Rent With Clara vs TenantAlert

Rent With Clara provides rental applications and tenant screening for renters, landlords, and real estate agents. Screening reports can include credit history and a FICO score, criminal and eviction records, application details, income and employment checks, and identity verification. For identity checks, Clara compares a live image of a government-issued ID with a biometric selfie for liveness and face matching. Income and employment can be verified through payroll, bank connections, or third-party-verified documents; Argyle is its named partner for direct-source verification. Clara says credit reports come from TransUnion. Renters can reuse a profile and active reports when applying to multiple landlords during a 30-day period. Profiles are encrypted and shared only with landlords or agents the renter approves. Reports remain active for 30 days, after which renters can refresh them. Clara says its screening process is designed around Fair Housing laws, FCRA requirements, and state-specific regulations. Landlords and agents can use the full platform without a fee; a renter application costs $49.00 USD once and covers unlimited Clara properties for 30 days.

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.