Roundup
Best tenant screening services for landlords (2026)
Screening is the one landlord task where a $40 decision can save you a $20,000 mistake, so it's worth picking the tool that gets you a credit report, criminal background check, and eviction history without making the applicant jump through hoops. Most screening products are pay-per-report rather than subscriptions, and the real differences are who pays (you or the applicant), how the report is delivered, and whether screening is bolted onto a full management platform or sold on its own. This list ranks the services we'd actually use, with per-report pricing verified against each vendor's public pages on the date shown.
How we ranked these (and who's asking)
Tenvale is our product — this page is published by Tenvale, so read our #1 pick with that in mind. To keep the list useful anyway: every competitor pricing claim below is hedged and dated (verified against their public pricing pages on the date shown), each competitor entry says who they genuinely fit better than we do, and Tenvale's entry lists real cons. Where we couldn't verify a figure from a public page, we describe it qualitatively (“per-unit pricing”, “quote-based”) instead of guessing.
Competitor details verified June 15, 2026. Pricing and features change frequently — verify current details on each vendor's site before deciding.
- 1
Tenvaleour product
Landlords who want screening inside the same place they collect rent and run their portfolio — at one flat price
Pricing: $29.99/mo flat — unlimited units, no per-unit fees. 30-day free tier (no credit card, up to 100 units). ACH rent payments at 0.8%, capped at $5 per payment.
Pros
- Screening lives in the same platform as rent, leases, and maintenance — one applicant flow, no second login.
- Flat $29.99/mo for the whole platform; you're not paying a separate per-seat subscription just to screen.
- 30-day no-card free tier (up to 100 units) so you can run your real onboarding before paying.
- Built-in Massachusetts §15B deposit-interest tracking once a screened applicant becomes a tenant.
Cons
- Tenvale is a full management platform, not a standalone screening shop — if all you want is a one-off report and nothing else, a pay-per-report service like SmartMove is a more direct fit.
- Newer product with a shorter track record than TransUnion's SmartMove or RentPrep.
- Per-report screening fees and the exact bundled checks should be confirmed on our pricing page for your state, since some checks vary by jurisdiction.
Our verdict: Tenvale is our product, so weigh this accordingly: it makes the most sense if screening is one step in a workflow you're already running here — listing, application, screening, lease, rent. If you only need a single background check and have no interest in the rest of a management platform, one of the standalone services below will get you there with less product around it. The flat price is the differentiator once screening is part of a recurring landlord routine rather than a one-off.
- 2
TransUnion SmartMove
The standalone pay-per-report standard, straight from a bureau
Pricing: Pay-per-report, no subscription; tiered packages roughly in the $25–$42 per-screening range as of June 14, 2026 (Basic around $25, Premium around $40, with deeper criminal add-ons extra — verify current tiers on their site).
Pros
- Reports come straight from TransUnion, one of the major credit bureaus.
- No monthly fee — you only pay when you actually screen someone.
- You can choose to pay yourself or pass the cost to the applicant.
Cons
- It's screening only — no rent collection, leases, or portfolio tools, so you'll still need other software for the rest.
- Per-report cost adds up if you screen many applicants per vacancy.
- No flat-rate option; every report is a separate charge.
Our verdict: SmartMove is the honest default if you want a bureau-grade report and nothing else. It's the most direct way to get a credit, criminal, and eviction check without committing to a platform. If you find yourself also wanting to collect rent and run leases in the same place, that's where a full tool like Tenvale starts to earn its flat price.
- 3
RentPrep
Landlords who want a human-reviewed background check option
Pricing: Pay-per-report; packages roughly $29 for a background or credit report up to about $49 for a full TransUnion package, with add-ons (income verification, lien/judgment search) priced separately as of June 15, 2026 (verify on their site).
Pros
- Offers packages reviewed by a screening team, not just an automated pull.
- No subscription — pay only for the reports you order.
- Add-ons like income verification and lien searches available à la carte.
Cons
- Screening-only; no rent collection, leasing, or accounting.
- À la carte add-ons mean the true per-applicant cost depends on what you bundle.
- Manual-review options can take longer than an instant automated report.
