How To Pay My Rent Online
Splitting the restaurant bill, catching an Uber, or grabbing takeout can all be done with a couple of taps on your smartphone. Paying rent online should be just as easy.
Quick Answer
You pay rent online through PayRent by accepting an invitation from your landlord, then linking a bank account or credit/debit card in your renter dashboard. Once connected, you can schedule payments automatically, track your balance in real time, and — after three on-time payments — opt in to have your rent reported to all three credit bureaus for free through RentCred™. If your landlord hasn’t set up PayRent yet, you can invite them in under a minute.
Pay Rent Online, Earn Rewards
RentCred™ is a rewards program that rewards renters for consistently paying rent on time. Here’s what’s in it for you:
- A Credit Boost — Start getting credit for one of your biggest expenses! After you’ve made three on-time payments on our platform, you’ll have the option to report your rent payments to the credit bureaus at no cost.
- Flexible payment splitting — Through RentCred™, split rent into 2, 3, or 4 installments across the month via our partner Livble. Your landlord is paid in full upfront; a $30 fee applies.
- Late payment forgiveness — If you have a solid history of on time rent payments, we'll work with your landlord to forgive a late payment fee.
Definition
RentCred™ is PayRent’s rewards program for renters. It reports on-time rent payments to all three credit bureaus for free, can work with your landlord toward late-fee forgiveness for a strong payment history, and — powered by our partner Livble — lets eligible renters split their rent into installments paid back over the month for a $30 fee.
More Ways To Pay
Forget writing a check, getting cash, buying a money order, or running your payment to the office before closing. With PayRent, you can pay your rent online with any connected device.
- Pay Rent with your bank account — Forget paper checks. Securely connect your bank account and send your payment directly to your landlord with an ACH transfer.
- Pay Rent with a credit card — Trying to rack up those rewards points or tide over a cash flow shortage? Paying your rent with a credit card is fast and secure. PayRent accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit cards.
Put Away That Checkbook For Good
Paying Rent Online Saves Time, Money, and Trees
Accept your invitation
Your landlord will send you an invitation by email or text to sign up and set up your rent payments. Click on the link in that email, enter your name and email address and you’re in!
Add your payment methods
Choose to add your bank information, credit card number, or both. After choosing your payment scheduling options, you’re all set to pay rent automatically. No more checks, stamps, or last-minute dashes to your landlord’s office.
Splitting rent with roommates? Use the free Rent Split Calculator to divide costs fairly based on room size and amenities before you set up payments.
Additional Benefits of Paying Rent Online
While landlords do benefit from collecting rent online, the benefits don’t stop there. Tenants also see several benefits when they’re allowed to pay rent online.
Key Insight
You don’t need your landlord to already use PayRent to get started. Inviting them takes under a minute, and you can begin building payment history — and credit — as soon as they accept.
Rent Reporting to Credit Bureaus
Rent is most often the largest monthly expense that tenants pay. Renters get rewarded for paying their credit card and car payments, so why shouldn’t they be rewarded for paying their rent on time? Through PayRent, tenants can enjoy a boost to their credit score just for paying their rent.
Account Balance Tracking
Renters no longer have to wonder about the status of their accounts. Online rent payment platforms allow them to see exactly how much they owe at any given time and even show upcoming charges and payments. These accessible digital records ensure that landlords and renters are on the same page.
Secure Rent Payments
When Renters pay rent online, their payments are much more secure than paying by check or cash. Cash and Money orders are easily lost, and banking information displayed on the bottom of paper checks leaves the renter more likely to become a target for fraud.
Convenience
Landlords who allow their renters to pay rent online show respect for the renter’s schedule and time. Tenants can pay their rent when it is convenient for them to do so. There is no frustration at the bank or property office being closed. Instead of writing and mailing a check, they can submit their rent payment on their phone while they enjoy their morning coffee. Better yet, renters can schedule payments to process on the date of their choosing automatically.
Fewer Late Fees
Because online rent payments allow renters to pay rent on their schedule, they’re less likely to be charged a late fee due to a circumstance beyond their control. Rent reminders and automatic payments give tenants the tools they need to make their payments on time, every time.
