How to Link Rakuten to Bilt Rewards (Step by Step)

Rakuten is one of the easiest ways to stack points on top of whatever you’re already earning with your credit card — and if you have a Bilt account, setting it up to earn Bilt Rewards points instead of cash back takes about five minutes. This step-by-step guide walks you through exactly how to do it, including the one detail most people miss that will prevent your accounts from linking at all..

Cash back or points? Choose wisely.

When you sign up, Rakuten will ask how you want to get paid. You can take a “Big Fat Check” (their words — it’s cash back), or you can earn American Express Membership Rewards points or Bilt points. We will always steer you toward points over cash back — the redemption value is almost always significantly higher. To earn Membership Rewards you’ll need an AMEX consumer card, and for Bilt points you’ll need a BILT account. This tutorial covers the Bilt Rewards setup — if you would prefer to link Rakuten to AMEX, please read this post.

Once you’re set up and have the browser extension installed, earning points becomes almost automatic. One thing to know upfront: unlike some other shopping portals, Rakuten pays out quarterly, so it will be a little while before you see points land in your reward account. Worth the wait, though!

Important note on earn rates: Rakuten’s transfer rate to Bilt depends on your Bilt status. Silver, Gold, and Platinum members earn 100 Bilt points per $1 in Rakuten cash back — the full 1:1 rate. Blue members (the free tier everyone starts on) earn 50 points per $1 (as of May 15, 2026). That means if you earn 10x on a Rakuten purchase, Blue members receive 5x Bilt points while status members receive the full 10x. If you’re a Blue member, it’s worth considering whether Amex Membership Rewards is the better choice — Rakuten still transfers to Amex at the full 1:1 rate regardless of status. One way to reach Silver status or higher is by applying for a credit card.

Here’s how to get set up:

1. Create your Rakuten account using this link. You’ll earn a sign-up bonus — and so will we, as a referral — as long as you complete a qualifying purchase within 90 days. The qualifying purchase amount is typically equal to the bonus amount.
2. Once you have both accounts set up, head to the BILT Rewards tab.
3. On the upper right of your screen, toggle from Travel to Everyday Rewards.
4. Scroll down until you find the offer Earn BILT points when you shop with Rakuten.
5. Click Link Account
6. After your accounts are linked, head to the Google Chrome Store and download the Rakuten extension (Chrome is recommended, but Rakuten also has extensions for other browsers)— this is the step that makes everything automatic. You can start at Rakuten.com and click through to each store manually, but the extension eliminates the risk of forgetting entirely. When you visit a participating site, it does the work for you.
7. Now just shop online like you normally would. When you visit a participating site, a pop-up will appear on the right side of your screen prompting you to activate your reward. It may say “cash back” even if you’ve selected BILT Rewards — that’s normal, just activate it.
8. Before you check out, take a moment to read the terms and exclusions on that screen. There are often important conditions worth knowing — certain items or categories are sometimes excluded.
9. After your purchase, you can review your shopping trips anytime under your username. I like to add any purchases to a spreadsheet so I can track my point earnings. Occasionally points don’t show up — we’ll have a post coming soon that walks you through how to retrieve them. In the meantime, save your receipts. I keep mine in a dedicated email folder so I can find what I need quickly when I need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Bilt credit card to earn Bilt points through Rakuten? No — you just need a free Bilt Rewards account. You don’t need the Bilt Mastercard to take advantage of this.

What if my Rakuten and Bilt accounts use different email addresses? The accounts won’t link. You’ll need to update one of them so the email addresses match before you try to connect them. This is the most common reason the setup fails.

Can I switch from cash back to Bilt points after I’ve already signed up for Rakuten? Yes — you can change your payout preference anytime in your Rakuten account settings under “How you’re getting paid.” Any cash back already accrued won’t convert retroactively, but everything going forward will earn Bilt points.

Why does the Rakuten pop-up say “cash back” even though I selected Bilt Rewards? That’s normal. Rakuten’s interface defaults to cash back language in some places even after you’ve switched. As long as your account settings show Bilt Rewards as your selected payout, you’re earning points — just activate the pop-up as usual.

When do my Bilt points from Rakuten actually show up? Rakuten pays out quarterly, so there will be a delay between your purchase and the points landing in your Bilt account. Save your receipts in the meantime so you can follow up if anything doesn’t post.

How many Bilt points do I earn per dollar spent through Rakuten? For the first six months, all members earn at a 1:1 ratio. After that, it depends on your Bilt status — Blue members earn at a reduced rate, while Silver, Gold, and Platinum members keep the full 1:1 value. One easy way to reach status is by applying for the Bilt Mastercard.

Is it better to earn Bilt points or Amex points through Rakuten? It depends on how you plan to redeem. Bilt’s transfer to World of Hyatt is a strong advantage if hotel redemptions are your goal. Bilt also transfers to Alaksa Airlines, which is a unique program with many great redemption opportunities. If you have an Amex card and prefer a broader range of airline partners, Membership Rewards may serve you better. We walk through the Amex setup in this post.

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