SmartMove vs Tenant Screening: An Honest Landlord Comparison
TransUnion SmartMove is one of the best-known ways to screen a renter – but it is not the only one, and it is not the deepest. Here is exactly what it does, where it stops, and how it stacks up against full-service and alternative screening in 2026.
TransUnion SmartMove is a per-applicant tenant screening product built for independent landlords who want credit, criminal, and eviction data without a monthly subscription. It is fast, it carries the TransUnion name, and for a lot of small landlords it is genuinely good enough. But a screening tool should be chosen on what it actually returns, not on brand recognition – and once you compare SmartMove line by line against a full-service report or a named alternative, real differences appear in eviction coverage, income verification, and how many credit bureaus are pulled.
This comparison is deliberately even-handed. We walk through what a SmartMove report shows, what each pricing tier includes and who pays, the documented coverage gaps, how SmartMove sits next to alternatives like RentPrep and RentSpree, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act duties that stay with you no matter which service you pick. If you are new to the process, our step-by-step guide to how to screen tenants pairs naturally with everything below.
Video: a plain-language walkthrough of SmartMove versus full-service tenant screening – what each report includes, what SmartMove misses, and how to choose.
Key Takeaways: SmartMove vs Tenant Screening
- SmartMove is TransUnion’s per-applicant screen – credit, criminal, eviction, and Income Insights, with no subscription and same-day turnaround for occasional landlords.
- Its biggest documented gap is criminal-data coverage – SmartMove does not return criminal records for eight US jurisdictions, and its eviction search is database-based rather than direct court-record.
- Income Insights is an estimate, not verification, and the standard application does not collect rental history or landlord references – so you often add a step.
- Whatever tool you use, the FCRA duties stay with you – permissible purpose, written authorization, and the adverse action notice under 15 U.S.C. section 1681m are the landlord’s job, not the vendor’s.
What Is TransUnion SmartMove?
SmartMove is an online tenant screening service operated by TransUnion, one of the three nationwide consumer credit bureaus. It is aimed squarely at independent landlords and small property managers who screen a handful of applicants a year and do not want the overhead of a full commercial screening account. The landlord sends the applicant an invitation, the applicant enters their own information, and TransUnion returns a report – typically within minutes to the same day.
Because the data comes straight from a nationwide bureau, the credit information is current and drawn from the same file the major lenders see. That direct-from-the-source credit data, plus the recognizable TransUnion name, is the core of SmartMove’s appeal. What SmartMove is not is a full-workflow platform: it does not collect rental references, it does not verify income from documents, and it pulls a single bureau. Understanding that boundary is the whole point of this comparison.
An honest framing. This is a comparison, not a takedown. For a first-time landlord with one unit in a well-reported county, SmartMove is a perfectly reasonable choice. The goal here is to show you exactly what each option returns so you can match the tool to your actual risk – and to make sure the FCRA duties do not fall through the cracks whichever way you go.
How Does SmartMove Work, Step by Step?
SmartMove is applicant-initiated, which shapes both its privacy advantage and its main friction point. The flow is short:
- The landlord creates a free account and enters the rental details. There is no subscription and no per-seat license.
- The landlord sends a screening request to the applicant by email. The applicant, not the landlord, is the one who starts the report.
- The applicant completes the application and identity check – entering their own Social Security number directly into TransUnion’s system and, where the landlord chose applicant-pays, paying the fee.
- The landlord reviews the returned report – credit, ResidentScore, criminal search, eviction search, and any Income Insights – usually within minutes of the applicant finishing.
The upside of this design is that the applicant’s Social Security number never passes through the landlord’s hands, which reduces data-handling risk and reassures privacy-conscious applicants. The downside is control: the report cannot generate until the applicant completes their step, so a slow or hesitant applicant stalls the screen. Landlords who want to drive the process directly sometimes prefer a landlord-initiated service instead.
What Does a SmartMove Report Show?
A SmartMove report bundles several standard screening data points. Exactly which appear depends on the tier the landlord selects, but the full set includes:
- TransUnion credit report and ResidentScore – a rental-tuned score reported on a 350 to 850 scale that TransUnion says predicts eviction risk better than a generic credit score.
- National criminal search – a multi-jurisdiction criminal-records search, including a sex-offender registry check, subject to the coverage gaps noted below.
- Eviction search – housing-court and eviction records drawn from TransUnion’s eviction database.
