Wells Fargo Bilt Credit Card Review 2025: The Ultimate Guide for Travel Rewards Enthusiasts

Travel rewards fans are always on the lookout for the next big thing in credit cards. Enter the Wells Fargo Bilt Credit Card – a no-annual-fee, World Elite Mastercard that lets you earn points on rent (yes, rent!) alongside travel and dining. 

In this comprehensive Bilt credit card review, we’ll dive into the card’s current (2025) offers, benefits, and terms. We’ll cover everything from its unique rent payment rewards to travel perks, transfer partners, the mortgage feature, and how it stacks up against popular competitors like Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Gold, and Citi Strata Premier Card. If you’re wondering “is the Bilt credit card worth it?”, read on for a detailed breakdown.

Overview: What Makes the Bilt Mastercard Unique?

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard (issued by Wells Fargo) is the only credit card that lets you earn rewards points on rent payments without any fees​. With a $0 annual fee, it targets renters who want to build points for travel or even homeownership. 

Key selling points include:

• Points on Rent: Earn 1 point per $1 on rent payments (up to 100,000 points each year) with no transaction fees​. Bilt will even mail a check to your landlord if they don’t accept credit cards, so any landlord is covered.
  
• Bonus Categories: Earn 3X points on dining and 2X on travel bookings (airfare, hotels, cruises, car rentals)​. All other purchases earn 1X point per dollar​
  
• Rent Day Perks: On the first day of each month (Bilt’s “Rent Day”), you get double points on non-rent spending – that’s 6X on dining, 4X on travel, and 2X on everything else (up to 1,000 bonus points per Rent Day)​. This can net you an extra 12,000 points a year if maximized​.
  
• No Fees for Travel Use: The Bilt card has no foreign transaction fees when spending abroad​, making it traveler-friendly. It also charges no annual fee, so you can keep it long-term at no cost.
  
• Wells Fargo & Mastercard Benefits: As a World Elite Mastercard, it comes with solid travel protections (trip cancellation insurance, trip delay reimbursement, rental car damage waiver) and extras like cell phone protection and Lyft credits​.
  

In short, the Bilt card’s unique selling point is turning your largest expense (rent) into rewards without fees, while still delivering travel-centric benefits. Next, we’ll unpack the rewards structure and how to redeem those hard-earned points.

Rewards Structure: Earning Points on Rent, Travel, and Dining

Earning Rates: The Bilt Wells Fargo credit card follows a straightforward “1-2-3” rewards structure​:

• 1X – Earn 1 point per dollar on rent payments (with no fee) and on all other purchases​.
  
• 2X – Earn 2 points per dollar on travel (booked directly with airlines, hotels, cruise lines, or car rentals)​.
  
• 3X – Earn 3 points per dollar on dining (restaurants, takeout, bars)​.
  

Do note two requirements/caps:

5 Transactions Rule: You must make at least five purchases per statement cycle to earn any points that month​. (This discourages one-and-done rent payments – but even small purchases count towards the five.)

Rent Cap: Rent payment rewards are capped at 100,000 points per year​ (meaning up to $100k in rent can earn points annually). Few renters will hit that limit, but high rollers should be aware.

Rent Day Bonuses: On the 1st of each month, Bilt’s “Rent Day” promotion doubles your earning rates (rent excluded). For that day only, dining jumps to 6X, travel 4X, and other purchases 2X, with a maximum of 1,000 bonus points (equivalent to doubling $500 worth of 2X travel spend, for example)​. Rent payments do not get doubled​, but scheduling other bills or big purchases on Rent Day is an easy way to snag extra points.

Lyft Rides: Love rideshares? By linking your Bilt and Lyft accounts, you can earn up to 5X points on Lyft rides. Here’s how it works: select Bilt as your loyalty partner in the Lyft app and pay with your Bilt card to earn 5 points per $1 on Lyft rides (2X base Bilt points + 3X bonus for Bilt cardholders)​. This is a great perk for travelers who frequently use Lyft – effectively a 5% return in points, on top of any Lyft promos.

The Bilt card’s earning scheme is quite competitive for a no-annual-fee card. You’re getting solid rewards on dining and travel, plus the unprecedented ability to earn on rent. Just remember to use the card 5+ times a month and maximize Rent Day.

Next, let’s explore redeeming Bilt points – including their value for travel, transfers, and even mortgages.

