How to Earn BILT Points with Rakuten (no credit card required)

If you’ve followed my Lazy Lauren journey for a while, you know that most of our nearly-free travel comes from credit card welcome bonuses.

But I hear this from readers all the time:

“I don’t want to open another credit card.”
or
“I’m just getting started and want something simpler.”

That’s why I got so excited when Rakuten first partnered with Bilt Rewards — you could earn valuable transferable travel points through Rakuten shopping without opening a credit card. Both accounts are completely free, and it was one of the easiest ways to start earning travel rewards.

But there’s been an important update I need to share, because the rules have changed as of May 15, 2026. Here’s what you need to know — and how I’m personally navigating it.

Feel free to jump to the Step-by-Step instructions to set up Rakuten – Here.

⚠️ Important Update: What Changed with Rakuten + Bilt (May 2026)

Here’s the deal: Bilt has introduced status-based earning rates for Rakuten payouts, and it affects how many Bilt points you earn from your Rakuten shopping.

Before May 15, 2026: Everyone earned 1,000 Bilt points per $10 in Rakuten cash back — regardless of Bilt status. That’s a clean 1:1 rate (100 points per $1).

After May 15, 2026: Your earning rate depends on your Bilt status tier:

🔵 Blue (no status) — 50 points per $1 in Rakuten cash back (a 50% reduction)
⬆️ Silver, Gold, or Platinum — 100 points per $1 in Rakuten cash back (no change)

Translation: if you’re a basic free Bilt member with no status, you now earn half as many points from your Rakuten shopping trips. That’s a significant cut.

What Is Bilt Status — and How Do You Get It?

Bilt has four status tiers. You automatically start at Blue. Here’s what it takes to level up:

🔵 Blue — Everyone starts here (no requirement)
🥈 Silver — Earn 50,000 qualifying Bilt points in a calendar year, OR spend $10,000 through the Bilt ecosystem
🥇 Gold — Earn 125,000 qualifying Bilt points, OR spend $25,000 through the Bilt ecosystem
💎 Platinum — Earn 200,000 qualifying Bilt points, OR spend $50,000 through the Bilt ecosystem

Status is earned by the calendar year and lasts through the end of the following year (plus a grace period through January 15). So status earned any time in 2026 stays active through January 15, 2028.

The most practical ways to earn Bilt status without spending a fortune:

Earning points on rent payments through the Bilt app
Opening a Bilt credit card (the Bilt Palladium Card welcome offer currently includes Gold status through the end of 2027)
Shopping through the Bilt dining network, Bilt Travel Portal, or other eligible spending

Important note: You do not need a Bilt credit card to have a Bilt account or earn Rakuten points. But without at least Silver status, you’re now earning at a reduced Rakuten rate.

My Honest Take (and What I’m Doing)

Here’s where I’m at personally: I haven’t opened a Bilt credit card, and I’m currently sitting at Blue status. That means I’d be earning at the reduced 50-points-per-$1 rate going forward.

For me, that math doesn’t add up — not when there’s a simpler option sitting right there.

My plan: I’m switching my Rakuten payout to American Express Membership Rewards points.

The Amex option still pays 100 points per $1 (the same rate Bilt Silver+ members get), with zero status requirements. As long as you have an eligible Amex Membership Rewards card — like the Amex Gold or Amex Platinum — you can link it to Rakuten and earn Amex points at the full rate, no strings attached.

Amex Membership Rewards are genuinely some of the most flexible travel points out there. You can transfer them to airline and hotel partners including Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Delta SkyMiles, Hilton Honors, and more. Not quite the same lineup as Bilt, but more than enough to book incredible award travel.

If I eventually decide to open a Bilt credit card to earn Silver+ status and the Bilt transfer partners become a priority for me, I can always switch back. But for now, Amex is my backup plan — and it’s a solid one.

If you don’t have an eligible Amex card, you have two paths:

Pursue Bilt Silver status (through rent payments, the Bilt card, or ecosystem spending)
Switch your Rakuten payout to Amex Membership Rewards if you have an eligible card

Either way, keeping your Rakuten payout set to Bilt at Blue status is now the least efficient option of the three.

What is Rakuten?

Rakuten is a free shopping portal that gives you rewards when you shop online. Instead of going directly to a store’s website, you simply:

Log into Rakuten
Search for the store you want
Click Shop Now
Complete your purchase

Rakuten tracks your purchase and gives you a reward. Rakuten partners with thousands of stores, including:

Target
Instacart
Nike
Sephora
Apple
Best Buy
Macy’s
Expedia
…and hundreds more

Traditionally, Rakuten rewards users with cash back. But there are also options to earn Bilt travel points or American Express Membership Rewards points instead.

What is Bilt Rewards?

Bilt Rewards is a flexible travel rewards program. Flexible points are some of the most valuable travel rewards because you can transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners.

These points can be redeemed for:

✈️ Flights 🏨 Hotel stays 🌍 Travel experiences

Creating a Bilt account is completely free. And you can still earn Bilt points through Rakuten shopping even without a credit card — as long as you pay attention to the new status rules above.

