Piñata is a free app that lets you earn rewards for paying your rent. Simply pay your rent as you normally would and get rewards just for being a renter!
You get rewards when you fly, when you pump your gas, but why not with your single biggest monthly expense? Piñata wants to change that.
They can also help you improve or build your credit score for free, by reporting your on-time rent payments to a top credit bureau.
Learn more about Piñata in this review and get started with a $30 welcome gift card.
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PINATA WELCOME BONUS
Use this download link and get a $30 welcome gift card!
Piñata App Overview
Piñata is a new app that lets you earn rewards every month you pay rent, but it’s more than that. Piñata lets you:
1. Earn Rewards
Earn Free Rewards. Earn $20 in Piñata Cash every month – just come into the app to claim it before your next rent day.
Piñata Cash is their in-app currency that can be redeemed on popular brands like Amazon, Stabucks, and Target.
2. Build Credit
Enjoy Free Credit Building. Your on-time rent payments get reported to Transunion, a major credit bureau, helping to improve your credit score (this is optional, but highly recommended).
3. Get Exclusive Deals
Save Money on Exclusive Deals. Shop a selection of discounts and offers at 1,000’s of brands in Piñata’s signature deals marketplace.
Piñata $30 Gift Card Sign-up Bonus
New users who download the Piñata app and create a free account will get both a $30 gift card and $20 in Piñata Cash to spend on the reward of your choice!
The $30 gift card is from Nift and can be used at a local business near you.
The $20 in Piñata Cash is again their in-app currency that can be used at popular stores like Amazon, Starbucks, and Target.
After you get your welcome Piñata Cash bonus, you can keep earning $20 in Piñata Cash every month, so long as you come into the app before your next rent day. No additional action or verification needed!
Piñata MAX: Premium Rewards Option
Piñata MAX is the optional VIP program that allow users to enjoy enhanced benefits for a subscription fee between $3.50 and $4.00.
With the $3.50 per month option, you get 2x the Piñata Cash evert month, up to 50% off rewards, a $10 TaskRabbit credit, and access to exclusive gift card redemption offers.
With the $4.00 per month option, you get everything above plus a free gift box.
I don’t think Piñata MAX is worth it. The benefits aren’t enough to justify the monthly fee.
Piñata Referral Program
Boost your Piñata Cash when you refer friends. Once you have your own Piñata account, you’ll get an extra $20 of Piñata Cash for every friend you refer.
Your friend will also get a $30 Nift gift card when they create an account using your referral code. It’s a win-win situation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does my landlord need to be part of Piñata?
No, they do not. Any renter, no matter the landlord, is able to create a free account with Piñata.
Is credit building free?
Yes. Piñata reports your rent to Transunion, one of the three major credit bureaus, free of charge.
What do I get with my membership?
Your membership gives you Piñata Cash on rent day, builds your credit, and gives you access to thousands of deals that can earn you more rewards.
Is Piñata secure?
Piñata encrypts all key personally identifiable data and uses trusted partners like Stripe and Plaid.
Stripe and Plaid are used by major banks and other financial institutions that can conduct transactions without ever letting Piñata see your personally identifiable information or access your bank account credentials.
How does Piñata make money?
Piñata makes money through paid memberships with landlords and property managers.
How do I pay rent with Piñata?
Actually, you don’t pay rent through Piñata. You’ll continue to pay rent to your landlord in whatever way you currently are. You just input your rent payment due date and you’re good to go!
If you want free credit building, connect your bank account to Piñata so the app can send your on-time rent payments to Transunion, a major credit bureau.
The Bottom Line
One of my business partners mentioned this app to me the other week and I think it’s an interesting concept that deserves its own post. I can’t personally test it out since I own a home and this is for only for renters, but it’s an app I would definitely try out if I could.
Arguably, the best benefit is the potential boost to your credit score by reporting your on-time rent payments to Transunion.
Credit scores used to be determined solely on your debt payments from credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages. It’s great that with Piñata, your rent payments will be considered in the score – this is helpful for people looking to build or improve their credit. Check out Digital Honey’s post on other rent reporting services.
I’ve heard that the redemption options for Piñata Cash are “meh”. Quite a few options are free trials or freebies that are offered elsewhere. Until they offer gift card redemptions to popular brands consistently, Piñata Cash won’t be the reason for people to sign up.
The Miles app went through the same issue. Users found that the redemption options were a poor value. They recently offered gift cards to Amazon, Target, and Walmart are it’s better now.
Companies need to provide meaningful benefits in order to drive mass adoption. Look no further than Fetch for proof of this. By offering so many great rewards, the app gets downloaded over one million times a month.
Let me know how you make out – I’m curious to see what reader experiences are.
Has anybody used this app? How good is it?
I’ve been using it for 2 months. There’s no cost and you get $20 in Piñata cash every month you confirm your rent payment. You can spend Piñata cash on products that change monthly. I just redeem them for Nift gift cards because a lot of places nearby take them.