Reward Redemption Options: Travel, Rent, Mortgage, and More

Bilt Rewards points are versatile and valuable. In fact, Bankrate ranked Bilt points as the most valuable travel rewards currency (higher than Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards)​.

Transfer to Travel Partners

This is where the Bilt card shines for travel enthusiasts. Bilt points transfer 1:1 to a wide array of airline and hotel partners, typically instantly. As of 2025, Bilt has a very broad list of point transfer partners (13 airline partners and 5 hotels).

Airlines: United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), Emirates Skywards, Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin Atlantic (Virgin Red), British Airways Avios (plus Iberia and Aer Lingus Avios programs), Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Turkish Miles&Smiles, and TAP Air Portugal.​

Hotels: World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Accor Live Limitless. (Note: Accor transfers at 3 Bilt = 2 Accor points​, while all others are 1:1.)

Why this matters

With transfers, your Bilt points can become airline miles or hotel points, often yielding outsized value. For example, 60,000 Bilt points could transfer to 60,000 United miles – enough for a round-trip to Europe in economy or a one-way in business class, worth far more than the equivalent cash back. Bilt also occasionally offers transfer bonuses, which can double your miles and boost value even further for savvy users.

Travel Bookings

If you prefer simplicity, you can use the Bilt Travel Portal (powered by Expedia) to book flights, hotels, or rental cars with points at roughly 1.25 cents per point value. However, most enthusiasts will get better value via 1:1 transfers to partner programs.

Rent or Down Payment

Uniquely, you can redeem points toward your rent or save them for a future home down payment. You can apply points as a credit on your next month’s rent (if your property is in the Bilt network or via a check sent for you) – a straightforward way to offset living costs. Even more enticing, you can convert points to cash toward a home purchase at an excellent rate of 1.5 cents per point​. In other words, 100,000 points = $1,500 towards your mortgage down payment​. 

This “homeownership” redemption is the first of its kind, and there are no property restrictions besides needing a valid home purchase contract. For renters eyeing homeownership, this feature effectively boosts your point value and helps with that hefty down payment.

Other Redemptions

Bilt points can also be used for fitness classes (e.g. SoulCycle, Yoga memberships), redeemed for curated art or home decor in the Bilt Collection, or even converted to Amazon or Apple credits. However, these tend to yield lower point values. For example, Amazon redemptions are around 0.7¢ per point (not great). Travel and rent/housing give you the best bang for your Bilt buck.

Travel Perks and Protections

A major appeal of the Bilt card for travelers is that despite having no annual fee, it packs a number of travel perks and protections usually found on cards with annual fees:

• No Foreign Transaction Fees: You can swipe the Bilt card abroad freely – there are 0% foreign transaction fees on international purchases​. This makes it as good as dedicated travel cards when traveling overseas, avoiding the typical 3% surcharge other cards might hit you with (so no “Bilt card foreign transaction fee” to worry about at all).
  
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: If you purchase a flight or other common carrier fare with Bilt and your trip is canceled or cut short for a covered reason, you can be reimbursed for non-refundable costs​. This protection can save you money if illness, weather, or other emergencies derail your travel plans.
  
• Trip Delay Reimbursement: For travel delays of 6+ hours, Bilt provides coverage for expenses like lodging or meals up to $200 per day (max $1,800) for you and eligible companions​. Frequent travelers know delays happen – this perk means the card will help cover your unexpected hotel or meal bills during a long delay.
  
• Rental Car Insurance: When you pay for a car rental with Bilt, you get an auto rental collision damage waiver that covers up to $50,000 in damage or theft​. This is secondary coverage (like most cards) if you have personal auto insurance, but primary if you don’t – a handy benefit that can allow you to decline the rental agency’s costly insurance.
  
• Lyft Credits: In addition to earning 5x on Lyft rides (via linking accounts as discussed), Bilt cardholders get a $5 Lyft ride credit every month they take at least 3 Lyft rides with the card​. This “Take 3, Get $5” program runs through September 2025​. Essentially, use Lyft on the regular and you’ll get $5 off automatically – a nice little kickback for rideshare users.
  
• Mastercard World Elite Concierge: Cardholders have access to a 24/7 concierge service for help with travel bookings, dining reservations, event tickets, and more​. While not a heavily used feature for many, it’s there if you need assistance or VIP treatment on something.
  
