Summary
Rently offers a 0 percent fee eGIRO option, giving renters a cost-effective way to pay rent without processing fees. You can also earn miles on bank transfers and stack rewards on credit cards.
Rently is the only platform offering 0% fee rent payment via eGIRO, the ability to earn miles on bank transfers, stackable rewards on credit cards, deposit assistance, and billing flexibility - making it a far more comprehensive rent management tool.
In short: use a payment router if your card's earn rate clearly outweighs the fee; choose Rently if you want to eliminate fees, earn miles without a credit card, or need help with your security deposit or cash flow.
Rent is likely your single biggest monthly expense in Singapore. So it makes sense to want something back from it: whether that's credit card miles, cashback, or just fewer financial headaches around moving in.
Many renters trip up by assuming all rent payment platforms are similar. Some are simple payment routers that help you charge rent to a credit card. Others are full-stack financial platforms that go well beyond the payment itself. Lumping them together leads to bad comparisons and missed opportunities.
This article breaks down what CardUp, Citi PayAll, and Rently actually do, so you can make the right call for your situation. Whether you're searching for a cardup vs rently breakdown, trying to figure out is cardup better than rently for miles, or just want a clear rent payment fee comparison Singapore-style guide, this is it.
What "Payment Routers" Do: CardUp, Citi PayAll, and Their Peers
Before we compare payment routers, know that Rently offers a 0% fee way to pay rent via eGIRO: no processing fees, and you can even earn miles on bank transfers. If you're simply looking to pay rent without extra charges, start there.
That said, some renters use credit card payment routers to earn miles. Platforms like CardUp, Citi PayAll, ipaymy, and SC EasyBill all work the same way: they let you pay rent with a credit card, charge a processing fee, and pass the payment to your landlord.
Here's how it works:
You set up a payment on the platform and enter your card details.
The platform charges your credit card (including their processing fee).
They transfer the equivalent amount to your landlord's bank account.
The appeal is clear: rent is a large, recurring expense, and if you're earning 1.2-4 miles per dollar, those miles can add up meaningfully. These platforms also help you hit minimum spend thresholds for welcome bonuses.
The trade-off is the fee. Credit card payment routers in Singapore typically charge processing fees. On a $3,000/month rent, those fees add up every single month - over $1,000 a year.
As one Reddit user on r/singaporefi put it: "I used to do this with UOB one card but with changes to the rebates I no longer considered it worth the effort and costs." That sentiment is widely shared. When card issuers trim their earning rates on payment platforms, the math can quickly stop working.
What payment routers don't offer:
Any help with your upfront security deposit
Flexibility around your billing or payment cycle
Proprietary rewards that stack on top of your card miles
A way to earn rewards if you're not paying by credit card
There's also the question of proof of payment. Some users worry: "without having the transfer stated on your bank statement, couldn't the landlord theoretically deny that rent was paid?" The good news is that platforms like CardUp do provide email confirmations when your card is charged and again when funds are transferred - so you do have a paper trail. That said, since the bank transfer originates from the platform and not your own account, the record looks slightly different from a standard bank transfer.
What Rently Does Differently
Rently isn't trying to be a payment router. It's built as a tenancy support platform for renters - which means it addresses a broader range of problems that come with renting, not just the payment method itself.
Here's a breakdown of what's on offer:
Core Payment: 0% Fee via eGIRO
Rently's base product lets you pay rent via eGIRO, a direct bank-to-bank transfer, with zero processing fees. Your landlord receives a standard bank transfer. You pay nothing extra. This alone sets Rently apart: it's the only platform where paying rent costs you nothing additional. (Source: Rently Blog)
If you prefer to pay by credit card, Rently supports that too - see the online calculator for applicable rates.
Earn Rewards: Miles on eGIRO (and Stacking on Credit Card)
This is where Rently's model gets genuinely interesting. Through its Earn Rewards feature, Rently lets you earn Max Miles, a proprietary rewards currency transferable to airline and hotel loyalty programmes through its partnership with HeyMax.
There are a few ways this works:
Free eGIRO (0% fee): No rewards, but zero cost.
eGIRO with Earn Rewards tiers: Opt in at 0.4%, 1.3%, or 2.3% fee tiers to earn increasing amounts of Max Miles on your bank transfer payments. This is the only platform in Singapore where you can earn airline/hotel miles on a bank transfer.
