amazon.com
Frequently asked questions about Bilt
How much are Bilt Points worth?
Bilt Points value depends on how you redeem them. That said, you may be able to redeem for 2 cents per point or more in value with airline or hotel partners.
Do Bilt Points expire?
Bilt Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
Does Bilt Cash expire?
Bilt Cash earned during the calendar year is meant to expire at the end of the year (December 31st) if you don’t use it. However, up to $100 of unused Bilt Cash automatically rolls over into the next year.
How does Bilt work for rent?
When you pay your rent or mortgage payment with a Bilt Card, the payment is pulled directly from your bank account. This means your rent or mortgage payment does not count against your credit line.
What are Bilt Milestone Rewards?
Bilt Milestone Rewards were part of the original Bilt Rewards program, but these rewards no longer exist in Bilt 2.0. The new program uses Bilt Cash instead of Milestone Rewards.
Choosing your Bilt strategy
Bilt Rewards has evolved from a niche program focused on rent into a broader — and more complex — rewards ecosystem. With three credit card options, two different rewards currencies (Bilt Points and Bilt Cash) and expanded ways to earn on housing, dining and travel, the program now offers more flexibility than ever.
But that flexibility comes with tradeoffs. To get real value from Bilt in 2026, members will need to understand how Bilt Points and Bilt Cash actually work, compare card tiers carefully, and decide whether earning rewards on housing payments is really a priority. For some, Bilt will remain a unique way to turn a major monthly expense into meaningful rewards. For others, the added complexity won’t be worth it.
