When you’re short on cash, you may be looking for stores like Rent-A-Center.
Rent-A-Center is a rent to own company based in Plano, Texas. You can rent name brand furniture, electronics, appliances, computers, and smartphones.
Sometimes, we find ourselves in need of stuff like furniture, or appliances but our bank accounts just can’t provide the funds we need to purchase it outright.
In a few months, my husband and I will be, hopefully, moving into a new house and we’ll need a lot of furniture because we’re having a baby a couple months after that!
So, not only are we going to need furniture for the house, but also many items for the baby. And, that’s not going to be cheap. So, we’ve been researching ways to save money on our purchases.
One of the options we’ve been considering is Rent-A-Center. But, we really don’t want to limit ourselves to one store.
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So, I started to look for stores similar to Rent-A-Center and found the best alternatives out there.
These stores offer a wide range of items, and the best part is that you can rent to own. You’re not having to part with a whole bunch of cash up-front. You can take pieces home with you and pay for them over time. This can ease financial stress.
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The 3 Best Rent-to-Own Alternatives Are:
- Aaron’s: The biggest and most direct competitor to Rent-A-Center, offering a massive selection of furniture, electronics, and appliances with flexible payment plans and no credit needed.
- Buddy’s Home Furnishings: A well-trusted national chain known for its focus on helping you own items faster and for its great customer service.
- Progressive Leasing: The best online alternative. Instead of going to a special store, you shop at major retailers like Best Buy or Lowe’s, and Progressive handles the lease-to-own agreement.
What is Rent-A-Center & How Does it Work?
Rent-A-Center, which is often called RAC, is an American public furniture and electronics company.
It is a rent-to-own company with more than 2,181 stores in the United States. It was incorporated in 1986.
Here’s how it works:
- Submit an order: Simply submit an order online or visit a Rent-A-Center store.
- Set up payment and delivery: The store will finalize your order details, set a payment plan, and schedule a free same-day delivery.
- Enjoy your items: Then, you can enjoy your items. The store offers ownership options, free product repairs, and no long-term commitment.
You do not need a good credit score to rent from Rent-A-Center.
The company states that it considers many different factors when reviewing your application and that it regularly approves customers with less than perfect credit history.
Rent-A-Center doesn’t report your payment history to the credit bureaus.
To rent from Rent-A-Center, all you need is some standard information, such as:
- Personal information: Name, date of birth, and contact information.
- Income information: Verifiable source of income.
- Residence information: Contact information for your landlord/mortgage company.
- Two to four references: At least two references should be relatives with separate addresses.
Rent-A-Center has a pretty good return policy too.
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At any time, you can contact your store to schedule a return of your product or return the merchandise in person and pause your payments. When you’re ready, you can come back, reinstate your agreement to get the same or comparable item and pick up your payments right where you left off.
To start an agreement at Rent-A-Center, $10 is all you need in most states. Starting amounts can be higher in some markets. Customers in some places like NY will also pay a processing fee of $10 or $18 in CA. You can contact your store for details.
Rent-A-Center offers products in a range of categories, including:
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Computers
- Electronics
- Smartphones
- Tires
- Handbags
- Fitness & outdoors
Top Stores Like Rent-A-Center
These are the biggest brick-and-mortar furniture stores like Rent-A-Center where you can shop on a budget.
1. Aaron’s
As one of the largest direct competitors to Rent-A-Center, Aaron’s offers a massive selection of rent-to-own products across the country.
Even if your credit isn’t the best, Aaron’s offers approvals when other stores won’t. With Aaron’s, you can rent to own products. You avoid large upfront payments by making affordable monthly payments instead.
Aaron’s offers flexible payment options. You can choose a lease ownership plan of 12 months, 18 months, or even 24 months on most products.
You can shop online or in-store.
Once you’ve been approved and signed your lease agreement, the company will call to schedule your free delivery and set up.
- What they offer: Furniture, Electronics, Appliances, Computers, and even Jewelry.
