Best REIT Investing Platforms for Monthly Income: Dividend Yields and Performance Compared

In today’s uncertain economic climate, investors increasingly seek reliable monthly income streams to supplement their earnings or support retirement. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) have emerged as popular vehicles for achieving this goal, offering attractive dividend yields backed by tangible real estate assets.

With numerous platforms now providing access to REITs, choosing the right one can significantly impact your investment returns and income reliability. This comprehensive comparison examines the top REIT investing platforms in 2025, analyzing their performance, dividend yields, and unique features to help you make an informed decision.

Understanding REIT Investing in 2025

Before diving into specific platforms, it’s important to understand the current REIT landscape. REITs are companies that own, operate, or finance income-producing real estate across various sectors. By law, they must distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders as dividends, making them attractive income investments.

According to the Nerdwallet, the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index had a three-year total return of 2.7% and a five-year total return of 41.3% as of May 30, 2025. While this underperformed the S&P 500’s three-year return of 15.01%, REITs continue to offer compelling income opportunities, with many yielding between 3% and 15%.

Top REIT Investing Platforms Compared

1. Fundrise: Best Overall Platform for Non-Accredited Investors

• Minimum Investment: $10
• Fee Structure: 1% (0.15% advisory fee + 0.85% management fee)
• Average Dividend Yield: 3-7%
• Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
• Account Types: Individual, Joint, Trust, IRA
• Liquidity: Limited (1% penalty for early withdrawals)

Platform Overview: Fundrise has revolutionized real estate investing by allowing non-accredited investors to access private market real estate with just $10. The platform manages over $7 billion in real estate assets, including 8,962 multifamily units and 3,471 single-family homes across 30 U.S. markets.

Performance Highlights:

• 2024 Average Return: 8.4%
• 5-Year Average Annual Return: 9.7%
• Historical Range (since inception): 7.31-12.42%

Income Strategy:
Fundrise offers several portfolio strategies, including their “Income” portfolio specifically designed to maximize quarterly dividends. Their Interval Fund, launched in 2022, has consistently delivered quarterly distributions while maintaining NAV stability.

According to Business Insider, “Fundrise is noted as the best platform for beginner real estate investors with a minimum investment of $10 and low fees.”

Pros:

• Extremely low minimum investment
• User-friendly platform with excellent educational resources
• Diversified exposure across multiple property types and geographic regions
• IRA options available for tax-advantaged investing
• Solid historical performance

Cons:

• Quarterly rather than monthly distributions
• Limited liquidity compared to publicly traded REITs
• Early redemption penalties may apply
• Less transparency than publicly traded REITs

2. RealtyMogul: Best for Commercial Real Estate Exposure

• Minimum Investment: $5,000
• Fee Structure: 1-1.25% management fee + additional fees
• Average Dividend Yield: 4.5-8%
• Distribution Frequency: Monthly or Quarterly (depends on the REIT)
• Account Types: Individual, Joint, Trust, LLC, IRA
• Liquidity: Limited (one-year lockup period)

Platform Overview:
RealtyMogul offers two REITs available to non-accredited investors: the Income REIT (focused on monthly income) and the Apartment Growth REIT (focused on growth). The platform has facilitated 362 deals across various commercial property types and has realized over $216 million in investments.

Performance Highlights:

• Income REIT 2024 Return: 6.8%
• Income REIT 5-Year Average Annual Return: 6.0%
• Apartment Growth REIT 2024 Return: 5.7%
• Overall realized IRR across all investments: 20.7%

Income Strategy:
RealtyMogul’s Income REIT is specifically designed for investors seeking consistent monthly income, with a focus on stable, cash-flowing commercial properties including multifamily, retail, office, and industrial assets.

According to Investopedia, “RealtyMogul is recognized for its commercial real estate offerings and has a minimum investment of $5,000 for REITs.”

