This page is an index of all the best apps for house rentals. When you go to rent a home, condo, or anything else that is rented by the month, you can take advantage of some great apps to make this process easier and get the information you need at your fingertips.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For House Rentals
Trulia Rentals
Best for Scoping Out the Neighborhood
Trulia Rentals (Apple, Android) helps streamline inquiries with its one-click feature, which puts interested renters in direct contact with the property manager, without having to fill out an inquiry form for every apartment they’re interested in or search for a phone number. The Trulia Neighborhoods feature allows renters to learn important details about the area a rental is in, with surveyed opinions from local residents on safety and walkability, photos of the area and whether local laws protect gender identity and sexual orientation in housing, employment and public accommodations.
Apartment List
Best for Curated Apartment Options
Apartment List (Apple, Android) initially opens to ask you a series of questions about your next rental – location, budget, how you prioritize those details and what amenities are most important to you. Once you’ve answered the questions, Apartment List presents you with categorized groups of rental listings that match everything you want or are a bit kinder on your budget, among other options. When going through the listings, you can create a short list of favorites by approving or rejecting your options like you would on a dating app.
Apartments.com
Best for Real-Time Availability
Apartments.com’s app (Apple, Android) provides real-time availability on a map-based app, with a focus on including details of the amenities apartment communities offer and additional fees renters can expect. Filters make it easy to search within your own parameters, from school information to commute to work or other spots you frequent. Apartments.com also verifies its listings to cut down on the possibility of scam listings or dated information.
[ SEE: 7 Secrets You Can’t Hide From Your Landlord. ]
HotPads
Best for Major City Searches
HotPads (Apple, Android) is best known for its apartment listings in major cities, but the app displays inventory throughout the country. Features include neighborhood details, such as nearby schools and a walk score, to help you get a feel for the area around the apartment you’re considering. If you find a listing that you think would be a great fit for a friend or family member, the share button allows you to send the information with a couple simple clicks.
Zumper
Best for Completing the Renting Process
Zumper (Apple, Android) offers instant alerts as rental listings that meet your needs come online. Zumper also partners with TransUnion to provide you with your credit report so you can submit a rental application to a landlord securely through the app. Renters can take advantage of features such as booking tours, prequalifying for an apartment, making an offer on a rental and in some markets even paying rent once you’ve signed a lease.
Homesnap
Best for When You’re Out and About
Homesnap (Apple, Android) doesn’t offer a rental app separate from its sale listings app, but you have the ability to filter to only looking at properties for rent. The app’s signature feature still works, allowing you to take a photo of a home with a “for rent” sign and the app will find the active listing for you to check out the details. On the map feature, you can also view recently rented properties to compare an asking rent to what current tenants are paying in the area.
[ READ: 8 Red Flags to Help You Spot a Rental Scam. ]
Rent.com
Best for Boundary Search Options
Rent.com’s app (Apple, Android) allows you to find available visit times and book a tour for the apartments you’re interested in. You can narrow down your search based on certified residents’ reviews, which are obtained by a Rent.com survey of residents. Rent.com makes its boundary search, which is common in other apps, even more useful by being able to focus on more than one area that may not be connected.
Apartments by Apartment Guide
Best for Providing Landlords With Info
Apartment Guide (Apple, Android) provides high-definition photos and floor plans for a deeper look at available spaces. The app lets you save listings and send interesting ones to a friend for a second opinion. With the ability to contact property managers and landlords directly from the app, you’re also able to provide information they’ll want to know to approve your application, like income, credit score, needed move-in date and if you have any pets.
Apartment Finder
Best for Meeting Your Budget Needs
Apartment Finder (Apple, Android) caters to new renters and budget-conscious tenants. The app offers filters that help apartment hunters find the best deal based on their budget, including properties that accept housing vouchers, are offering specials and whether utilities are included in the rent. As you reach out to property managers and landlords, you can keep track of your communications in the Apartment Finder app as well.
Apps to rent houses for vacation
Airbnb (Android, iOS, Website)
airbnb
(Image credit: Airbnb)
By far the most popular vacation rental service, Airbnb hosts over 4 million listings in more than 190 countries. You can book from a computer, but the app is just as easy (if not easier) to navigate. There are dozens of options to filter searches for your vacation needs, down to pool availability and parking preferences. Thanks to verified reviews, and degrees of host credentials, you don’t have to worry about getting duped. As further protection for guests, Airbnb holds your payment for 24 hours after check-in before releasing the funds to the host.