- Income Insights – an estimate that flags whether an applicant’s stated income looks consistent with their credit behavior, offered on the higher tiers.
- Identity verification – Social Security number matching to confirm the applicant is who they claim to be.
What is not in the box matters as much as what is. SmartMove’s credit report treats evictions and bankruptcies as its rental-history signal, but the standard application does not gather prior-landlord references or a documented rental timeline, and it does not verify income from pay stubs or bank statements. If those matter to your decision, plan to run them separately – our guide to how to verify tenant income covers the document side, and our tenant credit guide explains how to read the score responsibly.
How Much Does SmartMove Cost and Who Pays?
SmartMove sells three per-applicant packages, commonly branded SmartCheck Basic, Plus, and Premium, with no monthly subscription – you pay only when you screen. Published tier prices have ranged from roughly twenty-five to forty dollars per screening across the three tiers, and TransUnion has adjusted them over time, so treat any single figure as a snapshot and confirm the current numbers on mysmartmove.com before you quote them to an applicant. As a rule, the lowest tier centers on credit and a criminal search, the middle tier adds the eviction search, and the top tier layers in the full credit detail and Income Insights.
Two cost details are worth pinning down. First, SmartMove runs a soft credit inquiry, so screening does not lower the applicant’s credit score. Second, the landlord chooses who pays – you can absorb the fee or pass it to the applicant where state law allows an applicant-paid screening fee. Several states cap what you may charge an applicant for screening and require a receipt or refund of any unused portion, so check your jurisdiction; our tenant screening laws by state guide tracks those limits.
Fast fact. Because SmartMove is applicant-initiated and uses a soft pull, the screen has no effect on the applicant’s score and the fee can sit with the applicant – two reasons it reduces friction for occasional landlords. The trade-off is that you wait on the applicant to complete their step before any report exists.
Where Does SmartMove Fall Short?
Every screening tool has boundaries; SmartMove’s are specific and worth knowing before you rely on it as your only source.
The Eight-Jurisdiction Criminal-Data Gap
This is the most concrete limitation. According to SmartMove’s own coverage notes and multiple 2026 reviews, SmartMove does not return criminal-record data for Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Dakota, Wyoming, or Cook County, Illinois. If your applicant is tied to any of those places, the criminal search has a blind spot, and you should supplement with a search that reaches those courts – while respecting the local fair-chance and individualized-assessment rules that govern how criminal history may be used at all.
Database Eviction Search, Not Direct Court Records
SmartMove’s eviction search pulls from a commercial eviction database. Like every database-only approach, its coverage varies by county – some jurisdictions report evictions reliably and others do not. Because a prior eviction is one of the strongest predictors of a future one, a service that queries court records directly, in addition to database sources, tends to give more complete coverage, especially for an applicant who has moved across states.
A Single Bureau, and an Estimate Instead of Verification
SmartMove pulls TransUnion only. A derogatory item that appears on Equifax or Experian but not TransUnion would be missed, so a multi-bureau option paints a fuller credit picture. Separately, Income Insights is an estimate, not verification – for a self-employed applicant or anyone with complex income it can be well off, and confirming real income still means reviewing pay stubs, bank statements, or tax returns. Our rental-application red flags guide shows how to catch the gaps an estimate can leave behind.
Do not let a coverage gap become a compliance gap
If you deny an applicant because a supplemental search turned up a record SmartMove missed – or because of anything in the SmartMove report itself – you still owe that applicant an adverse action notice. Skipping the notice because the negative information came from a second source is a Fair Credit Reporting Act violation waiting to happen. Every consumer report you rely on, from any provider, carries the same notice duty.
SmartMove vs Named Alternatives
A comparison query deserves real names, not just “the other guys.” SmartMove competes with a cluster of well-known services, each with a different center of gravity. The table below is a plain-language map, not an endorsement – features and pricing change, so verify current details with each provider.
| Service | Best known for | Where it differs from SmartMove |
|---|---|---|
| TransUnion SmartMove | Direct TransUnion credit data, ResidentScore, self-service | Baseline for this comparison – single bureau, applicant-initiated, database eviction search |
| RentPrep (Roofstock) | FCRA-certified human screeners who manually review reports | Adds manual review and prior-landlord phone verification SmartMove automates away |
| RentSpree | Full rental workflow, widely integrated with listing platforms | Bundles application, screening, and e-sign rather than a stand-alone report |
| TenantCloud | All-in-one property management with screening built in | Screening rides on top of rent collection, accounting, and maintenance tools |
| MyRental | CoreLogic-backed screening with extra registry checks | Entry package may add checks such as prior-address history beyond SmartMove’s basics |
| Apartments.com | Free-to-landlord screening inside a large listing site | Uses Experian rather than TransUnion, so scores and data can differ |
The pattern is clear: SmartMove wins on speed, brand, and direct-bureau credit data; the alternatives win when you want human review, an end-to-end workflow, a different bureau, or a fuller data set. For a structured shortlist, our editors maintain a running best tenant screening service roundup.
