RentMerchant

RentMerchant is an online rent collection and property management service for independent landlords, available on the web and iOS. Tenants can pay by bank transfer, debit card, or credit card, either as a one-time payment or through autopay. The system issues monthly invoices and can send payment reminders and apply automatic late fees. Its tenant portal supports payments, payment-history and ledger review, and repair requests. Landlords can accept online applications and obtain electronic lease signatures with an audit trail. Owners can be given read-only access to collections, fees, and net amounts for their property. Reporting includes CSV and Schedule E exports, and landlords can import properties in bulk from CSV. Payments are processed by Stripe; RentMerchant says it does not store raw card or bank numbers, and accounts can enable two-factor login. The Free plan supports up to three properties. Pro costs $15 a month when billed annually, or $20 a month billed month-to-month. On Free, ACH payments cost 0.8% capped at $5 plus a $2 RentMerchant fee; that fee is waived on Pro.

RentMerchant combines rent collection with tenant portals, leasing, and owner reporting for independent landlords. Check the Free plan's property limit and ACH fee against your needs before choosing a plan.

It suits independent landlords who want to collect rent, manage tenant requests, and handle leasing online. Owners who need property-level collections and fee reporting can receive read-only logins.

RentMerchant is a rent-collection and property-management service for independent landlords. It is best for owners who want online payments, leasing, and owner reporting together rather than a collection tool alone. The Free plan has a firm three-property ceiling, and its ACH fee makes payment volume part of the plan decision.

Overview

Tenants can pay by bank transfer or debit and credit card, either once or through autopay. Monthly invoices, reminders, and automatic late fees help landlords manage recurring collections, while a tenant portal gives renters access to payment history, a full ledger, and repair requests. Online applications and electronic lease signatures with an audit trail extend the service into leasing.

For property records, RentMerchant offers reports, CSV and Schedule E exports, and bulk property import from CSV. Owners can receive read-only accounts showing collections, fees, and net amounts. Stripe processes payments; RentMerchant does not store raw card or bank numbers, and accounts can use two-factor login. A real person usually responds to support inquiries within one business day.

Key features

Collections and tenant self-service

Autopay and monthly invoices can reduce routine collection follow-up, with reminders and automatic late fees supporting the same workflow. The portal gives tenants useful account and repair-request access, but landlords should weigh the payment charges as well as the convenience: ACH costs 0.8%, capped at $5, plus a $2 RentMerchant fee on Free. Pro waives that $2 fee.

Leasing and owner reporting

Online applications and signed leases with an audit trail make RentMerchant more suitable for landlords handling leasing as well as monthly payments. Read-only owner logins are a practical fit when property owners need visibility into collections, fees, and net amounts without being given an editing role.

Records and security

CSV and Schedule E exports support recordkeeping, while bulk CSV import can simplify adding properties. Stripe payment processing, no storage of raw card or bank numbers by RentMerchant, and optional two-factor login are relevant safeguards. Tenant screening, credit-bureau rent reporting, and faster payouts are upcoming Pro features, not current reasons to subscribe.

Pricing

The freemium structure lets smaller landlords start without a subscription, but property count and ACH charges can change the economics as collections grow.

• Free: free, for up to three properties. It includes the core collection service, but the $2 RentMerchant fee on ACH remains in addition to the 0.8% charge capped at $5. This is the sensible starting point for owners within the property limit who want to avoid a monthly plan.
• Pro: $15 a month (billed annually), with unlimited properties and units, no per-door fees, and priority support. Waiving the $2 ACH fee can matter to landlords collecting by bank transfer, while annual billing makes it less flexible than paying month to month.
• Pro (month-to-month): $20 a month (billed month-to-month), with unlimited properties. It costs more than annual Pro but avoids an annual billing commitment.
• Custom: custom pricing for agencies and large portfolios, with volume pricing, a dedicated account manager, guided onboarding, and data migration. This is aimed at larger operators whose setup needs go beyond a standard unlimited plan.

Platforms

RentMerchant is available on the web and iOS. Its RentMerchant Pay & Collect app is free to download for iPhone and iPad.

Who it's for

Independent landlords who want payments, tenant account access, leasing, and owner reporting in one service are the clearest fit. Owners with no more than three properties can begin on Free; those with larger portfolios need Pro or custom pricing. Landlords whose priority is only a low-cost payment route, or who need tenant screening, credit-bureau rent reporting, or faster payouts now, should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Autopay, recurring invoices, reminders, and automatic late fees bring several recurring collection tasks into one workflow.
• Pro: Tenant ledgers, repair requests, online applications, and lease signatures cover more than payment intake.
• Pro: Owner logins and Schedule E exports can make financial visibility and tax recordkeeping more practical.
• Con: Free stops at three properties, so growing landlords must move to a paid plan.
• Con: Free ACH payments include a $2 RentMerchant fee on top of the percentage charge, making Pro more appealing for landlords with frequent bank-transfer collections.
• Con: Tenant screening, rent reporting to credit bureaus, and faster payouts are upcoming rather than current Pro capabilities.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of collection-focused products, see Rent Payment Software.

• Rentberry is another freemium option across Android, iOS, and web; its free Tenants plan includes rent negotiation, maintenance requests, and eSign.
• Baselane Rent Collection may suit landlords seeking banking and bookkeeping essentials alongside automated rent, reminders, and late fees on a free Core plan; a free trial is also offered.
• RentPay is a free option for readers comparing payment methods and fees, with its RentPay account priced as free and charges varying by payment method.
• NAB Easy Tap is a paid, pay-as-you-go option for eligible in-person card transactions, with no setup fee or terminal hardware fees.
• RentRedi offers a free plan for up to two properties and a Start plan at $5 a month, making it an alternative to compare for smaller portfolios.
• NoBroker Rent Collection is another paid rent-collection option.
• RentPayment uses custom pricing tailored to property size, with plans for 1–750 units and 750+ units.
• Zego Utility is a paid utility expense management option for multifamily properties, covering utility accounts payable, auditing, and cost recovery.
• For a separate rental category, see Salon Booth Rental Software.

Verdict

Choose RentMerchant if you are an independent landlord who wants rent collection, tenant self-service, leasing, and owner reporting under one roof. Its combination of recurring payments and property workflows is the strongest reason to pick it; the three-property Free cap and ACH fee are the main reasons to compare alternatives or move carefully to a paid plan.