Pros:

• Monthly income option through Income REIT
• Strong focus on commercial properties with established tenants
• Transparent reporting and property information
• IRA investment options
• Established track record with realized returns

Cons:

• Higher minimum investment ($5,000)
• One-year lockup period limits liquidity
• Higher fees than some competitors (up to 6.5% for Income REIT)
• Limited number of investment options compared to public REIT markets

3. Streitwise: Best for High Dividend Yields

• Minimum Investment: $1,000
• Fee Structure: 2% management fee (all-inclusive)
• Average Dividend Yield: 8.4%
• Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
• Account Types: Individual, Joint, Trust, LLC, IRA
• Liquidity: Limited (1-year lockup, then quarterly redemption windows)

Platform Overview:
Streitwise focuses exclusively on commercial real estate, particularly office and mixed-use properties in secondary markets with strong growth fundamentals. Unlike many competitors, Streitwise has a simple, transparent fee structure with no hidden costs.

Performance Highlights:

• 2024 Dividend Yield: 8.4%
• 5-Year Average Annual Dividend: 8.2%
• Consistent quarterly dividends since inception

Income Strategy:
Streitwise maintains one of the highest dividend yields in the private REIT space by focusing on value-oriented commercial properties with strong tenants and long-term leases. Their strategy emphasizes stable cash flow over rapid appreciation.

According to Moneywise, “Streitwise is known for its focus on commercial real estate investments through a REIT structure” and consistently offers higher yields than many competitors.

Pros:

• Among the highest dividend yields in the private REIT space
• Simple, transparent fee structure
• Lower minimum compared to many commercial real estate platforms
• Management team co-invests in the REIT
• Focus on stable, income-producing properties

Cons:

• Quarterly rather than monthly distributions
• Limited property diversification (primarily office and mixed-use)
• One-year initial lockup period
• Less geographic diversification than larger platforms

4. Arrived: Best for Residential Real Estate Exposure

• Minimum Investment: $100
• Fee Structure: 0.10-0.30% quarterly management fee
• Average Dividend Yield: 3.5-5.5%
• Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
• Account Types: Individual, Joint, Trust, IRA
• Liquidity: Limited (can request redemption after 6 months)

Platform Overview:
Arrived specializes in fractional ownership of single-family homes and vacation rentals. The platform allows investors to browse and select specific properties rather than investing in a general fund, providing greater control over investment decisions.

Performance Highlights:

• Average Rental Dividend Yield (2024): 3.8%
• Vacation Rental Dividend Yield (2024): 5.2%
• Total Return Expectation: 6-10% annually
• Total Dividends Paid: Over $3.5 million to 518,000 investors

Income Strategy:
Arrived generates income through rent collection from long-term tenants or short-term vacation rentals. Dividends are distributed quarterly, representing the net rental income after expenses, property management fees, and platform fees.

According to Credaily, “Arrived Realty has paid over $3.5 million in dividends across 518,000 registered investors, who collectively own $125 million in property.”

Pros:

• Low minimum investment ($100)
• Property-specific investments (choose individual homes)
• Backed by notable investors including Bezos Expeditions
• Simple, straightforward platform
• Flexible liquidity options compared to some competitors

Cons:

• Lower dividend yields than commercial-focused platforms
• Quarterly rather than monthly distributions
• Limited track record compared to established platforms
• Property-specific risks (less diversification)

5. Public REITs via Fidelity: Best for Liquidity and Monthly Payers

• Minimum Investment: No minimum (fractional shares available)
• Fee Structure: No commission on trades; expense ratios vary by REIT
• Average Dividend Yield: 2-15% (varies widely by REIT)
• Distribution Frequency: Monthly, Quarterly, or Annual (REIT-dependent)
• Account Types: All standard brokerage accounts and retirement accounts
• Liquidity: Excellent (trade during market hours)

Platform Overview: Fidelity offers access to the complete universe of publicly traded REITs, including those that pay monthly dividends. This traditional brokerage approach provides maximum flexibility, liquidity, and transparency compared to private REIT platforms.

Performance Highlights (Selected Monthly-Paying REITs):

• Realty Income (O): 5.7% yield, 56-year dividend streak
• STAG Industrial (STAG): 4.1% yield, 13-year dividend streak
• LTC Properties (LTC): 6.5% yield, 16-year dividend streak
• EPR Properties (EPR): 6.0% yield, 3-year dividend streak

Income Strategy:
Investors can create a diversified portfolio of monthly-paying REITs to generate consistent income throughout the month rather than concentrated quarterly payments. This approach offers maximum flexibility to tailor your income stream to specific needs.

