All information about the Bilt Blue Card has been collected independently by CardCritics™
Bilt Blue Card Review: Housing Rewards With No Annual Fee
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Written by
Melanie Pincus
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Edited by
Emily Gadd, CCC™
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron, CCC™
The Bilt Mastercard®** from Wells Fargo is set to stop working entirely in early February 2026. Bilt and its new issuer Cardless have introduced a roster of three cards in its place, including the no-annual-fee Bilt Blue Card.
Though it provides a way into a newly revamped “Bilt 2.0” universe, the rewards system’s complexity will likely give prospective cardholders pause. Let’s look at what the Bilt Blue Card has to offer.
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Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
10.00% Introductory APR applies to Purchases that post to your account during the first 12 billing cycles after the date you open your account. After that, a 26.74% to 34.74% Variable APR will apply to Purchases based on your creditworthiness. A 26.74% to 34.74% Variable APR applies to Balance Transfers based on your creditworthiness.
Welcome Offer
Get $100 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved. Terms apply
Rewards
1X Points Earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments
Earn 1X points + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases
Recommended Credit Score
Good – Excellent
670–850*
Annual Fee
$0
CardCritics™ Opinion
The Bilt Blue Card allows you to earn points on housing payments without a processing fee — still a unique offering in the credit card market. That said, it’s a downgrade in several significant ways from the previous Bilt Mastercard, and users will need to study up to maximize its rewards system.
Our Critical Analysis:
Bilt Blue Card
- Can earn points on housing payments with no transaction fee
- Charges no annual fee or foreign transaction fee
- Offers an easy-to-earn welcome bonus
PROS
- Potentially confusing rewards structure
- Doesn’t offer strong bonus rewards categories
- Notable downgrades from the previous Bilt Mastercard (no primary rental car coverage and fewer reward categories)
- Only $100 of Bilt Cash can be rolled over to the next year
CONS
Bilt Blue Card Benefits
Points on Rent and Mortgage Payments
However you choose to set up your card’s rewards, you can earn points on your housing payments with the Bilt Blue Card. Those points don’t incur any processing fee, so they don’t lose value.
No Annual Fee or Fees on Foreign Transactions
Just like with the old Bilt Mastercard, you won’t pay an annual fee to keep your account. You can also use the card for international purchases without paying a fee.
No Spending Requirement for Welcome Bonus
All approved cardholders receive $100 in Bilt Cash, which they can use to cover eligible purchases in the Bilt App or on bilt.com. No minimum spending requirement is attached to this bonus.
Bilt Blue Card Drawbacks
Potentially Confusing Rewards Structure
Cardholders will need to read up on both Bilt points and Bilt Cash to set up their rewards. This makes Bilt’s rewards ecosystem more confusing than those of cards that offer either points or cash back alone. Your options:
- Earn up to 1x points on your housing payments, 1x points on other eligible spending, plus 4% back in Bilt Cash on non-housing spending
- Or, opt to ditch the Bilt Cash and earn up to 1.25x points on your housing payments and 1x points on other eligible spending
If you choose the first option, you’ll need to redeem Bilt Cash to earn points on housing payments. Every $30 in Bilt Cash unlocks 1,000 points, up to 1x of your monthly mortgage or rent payment.
With the second option, the rewards you’ll earn on housing payments will depend on how much other everyday spending you put on the card each billing cycle, as follows:
- 25% of housing payment in everyday spend: Earn 0.5x points on housing
- 50% of housing payment in everyday spend: Earn 0.75x points on housing
- 75% of housing payment in everyday spend: Earn 1x points on housing
- 100% or more of housing payment in everyday spend: Earn 1.25x points on housing
If, in a billing cycle, you don’t spend at least 25% of your housing payment on other everyday purchases, you’ll only earn 250 points for your rent or mortgage payment.
Lacks Bonus Reward Categories
Regardless of which rewards structure you choose, you’ll find the opportunity to earn more than 1x points on your spending to be rare. It’s possible to earn up to 1.25x points on your housing payment, but only under certain circumstances: If your rent payment is $1,300, for instance, you’ll need to use the card to cover at least $1,300 in non-rent expenses in that billing period. Otherwise, your housing reward rate drops, potentially to as low as 0.5 points per dollar.
