Experian Tenant Screening vs RentSafe

Experian Tenant Screening is a paid tenant-screening service for landlords, property managers, screening providers and rental partners. It runs on the web and through APIs, with pricing available on request. Screening data includes credit information, rental-history insights, income verification, employment data, criminal searches, eviction searches and identity verification. Experian says credit checks and risk scores help predict future payment behavior, while automated income and employment access reduces manual verification. RentBureau supplies renter-specific payment history and is described as an FCRA-regulated specialty consumer reporting agency. Through Zillow, renters apply online for participating rentals and receive an Experian credit report alongside residence history, background checks, and income and employment verification. Most checks return within minutes; rare manual reviews can take one to two business days. The Zillow application is free for landlords and costs renters $35, reusable for 30 days. Experian Connect API supports credit sharing, identity and fraud features, report sharing and archiving.

RentSafe is a web-based tenant-screening platform for property managers, landlords, and renters. Property managers can create customized rental applications and separate links for each property, then view applications and real-time results in a centralized dashboard. Screening reports include a full credit report, national eviction search, and national criminal background check; RentSafe partners with TransUnion for credit reporting. It says checks are processed instantly, with results reaching the dashboard within seconds. The credit inquiry is soft and does not affect an applicant’s credit score. Renters can submit applications, upload documents, invite roommates, and follow application status through the portal. Managers can start screening after account creation without credentialing. The Property Manager plan is free and lists unlimited applications. A renter application costs $45, paid once for each adult applicant and includes one application report. RentSafe does not make application decisions: landlords or property managers decide whether to approve applicants.