RentMerchant

RentMerchant is a rent-collection and property-management service for independent landlords. It is a strong fit for owners who want online payments, leasing, and owner reporting together. The free tier is useful for a small portfolio, but the three-property cap and ACH charges can make the paid plan worth comparing.

Overview

RentMerchant brings payment collection and everyday rental administration into one service. Tenants can pay by bank transfer or debit or credit card, either as a one-time payment or through autopay. Monthly invoices, reminders, and automatic late fees help reduce routine follow-up, while a tenant portal gives renters access to payment history, a full ledger, and repair requests.

Landlords can collect applications online and obtain electronic lease signatures with an audit trail. Reports, CSV and Schedule E exports, and bulk property import from CSV cover practical recordkeeping needs. Property owners can receive read-only logins to view collections, fees, and net amounts. Payments are processed by Stripe; RentMerchant does not store raw card or bank numbers, and accounts can use two-factor login.

Key features

Payments and tenant self-service

Autopay, recurring invoices, payment reminders, and automatic late fees are useful for landlords managing regular monthly collections without manual prompts. The portal gives tenants a way to check their ledger and submit repair requests, which puts payment and a basic maintenance channel in one place.

Leasing and records

Online applications and electronic signatures with an audit trail extend the service beyond collecting rent. CSV and Schedule E exports help with recordkeeping, and bulk CSV import can speed portfolio setup. Owner logins are read-only, so owners can review collections, fees, and net amounts without being given editing access.

Fees and support

ACH payments cost 0.8% capped at $5, plus a $2 RentMerchant fee on Free; Pro waives that $2 fee. That difference matters to landlords expecting frequent bank-transfer payments, though the 0.8% charge remains. A real person usually responds within one business day, and Pro includes priority support. Tenant screening, credit-bureau rent reporting, and faster payouts are described as upcoming Pro features, not current capabilities.

Pricing

Free costs nothing and supports up to three properties. It is a sensible starting point for a small landlord, but the property ceiling and $2 RentMerchant fee on ACH payments are meaningful constraints.

Pro costs $15 a month, billed annually, and includes unlimited properties and units, no per-door fees, and priority support. It is the clearest fit for landlords growing beyond three properties or seeking to avoid the $2 ACH fee. The annual billing term is the trade-off for the lower monthly price.

Pro (month-to-month) costs $20 a month, billed month-to-month, with unlimited properties. It costs more than annual Pro but avoids an annual billing commitment. Custom uses custom pricing for agencies and large portfolios, with volume pricing, a dedicated account manager, and guided onboarding and data migration.

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 to combine online rent collection with tenant self-service, leasing, and owner visibility should find RentMerchant a practical fit. Free suits owners with no more than three properties who can accept its ACH fee structure. Landlords with larger portfolios may prefer Pro’s unlimited properties and units; agencies and large portfolios can consider Custom. It is less compelling for someone seeking a free plan without a low property cap or without the additional ACH fee.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Autopay, monthly invoices, reminders, and automatic late fees support recurring collections with less manual follow-up.
• Pros: Leasing, repair requests, ledgers, owner read-only access, and Schedule E exports cover more than payments alone.
• Pros: Pro removes the $2 RentMerchant ACH fee and has no per-door fees.
• Cons: Free is limited to three properties, and ACH payments on that plan carry an additional $2 fee.
• Cons: Annual Pro is billed annually; month-to-month Pro costs $20 a month.
• Cons: Screening, credit-bureau rent reporting, and faster payouts are upcoming rather than current Pro features.

Alternatives

Consider Rentberry if you want a freemium rental service with tenant rent negotiation, maintenance requests, property tour requests, eSign, and cloud storage; it also offers Android support. Baselane Rent Collection is worth comparing if banking and bookkeeping essentials are central, alongside automated rent, reminders, and late fees; its free Core plan and $20 a month Smart plan offer a different pricing structure.

RentPay may suit readers who want a free account with no monthly fee and support for several payment methods, including PayPal, Alipay/WeChat Pay, and UnionPay. Dawzer RMS offers a permanent free plan for up to three units with every feature included, while its platform is web-only. EstateDeck is another web option, with a free DIY Landlord plan for up to five units that includes digital leases, maintenance tracking, and a tenant directory.

RentRedi is a mobile alternative with Android and iOS support, a free plan capped at two properties, and a $5 a month Start plan. Avail may appeal if unlimited units on a free plan are the priority; its $9 a month Unlimited Plus plan includes next-day deposits and waived ACH charges. NoBroker Rent Collection is another paid option, available on Android and web.

Browse Rent Payment Software for more rent-collection choices, or Salon Booth Rental Software for software aimed at salon booth rentals.

Verdict

RentMerchant is a sound choice for independent landlords who want rent collection, tenant-facing tools, leasing, and owner reporting in one service. Its strongest case is the breadth of routine rental workflows, with unlimited properties and units on Pro. Look elsewhere if the three-property Free cap or its ACH charges outweigh that convenience, or if you need tenant screening, credit-bureau rent reporting, or faster payouts now.