Credit card payments: A credit card option is available - see the online calculator for applicable rates - and you earn Max Miles on top of your credit card's own miles or cashback. That stacking is unique - other platforms only give you your card's rewards.
Earn Rewards and Billing Cycle Service subscriptions can be cancelled at any time.
Lower Move-In Costs: Rently Fronts Your Deposit
Singapore's standard rental security deposit is typically one to two months' rent, which can easily run between $5,000 and $16,000 depending on your unit. That's a significant cash outlay on top of agent fees, first month's rent, and moving costs.
Rently's Lower Move-In Costs service works like this: Rently pays your full security deposit upfront directly to the landlord. You then pay that amount to Rently in monthly payments over your lease term, plus a service fee of $12 per month for every $1,000 of the deposit. (Source: Rently Blog on Deposit)
A few important things to note:
Rently conducts a credit review before approving this service.
This is a service arrangement - Rently pays the deposit upfront and you make monthly payments.
If you exit your lease early, you are required to settle the outstanding deposit balance with Rently. The landlord then processes the deposit refund (less any deductions) back to Rently.
This product is particularly valuable if you're moving into a higher-end unit or have multiple deposits to manage simultaneously - situations where the upfront cash drain can be genuinely painful.
Billing Cycle Service: Your Payment, Your Schedule
Rently's Billing Cycle Service ensures your landlord is paid on time as per your tenancy agreement. Your payment to Rently follows Rently's service invoicing schedule, giving you more control over when your payment goes out relative to your own cash flow. This can be a meaningful convenience for anyone whose salary arrives on a different schedule from their rent due date.
Like Earn Rewards, the Billing Cycle Service can be cancelled at any time.
At a Glance: Feature Comparison
Rently
Core Function: Tenancy Support Platform
Payment Methods: eGIRO & Credit Card
Processing Fees: 0% (eGIRO); 0.4%–2.3% (eGIRO + Earn Rewards); Credit card option available — see calculator for rates
Rewards Earned: Max Miles + Credit Card Miles (stackable)
Earn on Bank Transfer: Yes (via Earn Rewards tiers)
Deposit Assistance: Yes, via Lower Move-In Costs
Billing Flexibility: Yes, via Billing Cycle Service
Cancel Anytime: Yes (Earn Rewards & Billing Cycle Service)
CardUp
Core Function: Payment Router
Payment Methods: Credit Card Only
Processing Fees: Processing fee applies
Rewards Earned: Credit Card Miles/Cashback
Earn on Bank Transfer: No
Deposit Assistance: No
Billing Flexibility: No
Cancel Anytime: —
Citi PayAll
Core Function: Payment Router
Payment Methods: Citi Credit Cards Only
Processing Fees: Varies; promotional rates available for Citi cardholders
Rewards Earned: Citi Miles / ThankYou Points
Earn on Bank Transfer: No
Deposit Assistance: No
Billing Flexibility: No
Cancel Anytime: —
Which Should You Choose?
The right platform depends on what you actually need from your rent payment setup.
Consider Rently if:
You want to pay rent with zero processing fees via eGIRO.
You want to earn airline or hotel miles on a bank transfer - something no other platform offers.
You want to stack Max Miles on top of your credit card rewards when paying by card.
You need help spreading out your security deposit over the lease term instead of paying it all upfront.
You want more control over your payment timing relative to your cash flow.
Consider a payment router (CardUp, Citi PayAll) if:
You hold a premium credit card with a high earn rate (e.g., 4 miles per dollar), and the value of miles meaningfully outweighs the processing fee.
You want to hit a credit card minimum spend for a welcome bonus, and the fee is worth it for the sign-up rewards.
You're a Citi cardholder and there's an active PayAll promotional rate or bonus miles offer running.
Put simply: if your only goal is routing a credit card payment to your landlord and your card's earn rate makes the fee worthwhile, a payment router does the job cleanly. But if you want to earn miles without a credit card, manage your deposit, or align your billing schedule - only Rently addresses those needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I know my landlord actually received the payment?