Our verdict: RentPrep is a strong standalone pick when you value a human-reviewed background check or want to assemble exactly the checks you need per applicant. Like SmartMove, it stops at screening — pair it with separate software for rent and leases, or use a platform that includes screening if you'd rather keep everything in one place.
- 4
TurboTenant
Applicant-paid screening inside a free landlord platform
Pricing: Screening is typically applicant-paid (around $45–$55 per applicant depending on the landlord's plan, per published pricing as of June 14, 2026); landlord platform has a free tier with paid plans priced per year (verify on their site).
Pros
- Screening can be paid by the applicant, so it can cost the landlord nothing directly.
- Bundled into a broader free landlord platform (listings, applications, rent).
- Includes credit, criminal, and eviction history in the report.
Cons
- Applicant-paid fees in the ~$45–$55 range are on the higher side for the renter.
- The lowest screening fees and extras (income/fraud tools) are gated behind the paid plan.
- Massachusetts §15B deposit-interest tracking is not listed on their public pricing/features page.
Our verdict: TurboTenant is the pick if you want screening folded into a free, applicant-facing platform and you're comfortable passing the fee to renters. It overlaps with Tenvale on the broader management jobs; the deciding factors are who pays for screening, whether you want a flat platform price, and whether you need Massachusetts deposit tooling.
- 5
Avail
DIY landlords already on Avail who want TransUnion-backed screening
Pricing: Screening priced per applicant (commonly around $55 for a full TransUnion-backed report, per published pricing as of June 14, 2026; costs can vary by location/state — verify on their site). Avail's platform has a free tier with a per-unit paid plan.
Pros
- Screening uses TransUnion data, including a ResidentScore.
- Sits inside Avail's broader DIY platform with a real free tier.
- Applicant can typically cover the screening cost.
Cons
- Per-applicant screening cost can run higher (around $55) and varies by location.
- Avail's paid platform plan is per-unit, so platform cost climbs as you add doors.
- Massachusetts §15B deposit-interest tracking is not listed on their public pricing/features page.
Our verdict: If you're already running on Avail, its built-in TransUnion-backed screening is a convenient, no-second-login option. As a standalone screening choice it's pricier per applicant than SmartMove. The platform's per-unit paid pricing is the same cost curve flat-priced tools like Tenvale avoid as you grow.
FAQ
How much does tenant screening cost in 2026?
Most screening reports run roughly $25–$55 per applicant depending on the service and the depth of checks. Bureau-direct services like TransUnion SmartMove start around $25 for a basic package; platform-bundled screening (TurboTenant, Avail) is often closer to $45–$55 per applicant and frequently paid by the renter. These figures were checked against each vendor's public pages on the date shown on this page — verify current pricing on their sites, since screening fees change and some checks vary by state.
Should the landlord or the applicant pay for screening?
Both are common and legal in most places, though some jurisdictions cap or regulate application fees — check your state and local rules. Standalone services like SmartMove and RentPrep let you choose; platform tools like TurboTenant and Avail commonly default to the applicant paying at the point of application. Passing the cost to applicants reduces your out-of-pocket spend per vacancy but can shrink your applicant pool if your fee is high relative to the local market.
Do I need standalone screening software or a full platform?
If screening is the only thing you need, a pay-per-report service (SmartMove, RentPrep) is the most direct option. If you're also collecting rent, sending leases, and tracking maintenance, screening inside a management platform avoids a second login and a separate tool. Tenvale (our product) is the platform option here — $29.99/mo flat for the whole workflow; standalone screening is better when you genuinely only need the report.
How is this list ranked, given Tenvale wrote it?
Openly: Tenvale is our product and we ranked it first for landlords who want screening inside one platform, because that's who we built it for. Every competitor pricing claim is hedged and was verified against the vendor's public pages on the date shown; standalone screening services are named as the better choice when you only need a report; and Tenvale's own entry lists real cons. Pricing changes frequently — verify on each vendor's site.
Tenvale is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by TransUnion SmartMove, RentPrep, TurboTenant, Avail, or their owners. All product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. This ranking reflects publicly available information as of June 15, 2026and our good-faith reading of it; Tenvale is our product and we say so above. Verify current pricing and features on each vendor's official site before making a decision.
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