For decades in India, rent has commonly been paid in cash or via bank transfers such as NEFT/IMPS. Many landlords still prefer cash because they are uncomfortable sharing bank account details.
Even in 2020 this practice persists, but with the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing becoming the norm, it’s time to rethink how we pay rent.
Routing rent payments through a credit card offers several benefits, including rewards and flexibility. Rent payment apps processing these transactions could generate significant revenue—beneficial for both tenants and service providers.
This article explains why paying rent with a credit card can be advantageous and reviews the main service providers offering this option. Here’s a clear guide to help you choose.
Table of Contents
- Why Pay Rent with credit card?
- Rewards
- Credit Period
- Annual Fee Waiver
- Best Rent Payment Apps
- 1. Redgirraffe
- 2. Nobroker
- 3. Housing
- 4. CRED
- 5. PayZapp
- Should you pay rent through credit card?
- Final thoughts
Why Pay Rent with credit card?
Rewards
Using a credit card to pay rent can earn you rewards in several ways:
- Regular rewards on every transaction
- Milestone rewards for hitting spend thresholds
- Targeted offers or bonus rewards for specific categories
For example, certain cards provide airmiles and milestone benefits when you maintain high monthly spends, which can include complimentary travel benefits on meeting annual targets.
Credit Period
Credit cards let you defer payment for up to around 45 days interest-free, which can help manage cash flow and provide short-term financing for rent.
Annual Fee Waiver
Many credit cards offer annual fee waivers if you meet a minimum annual spend. This effectively removes the renewal cost if you use the card actively throughout the year.
Examples include cards that waive fees after reaching set spend thresholds—making it worth consolidating recurring expenses like rent on the same card.
In short: if you can use someone else’s money for a few weeks, earn rewards, and avoid renewal fees, paying rent with a credit card can make financial sense.
Best Rent Payment Apps
| Service/App | Charges | Docs Required? | Card Acceptance | |
| RedGirraffe | 0.39%+GST | Yes | All, except Amex | |
| NoBroker | 1% – 2% | No | All | |
| Housing | 1.3% | No | All, except Diners & Amex | |
| CRED | ~1.5% | No | All |
1. Redgirraffe
Redgirraffe pioneered rent payments via credit card and remains the only dedicated solution focused primarily on rent. Its main advantage is a very low service fee of 0.39%+GST—significantly cheaper than most competitors.
The low fee likely reflects deep banking integrations, though their user interface and signup process can feel clunky and lengthy for some users.
- Check out the detailed review here: RedGirraffe Review
2. Nobroker
NoBroker launched its rent payment feature recently and competes closely with Redgirraffe on fees. It is convenient and widely used, though some banks categorize NoBroker transactions as utility payments, which can affect reward earning on certain cards.
- Read full review for more: NoBroker Rent Payment feature – Review
3. Housing
Housing.com offers a straightforward rent payment option. Their fees have increased over time and the service has experienced occasional downtime, but at about 1.3% it remains a practical choice when available.
- Read full review here: Pay Rent using Housing
4. CRED
CRED provides a polished interface and supports payments to UPI IDs in addition to card-based rent payments. Its service fee is generally higher—around 1.5%—but it accepts a wide range of cards, including Amex and Diners, and tends to be reliable with fewer fee fluctuations.
- Read Full review here: CRED RentPay Review
5. PayZapp
PayZapp is not a standalone rent-pay app, but it integrates with other services to facilitate rent payments. For example:
- PayZapp app lets you pay rent via RedGirraffe and sometimes offers extra cashback or points.
- PayZapp wallet can be used on NoBroker to claim additional cashback offers when available.
In short, PayZapp acts as a bridge to major rent-payment platforms and can add occasional incentives.
Should you pay rent through credit card?
It depends on which credit card you hold.
If your card’s reward rate covers the service fee or provides greater value, paying rent with a credit card is worthwhile. However, if your card yields little or no reward value, the service fee can outweigh the benefits.
Premium and super-premium cards typically generate rewards that offset the fee, making them better choices for rent payments. Check the reward rate of your card to estimate the effective return on rent transactions before deciding.
Final thoughts
Having multiple rent-payment options is encouraging. For most users, RedGirraffe stands out due to its exceptionally low fee. If you prioritize convenience and minimal documentation, other apps such as NoBroker, Housing, and CRED offer simpler, faster setups.
Keep in mind that fees and offers change frequently, so compare services each month to find the best deal.
Regardless of which rent app you use, you can continue using services that reward on credit card bill payments to maximize returns. Small additional benefits can add up over time.
Which app are you using to pay rent with a credit card? Share your experience in the comments.