Comparison
Settl vs Experian RentBureau
Experian exposes your SSN to every landlord who orders a report. Settl uses bank data plus a soft pull VantageScore 4.0 credit check, FCRA-compliant criminal + eviction screening, and biometric identity. SSN never shared with landlords. Ready in 10 minutes.
Get your Settl profileFeature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Settl | Experian RentBureau |
|---|---|---|
Who initiates it? Experian RentBureau is landlord-ordered. The landlord controls what data is pulled and who sees the result. Settl lets you build your profile and share it with any landlord on your own schedule. | Renter (you own it) | Landlord orders it |
Portable across properties? One Settl profile works with any landlord. Experian reports are ordered per landlord and cannot be reused. Each new application means a new inquiry and a new fee. | Yes | No |
SSN required? Experian requires your Social Security Number for every report, exposing it to each landlord who orders one. 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 |
Hard credit pull? Experian shares your full credit file with the landlord, including your SSN. Settl does a soft pull VantageScore 4.0 credit check (zero score impact) and uses bank-verified income and biometric identity. | No | Soft pull with full credit file shared |
VantageScore 4.0 credit check? Settl includes a soft pull VantageScore 4.0 via TransUnion — zero score impact, never visible to other lenders. Your SSN is used internally only and never shared with landlords. | VantageScore 4.0 (soft pull, no score impact) | Experian credit score (SSN shared with landlord) |
Criminal background check? Settl includes national + county criminal background checks via CIC. State-specific lookbacks enforced (3–10 years depending on state). Arrest records never shown. Fair Housing Act individualized assessment notice included. | Yes | No |
Eviction history? Settl includes 7-year eviction history via CIC. Dismissed and withdrawn filings suppressed per FCRA. Experian RentBureau does not include eviction screening by default. | Yes | No |
FCRA compliance? Settl is a registered Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) under FCRA §1681a(f). Dispute rights, adverse action guidance, and required disclosures are built into every Settl report. | Yes | No |
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. Experian does not show this. | Yes | No |
Rent payment history from bank? 12 months of actual bank transactions proving rent was paid. Experian RentBureau only shows rent history if a prior landlord reported payments to them. Most private landlords do not. | Yes | Only if previously reported |
Cost to renter Experian charges per report, often paid by the renter or the landlord per property. Settl costs $99 once and is reusable with unlimited landlords. | $99 once | $14.95–$39.99 per report |
Turnaround How quickly your verified profile is ready to share after completing verification. Speed matters in competitive rental markets where listings go in hours. | < 10 minutes | 1–24 hours |
Privacy-first design? Settl applies the same bank-verified criteria to every applicant with no protected-class data involved. Credit data correlates with race, age, and other protected characteristics, a Fair Housing compliance risk for landlords. | Yes | No |
Works without US credit history? International renters, recent immigrants, and young adults without a US credit file are effectively invisible to Experian. Settl verifies bank income, employment, and runs a soft pull VantageScore 4.0 credit check (no score impact) — anyone with a US bank account and verifiable income qualifies. | Yes | No |
The Real Differences
SSN Never Shared With Landlords
Experian pulls your full credit file. Which means sharing your SSN with every landlord who orders a report. Settl uses bank data, soft pull VantageScore 4.0 credit, and biometric identity verification, so your SSN stays private and is never shared with landlords.
Bank Data Is More Relevant
Experian shows what you owed years ago. Settl shows what you earn today. Verified directly from your bank account via Plaid. Your actual income, cash reserves, and rent payment history tell landlords far more than a credit score.
Works Without US Credit History
International renters, new graduates, and immigrants have little or no US credit file. Making Experian useless. Settl verifies bank income, employment, and a soft pull VantageScore 4.0 credit check (no score impact), so anyone with a US bank account and verifiable income can build a strong renter profile.
One Price, Unlimited Landlords
Every Experian check costs money. Often paid per landlord. Settl costs $99 once. You own the profile and share it with as many landlords as you want via a private link, forever.
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 with dismissed filings suppressed. Fair Housing Act individualized assessment notices are built into every Settl report. As a registered CRA under FCRA §1681a(f), Settl handles the compliance framework so landlords don't have to.
📋 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.
Which Is Right for You?
Choose Settl if…
- You want to apply to multiple rentals
- You don't have US credit history
- You're a new grad, immigrant, or international renter
- You want privacy. SSN never shared with landlords
- Your income is bank-deposited
Experian might work if…
- Your landlord specifically requires it
- You only need to apply to one place
- You have strong established US credit
- The landlord is paying the fee
Skip Experian. Own your profile.
Build a verified renter profile in under 10 minutes. Soft pull only. SSN never shared with landlords. Bank-verified income, criminal + eviction screening, and full FCRA compliance built in.
Get your Settl profile