Experian Tenant Screening vs TenantAlert

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.

TenantAlert provides tenant screening reports for landlords, property owners, property managers, and real estate brokers. Depending on the report, screening can cover credit history and scores, criminal and eviction searches, check verification, address history, tax liens, judgments, and other verification services. Credit reports are available from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Its listed plans are charged per report: BASIC is $24.95, paid once, PLUS is $29.95, paid once, PRO is $39.95, paid once, and PREMIER is $49.95, paid once; the landlord or tenant pays. In the standard application flow, applicants receive an emailed link to apply, verify identity, and authorize release of their credit report. Approved, underwritten clients can instead access instant credit reports without waiting for applicant authorization. The API supports JSON, webhooks, sandbox access, and configurable workflows; API screening reports start at $0.50, with prices varying by report and volume. TenantSelect offers configurable screening recommendations. LeaseGuarantee covers lost rent, damages, and legal expenses up to $10,000, with an annual fee starting at $299. The service is available on web and through an API.