Rakuten Cashback now transfers to Bilt at 1:1 ratio

Bilt members can now convert their Rakuten cash back into Bilt Points at a 1:1 rate for the first six months. That means $10 in Rakuten cash back equals 1,000 Bilt Points.

New Rakuten users who sign up through the Bilt app get 2,500 bonus Bilt Points after their first qualifying purchase of $25 or more. That's roughly $45 to $55 worth of travel value for spending 25 bucks.

The bonus requires a qualifying purchase within the promotional period, so acting quickly locks in the value.

Points Value

Bilt Points typically value around 1.8 to 2.2 cents each when transferred to airline and hotel partners. So that $10 in Rakuten cash back could be worth $18 to $22 in travel value with smart redemptions. Understanding how to calculate cents per point helps determine the actual value of this partnership.

The partnership gives Bilt's 5 million members access to over 3,500 stores through Rakuten. Members can shop through the Bilt app directly or use Rakuten's website, browser extension, or mobile app.

Important caveat

After six months, the conversion rate changes based on Bilt status tier.

• Blue members will get 50 Bilt Points per dollar of Rakuten cash back
• Silver, Gold, and Platinum members keep the 1:1 rate of 100 points per dollar.

Rakuten converts cash back to Bilt Points on their standard quarterly payout schedule. Members need to link their Rakuten account through the Bilt app and select Bilt Points as their payment method.

Set up

The process is straightforward. Open the Bilt app, link a Rakuten account, and choose Bilt Points as the redemption preference. Shop at any participating Rakuten store, and cash back automatically converts to points.

New Rakuten users can create an account directly through the Bilt app. The Bilt Mastercard isn't required to participate For those new to credit card points and how they work, this partnership offers a simple entry point into earning travel rewards.

Stacking Points

Black Friday and Cyber Monday typically feature elevated Rakuten cash back rates at many retailers. Rates often jump from 2% to 10% or higher during major sales events.

You can stack this with credit card rewards. For example, shopping at a retailer offering 10% back through Rakuten plus 2% from a credit card nets 12% total, with the Rakuten portion converting to valuable Bilt Points.

Best transfer partners for Bilt Points

Flying Blue offers excellent redemption rates for transatlantic travel. Business class seats to Europe start at 50,000 points one way during off peak periods. The best ways to fly to Europe using points guide breaks down all the top redemption options.

For domestic travel, transferring to Alaska Airlines provides strong value. Alaska's Mileage Plan offers competitive award pricing and access to multiple airline partners across Oneworld and beyond.

World of Hyatt remains one of the best hotel transfer partners. Category 1 hotels start at just 5,000 points per night, meaning relatively small amounts of Rakuten cash back can translate into free hotel stays.

Finding availability

Finding award flight availability can be hard, but Bilt has great transfer partners. You can use Roame's SkyView tool searches real-time availability across multiple airlines and shows exactly what can be booked with points.

The platform covers over 28 airline loyalty programs in a single search, eliminating the need to check each program individually.

Filter by cabin class, track specific routes, and set up award flight alerts when award space opens up.

Final thoughts

This partnership is another great way of earning Bilt points and makes the most sense for online shoppers not currently using a cash back portal.