• Cell Phone Protection: If you pay your monthly mobile phone bill with the Bilt card, you get insurance for your phone against damage or theft (up to $800 per claim, $25 deductible)​. That’s an awesome perk for a no-fee card, potentially saving you money on AppleCare or carrier insurance.
  
• Purchase Security: New purchases are covered for 90 days against damage or theft, up to a certain amount​. Useful for peace of mind on your gadgets or appliance buys.
  

Overall, the Bilt Mastercard’s travel and purchase protections make it feel like a premium travel card without the fee. You’re basically getting Chase Sapphire Preferred-like benefits (trip insurance, no FTF, rental coverage) on a $0 annual fee product​. That’s a huge plus for travelers who want protection but don’t want another fee.

Pay Rent and Earn Points – Without Fees

For tenants, the ability to pay rent on a credit card without a 3% payment processing fee. You earn 1X points for every dollar of rent, and Bilt eats the fee.

Read our article to find out how it works in detail: Bilt Rewards Program: How to Pay Rent with Bilt and Earn 1X Points on Rent.

Bilt’s Mortgage Feature: Points for Homeownership

Bilt isn’t just for renters – it also has an eye on your future homeownership goals. The card and program include innovative mortgage-related features:

• Points Toward a Mortgage Down Payment: As mentioned earlier, you can convert Bilt points at 1.5¢ each toward a home down payment​. When you’re ready to buy a house, Bilt will cut a check to your escrow or lender. There’s no catch like needing a specific lender – any U.S. real estate purchase qualifies​. You just fill out a form with proof of a home purchase contract and redeem before closing​. This effectively boosts the value of your points by 50% if used for a home. For example, 200K points = $3,000 toward closing costs or down payment – a sweet reward for years of paying rent and using the card.
  
• Upcoming! Pay Your Mortgage with Bilt (Earn Points on Mortgage Payments): In late 2024, Bilt announced plans to roll out a first-of-its-kind ability to pay your mortgage with the Bilt card (and earn points) in 2025​. Details are forthcoming (it might be through a partnered lender or a fee-free arrangement similar to rent), but this could be revolutionary. If implemented, homeowners could charge their monthly mortgage payment to Bilt, accrue points, and not worry about the typical processing fees that usually make this impossible​.
  
  This feature isn’t live as of early 2025, but it signals Bilt’s commitment to delivering rewards on all major living expenses – rent or own. Keep an eye out for Bilt’s official announcement on the “pay mortgage with a credit card” feature; it could add another compelling reason to have this card in your wallet as your needs evolve from renting to owning.
  

In summary, Bilt’s mortgage-oriented benefits make it stand out. You can earn rewards while renting and later use those rewards to help buy a home – all with one card. 

The Truth About Mortgages reported on Bilt’s new competitor, Mesa, with its Mesa Homeowners Card, which earns one point per dollar spent on monthly mortgage payments.

Fees and eligibility: What you need to know before applying

One of the benefits of the Bilt Mastercard is that there are no typical fees:

• Annual fee: $0 (you get all of these benefits without the annual fee)
• Foreign transaction fee: 0%.
• Penalty / interest for delay: Standard credit card late fees and interest apply if you carry a balance or pay late – as always, you should aim to pay in full each month to avoid accruing interest.

Wells Fargo Bilt Credit Card Approval Criteria

The credit score required for a Bilt card: You usually need good to excellent credit to get approved. In numbers, this is approximately 670+ points on the FICO scale. Many users report approvals as low as 700; if you have a lower score, you may need a high income or an existing relationship with WF to make up for it. The official minimum score is not disclosed.

Standard requirements apply – you must be 18+, a US resident, have enough income to support the credit line, etc.

You do not need to be a tenant to get the card. Homeowners or anyone else can apply; you just won’t be able to get the maximum limit if you don’t rent your home. 

There is also no publicly announced income threshold, but premium cards are usually designed for moderate-income levels.

Application Process

You can apply online on the Bilt website or on the Wells Fargo credit card page. If you’re looking for the link to the Bilt card application, it’s here.

The application is a typical credit card form – if approved, you will receive your new Bilt World Elite Mastercard in the mail. 

When you apply, Wells Fargo will run a credit check that may slightly impact your credit score. Bilt does not currently have a tool for pre-approval. Essentially, expect to have to formally apply (hard pull) to find out if you’re approved.

If you’re not already a Bilt Rewards member, applying for a card also creates a Bilt Rewards account. 

