Vendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. Every vendor link is marked the same, whatever the arrangement behind it. The largest vendors in tenant screening software
cannot hold places 1 to 3. Places 1 to 3 go to challengers, vendors outside the best-known brands in a category,
wherever the category has them; the established names follow from place 4 in their ranked order. How it works: placement disclosure ·
editorial process.
The 13 tools, reviewed
#1 Avail
Free landlord software with applicant-initiated TransUnion screening · US · avail.com
Free tier TransUnion reports Rent collection
Avail earns the top spot by removing the cost question for a small owner. The $0 per unit Unlimited tier covers screening with TransUnion-powered credit reports, a nationwide criminal search and prior eviction reports, and the tenant starts the process. Automated residence and employment reference checks and income verification sit alongside, and the same account handles listings and online rent collection.
- Pricing: Per unit / month. Unlimited is $0 per unit, Unlimited Plus is $9 per unit per month; screening reports are tenant-initiated. Free plan: free plan.
- Best for: One-to-ten unit independent landlords
- Strengths: Tenant-initiated credit and background checks; Nationwide criminal history report; Nationwide prior eviction reports.
Where it falls short
Custom application questions and lease customization need the Unlimited Plus tier at $9 per unit per month, so the free tier is narrower than it first looks.
Wrong for
A landlord who wants to choose which report to order, or a manager running hundreds of doors who needs enterprise controls and a negotiated rate, should look at SmartMove or RentPrep.
Visit Avail →
#2 TurboTenant
Free landlord software with tenant-paid screening · United States · turbotenant.com
Free account Tenant pays screening Listings
TurboTenant is the closest rival to Avail on cost, and it comes in second because it states its business model so plainly. The pricing page offers a free account with background, credit and eviction checks, and the company says it earns revenue when tenants pay for a screening or submit rent payments.
- Pricing: Free software, tenant-paid reports. The software and account are free; the screening fee is paid by the tenant, and the amount was not captured. Free plan: free plan.
- Best for: First-time landlords with a few rentals
- Strengths: Free background, credit and eviction checks; Listings on 25+ sites; AI lease agreement audit.
Where it falls short
Because the tenant pays for the screening, applicants see a fee you did not set, and some will drop out. We could not read the fee amount on the pages we opened.
Wrong for
A landlord who wants to absorb the screening cost, choose among package tiers, or run a large portfolio with custom workflows will find the choices thin.
Visit TurboTenant →
#3 MyRental
Pay-per-applicant screening packages for independent landlords · United States · myrental.com
Published packages No monthly fees Renter pay option
MyRental is the clearest pay-as-you-go option on the list. The pricing page prints three packages, Basic at $24.99, Premium at $38.99 and a credit package at $43.99 per applicant, plus single reports from $7.99, and says there are no sign-up or monthly fees.
- Pricing: Per applicant. Basic is $24.99 per applicant, Premium $38.99, a credit package $43.99, and single reports start at $7.99. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Independent landlords and small agents
- Strengths: Credit report; TU Rental Score; Income insights.
Where it falls short
Credit products need the applicant to consent through an emailed link, so reports are not instant.
Wrong for
A landlord who wants applications, leases and rent collection in one login should choose a suite like Buildium or RentRedi, and one who wants zero cost should start with Avail.
Visit MyRental →
#4 TransUnion SmartMove
Credit-bureau tenant screening sold per report · United States · mysmartmove.com
Bureau-backed Three tiers Landlord or applicant pays
SmartMove has the strongest brand behind it in this ranking, and its status as a major vendor keeps it out of the top three. The pricing page offers free membership, pay-as-you-go screening and no subscriptions, with SmartCheck Basic at $25, Plus at $42 and Premium at $49.
- Pricing: Pay per report. SmartCheck Basic is $25, Plus is $42, Premium is $49, plus tax where applicable; free membership and no subscriptions. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Landlords wanting a bureau-branded report
- Strengths: ResidentScore; Credit report; Criminal background report.
Where it falls short
It is a report product only, with no listings, leases or rent collection, so the landlord needs other software beside it. Tax is extra where applicable.
Wrong for
A landlord who wants screening, leasing and rent in one place should choose a suite.
Visit TransUnion SmartMove →
#5 RentRedi
Landlord app with rent collection and templated screening · United States · rentredi.com
Unlimited units Flat price Custom screening templates
RentRedi suits an owner who wants the whole rental workflow for a flat fee. The homepage advertises landlord software for $12 a month billed annually with unlimited units, and a semi-annual option, and lists screening with custom templates beside rent collection, lease signing, accounting, maintenance requests and tax tracking.
- Pricing: Flat monthly. $12 a month billed annually for unlimited units; a semi-annual billing option also exists. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Landlords wanting one flat price
- Strengths: Rent collection; Tenant screening with custom templates; Lease signing.
