Tenant Screening Services Compared 2026: TransUnion, RentPrep, Avail & More
A screening report is only as good as the data behind it. The services below all pull credit, criminal, and eviction history — but they differ in cost structure, speed, and how much hand-holding they give independent landlords. Here's how the main options compare in 2026.
What a good screening report includes
- Credit report + score (most use TransUnion or Experian data)
- Criminal background check (national + state/local records)
- Eviction history (the single most predictive data point for landlords)
- Income/employment verification (varies by service)
- Identity verification / SSN trace
The main services
Avail (via TransUnion) — best bundled with leasing
Avail runs full TransUnion credit, criminal, and eviction reports as part of its free landlord platform. The applicant pays for the report, which keeps your screening cost at zero. Because it's built into the application workflow, there's no separate login or juggling PDFs.
Best for: Landlords already using (or willing to use) Avail for applications and leases.
TransUnion SmartMove — best standalone brand
SmartMove is TransUnion's direct-to-landlord product: credit, criminal, and eviction reports with income verification ("Income Insights"). Applicant-paid or landlord-paid options. Fast, reputable, and the reports are easy to read.
Best for: Landlords who want the TransUnion brand without adopting a full platform.
RentPrep — best human-verified screening
RentPrep's differentiator is human verification: their team manually reviews reports for accuracy, and their FCRA-certified screeners will walk you through what a report actually means. Slightly slower than instant services, but fewer false positives and better support for tricky reports.
Best for: Landlords who want a second pair of expert eyes, especially on borderline applicants.
TurboTenant screening — best for speed
Bundled into TurboTenant's application flow with applicant-paid pricing. Fast turnaround and convenient if you're already listing through them.
Best for: Landlords prioritizing speed in competitive rental markets.
Side-by-side
| Service | Credit | Criminal | Eviction | Typical cost | Turnaround |
|---|
| Avail (TransUnion) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Applicant-paid | Minutes–hours |
|---|
| TransUnion SmartMove | Yes | Yes | Yes | Applicant- or landlord-paid | Minutes |
|---|
| RentPrep | Yes | Yes | Yes | Landlord-paid, tiered | Hours–1 day |
|---|
| TurboTenant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Applicant-paid | Minutes–hours |
|---|
Who should pay for screening?
Applicant-paid is the industry norm and keeps your costs at zero — but in soft markets, the fee can deter good applicants. Landlord-paid makes sense when you're competing for tenants or screening high volumes; budget it as a cost of filling the unit (one month's rent dwarfs a $40 report).
Either way, disclose the arrangement upfront in your listing. Surprise fees kill applicant trust.
Compliance reminders
- You need the applicant's written consent before pulling reports.
- If you reject based on a report, send an adverse action notice naming the screening company — it's federal law (FCRA), not optional.
- Apply identical criteria to every applicant. "I had a feeling about that one" is how fair housing complaints start.
- Some states and cities restrict what you can consider (e.g., lookback limits on criminal history). Check local rules.
The bottom line
For most independent landlords, an applicant-paid TransUnion report — whether through Avail's built-in flow or SmartMove directly — is the sweet spot: comprehensive data, near-instant turnaround, zero cost to you. Use RentPrep when you want human expertise on the tricky files. Whatever you choose, screen every adult occupant, every time, with the same criteria.
See also: How to Screen Tenants and Tenant Screening Red Flags.
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