SmartMove vs Full-Service Tenant Screening
Set against a full-service screen – the kind that pulls broader data, verifies income, and supports the adverse-action step – the differences line up cleanly.
TransUnion SmartMove
- ✓Direct TransUnion credit report and ResidentScore.
- ✓Applicant-initiated – the tenant enters their own data and pays.
- ✓Soft inquiry, no subscription, same-day turnaround.
- ✕Single bureau; database-only eviction search.
- ✕Income Insights estimate, no document verification; no rental references.
Full-Service Screening
- ✓Broader credit sourcing and standard FICO or VantageScore options.
- ✓Landlord-initiated – you control and drive the process.
- ✓Court-record eviction search for wider coverage.
- ✓Document-based income verification and reference collection.
- ✓Built-in adverse-action support to keep the FCRA step from slipping.
Neither column is “right” in the abstract. The honest read is that SmartMove is optimized for the low-volume, low-complexity case, and a full-service screen earns its keep as the property value, the applicant risk, or the screening frequency climbs. Our overview of background check options and our tenant check guide lay out what a fuller report can add.
Which Should You Use, SmartMove or a Fuller Screen?
Match the tool to your situation rather than to the loudest brand. This grid maps common landlord profiles to the sensible choice.
| Your situation | SmartMove fit | Fuller / alternative fit |
|---|---|---|
| First-time landlord, one unit, well-reported county | Good fit | Also works |
| Applicant tied to a no-criminal-data jurisdiction | Supplement needed | Better fit |
| Higher-value property, want maximum data | Consider supplementing | Better fit |
| Screen frequently / high turnover | Per-report cost adds up | Better fit |
| Need document-based income verification | Estimate only | Better fit |
| Want a recognizable bureau brand for applicants | Brand helps | May need to explain |
| Need an applicant-pays option | Yes | Yes |
Does SmartMove Keep You FCRA-Compliant?
This is the question that trips up the most landlords. SmartMove is operated by TransUnion, an FCRA-regulated consumer reporting agency, so the reports it produces are consumer reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. But using a compliant vendor does not transfer your duties to that vendor – the legal obligations of the Act rest on you, the decision-maker.
Three duties stay with the landlord no matter which service produces the report. You need a permissible purpose – the rental application the person actually submitted – under 15 U.S.C. section 1681b. You need the applicant’s written authorization before the report is pulled. And if you take any adverse action based in whole or in part on the report – a denial, a higher deposit, a required cosigner – you must send an adverse action notice under 15 U.S.C. section 1681m that names the reporting agency, states the agency did not make the decision, and tells the applicant they may get a free copy of the report and dispute inaccurate information under section 1681i. Our adverse action notice guide and the broader FCRA compliance guide for landlords walk through each step, and the Fair Housing Act guide covers the anti-discrimination rules that run alongside the FCRA.
The compliance bottom line. A consumer report from SmartMove, a full-service screen, or any alternative is a consumer report – and every one carries the same three duties: permissible purpose, written authorization, and the adverse action notice. Apply identical criteria to every applicant, keep the paperwork, and the tool you chose becomes a detail rather than a liability.
SmartMove vs Tenant Screening: FAQ
Is TransUnion SmartMove worth it for landlords?
SmartMove is a solid, no-frills choice for an independent landlord who screens occasionally and mainly wants a credit report, a criminal search, and an eviction search sourced directly from TransUnion, with no monthly subscription. It is a weaker fit if you need broad eviction coverage, real document-based income verification, rental-history and reference collection, or multi-bureau credit data – in those cases a fuller service or an alternative usually gives a more complete picture.
How much does SmartMove cost and who pays the fee?
