Bilt Rewards Rakuten integration is one of the most valuable earning strategies in the points game right now. You can link your free Bilt account to Rakuten and earn transferable Bilt points on thousands of online purchases, with no Bilt credit card required.
Rakuten has officially added Bilt as a payout option, meaning you can now earn Bilt points for your online shopping. This is a huge win for anyone who values Hyatt, Alaska Airlines, or any of Bilt’s top-tier transfer partners. Here’s exactly how to set it up, what makes it so powerful, and why I made the switch.
What’s New: Rakuten → Bilt Points
If you’ve used Rakuten before, you know it’s a free cashback portal that lets you earn either:
- Regular cash back
- Amex Membership Rewards (if you link an Amex account)
Now there’s a third option: Bilt Rewards points. You can link your Rakuten and Bilt accounts, and every time you shop through Rakuten’s portal, you’ll earn Bilt points instead of cash back.
You Don’t Need the Bilt Credit Card
Here’s the best part: you do NOT need the Bilt Mastercard to take advantage of this. Rakuten → Bilt works for anyone with a free Bilt Rewards account. Just make a free Bilt Rewards account and you’re good to go. That means even if you’ve never had a Bilt card or earned Bilt points before, you can still use this strategy to rack up one of the most valuable point currencies in the game.
Why This Is Extra Useful Right Now
In case you missed it, Bilt paused applications for the Bilt Mastercard for the rest of 2025. They’re planning to launch a three-tier card system next year, with:
- A refreshed product lineup
- New point-earning structures
- The long-awaited mortgage payment option using Bilt points
But until then, there’s no way to apply for the Bilt card, which makes this Rakuten link-up the only way for most people to earn Bilt points outside of rent.
How to Link Rakuten and Bilt (Takes 30 Seconds)
- Go to biltrewards.com/p/rakuten
- Log into both your Bilt and Rakuten accounts
- Confirm the connection and choose Bilt as your reward currency
Done. You’ll now start earning Bilt points for all Rakuten purchases moving forward.
You Can Switch Every Quarter
Rakuten lets you change your reward selection once per quarter. So if you want Bilt points now, but want to go back to Amex or cash next quarter, you absolutely can. There’s no long-term commitment. Just choose the reward that fits your strategy each quarter.
Why I’m Earning Bilt Points Right Now
I personally made the switch from Amex to Bilt for this quarter. Here’s why:
- Bilt points are harder to earn than Amex or Chase
- They have exclusive transfer partners like Alaska Airlines and World of Hyatt, which I use all the time for luxury flights and 5-star hotel stays
For me, the math was simple: I used this new transfer option to immediately book a First Class Flight to Japan for only 125,000 points!
What Stores Earn the Most Bilt Points Through Rakuten?
Rakuten’s cashback rates vary by store and change frequently. Some stores offer 1-2x while others spike to 10x or higher during promotions. The key is checking rates before you buy and timing bigger purchases around high-rate periods. We track live Rakuten rates for popular stores on our Points Stacker Tool, so you can see at a glance whether it’s a good time to buy. Bookmark it and check before any online purchase to make sure you’re earning the maximum Bilt Rewards Rakuten points available. Some categories that consistently offer strong rates include travel bookings, fashion retailers, electronics, and home goods. During holiday sales and promotional events, rates can double or triple temporarily.
Final Thought
The Bilt Rewards Rakuten integration is one of the smartest plays in the points game right now. It gives you a free way to earn one of the most valuable transferable currencies without opening a credit card or changing how you shop. If you’re a serious travel hacker (or want to be), this lets you earn rare, high-value points just for doing what you already do: shopping online or booking travel. For more ways to earn Bilt points without a credit card, check out our full Bilt Rewards guide.
Leave a Reply