Is it recommended to pay rent with a credit card?

Though it is possible to pay rent with a credit card, it may have more hidden costs than you think. If your landlord or management company does let you pay with a credit card, it's likely with an added charge to cover their transaction fees. However, it can be a useful option for convenience or to earn points with your rewards credit card.

Advertiser Disclosure

Can You Pay Rent With a Credit Card?

Q: Does paying the rent with a credit card affect your credit score?

No. Using your credit card to make rent payments can help you avoid late payment fees and you won't damage your credit score. However, make sure you pay it off as soon as your paycheck arrives. Otherwise, you'll have to pay interest on your rent.

December 2, 2023

6 min Read

Written by Caitlyn Moorhead

Edited by Lindsey Kloosterman

Millennial married couple sitting on couch with computer and documents, reading received formal letter from bank loan mortgage information, contract terms and conditions discuss papers working concept.

fizkes / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed
by Experts

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

When your paycheck is delayed, or you don’t have enough cash to cover your expenses, a credit card comes in handy. You can use a credit card to make a wide variety of payments 一 from everyday purchases to monthly bills and utilities.

Today, you can even use credit cards to pay rent. The convenience of not having to mail in a check every month makes this a popular option. You’ll also be able to rack up points or miles on your credit card with this method.

Paying Rent With a Credit Card: What You Should Know

The short answer is yes, but for a small service fee. If your landlord or property manager accepts credit card payments for rent, you’re lucky because you likely won’t incur a ton of fees. You could pay a processing fee of 2.5% to about 2.9% that landlords often pass to renters, according to CNBC.

On the other hand, if your landlord doesn’t accept credit card payments, you can use third-party online services to pay your rent. These services will also charge you a processing fee, which will be determined by your service provider. For example, Plastiq charges a 2.9% service fee for every rent payment.

How To Make Rent Payments With Your Credit Card

The most convenient way to pay your rent using your credit card is by making a direct payment to your landlord or property manager. Often, landlords will set up online payment portals or use payment apps like Venmo or Cash App. If your landlord accepts this option, be sure you ask about the processing fees.

Today's Top Offers

5 Services That Help You Pay Rent With Your Credit Card

Many landlords or property managers don’t accept credit card payments for rent. However, several third-party services will let you use your credit card to make rent payments or increase your credit utilization. Some of these services require landlords’ involvement while others don’t. Here are some of the services you may want to consider.

Plastiq: Plastiq is a bill payment service that lets you charge bills and utilities, such as rent, to your credit card and then sends payment to the recipient via check, wire transfer, or Automated Clearing House transfer. Your landlord doesn’t have to open a Plastiq account to receive payment. Plastiq charges a 2.9% processing fee.
Bilt Mastercard: Bilt Rewards is a card designed for renters. You can earn points on rent with no transaction fee. Not only can you earn points on rent, but also travel and dining. Terms may apply with credit card rewards so make sure you are covered.
RentTrack: This is another online service that will allow you to pay rent using your credit card. It charges a transaction fee for every credit card payment and $6.95 for ACH payments. RentTrack will also help you improve your credit profile by reporting your rent payments to three major credit bureaus 一 Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
RentMoola: A payment network like RentTrack that allows you to pay rent with a credit card. You can schedule one-time payments every month using your preferred payment method. It charges a fee per transaction for Visa and Mastercard credit as well as prepaid debit cards and a 3.99% transaction fee for American Express® Member FDIC credit cards. There are also various other service fees and minimum spending requirements depending on your card or transaction type.
PlacePay: PlacePay charges a flat fee of $1.95 per ACH payment or 2.99% for every debit card or credit card payment. It allows you to split the cost of rent with roommates, and everyone can choose their preferred payment method. The platform will also send you reminders every month, so you never miss a payment; plus, you can also schedule automatic payments.

Paying Rent With a Credit Card: Pros and Cons

Paying your rent with plastic may seem like a convenient option, but it comes with drawbacks as well. Therefore, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons to ensure that you’re not losing money in the end on your credit card bill. Here are some key takeaways:

Flexibility

If you’re running low on cash, paying your rent with a credit card can be a great alternative. Let’s say your rent is coming soon, your paycheck is delayed, you don’t want to tap into your savings, and you recently depleted your emergency fund.

In this case, using your credit card to make rent payments can help you avoid late payment fees. Plus, you won’t damage your credit score. However, make sure you pay it off as soon as your paycheck arrives. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay interest on your rent.

Earn Rewards

Using your credit card to pay rent can earn you several rewards for every dollar you spend 一 cash back, points and miles. Other credit cards offer sign-up bonuses for opening a new account and reaching a minimum spending limit within a specific period.

Better Alternative to a Personal Loan

Taking out a personal loan to pay your rent can be a bad idea because such loans come with high interest rates. Other lenders will even go to the extent of charging a prepayment penalty if you pay off your loan early.

Like anything else, paying your rent with a credit card has drawbacks:

High Fees

The processing fee charged by landlords and online third-party services is relatively high. Even if you use your rewards to cover the fees, this is still an expensive payment option.

Increase Your Credit Utilization

A credit utilization ratio is the percentage of your total available credit limit. Using your credit card to pay rent every month could lead to a high credit utilization ratio. A good credit utilization ratio is less than 30% 一 keeping this ratio low can improve your credit score.

Risk Maxing Out Your Credit Card

You can quickly max out your credit card if you use it for large expenses like rent each month. This will prevent you from using your credit card for other purchases and could even damage your credit score.

Final Take To GO

Paying your rent with a credit card is convenient, but it also comes with drawbacks. It’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons of paying rent with a credit card to ensure that you’re not losing a lot of money in the end. Some of the factors to consider include fees, interest payments, and the impact they can have on your credit score.

Lydia Kibet contributed to the reporting for this article.

Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy.