If you’re looking for a tenant screening platform that delivers reliable credit reports, background checks, and income verification without overcomplicating the process or blowing your budget, you’re in the right place. As a real estate agent, I’ve worked closely with landlords during transactions and seen how much a tenant’s quality can impact everything from closing to long-term property performance.
For this guide, I reviewed and compared multiple platforms based on screening features, pricing, ease of use, customer support, and real user feedback. The tools on this list are designed to help you protect your investment, streamline your workflow, and confidently choose tenants who will pay on time and take care of your property.
| Software | Best for | Starting monthly price |
|---|---|---|
| TurboTenant | Free landlord tools | Free plan (paid plans start at $12.42); screening fees typically paid by renters |
| RentSpree | Agent-friendly tenant screening | Free basic plan (paid plans start at $6.99) |
| RentRedi | Mobile tenant screening | Free (paid plans start at $5) |
| Avail | Automated reference checks | Free unlimited plan (paid plan is at $9) |
| Baselane | Rental property investors | Free core plan (paid plan is at $20) |
| TransUnion SmartMove | Dedicated tenant screening reports | $25 |
Why you can trust The Close
As a real estate agent, I’ve worked closely with landlords throughout transactions and have seen firsthand how important tenant screening is to protecting an investment. From reviewing applications to navigating deal risks before closing, I understand how much of an impact the right screening tools can have on both the process and the long-term success of a rental property.
For this guide, I combined that real-world experience with in-depth research to evaluate how each platform performs in practical scenarios, including reliability, ease of use, and the quality of the information it provides. At The Close, our goal is to deliver clear, unbiased guidance so you can confidently choose the tools that best support your rental business.
Sophia Doyle
Staff Writer-The Close
- The Close’s top picks for tenant screening services for landlords
- TurboTenant: Best for free landlord tools
- RentSpree: Best for agent-friendly tenant screening
- RentRedi: Best for mobile tenant screening
- Avail: Best for automated reference checks
- Baselane: Best for rental property investors
- TransUnion SmartMove: Best for dedicated tenant screening reports
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Methodology
- Your take
The Close’s top picks for tenant screening services for landlords
| Software | The Close score | Free plan | Mobile app | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TurboTenant | 4.9 | ✓ | ✓ | Visit TurboTenant |
| RentSpree | 4.8 | ✓ | X | Visit RentSpree |
| RentRedi | 4.3 | ✓ | ✓ | Visit RentRedi |
| Avail | 4.3 | ✓ | X | Visit Avail |
| Baselane | 3.3 | ✓ | ✓ | Visit Baselane |
| TransUnion SmartMove | 3.2 | X | X | Visit TransUnion SmartMove |
TurboTenant: Best for free landlord tools
Pricing
- Free plan
- Essentials plan: $12.42 per month, billed annually
- Pro: $16.58 per month, billed annually
Why I chose TurboTenant
TurboTenant is my top pick because it gives landlords a strong mix of tenant screening and rental management tools without making the process feel overly complicated. You can create rental listings, accept applications, request screening reports, collect rent, manage maintenance requests, and communicate with tenants from one platform.
I especially like TurboTenant for independent landlords who want more than a basic screening report. Its reports include credit, eviction, criminal background, income, identity, and fraud-related screening details, while the platform also supports online applications, tenant communication, rent payments, and maintenance tracking. That makes it a strong all-around option for landlords who want to screen renters and manage the rental relationship in one place.
Additional features
- Rental marketing: Create rental listings and market vacancies across supported rental listing sites.
- Maintenance requests: Tenants can submit maintenance requests, and landlords can manage repairs through the platform.
RentSpree: Best for agent-friendly tenant screening
Pricing
- Basic free plan
- Landlord PRO: $6.99 per month, billed annually
- RentSpree PRO: $15.83 per month, billed annually
- Standard screening report: $39.99 per report
- Comprehensive screening report: $49.99 per report
Why I chose RentSpree
RentSpree is a great fit for agents and landlords who want a simple, professional tenant screening workflow. It is easy to send to applicants, easy for renters to complete, and easy for landlords or agents to review. The platform keeps the screening process focused, which is helpful when you do not need a full property management system.
I like RentSpree for agents because it supports the rental application process without adding unnecessary operational tools. It offers credit, background, and eviction reports, plus a more comprehensive screening option with income verification and reference checks. RentSpree also includes rental applications, listing syndication, online rent collection, and lease upload with e-signatures on select plans, making it especially useful for agents who help rental clients but do not want to manage every part of the landlord workflow.
Additional features
- ApplyLink: Share one application link so renters can apply and submit screening information.
- Income verification: Review bank-verified income through RentSpree’s comprehensive screening option.
RentRedi: Best for mobile tenant screening
Pricing
- Track: Free plan
- Start: $5 per month
- Grow: $12 per month (billed annually)
- Pro: Contact for pricing
Why I chose RentRedi
RentRedi is a strong option for landlords who want to manage tenant screening and rental operations from their phone. Its mobile app experience is one of its biggest strengths, especially for landlords who need to review applications, request screening, collect rent, handle maintenance, and communicate with tenants while on the go.
RentRedi’s tenant screening is powered by TransUnion and includes ResidentScore, credit reporting, eviction history, and criminal background screening. Landlords can also add income and asset verification via Plaid, which gives them greater confidence in reviewing an applicant’s ability to pay. Beyond screening, RentRedi includes rental listings, applications, rent collection, maintenance requests, tenant communication, and tenant-facing mobile tools.
