BILT + Rakuten Partner Up: Turn Holiday Shopping Into Points!
If you’ve ever wished your online shopping could pay for your next trip (or your rent!), there’s a brand-new way to make that happen!
Bilt - the rewards program best known for letting you earn points on rent - just launched a partnership with Rakuten, the most popular online shopping portal! As of November 6th, 2025, Bilt members can now earn Bilt Points instead of cash back or American Express Membership Rewards® points.
Why This is a Big Deal!
Normally, Rakuten gives members the choice between cash back or Amex points (if you hold an eligible Amex card). This new partnership means Bilt is another payment option - and it’s perfect timing for Black Friday and holiday shopping season! This is an easy way to earn points on purchases you are already making without opening a new credit card! You DO NOT need a Bilt credit card to link your Bilt account to Rakuten! Plus, Bilt has some amazing transfer partners that American Express doesn’t have like Hyatt, Southwest, Atmos (Alaska Airlines) and more! See all of Bilt’s transfer partners here!
What is an online shopping portal?
Shopping portals are third-party websites that will provide you an incentive to click through their website before going to specific websites (like Nike, Walmart, Macy’s, etc) and completing a purchase. These incentives include cash back, points and even airline miles, which the shopping portals are willing to give as they receive a commission from the websites for sending you there. Rakuten is one of the most popular shopping portals with some of the best deals, especially over the holidays! Tap here to read more about how to maximize your spending with online shopping portals!
Introductory Redemption Rate
For the first six months, all Bilt member status tiers will enjoy a 1:1 conversion rate which means $10 Cash Back = 1,000 Bilt Points. After 6 months, Bilt Members with Blue status (the lowest status that you automatically get when you create a free Bilt account) will receive 50 Bilt Points for every $1 in Rakuten Cash Back. Silver/Gold/Platinum Bilt Member’s rate will remain at 100 Bilt Points for every dollar. You can learn more about how to earn Bilt status here.
How to Start Earning Bilt Points With Rakuten
Sign up for a free Rakuten account here! (Get $50 - or 5k points - when you spend $50 for a limited time with my referral link - this is a better offer right now than if you sign up for Rakuten via Bilt)
Sign up for a free Bilt account here.
Link your Rakuten account IN the Bilt app.
Shop at participating Rakuten stores as you normally would.
Receive Bilt points automatically for your quarterly Rakuten payout.
Use your points to finally book that vacation (my favorite!), or as a credit for your next rent payment or for a gift card to your favorite merchant.
Tips setting this up:
Be sure you link your Rakuten account IN the Bilt app, not through the Rakuten app. You can do that HERE (after you’ve created a Bilt account HERE)
Make sure your Rakuten email and Bilt email match!
When linking accounts, Bilt may say “a new Rakuten account will be created with the email listed below.” When I added my email attached to my Bilt account, it didn’t create a new Rakuten account, I linked the one I already have.
In my Rakuten account, it shows that I am earning cash back, however, it says, “We’ll send your confirmed balance as Bilt Points by the next payment date.”
If you don’t have a Rakuten account set up, Bilt will prompt you to create one. However, my Rakuten referral offer is better right now! You can sign up for Rakuten with my referral link - HERE.
Transferring your Bilt points to travel partners is easy! Tap “Rewards” at the bottom of the app, then “transfer” then select airline or hotel partner you would like to transfer your points to. You will be prompted to link your airline or hotel loyalty account if you are transferring points to that partner for the first time!
Final Thoughts
If you’re already a Bilt member, this is a no-brainer for at least the first 6 months of this partnership where even members with Blue status enjoy a 1:1 conversion rate. (meaning $10 cash back = 1,000 Bilt Points).
If you’re not already a Bilt member, it’s still a no brainer. You can easily download the Bilt app, sign up for free HERE, and start earning Bilt Points right away - even without the Bilt Mastercard.
If you’re looking to maximize your online spending and earn more cash back, points or miles, shopping portals are a great way to go!
FREE Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles
Want to travel for free?! ✈️ Grab a FREE Beginner's Guide to Points and Miles and learn how to redeem FREE TRAVEL this year! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD!
I appreciate it so much when you use my affiliate links that are linked in the post.
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