Bilt Transfer Partners

One reason Bilt points are so valuable is their strong list of airline and hotel transfer partners. All partners transfer at a 1:1 ratio (one Bilt point = one airline mile or hotel point), except Accor Live Limitless which transfers at a 3:2 ratio.

Hotel Partners

Airline Partners

These partners allow you to book flights and hotels all over the world using points.

What About American Express Membership Rewards?

If you have an eligible Amex Membership Rewards card, this is a fantastic alternative — and honestly, my current go-to while I’m at Blue Bilt status.

To earn Amex points through Rakuten, you need: An eligible American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points. This includes the Amex Gold Card, Amex Platinum Card, Amex Green Card, and other personal or business Membership Rewards cards. Co-branded Amex cards (like the Delta or Hilton cards) do not qualify.

Once linked, you earn 1 Membership Rewards point per 1% cash back — the same 100-points-per-$1 rate as Bilt Silver+ members. So if Rakuten is showing 8% cash back at a store, you’d earn 8X Amex points per dollar spent.

Amex transfer partners include:

Amex points are consistently valued among the best in the industry — perfect for booking business class flights, hotel stays, and more.

One thing to know: Amex requires an eligible Membership Rewards card to participate. You can link it directly in your Rakuten account settings. Switching between Bilt and Amex is straightforward in your settings, so don’t feel locked in.

Why I Still Love Using Points for Hyatt

Whether I’m earning Bilt or Amex points, one of my favorite redemptions is transferring to World of Hyatt (available through both programs!).

Hyatt is one of the most valuable hotel loyalty programs because award nights start at just 5,000 points per night. That means even a small Rakuten payout can be enough for a free hotel stay.

My family has stayed at some incredible Hyatt resorts using points:

Grand Hyatt Kauai (Hawaii), Park Hyatt Beaver Creek (Colorado), Coconut Point Resort & Spa (Florida) & Andaz Costa Rica…ALL booked with points.

These types of stays are exactly why I love earning flexible travel rewards — through Rakuten and beyond.

How to Set This Up (Step-by-Step)

Here’s exactly how to get started, depending on which payout option makes sense for you.

Step 1: Create a Free Rakuten Account

If you use my referral link, you’ll receive a $50 bonus after your first purchase (currently extended through June 30, 2026). You can choose to receive that bonus as:

$50 cash back
5,000 Bilt points
5,000 Amex Membership Rewards points

5,000 points in either program can be enough for a free Hyatt hotel night.

Create account & Get your Bonus HERE!

Step 2a: Earn Bilt Points (If You Have Silver Status or Higher)

If you have Bilt Silver, Gold, or Platinum status, you’ll earn the full 100-points-per-$1 rate. Here’s how to connect:

Create your free Bilt account at BILTREWARDS.com — you do NOT need the Bilt credit card.

Then inside your Bilt account: go to Rewards → Everyday Rewards → Rakuten and link your accounts. Once connected, your Rakuten payouts will automatically come as Bilt points.

My recent payout from everyday expenses!

Step 2b: Earn Amex Points (The No-Status-Required Option)

If you have an eligible Amex Membership Rewards card and are Blue Bilt status (or don’t have a Bilt account), this is the smarter move right now:

Log into your Rakuten account
Click your name (top right) → Account Settings
Scroll to “How would you like to get paid?”
Select Switch to Membership Rewards® points
Log into your American Express account to link it

That’s it! You’ll now earn Amex points on every Rakuten shopping trip at the full 100-points-per-$1 rate — no status required.

Note: Rakuten pays out quarterly — around February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15. You need at least $5.01 in confirmed earnings to receive a payout (smaller balances roll to the next quarter).

Step 3: Shop and Earn

After your accounts are connected, earning points is simple:

Log into Rakuten
Search for the store where you want to shop
Click Shop Now
Complete your purchase as normal
Rakuten tracks the purchase and sends the points to your chosen program

That’s it. You’re now earning flexible travel rewards from everyday shopping.

Quick Summary: Which Payout Should You Choose?

✅ Bilt Silver, Gold, or Platinum status → Stick with Bilt! You get the full rate + great transfer partners including Hyatt.
✅ Bilt Blue status + an eligible Amex card → Switch to Amex Membership Rewards. Same full earning rate, no status needed.
✅ Bilt Blue status + no Amex card → Either pursue Silver status (through rent, Bilt card spending, etc.) or consider opening an Amex Membership Rewards card.
⚠️ Bilt Blue status with no plan to change → You’re now earning at half the rate. It’s worth revisiting your setup.

Why This Strategy Is Still Perfect for Beginners

Even with these new rules, this is still one of the easiest ways to start earning travel rewards:

✔ No credit card required (for either Rakuten or a basic Bilt account)
✔ No annual fees
✔ Completely free accounts
✔ Earn points from everyday purchases
✔ Multiple payout options to fit your situation

The key is just knowing which option makes the most sense for you — and now you do.

Get Started

So what are you waiting for?! Even with the updated rules, Rakuten is still one of the easiest ways to stack points on purchases you were already making. Just make sure you’re set up with the right payout method for your situation.

Let me know if you have any questions — I’m happy to help you figure out which path makes the most sense for you!

Happy earning and safe travels, friends! ✈️