- Key Perk: Huge selection, flexible payment plans, and approvals for a wide range of credit situations.
2. Bestway Rent-to-Own
Bestway is another store like Rent-A-Center.
They don’t require a credit check and offer free same-day delivery on their furniture, appliances, and electronics.
Their payment options are very flexible, allowing for weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly schedules to match your payday.
There are affordable and flexible payment options available, including weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly payment options.
Also, Bestway provides the lowest price or its free. The store states that it is confident that you won’t find a lower total cost of ownership, but if you do within 30 days, it will beat it or give it to you for free.
- What they offer: Furniture, Major Appliances, Electronics, Computers, and Smartphones.
- Key Perk: Their “Lowest Price Guarantee”—if you find a lower total cost of ownership within 30 days, they promise to beat it or give you the item for free.
3. Buddy’s Home Furnishings
As a well-established company that has been around since 1961, Buddy’s is a trusted name in the rent-to-own space.
They provide a wide variety of furniture and electronics with no credit check required and include service and repair with your agreement.
You can select a store to see local pricing and items eligible for delivery in 24 hours or less.
The store provides you with products with no long-term commitment and no credit check. Service and repair are included.
You can select from one of the company’s flexible payment options.
- What they offer: Furniture, Appliances, Electronics, Computers, Smartphones, and Gaming Systems.
- Key Perk: Flexible payment options and a commitment to helping you “own it faster for less.”
4. Rent One
A major player in the Midwest and Southern U.S., Rent One focuses on making rent-to-own simple and accessible.
They offer a wide selection of furniture, electronics, and appliances with a focus on low weekly or monthly payments and local service.
- What they offer: Furniture, Appliances, Electronics
- Key Perk: No credit needed, flexible payment schedules, and free delivery and setup.
Online “Lease-to-Own” Alternatives to Rent-A-Center
These modern alternatives let you shop at your favorite major retailers and pay for your items over time using a third-party lease-to-own program.
5. Progressive Leasing
This isn’t a store, but a massive online service that brings the rent-to-own model to your favorite major retailers.
You apply through Progressive Leasing and then shop at places like Best Buy, Lowe’s, or Big Lots.
They purchase the item for you, and you pay them back over time with a lease-to-own agreement. It’s a great way to get brand-name items from the store you already trust.
- What they offer: Items from thousands of retail partners
- Key Perk: Huge selection, professional delivery from the actual retailer, and a 90-day purchase option.
6. Acima Leasing
Similar to Progressive, Acima Leasing is a financial service that lets you lease-to-own items from thousands of online and local stores, including major players like Walmart.
You can get approved for a shopping amount, select your items, and Acima will work with the retailer to set up your payment plan.
You can pay it off in 90 days or over a 12-month period.
- What they offer: Items from partner retailers like Rooms To Go, Ashley Furniture, and more.
- Key Perk: Reports payments to credit bureaus, helping you build credit history with on-time payments.
7. LeaseVille
LeaseVille is an online-only marketplace that is specifically focused on rent-to-own electronics and other smaller items.
You can lease everything from laptops and video game consoles to cameras and smart watches with no credit needed.
The entire process is handled online, and they ship the products directly to your door.
- What they offer: Laptops, Gaming Systems, TVs, Smartphones
- Key Perk: Great for smaller, specific electronic items; approval process is very fast.
More Rent-to-Own Stores & Financing Alternatives
Beyond the major players, there are other services that offer similar “no credit needed” payment options.
8. FlexShopper
FlexShopper is another large online marketplace that allows you to lease-to-own a huge variety of products, from furniture to tires.
You apply for a spending limit, shop from their massive online inventory of over 100,000 products, and make weekly payments.
It’s a one-stop-shop for almost anything you’d need.
- What they offer: Furniture, Electronics, Appliances, Tires
- Key Perk: Huge product selection and the ability to apply for a spending limit before you shop.
9. Local and Regional Rent-to-Own Stores
Beyond the big national chains, nearly every city has its own local and regional rent-to-own stores.