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Vrbo (Android, iOS, Website)
vrbo
(Image credit: Vrbo)
Vrbo, short for Vacation Rental By Owner, specializes in larger vacation rentals, such as houses, condos, villas and cabins. Unlike Airbnb, you can only rent entire homes on Vrbo, which means it has fewer rentals than Airbnb, but you’re guaranteed extra space and a kitchen. Vrbo says it has over 2 million rentals worldwide, compared to Airbnb’s 4 million. So if you’re suspicious about sharing a space with homeowners or other travelers, Vrbo is a great rental service for you. You can use it to search for popular destinations, find vacation inspiration, and collaborate with friends or family to design the perfect trip for your group.
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HomeAway (Android, iOS, Website)
homeaway
(Image credit: HomeAway)
Globally, HomeAway has over 2 million vacation rental listings in 190 countries. It uses the same catalog as Vrbo (which HomeAway acquired in 2007), but with less emphasis on collaborative booking and more flexibility with search filters. You can find rentals with a baby crib, exercise equipment, vegetable gardens, and more. If you have a specific vacation niche or need, HomeAway is your best option. Your rental information, booking details, and vacation itinerary are automatically downloaded for reference at any time, even when you’re offline.
FlipKey (Website)
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flipkey
(Image credit: FlipKey)
FlipKey is a TripAdvisor subsidiary with more than 300,000 rentals in over 11,000 cities around the world. Like Vrbo, you can book non-shared home, apartment, boathouse, and villa rentals. The major difference between FlipKey and its competitors, though, is the external booking system. While some properties can be reserved instantly through the app, more locations encourage contacting the property owner in a Craigslist-style fashion. So use the same discretion you would on Craigslist. FlipKey’s blog is an excellent resource for vacation planning, whether you need suggestions for romantic getaways or kid-friendly beach towns.
HipCamp (iOS, Website)
hipcamp
(Image credit: Hipcamp)
If you’re the outdoorsy-type, HipCamp is the rental app for you. It lets you search and rent campsites on privately owned lands in the U.S. while fostering experiences outside the traditional vacation model. When Americans scrambled for accommodations along the path of totality during the 2017 solar eclipse, Hipcamp revealed 789 Hipcamp hosts with over 1,000 campsites available within the path. Since then, Hipcamp increased to more than 17,000 camping rentals. There are 1,833 hosts and 2.2 million campers who used the site last year. Some of those hosts even provided shelter for people fleeing California wildfires.
If you’re seeking more unique outdoor accommodations, Glamping Hub offers stays at hosted tree houses, camper vans, and tents.
Roomster (Android, iOS, Website)
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roomster
(Image credit: Roomster)
While Roomster’s primary service is securing long-term housing and roommates, you can also use it to temporarily sublet apartments around the U.S. if it suits your travel needs. Whether you’re staying in a city for a few weeks or a few months, you can work out a short-term lease for certain locations. You’ll probably wind up with a roommate, which could prove a useful resource if you’re unfamiliar with the locale. Overall, Roomster is a great rental option if you’re relocating to work on a project, immerse in a new community, or test out neighborhoods before a more permanent move.
Tips for Searching Vacation Rentals
No matter the app you use to search, there are some things you should keep in mind during planning:
Each home is unique, so take advantage of search filters to find the place that best fits your travel needs.
Rentals ≠ resorts. If you’re looking for resort amenities, include a pool and gym in your “must-haves.” You also might be better off at a resort.
Do your homework. Be sure to read reviews, ask the property owners questions, and check out the area on Google.
Tips for Booking and Paying for Vacation Rentals
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Protect yourself during the booking process with these reservation tips:
Review the total cost before you click. There may be hidden fees in the rental’s fine print that aren’t advertised in the main search.
Pay directly through the app whenever possible. Using the service’s system provides information protection.
Read the contract. You should have a clear understanding of cancellation policies, occupation limits, and damage waivers before booking.
Conclusion
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