SmartMove sells three per-applicant tiers – commonly branded SmartCheck Basic, Plus, and Premium – with no monthly subscription. Published tier prices have ranged from roughly twenty-five to forty dollars per screening across recent tiers, and TransUnion has adjusted them over time, so confirm the current numbers on mysmartmove.com. The landlord can absorb the fee or pass it to the applicant where state law permits an applicant-paid screening fee.
What states does SmartMove not cover for criminal checks?
According to SmartMove’s own coverage notes and multiple 2026 reviews, SmartMove does not return criminal-record data for Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Dakota, Wyoming, or Cook County, Illinois. Landlords screening applicants tied to those jurisdictions should supplement with a criminal search that reaches those court records, subject to the local fair-chance rules that limit how criminal history may be used.
Does SmartMove do a hard or soft credit check?
SmartMove uses a soft inquiry, so running a SmartMove screen does not lower the applicant’s credit score. Because the applicant enters their own Social Security number into TransUnion’s system rather than handing it to the landlord, many applicants find the flow more comfortable.
Does SmartMove verify income or check rental history?
Not in the document sense. SmartMove’s Income Insights estimates income and flags applicants whose stated income looks inconsistent, but it is not verification of pay stubs, bank statements, or tax returns. SmartMove’s standard application also does not collect rental history or landlord references, so you typically run a separate step to confirm income and prior tenancy.
Which is better, SmartMove or RentPrep?
Neither is universally better – they solve different problems. SmartMove is fast, automated, and TransUnion-sourced. RentPrep, a Roofstock company that also powers Stessa’s screening, is known for FCRA-certified human screeners who manually review reports and can call prior landlords, which can surface nuance an automated report misses. Choose SmartMove for speed and self-service; choose RentPrep-style manual review when you want a human to vet the file.
What is ResidentScore and how does it compare to a FICO score?
ResidentScore is TransUnion’s proprietary rental-specific score, reported on a 350 to 850 range. TransUnion says it predicts eviction risk more accurately than a generic credit score because it weights rental-relevant behavior. It is a legitimate tool, but it is not a standard FICO score, so landlords who set a fixed FICO or VantageScore cutoff should not treat the two numbers as interchangeable.
Is SmartMove FCRA compliant, and does that make me compliant too?
SmartMove is operated by TransUnion, an FCRA-regulated consumer reporting agency, so the reports are consumer reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. That does not transfer your duties to the vendor. If you take an adverse action based on the report you must still send the applicant an adverse action notice under 15 U.S.C. section 1681m, name the reporting agency, and tell them about their right to dispute inaccurate information under section 1681i.
Can a tenant dispute a SmartMove report, and can I require applicants to use it?
Yes to both. Because a SmartMove report is a consumer report, an applicant may dispute inaccurate information directly with TransUnion, which must reinvestigate, generally within thirty days under 15 U.S.C. section 1681i. And as a landlord you may require applicants to authorize a specific FCRA-compliant screening service as a condition of applying, subject to state caps on application and screening fees.
How long does a SmartMove report take?
Most SmartMove reports are returned within minutes to the same day once the applicant finishes their portion and passes identity verification. Because the process is applicant-initiated, the main delay is waiting for the applicant to complete their step rather than the report generation itself.
Related Landlord and Screening Guides
- How to screen tenants – the full step-by-step screening workflow.
- Best tenant screening service – our running shortlist of the strongest options.
- Tenant check guide – what a complete background check should include.
- Tenant credit guide – reading credit reports and scores responsibly.
- How to verify tenant income – the document side SmartMove estimates.
- Adverse action notice guide – the notice the FCRA requires after a denial.
- FCRA compliance for landlords – the federal rules behind every screen.
- Tenant screening laws by state – fee caps and disclosure rules by jurisdiction.
Run a Full, FCRA-Ready Tenant Screen
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Published by Tenant Screening Background Check · Editorial Team
Established 2004. Our editorial team has spent two decades helping independent landlords and property managers run lawful, FCRA-compliant tenant screening across all 50 states. We test and compare screening tools so you can match the report to the risk instead of the brand.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is for general informational and comparative purposes only and is not legal advice. Product features, tiers, and pricing for third-party services such as TransUnion SmartMove, RentPrep, RentSpree, TenantCloud, MyRental, and Apartments.com change over time – verify current offerings directly with each provider. All tenant screening must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. section 1681 et seq.), the Fair Housing Act, and applicable state and local laws, which vary by jurisdiction. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before relying on any procedure described here. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.