Payment Flexibility
While most independent landlords don’t have the means to accept credit card payments, those using an online rent collection can. If renters are worried about their cash flow for a month or two, they can pay rent with a credit card instead of leaving their landlord hanging or taking out an expensive payday loan. While most rent payment platforms charge a fee for credit card payments, the cost is lower than a late fee or a bounced check fee in most situations.
Pay Your Rent in Installments with Livble
RentCred™ doesn’t stop at credit reporting. Through our RentCred partnership with Livble, eligible renters can split a month’s rent into 2, 3, or 4 smaller installments for a flat $30 fee. Livble pays your landlord the full rent amount upfront, so your payment is never late, and you repay Livble on a schedule that fits your income. Eligibility is based on real-time cash-flow data rather than credit score alone, with approval typically taking under a minute. Livble is offered through Lvble LLC (loans originated by Lead Bank) — the partnership behind this RentCred benefit.
Key Takeaways
- You can’t sign up for PayRent as a renter until your landlord’s account exists — invite them directly from this page if they aren’t set up yet.
- Payments go through ACH bank transfer or credit/debit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover).
- After three on-time payments, you can opt in to free rent reporting to all three credit bureaus through RentCred™.
- Through RentCred’s partnership with Livble, eligible renters can split rent into 2–4 installments across the month for a $30 fee — Livble pays the landlord in full upfront.
- Your bank and card details are encrypted — your landlord and PayRent staff never see them.
- Splitting rent with roommates? The Rent Split Calculator divides costs fairly by room size and amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
You might still have a few questions. If we haven’t answered them below, chat with us. We’re here to help!
Does my landlord see my bank or credit card information?
No one can see your bank or credit card information. Once you add it to your payment methods, the information is encrypted and stored in a secure electronic vault at the bank. It is inaccessible by your landlord or anyone at PayRent.
Can I pay my rent with a credit card?
Yes! We take Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express as valid forms of payment. To use a credit card, add one (or more) to your payment methods in your account. Landlords have the ability to turn off credit card acceptance from within their dashboard.
Can I use PayRent to pay my rent online if my landlord hasn’t signed up?
PayRent is designed to help connect landlords and renters securely through our platform. Unfortunately, if your landlord isn’t enrolled, we cannot send them your rent payment. We’d appreciate a referral — use the Invite Your Landlord to PayRent button on this page to send them an invitation directly.
How much does it cost to pay my rent online?
This is determined by your landlord’s settings. They can choose to pay the ACH fees, split them, or pass them along to their tenants. Your renter invitation email will detail what fees, if any, you can expect to pay. Talk with your landlord, or reach our support team through the Contact Us page, to confirm who’s covering the fees on your property.
Can I use more than one payment method for a single rent payment?
This depends on the settings your landlord has for the property. If your landlord is willing to accept partial payments, you can use as many payment sources as necessary to pay your rent. You can store multiple credit cards and bank accounts to give yourself some options when it comes time to pay rent.
Do you keep track of when my payments are received by my landlord?
Yes. We keep a record of each stage a payment goes through, from scheduled to complete, and you can view the payment status from your renter dashboard at any time. If you need a full payment history, our support team can pull that for you — just submit a ticket through the Help Center.
Do you have a mobile app?
We do not have a mobile app at this time. However, PayRent’s website is fully mobile-responsive and easy to use on any smartphone or tablet, so you can pay your rent from anywhere without needing to download anything.
Does PayRent provide a receipt for my rent payment?
PayRent keeps a history of all your payments in your renter dashboard. When a payment is completed you will receive a confirmation email that can serve as a receipt of payment. Your landlord will also be notified each time you submit a rent payment.
Can I pay my rent with Zelle or Venmo?
We wouldn’t recommend it. If you accidentally send money to the wrong person, there is no guarantee that you’ll ever see that money again. PayRent keeps your information safe and secure.
Want the full breakdown? See our comparison of paying rent with Zelle vs. PayRent →