According to Simply Safe Dividends, “Realty Income has been in business since 1969 and operates over 15,000 properties across more than 1,000 tenants” with an occupancy rate that has never dipped below 96%.

Pros:

• Immediate liquidity (sell during market hours)
• No platform fees or commissions
• Complete transparency (public financial reporting)
• Option to select only monthly-paying REITs
• Fractional shares enable small investments
• Widest selection of property types and strategies

Cons:

• Greater market volatility than private REITs
• Requires more research and self-direction
• Dividend yields may be lower than private REITs
• No built-in diversification (must create your own)

Monthly-Paying REITs: Performance and Yield Comparison

For investors specifically seeking monthly income, several publicly traded REITs offer monthly dividend payments. Here’s how the top monthly dividend REITs compare in 2025:

Data sources: Simply Safe Dividends, Beat Market, and Sure Dividend

Platform Comparison for Monthly Income Seekers

For investors primarily focused on generating consistent monthly income, here’s how the platforms compare:

Monthly Distribution Capability:

1. Public REITs via Fidelity: ★★★★★
   Offers direct access to all monthly-paying REITs with immediate liquidity
2. RealtyMogul: ★★★★☆
   Income REIT provides monthly distributions, but limited to one investment option
3. Fundrise: ★★☆☆☆
   Quarterly distributions only
4. Streitwise: ★★☆☆☆
   Quarterly distributions only
5. Arrived: ★★☆☆☆
   Quarterly distributions only

Dividend Yield Potential:

1. Streitwise: ★★★★★
   Consistently delivers 8%+ dividends
2. Public REITs via Fidelity: ★★★★☆
   Wide range available (2-15%), with several high-yield options
3. RealtyMogul: ★★★★☆
   Income REIT typically yields 6-8%
4. Fundrise: ★★★☆☆
   Moderate yields in 3-7% range
5. Arrived: ★★★☆☆
   Lower yields typically in 3-5% range

Liquidity for Income Investors:

1. Public REITs via Fidelity: ★★★★★
   Immediate liquidity during market hours
2. Arrived: ★★★☆☆
   Redemption possible after 6 months
3. Fundrise: ★★★☆☆
   Redemption available but with potential penalties
4. RealtyMogul: ★★☆☆☆
   One-year lockup period
5. Streitwise: ★★☆☆☆
   One-year lockup period

Accessibility (Minimum Investment):

1. Fundrise: ★★★★★
   $10 minimum
2. Arrived: ★★★★★
   $100 minimum
3. Public REITs via Fidelity: ★★★★★
   No minimum with fractional shares
4. Streitwise: ★★★☆☆
   $1,000 minimum
5. RealtyMogul: ★★☆☆☆
   $5,000 minimum

Building a Monthly Income Strategy with REITs

Based on this comprehensive analysis, here are three strategic approaches for investors seeking monthly income from REITs:

Strategy 1: Pure Monthly Income Approach

This strategy focuses exclusively on generating consistent monthly income with maximum liquidity:

1. Core Holdings (70%): Build a diversified portfolio of monthly-paying public REITs through Fidelity:
   • Realty Income (O): 25%
   • STAG Industrial (STAG): 15%
   • LTC Properties (LTC): 15%
   • Agree Realty (ADC): 15%
2. Yield Enhancer (30%): Allocate to RealtyMogul’s Income REIT for its higher yield and monthly payments.

Expected Results:

• Average Dividend Yield: ~5.5%
• Distribution Frequency: Monthly
• Liquidity: High (70% immediately liquid)
• Diversification: Across retail, industrial, healthcare, and commercial sectors

Strategy 2: Yield Maximizer Approach

This strategy prioritizes highest possible yield while accepting some liquidity constraints:

1. High-Yield Foundation (50%): Invest in Streitwise for its consistent 8%+ yield.
2. Monthly Income Component (30%): Select higher-yielding monthly public REITs:
   • LTC Properties (LTC): 10%
   • EPR Properties (EPR): 10%
   • Apple Hospitality (APLE): 10%
3. Diversifier (20%): Allocate to RealtyMogul’s Income REIT for additional diversification.

