Comparison
Settl vs Apartments.com Screening
Apartments.com (which absorbed Cozy) runs credit checks, requires your SSN, and charges per application. Settl is renter-controlled, bank-verified, and works with any landlord.
Get your Settl profileSide-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Settl | Apartments.com |
|---|---|---|
Who owns the profile? With Apartments.com, each landlord orders and retains a separate screening report on you. Settl gives you a profile you build, review, and share on your own schedule with any landlord. | You (the renter) | Each landlord separately |
Portable across listings? One Settl profile works with any landlord anywhere. Apartments.com applications are locked to each listing. Every property you apply to requires a fresh application and a new fee. | Yes | No |
SSN required? Apartments.com requires your Social Security Number, exposing it to each landlord in their system. Settl uses SSN internally for its soft pull credit check only. Your SSN is never shared with landlords or shown on your report. | No | Yes |
Credit pull? Apartments.com pulls a TransUnion credit report. A score based on debt repayment history, a poor direct predictor of rent payment behavior. Settl uses a soft-pull VantageScore 4.0 credit check (zero score impact) via TransUnion through Stitch Credit CRS API. Credit tier and range are shown on the report. | VantageScore 4.0 (soft pull, no score impact) | Soft pull via TransUnion |
Bank-verified income? Income read directly from your bank account, not a document you submit. 84% of landlords regularly see fake pay stubs (NMHC 2024). Bank-direct verification cannot be forged. | Yes | No |
Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio Settl calculates monthly debt obligations as a percentage of gross income and displays it on the report, color-coded from Excellent to Elevated. Tenant-controlled opt-in only. No other portable screening tool offers this layer. Subsidy holders are automatically excluded per source-of-income law. | Yes | No |
Verified cash reserves? How many months of rent you have saved. A tenant with 3–5 months of reserves can absorb a job loss or emergency without missing rent. | Yes | No |
Rent payment history? 12 months of actual bank transactions proving rent was paid. Apartments.com does not verify rent payment history. Landlords have no way to confirm your track record. | From bank (12 months) | No |
Works with landlords off-platform? Most private landlords and small property managers do not use Apartments.com. Settl gives you a shareable link that works with any landlord, no platform signup required. | Yes | No |
Cost to renter Apartments.com charges $29–$45 per application. Apply to five properties and you have spent over $200 before paying a cent of rent or deposit. | $99 once | $29–$45 per application |
Turnaround How quickly your verified profile is ready. Apartments.com can take 1–3 days. In competitive markets, good listings are gone before the report comes back. | < 10 minutes | 1–3 days |
Key Differences
Platform Lock-In vs Universal Access
Apartments.com screening only works for their listed properties. The private landlord, the boutique property manager, the corporate building that uses a different portal. None of them can access your Apartments.com history. Settl gives you a shareable link that works anywhere.
TransUnion Credit vs Plaid Bank Data
Apartments.com pulls a TransUnion credit report. This tells landlords about your credit card payment history. Settl connects to your actual bank and shows verified monthly income, real cash on hand, and 12 months of rent payments. Far more relevant data.
Your SSN Stays Private
Every Apartments.com application requires your Social Security Number, which is then stored by each landlord you apply to. Settl uses SSN internally for a soft pull credit check only. Your SSN is never shared with landlords. Identity is verified biometrically using a live selfie and government ID.
Move Fast on Good Listings
Good rentals move in hours, not days. Apartments.com takes 1-3 days to process your application. Settl lets you build your profile before you even start searching. So when you find the right place, you can send your verified profile in seconds.
The Real Differences
✔️ FCRA-compliant criminal background checks included
Settl includes national + county criminal background checks via CIC. State-specific lookbacks are enforced (3– 10 years depending on state). Arrest records are never shown. Fair Housing Act individualized assessment notices are built into every report.
💰 Cash reserves signal financial discipline
Savings behavior tells you something a credit score cannot: whether a tenant has a financial buffer. A tenant with 3–5 months of reserves can absorb a job change, a medical bill, or a slow month without missing rent. Last month's bank statement tells you more about stability than a decade-old record ever could.
📋 Payroll-verified directly from your employer
Settl connects directly to payroll providers like ADP, Gusto, Paychex, and thousands more, covering 170M+ U.S. workers. Employment and income are confirmed from two independent sources: your bank account and your employer's own payroll system. No pay stub required. No document to forge. Two data streams that must agree.
⚖️ FCRA compliance handled for you
Settl includes FCRA-compliant criminal background checks (national + county via CIC, state lookbacks enforced, no arrests shown) and 7-year eviction history. Fair Housing Act individualized assessment notices are built into the report. As a registered CRA under FCRA, Settl handles the compliance framework — the required disclosures and adverse action guidance are included in every report.
Your data. Your profile. Any landlord.
Build a bank-verified renter profile that works everywhere. Not just on one platform. Soft pull only. SSN never shared with landlords. One fee.
Get your Settl profile