All platforms provide digital confirmation. CardUp, for example, sends an email when your card is charged and another when the funds are transferred to your landlord, as confirmed by users on Reddit. Rently pays landlords via direct bank transfer, which creates a verifiable bank record on both ends. In either case, keep your confirmation emails and reference numbers as your documentation.
Q: Are the fees on CardUp or similar platforms worth it for the miles?
It depends on your card's earn rate and how you value your miles. Credit card payment routers typically charge a processing fee - for a general-spend card earning 1.2 miles per dollar, the math may not work in your favour. It's more compelling with premium cards earning 3-4 mpd, or when you're targeting a specific sign-up bonus. Singsaver's guide has a useful breakdown by card type.
Q: What happens if I leave my lease early while using Rently's Lower Move-In Costs?
You'll need to settle the outstanding deposit balance with Rently. Your landlord will then refund the security deposit (minus any deductions for damages or unpaid rent) back to Rently per the service agreement terms.
Q: Can I use Rently's Earn Rewards on top of my existing credit card?
Yes. When you pay rent via credit card on Rently, you earn both your card's own rewards and Rently's Max Miles simultaneously. This stacking is the key difference from payment routers, which only pass through your card's rewards.
Q: Can I cancel Rently's services if I change my mind?
Earn Rewards and Billing Cycle Service can both be cancelled at any time. The Lower Move-In Costs service has different terms tied to your lease and outstanding deposit balance; review the terms carefully before signing up.
The Bottom Line
Rently is the most versatile platform, covering payment, rewards, deposit assistance, and billing flexibility in one place. It's the only platform in Singapore where you can pay rent for free via eGIRO, earn miles on a bank transfer, and stack rewards on credit card payments.
CardUp, Citi PayAll, and ipaymy are reliable if your only need is routing a credit card payment to your landlord. If that's the sole job, they work.
Instead of asking which platform is better, ask which one fits what you actually need from your rental experience. Know your priorities, run the numbers, and choose accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I pay rent in Singapore with zero processing fees?
You can pay rent with no processing fees using Rently's eGIRO payment option. This direct bank-to-bank transfer costs you nothing extra, and your landlord receives the full rent amount. Unlike credit card payment routers that charge processing fees, Rently's eGIRO is the only option that keeps your rent payment completely fee-free.
Can I earn credit card miles and Rently Max Miles on the same rent payment?
Yes. When you pay rent via credit card on Rently, you earn your card's usual miles or cashback and additional Max Miles through Rently's Earn Rewards feature. This stacking is unique among rent payment platforms; other routers only pass through your card's rewards.
What's the main difference between CardUp and Rently for earning miles on rent?
CardUp (and similar routers) simply let you charge rent to a credit card and earn your card's standard miles. Rently, on the other hand, allows you to earn Max Miles even on bank transfers and lets you stack extra miles on top of your credit card rewards. Additionally, Rently's 0% eGIRO base plan lets you avoid fees entirely while still earning miles if you choose a low-fee Earn Rewards tier.
Does Rently's deposit assistance affect my credit score?
No. Rently pays the full security deposit directly to your landlord, and you make monthly payments to Rently over your lease. A credit review is performed before approval, but the arrangement does not appear on your credit report.
What happens to my Max Miles if I cancel the Earn Rewards service?
All Max Miles earned up to the cancellation date remain in your HeyMax account and can be transferred or redeemed as usual. Cancellation only stops you from earning new miles; it doesn't claw back what you've already collected.
Can I still use Rently if my landlord doesn't accept credit cards or eGIRO?
Absolutely. Rently pays your landlord via standard bank transfer, so they don't need to accept credit cards or set up eGIRO. You fund the payment to Rently via eGIRO or credit card, and the landlord receives the money exactly as they would any normal bank transfer.
How does the Billing Cycle Service help if my salary arrives after rent is due?
You can set your payment to Rently on a date that fits your income schedule, while Rently still ensures your landlord is paid in full by the due date in your tenancy agreement. This way you stay compliant without straining your cash flow.
Is it worth paying rent with a credit card if I'm new to miles?
Typically not, unless your card earns at least 3-4 miles per dollar and you can use those miles for high-value redemptions. With processing fees around 2.6%, a general-spend card earning 1.2-1.4 mpd usually loses money. However, if you're chasing a welcome bonus with a large minimum spend, the fee may be worth it to unlock the bonus.
