Managing rental properties comes with a myriad of responsibilities, with rent collection being one of the more important duties. The traditional methods of paying rent with checks in the mail or stopping by a leasing office are becoming outdated — roughly 61% of renters now pay online, up from 50% in 2020 — and more landlords are turning to digital methods to streamline this task. Efficient rent collection is crucial for the vitality of your business, and automated online platforms are making the process simpler and more convenient for both the tenant and the landlord involved.
Here is where the market sits heading into 2026, according to renter surveys compiled by B2B Reviews:
- Renters paying rent online (2025): about 61%, up from 50% in 2020
- Renters who prefer a digital payment option: 73%
- Renters who call online payment an important feature when choosing a rental: 86%
- Rent still paid by check or money order: roughly 40%
Why Landlords Are Making the Switch
1. Convenience
Making it easy to pay rent improves the likelihood that tenants will get it to you on time. They no longer have to carve time out of their day to stop by your office or pick up stamps to mail it, instead, it can be paid conveniently from the comfort of their home through an online portal or app on their phone. This is the preferred method by the majority of tenants and contributes to overall tenant satisfaction and retention.
2. Secure Transactions
Online transactions ensure the security and protection of sensitive information with the help of encryption and secure payment gateways. This added layer of protection makes it much less likely for any information to be hacked. If your tenants have concerns, Entrepreneur recommends these three steps to even further decrease the risk of fraud:
- Always use a secure internet connection
- Use a credit card instead of a debit card
- Keep track of every account and report any suspicious transactions immediately
3. Real-Time Tracking
Real-time tracking of payments is a major benefit to both landlords and tenants as it ensures accountability and reduces the risk of any oversights. Payment status can be easily monitored, transaction histories are available to view and notifications let the landlord or property manager know when a successful payment has been received.
4. Auto Reminders and Auto Withdrawal
Late payments are a common issue that landlords face when collecting rent, but with an automated payment system, tenants receive notifications of upcoming rent. This can reduce the likelihood of late payments and in turn, reduce any late fees getting tacked onto their rent. Some online platforms like Rentec Direct, Baselane, and Avail offer recurring payment options. Some tenants like this method because they don’t have to think about rent as another task, it is just automatically withdrawn on the same date each month. Landlords who set up autopay at the lease-signing stage tend to see the strongest enrollment, with roughly two thirds of tenants opting in when it is offered up front.
Fees vary by platform and by whether the payment moves over the ACH bank rails or a card network. A few of the popular options for 2026:
- Baselane: ACH is free when rent lands in a Baselane account; debit or credit card payments run about 3.49%
- Zillow Rental Manager: free for landlords to collect; accepts ACH, debit, and credit
- Avail: no rent-collection fee for landlords; tenants can pay by ACH transfer or card
- ACH share of all digital rent payments: roughly 65%, since it is usually the cheapest route
- Cost to process: an ACH transfer runs about $0.26 to $0.50, versus $2.01 to $4.00 for a paper check
5. Enhanced Record Keeping
Mistakes happen, and traditional paper documents are susceptible to errors and disputes. Utilizing a digital format in rent collection helps combat human error and keeps clear and precise records on hand for both the tenant and landlord to see. This can help prevent any miscommunication or misunderstanding throughout the duration of the lease.
Embracing these online platforms and applications is a progressive step for landlords that can greatly benefit your business. High quality property management companies, including us, utilize such tools through an online tenant portal where tenants can request maintenance and pay rent further streamlining their responsibilities. Creating an efficient and secure process for rent collection makes for a better experience for you and your tenants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online rent collection worth it?
Yes, for most landlords it is worth it. Making it easy to pay rent improves the likelihood that tenants will get it to you on time, and roughly 61% of renters now pay online. Efficient rent collection is crucial for the vitality of your business, and automated online platforms make the process simpler and more convenient for both the tenant and the landlord.
What are the best platforms for online rent collection?
The popular options for 2026 include Baselane, Zillow Rental Manager, Avail, and Rentec Direct. Platforms like Rentec Direct, Baselane, and Avail offer recurring payment options, so rent can be automatically withdrawn on the same date each month. The best one for you depends on the fees and the features that matter most to your properties.
How much are online rent collection fees?
Fees vary by platform and by whether the payment moves over the ACH bank rails or a card network. ACH is often free for landlords or costs about $0.26 to $0.50, while debit or credit card payments run around 3.49%. That is still well under the $2.01 to $4.00 it costs to process a paper check.