Additional features
- ResidentScore: Use TransUnion’s rental-specific score to help evaluate applicant risk.
- Plaid income verification: Add income and asset verification to gain more insight into the applicant’s finances.
Avail: Best for automated reference checks
Pricing
- Unlimited: Free plan
- Unlimited Plus: $9 a month
Why I chose Avail
Avail is a great option for landlords who want tenant screening plus the core tools needed to manage a rental. The platform includes rental listings, applications, screening requests, state-specific leases, online rent collection, maintenance tracking, tenant messaging, income and expense tracking, and tenant portal access.
What sets Avail apart is its automated reference check feature. When applicants complete the rental application, Avail can help collect information from previous landlords and employers, giving landlords more context beyond a credit report or background check. Avail also offers TransUnion credit, criminal, and eviction reports, which help landlords build a more complete applicant profile before making a decision.
Additional features
- Lawyer-reviewed leases: Access state-specific lease templates with disclosures, clauses, attachments, and digital signing.
- Rent analysis: Review local rent comps and market data to help set a competitive rental price.
Baselane: Best for rental property investors
Pricing
- Core: Free plan
- Smart: $20 per month
Why I chose Baselane
Baselane is the best choice first for rental property investors who want tenant screening integrated with the financial side of their rental business. It is not trying to be a full property management platform. Instead, its strength is helping landlords collect rent, manage banking, track income and expenses, organize bookkeeping, and understand property-level performance.
Baselane offers tenant screening with a rental application, ID verification, and an Equifax credit report. Applicants can also add criminal, eviction, and income verification reports. I like Baselane for investors because screening is part of a broader financial workflow. Once a tenant is approved, landlords can use Baselane to collect rent, separate property finances, track cash flow, and prepare cleaner records for taxes and investment decisions.
Additional features
- Baselane banking: Create property-specific accounts to separate rental income, expenses, and reserves.
- Auto-tagging: Automatically categorize transactions to simplify bookkeeping and reporting.
TransUnion SmartMove: Best for dedicated tenant screening reports
Pricing
- SmartCheck Basic: $25 per month
- SmartCheck Plus: $40 per month
- SmartCheck Premium: $48 per month
Why I chose TransUnion SmartMove
TransUnion SmartMove is the best option on this list for landlords seeking a dedicated tenant-screening service rather than full property management software. It keeps the process simple: landlords select a screening package, invite the applicant, and receive reports after the applicant completes authorization.
SmartMove is backed by TransUnion. It includes ResidentScore, criminal background reports, credit reporting in select packages, eviction-related reporting in select packages, Income Insights in its higher-tier package, and an Identity Check Report in its most complete package. It is a strong fit for landlords who already have a rental management workflow and only need a reliable screening tool.
Additional features
- ResidentScore: Use TransUnion’s rental-specific score to evaluate applicant risk.
- Identity check report: Access identity-related checks, including SSN, address name, date of birth, and deceased person alerts on the highest-tier package.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is tenant screening legal?
Yes, tenant screening is legal, but landlords must comply with fair housing laws, consumer reporting rules, and state and local landlord-tenant regulations. Screening criteria should be applied consistently to every applicant to avoid the risk of discrimination.
Do tenant screening services include eviction history?
Yes, most major tenant screening services offer eviction history reports. However, coverage can vary by provider and jurisdiction, so landlords should review the report details and avoid relying on eviction history alone when evaluating an applicant.
Can landlords deny an applicant based on tenant screening?
Yes, landlords can deny an applicant based on screening results, but they must follow applicable laws. If the decision is based on information from a consumer report, landlords may need to provide an adverse action notice explaining the applicant’s rights.
What is the difference between tenant screening and a rental application?
A rental application collects information directly from the applicant, such as employment, income, rental history, references, and desired move-in date. Tenant screening verifies or supplements that information with reports such as credit checks, eviction history, criminal background checks, identity verification, and income verification.
Methodology
Our expert researchers, agents, writers, and editors at The Close researched and reviewed dozens of tenant screening services for landlords. I chose the top six based on pricing structure, features, and reviews.
Other factors I examined to evaluate the best commercial tenant screening services include the following:
- Pricing (20%)
- I evaluated the cost of each platform, the price of each subscription package, the value of the features provided, and whether it offers a free trial.
- General Features (20%)
- Based on various tenant-screening features offered to help landlords and property managers list and market properties, screen tenants, generate leases and reports, and track financials.
- Advanced Features (25%)
- Based on various tenant communication features offered that help landlords and property managers to engage and connect with their tenants.
- Ease of Use (10%)
- Based on how easy it is to navigate the provider interface and if it provides hassle-free transactions and communication between property owners and tenants.
- Help & Support (5%)
- I looked into the convenience and attainability of customer service for technical support, onboarding, and training.
- Customer Rating (10%)
- Based on customer feedback for each platform, with particular attention to product reviews and provider popularity, to certify that the software meets user satisfaction.
- Expert Score (10%)
- Expertise in the field and firsthand experience with the providers allow us to evaluate the standout features, value for the money, and ease of use of tenant screening services.
Your take
Choosing the right landlord-tenant screening service can make it much easier to find great renters. My list provides several excellent options for screening and managing your tenants; it ultimately depends on your specific business needs. Use my list to select a platform that best aligns with your requirements and gives your business a competitive edge.
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