Bilt Mastercard: archived review of the retired Wells Fargo card

Archived review — updated September 8, 2026. Wells Fargo’s Bilt Mastercard was retired after February 6, 2026. The card described below is no longer available or usable. Its former benefits and the historical FAQ below do not describe the new Bilt Card 2.0 range issued by Column N.A. See Bilt’s official transition information before considering a new card.
Historical review — former card benefits
Bilt Rewards has made a name for itself in the travel rewards world since it launched in 2021. It was the first loyalty program to let you earn points when you pay your rent, and it’s expanded to reward members for dining at local restaurants, filling prescriptions at Walgreens, and taking Lyft rides.
Bilt Rewards has a credit card too, dubbed the Bilt Mastercard®. This card has no annual fee and lets you earn Bilt Rewards points on daily purchases. These points can then be transferred to airline and hotel loyalty programs — including heavy-hitters like Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and World of Hyatt — or redeemed for a discount on your rent or through the Bilt Rewards Travel Portal.
We think the Bilt Mastercard is one of the best no-annual-fee travel credit cards out there, thanks to its excellent earning structure and great transfer partners. However, you should know the card’s ins and outs before applying to ensure it aligns with your financial needs.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Bilt Mastercard®.
The Bilt Mastercard’s (lack of a) welcome offer
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: the Bilt Mastercard doesn’t have a welcome offer. This is disappointing as other no-annual-fee credit cards include small welcome bonuses. However, thanks to its other features, we think the card is still worth considering.
Bilt World Elite Mastercard®
Unlock Rent Rewards with the Bilt World Elite Mastercard®
- No annual fee
- 1× point per $1 on rent payments (no transaction fees, up to 100,000 points/year)
- 3× points on dining
- 2× points on travel
- 1× point on all other purchases
- Bonus “Rent Day” multipliers on the 1st of each month—earn up to 1,000 extra points on dining, travel and other spend
- 5× points on Lyft rides when you link your account
- No foreign transaction fees
Whether you’re covering rent, dining out or booking your next getaway, the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® helps you earn points on your biggest monthly expense and everyday spend. Redeem your Bilt points for future rent payments, travel, credit‑card statement credits or even toward a home down payment—no annual fee required.
Terms apply. Points earn requires at least five transactions per billing cycle. See full terms for details.
Bilt Mastercard earning rates
The Bilt Mastercard is among the best no-annual-fee credit cards for everyday spending. You’ll earn the following:
- Earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants.
- Earn 2 points per dollar on travel.
- Earn 1 point per dollar on rent payments, up to 100,000 points per year.
- Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Bilt makes paying (and earning points from) your rent remarkably easy. Head to the Rent tab in the Bilt Rewards app and choose how you usually pay your landlord. Some options include mailing a check, sending an ACH transfer, and paying with Venmo. Regardless of how you pay, Bilt will send your payment for fre,e and you’ll earn points in the process.
Bilt also runs its monthly Rent Day promotion on the first of every month. This promotion lets you earn double points on all purchases that day — up to 1,000 points — and often has lucrative partner benefits. In the past, we’ve seen Rent Day transfer bonuses and status matches to airline and hotel loyalty programs.
You must make at least five transactions per statement period on your Bilt Mastercard to earn points.
Bilt Mastercard benefits
Much of the Bilt Mastercard’s value comes from the points it earns — and we’ll discuss that shortly. However, there are still some perks you should know about, including extensive travel protections.
Key annual benefits
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Cell phone protection: Your phone is covered from damage and loss up to $800, with a $25 deductible. Just pay your cell phone with your Bilt Mastercard to be eligible. You can claim this benefit twice per year.
- Purchase protection: Eligible new purchases are covered from damage and theft for the first 90 days of purchase, up to $10,000. You can claim up to $50,000 per 12-month period.
Travel protections
- Trip cancellation and interruption protection: You can be refunded for nonrefundable travel purchases made with your Bilt Mastercard if you fall ill before a trip if a travel provider becomes insolvent or for other covered reasons.
- Trip delay reimbursement: You can claim up to $200 per day in expenses per traveler, up to $1,800, if your flight is delayed by six hours or longer. This can be used for things like meals and lodging. Flights must be charged to your Bilt Mastercard to be eligible.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: Rental cars paid for with the Bilt Mastercard are covered against loss and damage up to $50,000. This is primary coverage, except for New York residents, where coverage is secondary on rentals within the U.S.
Bilt Adds Equinox as a New Rewards Partner (August 2026)
In August 2026, Bilt Rewards launched a new partnership with Equinox, bringing gym and spa benefits directly into the Bilt app. Members who join Equinox through Bilt can pick one of three welcome perks: 10,000 bonus points, a complimentary personal training session, or a complimentary 50-minute spa service.
Joint Bilt and Equinox members can also convert Bilt Cash into credit for Equinox spa treatments, Pilates classes, and personal training. The Bilt app’s Neighborhood Concierge platform now integrates with Equinox too, so you can browse class schedules, check club amenities, and book appointments without leaving the app.
Bilt Rewards
You can redeem Bilt Rewards points for:
- Travel bookings through the Bilt Rewards Travel Portal at 1.25 cents per point.
- Discounts on rent payments and Amazon purchases (typically at a lower value).
- Transfers to airline and hotel partners (often a better value)
Transferring Bilt Rewards points and sweet spots
You’ll almost always get the best value from your Bilt Rewards points by transferring them to Bilt’s extensive list of transfer partners. You can view the full list of transfer partners in our full guide to Bilt Rewards, but here are a few interesting ways to leverage Bilt points for flights on major U.S. airlines:
For American Airlines flights:
- Transfer to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: Book short-haul American flights for as few as 4,500 each way. This applies to flights 700 miles or less, including New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Washington Raegan Airport (DCA). Longer flights require more miles but can still be a great deal.
