Updated January 2026
Earn Bilt Points Through Rakuten (No Credit Card Required): How It Works & Who Should Switch
You can now earn Bilt Points when shopping at your favorite retailers and merchants through Rakuten — one of the easiest and most underrated ways to rack up rewards without swiping a credit card.
Rakuten has long been one of my favorite shopping portals for stacking points and miles on purchases I was already planning to make. Up until recently, I earned American Express Membership Rewards® points, racking up over 650,000 Amex points since 2023 from everyday online shopping alone.
With this latest update, you can now choose to earn Bilt Points instead, earning 1,000 Bilt Points for every $10 in Rakuten cash back value — without needing a credit card at all.
Here’s what to know, how to link your accounts, and how it compares to Amex.
Why Bilt Points Are So Valuable
Bilt Rewards are some of the highest-value transferable points in the travel space, currently worth around 2.2 cents per point (2.2¢ per point). That valuation is based on transferring points to airline and hotel partners rather than redeeming for cash or merchandise.
Their lineup includes transfer partners such as:
- World of Hyatt
- Alaska Airlines (Atomos)
- United Airlines
- Emirates Skywards
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Aeroplan, British Airways, IHG, and more
These partners make Bilt one of the strongest currencies for both domestic and international travelers.
Through the May 15, 2026 payout (covering Q1 2026 earnings), all Bilt Rewards members — regardless of status tier — earn at a full 1:1 conversion rate, meaning $10 in Rakuten cash back = 1,000 Bilt Points.
After the May 15, 2026, payout, conversion rates will depend on your Bilt status tier:
| Bilt Tier | Conversion Rate | Example: $10 in Rakuten Cash Back = |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | 0.5:1 | 500 Bilt Points |
| Silver | 1:1 | 1,000 Bilt Points |
| Gold | 1:1 | 1,000 Bilt Points |
| Platinum | 1:1 | 1,000 Bilt Points |
If you’re Blue status and don’t plan to earn higher status, this makes the current earning window especially important. That’s exactly how I’m approaching it — stacking as many Bilt Points as possible now at full value, then reassessing later whether it makes more sense to switch back to earning Amex Membership Rewards once the tiered rates apply.
What Is Rakuten?
If you’re new to Rakuten, it’s an online shopping portal (formerly known as Ebates) that gives you rewards for purchases made through their site.
Rakuten partners with thousands of retailers — from Nike, Target, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Apple, and more — allowing you to earn:
- Cash Back
- Amex Membership Rewards points, or
- Bilt Points (newly added option)
Click through Rakuten before completing your purchase, and your earnings will be automatically tracked.
February 2026 Bilt payout from Q4 2025 earnings
$530.40 = 53,040 Bilt Points
New to Rakuten? Earn 5,000 Points
If you’re not signed up for Rakuten yet, you can earn 5,000 bonus points when you join using my link here and complete your first qualifying purchase.
Just signing up and making your first $50 purchase is enough to earn Bilt Rewards points that can cover a one-way flight from Chicago to New York City when booked with Alaska Airlines saver fares.
How to Link Your Rakuten and Bilt Accounts
The linking process is simple — but there’s one major requirement: your email addresses must match on both platforms.
Here’s how to do it step-by-step:
- Visit https://www.biltrewards.com/p/rakuten
- Select “Join Now“
- Log in or create a Bilt Rewards account
- Choose to sign in or join Rakuten (make sure you use my link here for 5,000 bonus points)
- Confirm your Bilt and Rakuten email addresses match
Once connected, your Rakuten dashboard will show “Bilt Cash” instead of “Cash Back.”
From there, all qualifying purchases you make through Rakuten will earn Bilt Points instead of cash back or Amex Membership Rewards.
Earning Bilt Points vs. Amex Membership Rewards: Should You Make the Switch?
The earning rates between Amex and Bilt through Rakuten are identical — both convert Rakuten’s portal cash back into a points currency. The real difference lies in which ecosystem your rewards feed into.
| Program | Earning Source | Transfer Ratio | Notable Partners | Requires a Credit Card? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten → Amex MR | Shopping via Rakuten | 100 Amex Points per $1 | ANA, Air France, Delta, Marriott | ✅ Yes – Amex MR-earning card required |
| Rakuten → Bilt Points | Shopping via Rakuten | 100 Bilt Points per $1 (1:1 through 5/15/26 payout) | Hyatt, United, Alaska (Atomos), Emirates, Virgin Atlantic | ❌ No – Only need a Bilt account |
In short:
- Both earn the same base value.
- Amex offers broader transfer flexibility — but you need a qualifying Amex card.
- Bilt gives non-cardholders a new way to earn valuable travel rewards without applying for credit.
That last point is huge. For many people, this is their first opportunity to earn premium, transferable rewards without a credit inquiry, annual fee, or minimum spend requirement.
Who This Strategy Is Best For
Earning Bilt Points through Rakuten isn’t just for advanced points collectors — it’s especially powerful for:
- Anyone who wants to earn points and miles without opening a credit card
- Beginners who aren’t ready for travel credit cards yet
- Renters or travelers who value Hyatt, United, or Alaska Airlines
- Shoppers who already use Rakuten and want more flexibility
If you already earn heavily with Amex Membership Rewards and prefer that ecosystem long-term, this may not replace Amex permanently — but during the current 1:1 window, it’s absolutely worth testing.
Final Thoughts
The new partnership between Bilt and Rakuten is one of the most valuable updates in the rewards space this year — especially because it allows you to earn high-value, transferable points without a credit card.
With the confirmed 1:1 earning window through the May 15, 2026 payout, this is an ideal time to build a meaningful Bilt balance, particularly if you value hotel stays, premium flights, or Rent Day transfer bonuses. I’m personally stacking as many Bilt Points as possible while the full rate is available and will reassess once the tiered conversion rates apply. This strategy won’t be optimal forever — but right now, it’s absolutely worth taking advantage of.
If you’ve been using Rakuten to earn Amex points, it’s definitely worth trying out this new collaboration—especially for rewards with World of Hyatt, Alaska Airlines (via Atomos), and the generous Rent Day transfer bonuses, which recently included a 100% bonus for transfers to Etihad Airways.
Bilt November Rent Day: Up to 100% Transfer Bonus to Etihad Guest (One Day Only)
What are your thoughts? Will you be making the switch?