Downgrades From Previous Bilt Mastercard
The discontinued Bilt Mastercard offered elevated bonus points in certain rewards categories — 3x points on dining and 2x on travel — that aren’t present on the Bilt Blue Card. The former card also stood out for offering primary rental car insurance — a rare perk for a no-annual-fee card. That benefit, too, is gone with the Bilt Blue Card, which offers less valuable secondary car rental protection.
Offers Some Rewards That Regularly Expire
Any Bilt Cash balance over $100 expires at the end of each calendar year.
Who Is the Bilt Blue Card Best For?
The Bilt Blue Card is best for consumers who aren’t intimidated by a complicated rewards system. It’ll provide the highest payoff (with the least math) to users who, with their regular monthly spending, would unlock the 1.25x points rate on housing expenses.
The card is also a good fit for consumers interested in entering the world of travel loyalty point transfers. Bilt points can be transferred to a number of airline and hotel loyalty programs, including United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards and World of Hyatt.
Is It the Right Card for You?
Bilt’s ecosystem still lets you earn credit card points on housing payments without a fee (but who says you have to get points on your rent?). The Bilt Blue Card may be a good fit for you if:
- You own and make housing payments on multiple properties
- You don’t want to pay an annual fee
- You’re game to learn a somewhat complicated rewards system
Alternatives to the Bilt Blue Card
If you’re looking for a simpler setup that is still rewarding, one of the following cards (none of which charge an annual fee) may be a better fit for you.
- Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: This card is the substitute Wells Fargo is providing to soon-to-be-former Bilt Mastercard customers (including myself). This no-annual-fee travel credit card earns 3x points on dining, travel, gas station spending, transit, streaming service spending and phone plan expenses. I’m considering giving it a spin for that transit rewards rate.
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: This is a no-annual-fee, no-foreign-transaction-fee card that offers simple, flat-rate cash back: 1.5% on all spending (plus 5% back on eligible bookings through Capital One Travel).
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: If you’re looking to ease your way into a well-established credit card ecosystem, the Freedom Unlimited provides a solid introduction to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® universe.
Card Details From Cardless
- $0 annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cellular Telephone Protection
- Access to Neighborhood Benefits program™
- Cardholder exclusive — Pay rent and mortgage with no transaction fee
How Does the Bilt Blue Stack Up Against Competitors?
Although the Bilt Blue Card offers points on housing payments, many other cards let consumers earn cash back or points on spending. Here’s how it compares to other popular no-annual-fee rewards credit cards.
| Bilt Blue Card | Wells Fargo Autograph Card | Capital One Quicksilver Card | |
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Welcome Bonus | Get $100 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved. Terms apply | Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value. | Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening |
| APR | 10.00% Introductory APR applies to Purchases that post to your account during the first 12 billing cycles after the date you open your account. After that, a 26.74% to 34.74% Variable APR will apply to Purchases based on your creditworthiness. A 26.74% to 34.74% Variable APR applies to Balance Transfers based on your creditworthiness. | 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, followed by a 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR. A 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR will apply for balance transfers. | 0% intro on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable) |
| Rewards | Earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments Earn 1X points + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases | Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases. | Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| Standout Feature | Earn points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fees | High rewards rates in useful bonus categories | Straightforward rewards system |
The information related to Bilt Mastercard®** and Bilt Blue Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Bilt Blue Card
What are the downsides of the Bilt Card?
The Bilt Blue Card’s downsides include its complicated rewards system and lack of bonus reward categories.
Is the Bilt Card shutting down?
Wells Fargo’s Bilt Mastercard will shut down and go offline in early February 2026. Bilt is introducing a three-card lineup in its stead, including the Bilt Blue Card.
Can I pay a mortgage with a Bilt Card?
The Bilt Blue Card is designed to reward housing expenses with no fees, including mortgage payments and rent.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.