Where it falls short
The homepage FAQ asks whether tenant screening is included, and we did not capture the answer, nor the cost of a report. What the screening reports contain is not described on the pages we read.
Wrong for
A landlord who wants to see credit, criminal and eviction report contents and a published per-report price should look at MyRental or SmartMove.
Visit RentRedi →
#6 TenantCloud
Property management plans with built-in screening packages · United States · tenantcloud.com
Low entry plan Screening packages Pre-screening questions
TenantCloud gives a small landlord a property management system with screening included in the package list. Pricing starts at $15 a month and premium plans from $100 a month, per the pricing page, and the homepage lists tenant screening packages, pre-screening questions and application fees, listing syndication, a free custom website, rent collection and maintenance requests.
- Pricing: Per plan / month. Plans from $15 a month, premium plans from $100 a month; screening packages are sold inside the product. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Landlords with a few dozen units
- Strengths: Tenant screening packages; Pre-screening questions; Application fees.
Where it falls short
The homepage claims 99.9% screening accuracy, but that is the vendor's own figure and we could not test it. We also did not capture what each screening package costs or contains.
Wrong for
A landlord who wants one clear per-report price list, or a pure screening product with no software to learn, should compare MyRental and TransUnion SmartMove.
Visit TenantCloud →
#7 RentPrep
Tenant screening packages with an enterprise API tier · United States · rentprep.com
Three packages Enterprise tier API integration
RentPrep sells screening in three packages that are easy to compare: a credit report, a full background check and a complete bundle. The packages page lists them at 29, 29 and 49, and the contents include a credit report, a ResidentScore, SSN verification, nationwide criminal and sex offender searches, evictions, judgments and liens, and a review by an FCRA-certified screener.
- Pricing: Per package. Credit Report Only 29, Full Background Check Only 29 and Complete Screening Package 49. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Landlords wanting one-off packages
- Strengths: Full credit report; ResidentScore; SSN verification.
Where it falls short
The vendor page says reports are now delivered by Stessa, so the product's future direction is tied to that company. Prices appear without a currency symbol on the page we read.
Wrong for
A landlord who wants listings, leases and rent in a single login, or a free option, is better served by Avail or TurboTenant.
Visit RentPrep →
#8 Buildium
Property management suite with built-in tenant screening · United States · buildium.com
Full suite Built-in screening Per-property criteria
Buildium is the choice when screening is only part of the job. The homepage shows Essential from $65 a month and Growth from $202 a month, and lists online rental applications, built-in screening services, pre-screening criteria set per property, listings, leases, rent collection, accounting and maintenance.
- Pricing: Per plan / month. Essential from $65 a month and Growth from $202 a month; screening is built into the subscription. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Managers of fifty-plus rental units
- Strengths: Online rental applications; Built-in tenant screening; Pre-screening criteria per property.
Where it falls short
Screening is not sold alone, so a landlord who only needs reports pays for an entire management system. We did not capture per-report prices or which bureau supplies the data.
Wrong for
A landlord with a few units who wants the cheapest report should look at Avail, TurboTenant or MyRental, and an operator wanting a screening product on its own should look at SmartMove.
Visit Buildium →
#9 ApplyConnect
Applicant-bought screening report shared with landlords · United States · applyconnect.com
Applicant-paid Experian credit data Shareable report
ApplyConnect inverts the usual flow: the renter buys a report and chooses whom to share it with. The homepage describes an Experian credit report with a VantageScore, housing and criminal history, a preview before sharing, and sharing with up to three landlords within 30 days of purchase. For a renter applying to several places, one fee beats three.
- Pricing: Applicant pays per report. The applicant pays for the report; the amount was not captured because the pricing page returned an error. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Renters applying to several rentals
- Strengths: Experian credit report with VantageScore; Housing and criminal history; Report preview before sharing.
Where it falls short
The landlord cannot order the report under this model, per the homepage flow, so it gives you less control. We did not capture a price, because the pricing page returned a 404 during our review.
Wrong for
A landlord who wants to run the screening and own the decision should use a landlord-ordered product such as SmartMove or MyRental, and a portfolio operator should look at RealPage.
Visit ApplyConnect →
#10 TenantEvaluation
Resident screening platform for HOA and condo communities · United States · tenantevaluation.ai
HOA focus Approval workflows Payments
TenantEvaluation is a specialist. Its homepage describes the TE Suite as built for community associations, with background screening, customizable approval workflows, payments through TEpayments by Zinc and a LeaseTracking tool. Criminal and eviction information are included, and credit information appears where the association requires it.
- Pricing: Quote only. Quote only; no price on the pages we read. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Community associations and their managers
- Strengths: Resident screening and background checks; Criminal and eviction information; Credit information where required.
Where it falls short
The product is built around associations, so a landlord with a few houses will find the model off target. Pricing is not published, a quote is needed, and we saw no free plan.