You will be able to manage your card and rewards in the Bilt app. If you already have a Bilt account (you may have joined the Bilt Restaurant Rewards program, which you can link any credit card to – more on that below), your new card can be added to the same account.

Tips to increase your chances of approval: Make sure your credit score is in good standing (no recent late payments, low credit utilization on existing cards, few recent inquiries). A score of 700+ will give you very high chances. If you have a score around 660-680, it may be more borderline, but some have been approved in that range as well. Having a banking relationship with Wells Fargo can help, although it is not required.

Using the Bilt Card: Additional Features and Tips

Before we compare Bilt to other cards, here are a few extra features and tips to get the most out of the card:

• Bilt Dining Program (Link any Card): Bilt has a partnership with select restaurants nationwide. Even if you’re not using the Bilt credit card for a meal, you can link a credit card in the Bilt app and earn bonus Bilt points at these restaurants. For dining at participating spots, you’ll earn up to 3x Bilt points per $1 spent, even if you pay with a different card​.

For Bilt cardholders, this can stack with your 3x from the card itself if you use your Bilt card at a partner restaurant, yielding an impressive reward rate. For example, pay with the Bilt card at a Bilt Dining restaurant and you might net 6x total (3x from card + 3x via dining program). This is a nice hack to supercharge your dining rewards. Non-Bilt cardholders can also use the dining program (with any Mastercard, Visa, Amex linked) to earn Bilt points, but as a Bilt cardholder you’re automatically enrolled and earning.

• Bilt Rewards Status Tiers: Bilt has status levels (Blue, Silver, Gold, Platinum) based on how many points you earn in a year. Higher tiers can get you perks like bonus points on rent day challenges, better redemption rates on certain options, or elite status matches with travel partners. For example, hitting Silver (50,000 points/yr) or above lowers the transfer minimum to 1,000 points (versus 2,000 for Blue). Hitting Platinum (200,000 points/yr) might unlock more benefits. While not as critical as airline elite status, it’s something to be aware of if you maximize your Bilt usage.
  
• Rent Day Specials: Every month Bilt does something special on Rent Day (1st). Besides double points, they often have extra promotions or events: free ride credits, contests, or point challenges. For instance, in some months you could play trivia in the app to win points, or get a 100% transfer bonus to a specific airline​. Check the Bilt app or emails on Rent Day to not miss these limited-time offers.
  
• Customer Service: The Bilt card is issued by Wells Fargo, so general account servicing (bill payment, issues) is through Wells Fargo’s systems.
  

Now that we’ve covered the Bilt card inside and out, let’s weigh its pros and cons and see how it compares to other popular travel reward cards.

Cons of the Bilt Credit Card

We have already talked a lot about the advantages of a credit card, so let’s summarize its disadvantages:

• Unlike many travel cards, Bilt has no welcome bonus (no quick 50k+ point boost). This is a trade-off for having no annual fee and the rent perks. It means you have to earn points the old-fashioned way – via spending.
• If you don’t pay rent, the Bilt card’s signature benefit doesn’t make sense. Those who don’t rent may find better value in other cards.
• Forget to make 5 purchases in a month and you earn zero points for that period – even on your rent​. This is an unusual condition that could catch you off guard.
• If you’re not interested in points and transfers, a flat cash back card might be better.
• To make full use of Bilt points, you need to know your money transfer partners or save for housing.
• Bilt is a standalone product. Unlike Chase or Amex, there’s no family of Bilt cards to pool points or no premium version that gets you lounges, etc. What you earn is what you have. Some might view that simplicity as a pro, but it also means you can’t, say, get another Bilt card for a second bonus category or add an authorized user to earn more points (you can add authorized users, but there’s no separate Bilt business card or different tier card).

Overall, the pros strongly outweigh the cons for the target demographic (renters and travelers). The value you get for no annual fee is almost unheard of – but the card is clearly most rewarding if you pay rent and will use the points for travel or homebuying. If you’re purely after cash back or a huge intro bonus, Bilt won’t satisfy that need.

How the Bilt Card Compares to Top Competitors

To put Bilt’s value in perspective, let’s compare it against a few popular travel rewards cards: Chase Sapphire Preferred, Amex Gold, and Citi Strata Premier Card.

