Bilt Rewards and Rakuten – one of our favorites online shopping portals – just announced a new partnership. Through this partnership, you can redeem Rakuten cash back rewards for Bilt Points.
Bilt founder and CEO Ankur Jain wrote in a press release: “We’re thrilled to launch this partnership today, just as the holiday shopping season gathers pace. From now on, whether you’re furnishing your apartment, shopping for the holidays, or checking off items on your weekly to-do list, you’ll be earning points that can book you a flight to Tokyo, help you cover next month’s rent, or unlock exclusive experiences. The integration is seamless: link your accounts, shop as you normally would via Bilt or Rakuten and reap your rewards. This is the gift that keeps on giving.”
As Jain said, you can discover and shop Rakuten deals directly within the Bilt app, or you can shop through the Rakuten website, browser extension, or app. Regardless of how you shop Rakuten offers, you can earn cash back rewards that you can then redeem for Bilt points.
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However, you will need to link your Rakuten account through the Bilt app. Once you do, select “Bilt Points” as your Rakuten payment method and then shop through Rakuten as you normally would. Since Bilt points are your Rakuten payment method, you’ll automatically earn Bilt points each quarter (since Rakuten has a quarterly payment schedule).
To be clear, you will only be able to earn Bilt Points as a Rakuten payment method for purchases once you link your accounts and select Bilt Points as a payment method. And there are some limited-time offers for members to link their accounts and opt to earn Bilt points when using Rakuten.
During the first six months, everyone Bilt Member Status Levels You will enjoy a 1:1 conversion ratio. This 1:1 conversion ratio means that $10 in Rakuten cash back will be equal to 1,000 Bilt points. After that point, Bilt members with Blue status will receive 50 Bilt points per dollar in Rakuten cash back, and Bilt members with Silver status or higher will continue to receive 100 Bilt points per dollar in Rakuten cash back.
Additionally, Bilt members will earn an additional 2,500 Bilt points when they sign up for Rakuten through the Bilt app and then make a qualifying purchase of $25 or more. Please note that this bonus applies to new Rakuten members only.
Should you link your Rakuten and Bilt Rewards accounts?
Rakuten lets you earn cash back rewards at thousands of online retailers. However, for most points and miles enthusiasts, opting to earn Amex points instead of Rakuten cash back has been a lucrative option for earning rewards. You’ll earn 100 Amex points for every dollar spent on Rakuten cash back.
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But with Rakuten’s new partnership with Bilt, should your income option change?
Since TPG values Amex points at 2 cents each, according to our November 2025 report ratings100 Amex points equal $2.
For the first six months, Bilt members will earn 100 points for every dollar spent on Rakuten cash back. Therefore, 100 Bilt points are equal to $2.20, based on our November 2025 valuations, where we value Bilt points at 2.2 cents each. However, after the six-month promotional period, Bilt’s Blue (entry-level) status members will only earn 50 Bilt points per dollar spent, which is valued at $1.10.
While earning Membership Rewards points through Rakuten can generate higher value for those without Bilt status, the latter has 22 airline and hotel transfer partners compared to Amex’s 20 partners. Additionally, to earn Membership Rewards points, you must have an existing eligible Amex card, while Bilt does not require members to be cardholders to earn rewards points.
So, for those who don’t have an eligible Amex card or for those who value travel rewards points over cash back, earning Bilt points could be a great option.
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In a nutshell
Overall, Bilt continues to establish itself as a stronghold within the rewards space, driving innovation in the ways members can earn and redeem points.
Bilt’s partnership with Rakuten is yet another example of how members can earn valuable rewards without having to open or spend with a credit card. For those looking to earn transferable rewards, linking your Bilt and Rakuten accounts is an easy (and potentially profitable) step in your points journey.
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