Rent-to-Own vs. Credit Card Calculator
Need something now and short on credit? Considering renting an item for a few months and returning it? Tell us what you're getting and how long you'll keep it, and we'll show how renting compares to a credit card, if a card is even an option for you.
Common runs: a set of tires before a road trip, a TV or laptop replaced on short notice, or a game console for the holidays. Pick a preset below or browse stores in any category.
Rent it for a few months, or put it on a card?
Pick what you are getting, say how long you will keep it, and the two totals sit side by side with the crossover month called out.
Return the item after this period. Amounts already due, fees and other terms may still apply.
You own it, but you owe the balance whether you still need it or not.
Rental payments reach the estimated card total around month .
You said about months. Estimated rental payments are lower by about .
You said about months. That's past the crossover, so a paid-off card costs about less.
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A credit card only helps if you can get approved and pay it down. With thin or no credit, that option may not exist for you. Providers may review consumer reports and other information. Approval and credit reporting vary by provider.
Estimates only. These scenarios have different outcomes: you return the rental, but keep the purchased item. The comparison excludes the purchased item's remaining value, taxes, fees and provider-specific charges. The store and card issuer set the actual terms.
Take these questions to the store
- The cash price
- The weekly payment
- Number of payments and total
- Early-purchase deadline
- Delivery, setup, repairs included?
One you can hand back. One you can't.
Price isn't the only difference. What happens when your situation changes matters just as much.
Most stores offer a 90-day early purchase option. Pay it off early and you typically save 40 to 60 percent versus riding the lease to term. If renting buys you time to decide, this is how you own it without the full markup.
Rent it. Review the return terms.
Many agreements allow returns, but timing, fees, item condition, and remaining obligations vary. Get the terms in writing before signing.
Card it. You can't hand a balance back.
If your situation changes, you still owe it, interest keeps running, and missed payments hit your credit. Built for "I'm keeping this for good."
If you decide to keep it
Ask for the early purchase option in writing: what it costs, and the date it is available until. Each store sets its own.
The protections are built into the lease.
Review the services, charges and consumer protections in your agreement. Availability and legal rights vary by provider and state. Confirm these details in writing before you sign.
Exact terms vary by store and by state. Always read the agreement and confirm these in writing.
Rent-to-own vs. credit cards, answered.
Anything else, ask the store before you sign. A good one will answer plainly and put it in writing.
Ready to compare real stores?
You've got your estimate and your questions. Now find nearby stores and confirm their current terms directly.