Bilt Credit Card for Internet Bills: Can You Earn Points?

For years, the world of credit card rewards felt like a rigged game for renters. As homeowners earned points on mortgages (through obscure channels) and travelers racked up miles on flights, the single largest monthly expense for millions—rent—was a financial dead zone. Paying rent with a credit card was either impossible or came with crippling fees, effectively locking a huge demographic out of a key wealth-building tool. Then came the Bilt Mastercard, a card that boldly promised points on rent with no transaction fees, shattering that barrier.

But the innovation didn’t stop at the lease agreement. Bilt’s true genius lies in its recognition of a broader, modern truth: for the digital generation, "essential spending" has been radically redefined. In today’s hyper-connected world, a reliable internet connection is not a luxury; it’s the fourth utility, as critical as electricity and water for work, education, social connection, and commerce. This brings us to the pivotal question: Can you earn Bilt points on your internet bill? And if so, how does this fit into a larger strategy for navigating today’s digital economy?

The Digital Lifeline: Internet as a Non-Negotiable Expense

Before diving into the mechanics, it’s essential to understand the context. The past several years have accelerated a permanent shift to a hybrid existence. Remote work, telehealth, streaming entertainment, and global social networks are now woven into the fabric of daily life. This shift has coincided with rising inflation, where the cost of these digital essentials—internet, cellular data, streaming subscriptions—creeps ever upward. For the savvy spender, every dollar paid to these providers represents an opportunity, a stream of spending waiting to be optimized.

Bilt's Bill Pay: The Direct Route to Points on Utilities

Here is the core of the strategy. The Bilt Rewards Alliance, a curated network of merchants, is your golden ticket. While you typically cannot earn points by directly charging your internet bill to your Bilt credit card (it would code as a utility, which is often excluded from bonus categories), Bilt offers a powerful workaround: the Bilt Bill Pay feature.

This isn't a standard bill pay service. You add your internet service provider (e.g., Comcast/Xfinity, Verizon Fios, AT&T Internet) as a payee within the Bilt app. You then use your Bilt credit card to make the payment through this portal. Bilt sends a check or electronic payment on your behalf. Crucially, because this transaction is processed as a "Bill Pay" transaction through Bilt's system, it does earn you 1 point per dollar spent. There are no fees for this service. This transforms a previously non-rewarding expense into a steady drip of points.

Maximizing the Digital Ecosystem: Beyond the Internet Bill

The philosophy of optimizing "digital life" expenses extends far beyond the broadband bill. The Bilt Rewards Alliance and the card’s bonus categories are astutely designed for modern spending.

Streaming Services & Digital Subscriptions

Every month, money flows out for Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, YouTube Premium, and fitness apps. On the 1st of every month, Bilt awards double points (2x) on all purchases—up to 10,000 points—except for rent. This is the perfect time to prepay or charge these subscription services. Stack this with the Bilt Alliance, where partners like Netflix offer bonus points, and your entertainment budget starts funding your next vacation.

Cell Phone Bills: A Major Monthly Outlay

Similar to internet bills, your hefty cell phone payment (for Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.) can be routed through Bilt Bill Pay, earning 1x points and ensuring this essential cost isn't left on the rewards table. In an era of ubiquitous connectivity, this is a significant win.

Ride-Sharing & Mobility

For urban dwellers, transportation means Uber and Lyft. These are also part of the Bilt Rewards Alliance, often offering bonus points. In a world grappling with climate change and urban congestion, leveraging spending on shared mobility for rewards aligns with a conscious, modern lifestyle.

Strategic Earning: Turning Points into Progress

Earning points is only half the battle. Their true value is realized in redemption. Bilt’s ecosystem cleverly addresses both aspirational and practical needs.

Travel in an Era of Experience

Post-pandemic, the desire for travel and experiences remains insatiable. Bilt points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to powerhouse loyalty programs like American Airlines AAdvantage, United MileagePlus, Hyatt, and others. This is where your internet bill literally connects you to the world. The points from a year of paying your internet and cell phone bills could cover a domestic flight segment or several nights at a hotel. In an inflationary environment where travel costs are high, using points for flights and hotels is a form of financial insulation.

Building Financial and Physical Wellness

Bilt’s redemption options reflect a holistic view of wealth. Points can be used for a down payment on a home—a direct link from renting to owning, addressing global housing affordability concerns. They can also be used for fitness classes (e.g., SoulCycle) or meditation app subscriptions, acknowledging that true wealth encompasses physical and mental health. You can even pay student loans with points, tackling one of the great financial burdens of the modern age.

The "First of the Month" Ritual

This unique feature cannot be overstated. By strategically moving non-rent, non-alliance spending (like grocery runs, dining out, or even funding a digital wallet) to the first of the month, you consistently earn double points. This creates a disciplined, rewarding financial ritual, turning ordinary spending into extraordinary earning several times a year.

Navigating the Pitfalls: A Guide for the Smart User

No system is perfect, and maximizing the Bilt card requires awareness.

• The 5-Transaction Rule: To earn any points in a given month—including on rent and Bill Pay—you must make at least five posted transactions on your card in that statement period. This is easily achievable by using Bilt for daily small purchases like coffee, but it’s a crucial detail to remember.
• Bill Pay Timing: Payments via Bill Pay are not instantaneous. You must schedule them well before your actual bill due date to avoid late fees.
• The Rent Payment Proof: Bilt may require proof of your lease or rent payment, a simple but important fraud prevention measure.
• Point Redemption Value: Always research transfer partners for the best value. Transferring to an airline like American Airlines for a premium cabin international flight typically yields far more value per point than using points for e-commerce purchases.

The Bilt Credit Card is more than a tool for renters. It is a financial platform built for a new era, recognizing that our largest expenses are not just physical but digital. By leveraging the Bill Pay feature for your internet and cell phone bills, strategically using the first-of-the-month bonus, and tapping into the Rewards Alliance, you effectively monetize your essential digital infrastructure. In a world of rising costs and digital dependency, the Bilt card offers a compelling proposition: it turns your unavoidable outflows for connectivity and shelter into a flexible currency for experiences, stability, and wellness. It’s a reward system finally built for the way we live now.