Why I really like my Bilt Mastercard

Paying rent has been a part of my life since I started living in an off-campus house in college. It was like the first big adult payment I was responsible for. I would usually pay my rent via check or online portal to the landlord or management company, and it felt like that money was disappearing into a black hole, never to be seen again.

Then, one day, a coworker gave me all the intel about a fairly new credit card product from Wells Fargo: the Bilt Mastercard®.

Now, I have an open love affair with my Bilt card. When asked what my favorite card in my wallet is, my typical response is: “Get the Bilt card because you can pay rent on it!” Apart from that, I have picked some standout reasons why you should add the Bilt Mastercard to your wallet.

But Bilt has almost made the first of the month something to look forward to versus a day of dread. With Bilt Rent Day, I get double the points in all categories (except on my rent payment). On most days of the month, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining, 2 points per dollar spent on travel and 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases, including rent payments.

However, on the first of the month, those categories double in points, earning you 6 points per dollar spent on dining, 4 points per dollar spent on travel and 2 points per dollar spent on other purchases (excluding rent payments). So, the first day of the month is when I reload my Starbucks gift cards, make a larger deposit on my laundry app, go out to dinner with my friends and pay all my bills — all because I know I am earning twice as many points.

Keep in mind, though, that you need to use your Bilt Mastercard at least five times each statement period to earn points.

Earn points on rent

The Bilt Mastercard is the only credit card on the market that effectively allows cardholders to circumvent the high transaction fee of paying rent on a credit card. The typical processing fee on rent payments is 2% to 3%, which can add up every month and cost you money.

Since I live in one of the most expensive cities in the world — New York City — being able to get a return on my rent has made paying it, dare I say, an enjoyable experience.

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Over the past decade, I’ve paid rent across two states, from hundreds to thousands of dollars each month. I cringe now thinking about the potential points I lost over those years. Now, I feel less of a pinch paying my rent because I can earn hotel or airline points in the process.

Before applying for the card, I asked my friend what the annual fee is for it. I might have broken the sound barrier when I ran back to my laptop to apply immediately once I heard that there’s no annual fee (see rates and fees).

Even if I was only using the card to pay my rent, plus the five transactions I need to make to get my points, it’s an easy addition to my wallet, and I make money back in rewards.

If you ever looked at my most frequent spending categories on any of my credit card statements, it would usually fall into three categories: travel, eating out and shopping. I eat out one to two times a week.

While the Bilt Mastercard isn’t usually considered one of the best credit cards for dining, it’s the card I put down when I am out at a restaurant.

Plus, through the Bilt Dining program, cardholders can earn 5 points per dollar spent on qualifying dining purchases at participating restaurants in cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C. That return rate is higher than what TPG considers the best overall dining card, the American Express® Gold Card.

If I can make a reservation in advance, I always use the Bilt Dining section of the app to find restaurants in the neighborhood I am heading to. That way, I can see restaurants where I can earn 5 points per dollar spent.

Not to mention, my return rises on Rent Day. On the first of every month, I earn 6 points per dollar spent on dining (including delivery orders) and up to 11 points per dollar spent at qualifying Bilt Dining restaurants. This makes it one of the highest earning rates of all credit cards on dining — on the first of the month.

With airline elite status becoming harder and harder to earn and maintain, having a card that earns points you can transfer to multiple partners is a true perk. In fact, we value Bilt Rewards (along with Chase Ultimate Rewards) as the most valuable points currency out there, at 2.05 cents per point.

As I am potentially a free agent after the recent Delta SkyMiles changes, I value my points being able to be transferred across a range of domestic and international carriers, as well as airline alliances.

I would classify myself as a points hoarder — I have one dream trip in mind and am diligently saving up for it. I’m currently manifesting an 11-hour flight in a Qatar Airways Qsuite and a stay at a luxury all-inclusive resort.

With a partnership launched at the start of 2023, Bilt now makes it possible for users to use Point.me, a tool that allows travelers to find the best award redemptions and availability across Bilt’s transfer partners — helpful for booking my Qsuite flight.

This summer, I scored a one-way premium economy flight from Paris to New York City at the last minute for 45,000 points one-way, and Points.me helped me find the award availability.

The Bilt Mastercard is a perfect introductory card for any travel rewards beginner and a great alternative to high-annual-fee dining cards — all while having one of the most flexible rewards and redemption programs out there. The biggest reason to add the card to your wallet is to be able to pay your rent without any additional fees. Having this card is a no-brainer, in my opinion — and for any renter who doesn’t have it in their wallet, I highly encourage you to apply.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Bilt Mastercard.

Official application link: Bilt Mastercard

For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.

For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.