Guide · Rewards
Bilt alternatives for earning points on rent (2026)
Last checked Oct 28, 2026. Not financial advice.
TL;DR
- Bilt is still the only option we track that pays transferable points on rent with no fee.
- Piñata pays reward points (gift cards, products) and reports rent to 3 bureaus for $5/mo.
- Bilt without the card: free rent reporting now, and Daily Rewards for on-time rent from Jan 15, 2027.
- Paying rent on a regular card through a service usually costs 2.5% or more, which wipes out most rewards.
Options compared
| Option | Cost | What you earn on rent | Credit reporting | Catch | Our page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OptionBilt Card (2027 terms) | Cost$0 / $95 / $495 annual fee | What you earn on rentUp to 1.25X Bilt Points, set by everyday card spend; 250 pts minimum | Credit reportingAll 3, free | CatchCredit approval. 4% Bilt Cash option gone for new cards from Jan 1, 2027 | Our pageBilt |
| OptionBilt membership, no card | Cost$0 | What you earn on rentDaily Rewards for each on-time monthly rent payment, from Jan 15, 2027. Prize terms not yet published | Credit reportingAll 3, free | CatchYou pick one of two revealed rewards; grand prizes are a chance to win. Rules TBA | Our pageBilt |
| OptionPiñata | Cost$5/mo | What you earn on rentMonthly points for gift cards and products; Piñata claims "$100+ in annual rewards" | Credit reportingAll 3 | CatchFree tier is rewards-only, no credit reporting | Our pagePiñata |
| OptionFlex + your own rewards card | Cost2.5% card fee + $5.99/mo + 0.5% (+ up to 3% if you split) | What you earn on rentYour card's normal rate | Credit reportingAll 3, only if you split rent | CatchFees usually exceed rewards | Our pageFlex |
The math on $2,000 rent
| Option | Monthly cost | Monthly reward | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| OptionBilt Card, $2,000+ everyday spend | Monthly cost$0 extra (Blue has no annual fee) | Monthly reward2,500 Bilt Points | NetPoints only |
| OptionBilt Card, $500 everyday spend | Monthly cost$0 extra | Monthly reward1,000 Bilt Points | NetPoints only |
| OptionPiñata | Monthly cost$5 | Monthly rewardPiñata points (Piñata claims $100+/yr) | NetClaimed rewards minus $60/yr |
| OptionFlex, paid in full by a 2% card | Monthly cost$5.99 + $10 + $50 = $65.99 | Monthly reward~$40 card rewards | NetAbout -$26 |
Flex and Piñata figures are our math from their published prices. The 2% card is a hypothetical, not a specific product. Bilt point values vary by how you redeem them; we don't assign a cash value.
Who each one fits
- You'll spend about your rent on one card every month: Bilt Card earns the most on rent with no fee.
- You don't want a new credit card: Piñata (paid) or a free Bilt membership (Daily Rewards from Jan 2027).
- You want credit reporting more than points: see free rent reporting.
- You were counting on Bilt's 4% Bilt Cash: only accounts opened before Jan 1, 2027 can keep it, by opting out before their first anniversary. See Bilt 2027 changes.
FAQ
Is there anything like Bilt?
Not with transferable points and no fee, among the services we track. Piñata pays its own reward points for a $5 monthly fee.
Can I earn Bilt rewards without the card?
Bilt says Daily Rewards, starting Jan 15, 2027, reward on-time rent paid by bank account, debit card or credit card. Prize rules come out before launch.
Does Piñata change how I pay rent?
No. Piñata says you keep paying rent as you do now; it verifies payments through Plaid.
Is paying rent with a rewards card through a fee service worth it?
Only if your card earns more than the fees. Flex's card fee alone is 2.5%.
Do any of these hurt my credit?
Bilt and Piñata say they report on-time payments. Rent reporting can help build credit history. Results vary.
Not financial advice. Rewards values are as stated by each provider and are not guaranteed. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Sources
All checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Bilt Card page: https://www.bilt.com/card
- Bilt Support, Card 2.0 Program Overview: https://support.biltrewards.com/hc/en-us/articles/42897766682381-Bilt-Card-2-0-Program-Overview
- Bilt Newsroom, "Your 2027 Bilt Program Updates" (Daily Rewards): https://newsroom.biltrewards.com/2027-bilt-program-updates
- Bilt bureaus: https://support.biltrewards.com/hc/en-us/articles/6881705214349-What-credit-bureau-s-does-Bilt-report-to
- Piñata: https://www.pinata.ai/
- Flex pricing: https://help.getflex.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034246933-How-much-does-Flex-Rent-cost
- Flex rent reporting: https://help.getflex.com/hc/en-us/articles/31678110981143-How-rent-reporting-works-with-Flex