A quick search for “rent to own near me” on Google Maps can reveal hidden gems right in your neighborhood.
These smaller stores often have more flexible terms and can provide more personalized service.
- What they offer: Varies by store, but typically furniture and appliances.
- Key Perk: Supporting a local business and potentially finding more flexible terms.
10. “Buy Now, Pay Later” Services (like Afterpay & Klarna)
While not technically rent-to-own, these services offer a modern alternative.
When you check out at thousands of online stores, you can choose Afterpay or Klarna to split your purchase into 4 interest-free payments over six weeks.
If you can pay it off quickly, it is almost always a cheaper option than a long-term rent-to-own agreement.
- What they offer: Smaller payments on items from major retailers.
- Key Perk: 0% interest if you pay on time, making it much cheaper than traditional rent-to-own.
Pro-Tip: How to Avoid Overpaying at Rent-to-Own Stores
While rent-to-own is a great option when you’re short on cash, it’s important to shop smart.
As a financial expert, I want you to know that the biggest drawback of this model is the Total Cost of Ownership.
Meaning the final price you pay after all the rental payments will always be way more than buying the item outright in a regular store.
To make sure you’re getting the best deal possible, always follow these rules:
- Ask About “90 Days Same as Cash”: Most rent-to-own stores offer a “90 days same as cash” or similar early purchase option. If you can pay the item off within that window (usually 3 months), you will pay the much lower “cash price” and avoid all the rental fees. This is almost always the best deal in the entire store.
- Don’t Assume It Builds Your Credit: The vast majority of rent-to-own stores do not report your payment history to the major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, Experian). While some online services like Acima do, never assume this is the case. If building credit is your primary goal, a secured credit card is a much better tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s no clear “better” store. It just depends on what you need. Aaron’s and Rent-A-Center are the two biggest players and often have similar items. The best move is to compare the specific item you want at both stores, check the weekly payments, and most importantly, look at the total cost you’ll pay over time.
Most big rent-to-own stores like Aaron’s, Buddy’s, and Bestway don’t require good credit. They usually just check your proof of income and where you live. If you have steady income, getting approved is pretty simple.
In most cases, no. Traditional rent-to-own stores like Rent-A-Center and Aaron’s do not typically report your payment history to the credit bureaus, so they will not help you build your credit score. However, some newer online leasing services, like Acima, do offer credit reporting as a feature.
Yes! One of the biggest perks of rent-to-own is flexibility. You can return items and pause payments whenever you want. Later, you can restart your agreement and pick up where you left off.
The total cost of ownership is basically everything you’ll pay for the item (your lease payments, any fees, and delivery charges.) So always compare that number to the cash price, because buying it outright is usually much cheaper if you can.
Yes! Stores like Rent-A-Center, Buddy’s, and Aaron’s usually give free same-day delivery on some items. Just check with your local store, because it can vary.
Yep. Some stores let you return or swap furniture whenever you need, which is perfect if you’re only living somewhere temporarily or need stuff for a season.
Final Thoughts: Is Rent-to-Own Right for You?
As you can see, Rent-A-Center isn’t your only option.
Whether you prefer a major national chain like Aaron’s or a flexible online service like Progressive Leasing, there are plenty of places that can help you get the furniture and appliances you need without a big upfront payment.
Just remember the pro-tips: always ask about the “90 days same as cash” price, and be mindful of the total long-term cost.
Rent-to-own is a fantastic tool when you need it, and now you have a complete list of the best places to get everything from furniture to appliances without breaking the bank.
What’s your favorite rent-to-own store like Rent-A-Center? Share your experiences in the comments below!
About Lauren Bennett
Lauren Bennett is a UK-based personal finance freelance writer with over 10+ years of experience helping readers find smart ways to save money and make extra income. She specializes in budgeting, frugal living, and side hustles, delivering clear, practical advice backed by real-world experience.
✅ Edited & Fact-Checked by Saeed Darabi, Founder of MoneyPantry.
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