For United Airlines flights:
- Transfer to Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles: Book domestic United flights for 15,000 miles each way in economy or 20,000 in business class. This includes flights to Hawaii.
- Transfer to Air Canada Aeroplan: Book United flights starting at 6,000 points for flights under 500 miles.
For Delta Air Lines flights:
- Transfer to Air France-KLM Flying Blue: Award pricing varies, but Flying Blue tends to offer the best deals on Delta flights from the U.S. to Europe.
- Transfer to Virgin Red: Book short-haul flights 500 miles or shorter for just 7,500 miles in economy.
Some of our other favorite ways to redeem Bilt points include:
- Transfer to Air France-KLM Flying Blue for flights to Europe: Economy flights from the U.S. to Europe start at just 15,000 miles in economy, 35,000 miles in premium economy and 50,000 miles in business class. You might find lower award pricing when booking Flying Blue’s monthly Promo Rewards.
- Transfer to Iberia Plus for flights to Spain: You can redeem 34,000 Iberia Avios to fly from Chicago, Boston or New York to Madrid on off-peak dates.
- Transfer to World of Hyatt for hotel stays: Free nights start at 3,500 points per night.
Comparable cards to the Bilt Mastercard
There are hundreds of travel credit cards out there, so it’s essential to assess your options before you apply for the Bilt Mastercard. Here are two comparable cards to consider:
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Supercharge Every Purchase with thisOffer on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card
- $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months
- 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3% cash back on dining (including takeout & delivery) and drugstore purchases
- 2% cash back on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
- No annual fee
Manage your card seamlessly in the Chase Mobile® app, track your Ultimate Rewards® points in real time, and redeem them instantly as statement credits or toward travel, gift cards and more. With flexible bonus categories and effortless redemptions, Freedom Unlimited® is your go‑to for maximizing everyday rewards.
Terms apply. 3% foreign transaction fee. See issuer’s website for complete rates and fees.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn Big on Travel with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining, vacation home rentals, gas & EV charging, plus top streaming services and online groceries (excludes Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point on everything else
- Up to $100 in hotel statement credits each account anniversary year for stays booked through Chase Travel℠
- Complimentary DashPass: $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees for at least one year (activate by 12/31/27), plus a $10 monthly promo on non-restaurant orders
- One year of Apple TV on us when you activate by 12/31/26 (a $156 value)
- Up to $120 every four years as a statement credit for your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
Make every trip count. Transfer your points 1:1 to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs, or redeem them through Chase Travel℠ for 25% more value. You’re also covered by built-in travel protections like trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver and lost luggage insurance, with everything managed in the Chase mobile app. Whether you fly often or are planning your next getaway, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® delivers premium perks at an approachable price.
Terms apply. Bonus offer requires minimum spend. Annual fee applies. Member FDIC. See Chase for full details.
Is the Bilt Mastercard worth it?
The Bilt Mastercard is well worth it for renters who want to earn points on rent payments and other everyday purchases. There’s no other credit card that gives you valuable travel rewards points for your rent payments. Plus, earning 3 points per dollar on dining is rare for a card with no annual fee.
The card’s value goes well beyond earning points. When it’s time to redeem, you can transfer Bilt Rewards points to some of the travel world’s most lucrative loyalty programs like Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Air Canada Aeroplan, World of Hyatt, and United MileagePlus, among others. We’ve consistently redeemed our Bilt points for 3+ cents per point.
It’s also one of the few no-annual-fee credit cards that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee. Earning rates don’t change abroad, so you’ll earn the same 3 points per dollar when enjoying a pain au chocolat at a Paris cafe as you do at your neighborhood Dunkin’ Donuts.
Bottom line
We strongly recommend the Bilt Mastercard to renters and anyone looking for a no-annual-fee credit card. It’s the only card that rewards you for rent payments, and it earns a nice sum on travel and dining purchases too. And once you have points, you can redeem them with some of the industry’s leading loyalty programs.
FAQs – Bilt Mastercard®
Does the Bilt Mastercard® have a welcome bonus?
No. Unlike many other cards, the Bilt Mastercard® does not currently offer a welcome bonus. However, it provides ongoing value through its strong earning rates and rent rewards.
How can I earn points with the Bilt Mastercard®?
You can earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants, 2 points per dollar on travel, 1 point per dollar on rent (up to 100,000 points/year), and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Do I need to pay a fee to earn points on rent?
No. Bilt allows you to pay rent with no transaction fees via check, ACH, or Venmo through the Bilt app — and you earn points in the process.
Does the Bilt Mastercard® charge foreign transaction fees?
No. The Bilt Mastercard® has no foreign transaction fees, making it a great option for international travel purchases.
What are some of Bilt’s best transfer partners?
Bilt partners with top loyalty programs like Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Air Canada Aeroplan, World of Hyatt, and American Airlines (via transfer to Alaska).
Is the Bilt Mastercard® a good card for renters?
Absolutely. It’s the only major card that allows renters to earn points on rent payments without fees, plus strong rewards on dining and travel.
Does the Bilt Mastercard® work with Equinox?
Yes. Since August 2026, Bilt Rewards members can link an Equinox membership in the Bilt app to earn a welcome perk and convert Bilt Cash into Equinox spa, Pilates, and personal training credit.
Our editorial integrity
Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.

