Comparison
Settl vs TransUnion SmartMove
SmartMove is landlord-ordered and requires your SSN. Settl is renter-owned, uses bank data, a soft pull VantageScore 4.0 credit check, FCRA-compliant criminal + eviction screening, and biometric identity verification. SSN never shared with landlords.
Get your Settl profileFeature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Settl | TransUnion SmartMove |
|---|---|---|
Who initiates it? Landlord-ordered means the landlord requests the report and controls where your data goes. Renter-initiated means you build the profile and decide who sees it. | Renter (you own it) | Landlord orders it |
Portable across properties? One report you can share with any landlord. You only pay once instead of per property. SmartMove reports are tied to the specific landlord who ordered them. | Yes | No |
SSN required? Sharing your Social Security Number with every landlord creates identity theft risk. 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? Settl performs a soft pull VantageScore 4.0 credit check (zero score impact). No hard pull. SmartMove uses a soft pull but still requires your SSN to be shared. | No | Soft pull (but SSN still shared) |
VantageScore 4.0 credit check? Settl includes a soft pull VantageScore 4.0 via TransUnion — zero score impact, never visible to other lenders. Both Settl and SmartMove use TransUnion data; Settl keeps your SSN private. | VantageScore 4.0 (soft pull, no score impact) | Yes (soft pull, 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. SmartMove uses TransUnion criminal data. | Yes | Yes |
Eviction history? Settl includes 7-year eviction history via CIC. Dismissed and withdrawn filings suppressed per FCRA. SmartMove includes eviction records as well. | Yes | Yes |
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. SmartMove is also FCRA-compliant as a TransUnion product. | Yes | Yes |
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 from bank? 12 months of actual bank transactions proving rent was paid. More reliable than eviction records alone, which can include pandemic-era filings. | Yes | No |
Cost to renter SmartMove charges a new fee every time a landlord orders a report on you. If you apply to five places, you (or the landlord) pays five times. | $99 once | $25–$40 per landlord |
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. SSN-based credit data carries inherent privacy exposure. | Yes | No |
The Real Differences
🔒 You Own Your Data
With SmartMove, each landlord orders a separate report. You have no control over who sees your SSN or credit file. With Settl, you initiate the report, control who sees it, and share it via a link you can revoke.
🏦 Bank Data vs Credit Score
SmartMove pulls a credit report. Which tells landlords about your past debt behavior. Settl connects to your bank (via Plaid) and shows verified income TODAY, actual cash in your account, and 12 months of rent payments. Far more relevant.
💸 Pay Once, Use Everywhere
SmartMove costs $25–$40 every time a landlord runs it. If you apply to 5 places, that's $200 in total fees (often paid by you). Settl costs $99 once. Share with unlimited landlords.
⚡ 10 Minutes vs 24 Hours
SmartMove results can take hours or a day. Settl verification takes under 10 minutes. Identity, bank income, and employment are checked simultaneously. Your profile is ready before you finish your coffee.
Fair Housing guardrails built in
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 want to share your SSN
- Your income is bank-deposited (salary, gig, freelance)
- You want a portable, shareable profile
- You have non-traditional income
SmartMove might work if…
- Your landlord requires it specifically
- You only need to apply to one place
- You're comfortable sharing your SSN
- The landlord is paying the fee
Skip SmartMove. 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