Settl vs TurboTenant: Which Tenant Screening Is Better?
The short answer
Compare Settl vs TurboTenant for tenant screening. Settl uses bank-direct income via Plaid with biometric identity. TurboTenant uses TransUnion credit and document income. See which protects landlords more.
TurboTenant is one of the most recognized property management platforms in the US, offering landlords rent collection, lease management, and TransUnion-powered tenant screening. But for renters, a critical question remains: do you want to be screened by a landlord platform, or own your own verified profile?
How TurboTenant Works
TurboTenant is built for landlords. Screening costs $35–$45 per tenant and is powered by TransUnion SmartMove, generating credit reports, criminal background checks, and eviction history. The report belongs to the landlord account. Renters cannot reuse it for the next application.
How Settl Works
Settl is built for renters. For $99, you get a Settl Verified Passport — a portable verified profile with 10 data layers: bank income via Plaid, biometric identity, rent payment history, payroll verification via Argyle, landlord references, and more. Share a code with any landlord. Valid 30 days, unlimited landlords, no re-screening.
The Fake Pay Stub Problem
TurboTenant accepts documents submitted by applicants. 84% of landlords regularly see fake pay stubs (NMHC 2024). Rental fraud is up 40% year-over-year. Settl eliminates this by connecting directly to your bank via Plaid and your payroll system via Argyle. No document, no forgery.
Criminal Records and Legal Risk
TurboTenant runs criminal background and eviction history via TransUnion VantageScore 4.0. Criminal background bans are now law in Seattle, NYC, Chicago, California, and dozens more cities. FCRA compliance (adverse action notices, dispute rights) is the landlord burden. Settl includes FCRA-compliant criminal background checks (national + county courts via CIC, state lookbacks enforced, no arrests shown) and 7-year eviction history (CIC, dismissed filings suppressed) — with FCRA compliance handled for you, plus bank-verified rent payment history.
PTSR Compliance: TurboTenant Falls Short
Under Colorado's HB25-1236 (Portable Tenant Screening Report law), landlords must accept a portable screening report provided by the applicant rather than charging for a new screening. TurboTenant reports are landlord-ordered and not portable. Settl Verified Passport is built for PTSR compliance — renters control and share their own verified report.
Landlord References: A Signal TurboTenant Cannot Show
Past landlords can rate a tenant's on-time payment, property care, and communication directly in Settl. These verified landlord references are included in every Settl Verified Passport — a qualitative layer no credit bureau or screening platform provides.
Cash Reserves: The Signal TurboTenant Misses
A tenant with 3–5 months of savings can absorb a job disruption without missing rent. TurboTenant does not show savings. Settl Verified Passport surfaces cash reserves directly from bank data — the most actionable signal traditional screening misses.
Pricing
- Settl Verified Passport: $99 — 10 verified data layers: bank income + biometric identity + rent history + payroll verification + landlord references + more. Any landlord. 30-day validity. Apply anywhere. Pay once.
- TurboTenant: $35–$45 per screening — TransUnion VantageScore 4.0 credit, criminal, eviction. Landlord-tied. Not portable.
For renters who want to own their verified profile and verify income bank-directly, Settl is the stronger option. Get Settl Verified Passport for $99.
Settl Team
Settl Editorial
Settl helps renters stand out in competitive markets through verified identity, income, and rental verifications. Trusted by landlords across the US.
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