The Best Rent-to-Own Companies in America

The largest rent-to-own companies in America are Rent-A-Center (approximately 1,900 locations), Aaron's (approximately 1,300 locations), and a growing field of virtual RTO providers including Progressive Leasing, Acima, Snap Finance, and FlexShopper. This guide examines what publicly available data, including SEC filings, FDD documents, and CFPB complaint records, actually reveals about each company.

How Did We Evaluate These Companies?

Rather than subjective "best of" rankings, this guide relies on publicly verifiable data sources: SEC annual reports (10-K filings) for publicly traded companies, Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) for franchised brands, CFPB complaint database records, Better Business Bureau ratings, and APRO membership data. Every claim below can be verified through these public sources.

Rent-A-Center

Rent-A-Center is the largest pure-play RTO company in the United States. Per their SEC filings, the company operates approximately 1,900 company-owned locations across all 50 states and offers furniture, appliances, electronics, computers, and smartphones. They also operate the Acima virtual RTO platform, which is available at thousands of third-party retail locations.

The CFPB complaint database shows that Rent-A-Center receives complaints primarily related to billing disputes and difficulty ending agreements. Their BBB rating varies by location. Notable consumer-friendly features include a 120-day early purchase option at many locations and free delivery, setup, and service during the rental period.

Aaron's

Aaron's operates approximately 1,300 company-operated and franchised locations, per their most recent FDD and SEC filings. The company offers furniture, appliances, and electronics with agreement terms typically running 12 to 24 months. Aaron's distinguishes itself through its lease-to-own model that includes free repair service and a product replacement guarantee.

Aaron's FDD data shows that franchised locations generate median annual revenues of approximately $1.1 million. CFPB complaints for Aaron's center on delivery disputes and billing issues. Aaron's offers a web-based shopping experience and has expanded its digital capabilities in recent years.

Progressive Leasing

Progressive Leasing is the largest virtual RTO provider, partnering with over 30,000 retail locations nationwide according to their parent company PROG Holdings' SEC filings. Unlike traditional RTO stores, Progressive operates at the point of sale in retailers including Best Buy, Lowe's, and various furniture chains. The application process takes minutes, with approval decisions based on a bank account and income verification rather than a credit score.

Progressive Leasing agreements typically run 12 months with an early purchase option available after the first payment. According to PROG Holdings' annual report, Progressive reports completed agreements to Equifax, making it one of the few RTO providers that can help consumers build credit history.

Buddy's Home Furnishings

Buddy's operates approximately 300 franchised locations primarily in the southeastern United States, per their FDD. The company focuses on furniture and appliances for mid-market consumers. FDD data shows Buddy's franchisees invest between $262,000 and $537,000 to open a location. The brand differentiates through community-focused service and flexible payment scheduling that accommodates biweekly and semi-monthly pay cycles.

Virtual RTO Providers: Acima, Snap, Koalafi, FlexShopper

The virtual RTO segment has expanded rapidly. According to APRO, virtual RTO now accounts for more than half of all RTO transaction volume. Key providers include:

• Acima (owned by Rent-A-Center), available at over 40,000 retail locations, reports completed leases to TransUnion
• Snap Finance, structured as a lease-purchase or loan depending on the state, reports to Equifax, available at over 150,000 merchant locations per their website
• Koalafi (formerly West Creek Financial), focuses on essential purchases like tires, veterinary care, and home improvement
• FlexShopper, online-focused platform offering weekly payment plans with spending limits up to $2,500 per their SEC filings

How to Compare RTO Companies in Your Area

When evaluating RTO providers, focus on these objective factors recommended by the FTC:

• Total cost of ownership, ask each store for the total of all payments on the specific item you want
• Early purchase option, how soon can you buy out, and what is the formula for calculating the buyout price?
• Credit reporting, does the provider report on-time payments to any credit bureau?
• Service and repair, what happens if the item breaks during the agreement?
• Return flexibility, can you return the item at any time with no further obligation?

VRTO (Virtual Rent To Own) provides side-by-side store comparisons in our directory so you can evaluate these factors for every RTO provider in your zip code.