Wrong for
A landlord screening applicants for single-family or apartment rentals should look at Avail, MyRental or SmartMove, which are designed for that job.
Visit TenantEvaluation →
#11 Certn
General background screening with a tenant use case · Canada · certn.co
Broad screening Compliance built in High volume
Certn is a background screening company first and a tenant screener second. The homepage invites visitors to screen tenants and staff before handing over the keys, and lists high volume screening and built-in compliance. The privacy policy names Certn Holdings Inc. with Canadian, US and UK subsidiaries.
- Pricing: Quote only. Quote only; no price was captured on the pages we opened. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Companies screening staff and tenants
- Strengths: Background checks; High volume screening; Compliance built in.
Where it falls short
The tenant screening sub-page returned a 404 during our review, and the homepage focuses on employment and gig work, so what a tenant check contains is unclear to us. We captured no price.
Wrong for
A landlord who wants a published tenant report price should look at MyRental or SmartMove, and one who wants listings and rent collection in the same login should choose a suite.
Visit Certn →
#12 Experian RentBureau
Rental payment history database for screening and credit checks · United States · experian.com
Rental history data Bureau-backed Quote only
Experian RentBureau is data rather than a landlord app. The vendor page describes a rental payment history database used for tenant screening and credit checks, with a route for consumers to request their rental history report and dispute entries. For a property operator that already reports rent, the data adds a payment record that a one-time credit report does not show.
- Pricing: Quote only. Quote only; the page sends prospects to Experian experts for pricing. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Operators using rent payment history
- Strengths: Rental history database; Tenant screening and credit checks; Consumer rental history report requests.
Where it falls short
Pricing is by contact with Experian experts, so there is no published entry price to compare. It is a database rather than an application workflow, so you need other software for applications, leases and decisions.
Wrong for
A landlord wanting to order a report on one applicant today should use SmartMove, MyRental or Avail, which publish prices and offer self-service ordering.
Visit Experian RentBureau →
#13 RealPage Resident Screening
AI tenant screening inside a multifamily leasing suite · United States · realpage.com
Suite integration AI screening Enterprise
RealPage belongs at the far end of this ranking because its screening is designed for large multifamily operators. The solution pages describe AI tenant screening, tenant screening and background checks, prequalification, online leasing integration and a link to OneSite property management. The company says it was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Richardson, Texas.
- Pricing: Quote only. Quote only; pricing is not published on the pages we read. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Large multifamily property operators
- Strengths: AI tenant screening; Tenant screening and background checks; Prequalification.
Where it falls short
Pricing is not on the vendor pages we read, and screening is sold with the suite rather than alone.
Wrong for
A small or mid-sized landlord who wants self-service screening with a posted price should choose Avail, MyRental or SmartMove instead of a multifamily enterprise suite.
Visit RealPage Resident Screening →
Questions and answers
What is the best tenant screening software in 2026?
Avail ranks first of 13, best for one-to-ten unit independent landlords. TurboTenant is second (first-time landlords with a few rentals) and MyRental third (independent landlords and small agents). Places 1 to 3 go to challengers, vendors outside the best-known brands, wherever the category has them.
Who should pay for the tenant screening report, the landlord or the applicant?
Both models exist. Avail and TurboTenant route the fee to the applicant, and ApplyConnect is built around an applicant-bought report that can be shared with up to three landlords within 30 days. SmartMove and MyRental let either side pay.
How much does a tenant screening report cost?
Published prices on the vendors' own pages range from $7.99 for a single MyRental report to $49 for SmartMove's SmartCheck Premium.
What does a tenant screening report usually contain?
Most packages combine a credit report, a criminal search, an eviction or housing court search and some form of income or identity check. SmartMove lists a ResidentScore, an income estimator and an identity check report.
Does the applicant have to consent to a credit check?
Credit products need the applicant's consent in the products we read. MyRental states that its credit products require consent through an email link, and Avail describes its credit reports and background checks as tenant-initiated.
Is a free tenant screening tool really free?
Free usually means free to the landlord.
Can I screen tenants inside property management software?
Yes, and many landlords do. Buildium has built-in screening with pre-screening criteria per property, starting with Essential at $65 a month.
What should I do after declining an applicant based on a report?
Keep the report, your written criteria and the date of the decision, and send the applicant the notice your local rules require.
Is there a tenant screening product for homeowner and condo associations?
TenantEvaluation is aimed mainly at HOA and condo communities, with background screening, customizable approval workflows, payments through TEpayments by Zinc and a LeaseTracking tool. Its page also says credit information is included where an association requires it.
What is the difference between screening and a rental payment history database?
A one-off report checks an applicant on the day of the application. A rental payment history database, such as Experian RentBureau, holds ongoing records of how renters have paid, and landlords use it in screening and credit checks.
Can a small landlord use a general background check company?
It is possible. Certn lists tenant screening among its uses, but its homepage is dominated by employment and gig-worker screening, and we saw no published price.