Feature	Bilt Mastercard	Chase Sapphire Preferred Card	American Express Gold Card	Citi Strata Premier Card
Annual Fee	$0	$95	$250	$95
Rewards Structure	3x points on dining; 2x points on travel; 1x points on rent payments (up to 100,000 points/year); 1x points on other purchases; (Requires at least five transactions per statement period to earn points)	5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel; 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2x points on other travel purchases; 1x points on all other purchases;	4x points at restaurants; 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year); 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com; 2x points on prepaid hotel, eligible travel purchases, booked through amextravel.com; 1x points on other purchases;	10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through cititravel.com; 3x points on air travel and other hotel purchases; 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations; 1x points on all other purchases;
Welcome Bonus	None	100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months	100,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months	60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
Travel Benefits	Points transferable to travel partners; No foreign transaction fees	$50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel; Primary car rental insurance; Trip cancellation/interruption insurance; Baggage delay insurance	$120 dining credit ($10 monthly); $120 Uber Cash ($10 monthly); No foreign transaction fees	$100 annual hotel benefit; Complimentary Priority Pass membership with two lounge visits per year; No foreign transaction fees
Transfer Partners	Aer Lingus AerClub; Air Canada Aeroplan; Air France-KLM; Flying Blue; Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan; Avianca LifeMiles; British Airways Executive Club; Cathay Pacific Asia Miles; Emirates Skywards; Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles; Iberia Plus; Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles; United MileagePlus; Virgin Atlantic Flying Club; World of Hyatt; IHG Rewards; Marriott Bonvoy; Accor Live Limitless (ALL)	Aer Lingus AerClub; Air Canada Aeroplan; Air France-KLM Flying Blue; British Airways Executive Club; Emirates Skywards; Iberia Plus; JetBlue TrueBlue; Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer; Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards; United MileagePlus; Virgin Atlantic Flying Club; IHG Rewards Club; Marriott Bonvoy; World of Hyatt;	Aer Lingus AerClub; Aeromexico Club Premier; Air Canada Aeroplan; Air France-KLM Flying Blue; ANA Mileage Club; Avianca LifeMiles; British Airways Executive Club; Cathay Pacific Asia Miles; Delta SkyMiles;  Emirates Skywards; Etihad Guest; Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles; Iberia Plus; JetBlue TrueBlue; Qantas Frequent Flyer; Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer; Virgin Atlantic Flying Club; Choice Privileges; Hilton Honors; Marriott Bonvoy	Aeromexico Club Premier; Air France-KLM Flying Blue; Avianca LifeMiles; Cathay Pacific Asia Miles; Emirates; Skywards; Etihad Guest; Air Infinity Mileage Lands; JetBlue TrueBlue; Qantas Frequent Flyer; Qatar Airways Privilege Club; Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer; Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus; Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles; Virgin Atlantic Flying Club; Choice Privileges; Wyndham Rewards; Accor Live Limitless (ALL)

Key Takeaways:

• Bilt Mastercard: Ideal for renters, this card uniquely allows earning rewards on rent payments without transaction fees. It also offers competitive points on dining and travel, all with no annual fee.​
  
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: A well-rounded option for travelers, it provides a substantial welcome bonus, multiple bonus categories, and valuable travel protections. The $50 annual hotel credit adds further value.​
  
• American Express Gold Card: Suited for food enthusiasts, it offers high rewards on dining and U.S. supermarket purchases. The card’s annual dining and Uber credits can help offset its higher annual fee.​
  
• Citi Strata Premier Card: Offers robust rewards across various travel and everyday categories. The $100 annual hotel benefit and complimentary Priority Pass membership enhance its travel appeal.​
  

When choosing a card, consider your spending patterns, travel habits, and how each card’s benefits align with your lifestyle to maximize value.

Final Thoughts

For a target user – the young professional or millennial renter who loves to travel – the Bilt Rewards Mastercard is a game-changer. It turns your largest expense into free travel, bridges the gap between renting and owning by letting you put points toward home, and fits nicely into a travel hacking strategy with its transfer partners. All of this comes at no annual cost and no foreign fees, which is remarkable.

So, is the Bilt credit card worth it? If you’re renting and want to earn travel rewards, it’s one of the most worth-it cards out there. Even for others, its combination of perks and $0 fee make it at least worth a spot in your wallet. Given its unique benefits and strong travel focus, the Bilt Wells Fargo credit card in 2025 stands out as an innovative and valuable tool for those looking to maximize rewards on everyday spending and life’s biggest expenses.