Expected Results:

• Average Dividend Yield: ~7.5%
• Distribution Frequency: Mixed (monthly and quarterly)
• Liquidity: Medium (30% immediately liquid)
• Diversification: Across commercial, healthcare, entertainment, and hospitality sectors

Strategy 3: Balanced Approach for Smaller Investors

This strategy is designed for investors starting with limited capital:

1. Low-Minimum Foundation (50%): Start with Fundrise’s Income portfolio at just $10 minimum.
2. Property-Specific Exposure (30%): Add Arrived investments in specific rental properties ($100 minimum per property).
3. Monthly Income Stream (20%): Invest in 1-2 monthly-paying public REITs through fractional shares on Fidelity:
   • Realty Income (O): 10%
   • STAG Industrial (STAG): 10%

Expected Results:

• Average Dividend Yield: ~5%
• Distribution Frequency: Mixed (some monthly, some quarterly)
• Liquidity: Medium-Low (20% immediately liquid)
• Diversification: Across multiple property types and investment structures
• Advantage: Can start with as little as $10-100

Key Considerations for REIT Platform Selection

When selecting a REIT investing platform for monthly income, consider these critical factors:

1. Income Reliability vs. Yield

Higher yields often come with higher risk. Platforms like Streitwise offer attractive yields but concentrate on specific property types. Meanwhile, Realty Income (available through Fidelity) has increased its dividend for 56 consecutive years, demonstrating exceptional reliability despite a more moderate yield.

2. Tax Implications

REIT dividends are typically taxed as ordinary income rather than qualified dividends. Consider using tax-advantaged accounts (IRAs) when possible. Most platforms reviewed (Fundrise, RealtyMogul, Streitwise) offer IRA options.

3. Liquidity Needs

Private REITs through platforms like Fundrise and RealtyMogul offer potential benefits but come with significant liquidity constraints. If you might need access to your capital, publicly traded REITs through Fidelity provide much greater flexibility.

4. Diversification Strategy

Each platform offers different diversification approaches:

• Fundrise: Broad diversification across many properties and regions
• RealtyMogul: Focus on commercial properties
• Streitwise: Concentration in office and mixed-use
• Arrived: Individual residential properties
• Public REITs: Sector-specific exposure (retail, industrial, healthcare, etc.)

5. Economic Outlook Considerations

Different REIT sectors perform differently based on economic conditions. In2025’s economic environment:

• Industrial REITs (like STAG) benefit from e-commerce growth
• Healthcare REITs (like LTC) provide stability during economic uncertainty
• Retail REITs (like Realty Income) with essential businesses have proven resilient
• Office REITs face ongoing challenges from remote work trends

Conclusion: The Best Platform for Your Monthly Income Needs

After comprehensive analysis of dividend yields, performance, and platform features, here are our recommendations for different investor profiles:

For Beginning Investors ($10-$1,000 to start):
Fundrise offers the most accessible entry point with its $10 minimum investment, though income is distributed quarterly rather than monthly. For those who can start with $100, Arrived provides an engaging way to invest in specific properties.

For Income-Focused Investors:
A portfolio of monthly-paying public REITs through Fidelity provides the most consistent monthly income stream with maximum liquidity and control. Top choices include Realty Income (O), STAG Industrial (STAG), and LTC Properties (LTC).

For Yield-Focused Investors:
Streitwise consistently offers one of the highest yields (8%+) in the private REIT space, though with quarterly rather than monthly distributions.

For Investors Seeking Balance:
RealtyMogul’s Income REIT provides monthly distributions with a strong yield (6-8%) and professional management, though with a higher $5,000 minimum investment.

The ideal approach for many investors may be a hybrid strategy—combining the liquidity and monthly income of public REITs with the potentially higher yields and lower volatility of private REIT platforms. This balanced approach can provide both reliable monthly income and the potential for attractive long-term returns.

What’s your experience with REIT investing for monthly income? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!