Settl vs. SmartMove: Which Tenant Screening Report Is Right for You?

The short answer

Settl vs SmartMove tenant screening comparison 2026: price, what's included, portability, who pays, and depth of verification. Which report is right for your situation?

If you're looking for a tenant screening report — whether you're a renter trying to get approved or a landlord trying to evaluate applicants — you've probably come across both Settl and SmartMove (TransUnion). They're both legitimate services, and they're genuinely different products. Here's an honest comparison.

The Quick Summary

• SmartMove: Landlord-initiated, tenant pays, TransUnion credit-focused, $25–$40, standard background check format
• Settl: Tenant-initiated, tenant pays, income/employment depth, $99, designed for portability and PTSR compliance

SmartMove is cheaper. Settl is deeper and portable. Which one is right depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

Who Pays and Who Initiates

With SmartMove, the landlord creates an account and sends the applicant an invitation. The applicant can pay the fee ($25–$40) directly. The report goes to the landlord. The applicant doesn't "own" the report in a portable sense.

With Settl, the tenant initiates. You go to settlhome.com, complete the verification process, and get a shareable link to your verified report. You then share that link with any landlord you apply to — no landlord account required on their end.

Bottom line: SmartMove is landlord-controlled. Settl is tenant-controlled.

What Each Report Includes

SmartMove includes:

• Credit report and ResidentScore (TransUnion's proprietary rental score)
• Criminal background check (national + state court records)
• Eviction history
• Income insights (estimated — based on credit data, not bank verification)

Settl includes:

• Biometric identity verification (government ID + liveness check)
• Bank-verified income via Plaid (actual deposits, not estimates)
• Employment verification via Argyle (direct payroll system connection — employer name, hire date, income)
• Criminal background check and eviction history via Stitch Credit
• Rent history (if applicable)

The income difference is significant. SmartMove estimates income from credit data. Settl verifies it directly from your bank account. "Estimated $4,200/month" is very different from "Verified $4,847/month average over the last 90 days" in terms of what a landlord can rely on.

Price Comparison

• SmartMove: $25 (basic) to $40 (comprehensive) per report, per application
• Settl Passport: $99 one-time, valid for 30 days, shareable with unlimited landlords
• Settl renewal: $39 after 30 days

If you're only applying to one place and your landlord is already using SmartMove, $25–$40 is lower. If you're actively searching and applying to multiple apartments — especially in Colorado where PTSR is law — Settl's one-payment-many-applications model comes out ahead.

Portability

This is the biggest structural difference. SmartMove reports are single-use: the landlord runs one, it goes to them. You can't take that report and submit it to another landlord.

Settl reports are fully portable. You get a verification link, and you share it wherever you apply. In Colorado, where HB25-1236 requires landlords to accept PTSRs, this portability has legal backing. Outside Colorado, many landlords will voluntarily accept a high-quality third-party report.

When SmartMove Is the Better Choice

• You're applying to one specific apartment and the landlord already uses SmartMove
• The landlord is paying the fee (some landlords cover the cost)
• You're in a state without PTSR laws and the landlord won't accept a third-party report
• You only need a basic credit-focused report, not deep income verification

When Settl Is the Better Choice

• You're applying to multiple apartments and want to avoid paying per-application
• You're in Colorado and want to exercise your HB25-1236 rights
• Your income story is more complex (gig work, self-employment, multiple income sources)
• You want a report that shows verified bank income rather than estimated income
• You want a professional, portable profile that works across markets

Honest Assessment

SmartMove is a solid, affordable product for simple screening situations. Settl costs more but provides more — particularly around income depth and portability. If you're in Colorado or actively searching in a competitive market, the $99 Settl Passport typically pays for itself in avoided application fees within the first two or three applications.

Get your Settl Passport and see the full breakdown of what your verification includes.

Ready to get your Settl Verified Passport?

Verified identity, income, and stability, all in one report landlords trust. Apply anywhere, pay once.

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