Tenant screening
SmartMove
Best for: Comparing standalone tenant screening packages.
Trade-off: Package scope, payer, taxes and report availability require review.
View at SmartMoveTenant screening
Tenant Screening Cost: Packages, Payers and Extra Charges in 2026
The short answer
Tenant screening cost depends on what you buy and who pays. A basic score package is not the same as a full credit report. Compare the contents before choosing the lower price. Check local fee rules too. A firm's charge does not settle what the landlord may require.
Last updated October 2026
SmartMoveBest fit: Comparing standalone tenant screening packages. Limit: Package scope, payer, taxes and report availability require review.
Software options to compare
Tenant screening
RentPrep
Best for: Comparing credit and background report packages.
Trade-off: Report contents and payer options differ by package.
View at RentPrep
Tenant screening
MyRental
Best for: Comparing standalone screening reports and packages.
Trade-off: Coverage, payer options and court surcharges vary.
View at MyRental
Applications and tenant screening
Zillow
Best for: Applications and screening in Rental Manager.
Trade-off: Reuse is limited to participating rentals; verify the selected checkout.
View at ZillowWhat's covered4
Record the package and price, then the payer. Check each report you need and any extra fee. Free to the landlord can mean the person applying pays. An unknown charge is not zero. Confirm the order's terms and check what the landlord may lawfully require before telling someone to pay.
Tenant screening cost: published package checks
Official US pages checked October 31, 2026. These are package prices, not a guarantee that every report is available in every place. Applicable taxes or court charges can add to the selected cost.
SmartMove: Basic $25, Plus $40 and Premium $49. Basic has a rental score and criminal report; Plus adds full credit and eviction-related reports. Premium adds further checks. Compare the exact package before treating Basic as a full credit product.
RentPrep: Credit-only $29, background-only $29 and complete $49. Its current page says reports are delivered through Stessa. Payer choices differ; background-only is landlord-paid.
MyRental: Basic $24.99, Premium $38.99 and Signature $43.99 on the current pricing page. Renter-pay and record coverage have restrictions. Court fees or surcharges can apply.
Zillow: Both checked public pages list a $40 applicant fee with thirty-day reuse at participating rentals. Confirm the selected application terms before paying.
Zillow FAQ and screening page.
Tenant screening cost: payer and extras
Ask who pays before sending the request. A landlord-free product can charge the person applying. Renter payment may be limited by package or place. That is a product rule. It does not prove the landlord can require the fee under local law.
Add a check only for a relevant lawful task. An income check is not the same as a document upload. A package may offer one without the other. Keep the extra price and consent steps with the order. A top-tier name does not mean everything is included.
Compare the same event
Check how the package charges each person. A household can need more reports than one person. Reuse may save another fee at a property that takes the report. It does not mean every landlord will accept it. Ask before paying.
Record a report that did not complete. Ask about the refund or retry terms for that order. Do not assume the fee comes back. A paid request can still leave an item missing. Check the result as well as the receipt.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cheaper basic package a better deal?
Only if it covers the lawful task you need. A basic package can omit a full credit report or another check. Compare the contents and coverage, then the payer. A low price beside the word screening does not prove the product is equivalent to a more complete package.
Can I charge the applicant any provider fee?
Check the current local rules and required disclosures first. A provider's renter-pay option does not settle what a landlord may require in every place. Keep the provider price separate from the amount lawfully charged in the rental process. Do not add a markup or repeat fee by habit.
What does Zillow's applicant fee cover?
The checked application FAQ and screening page both list $40 for the applicant. The described reuse lasts thirty days at participating rentals. Confirm acceptance and the selected application terms before paying. A reusable application does not require every landlord to accept it.
What should I record after ordering?
Keep the package and payer, then the actual charge and report result. Note any missing item or refund question. Store sensitive reports securely outside a general cost sheet. Keep the supplier's correction route available so a paid report with a possible error does not become an unchecked decision.
Verdict on tenant screening cost
Compare tenant screening cost by the report you need. Check the payer and any extra charge. Confirm local fee rules. Confirm the selected package and checkout terms before payment. Choose a process before choosing a price.
- Return to the screening guide.