Discover the Best App to Find Houses for Rent

Nichole Stohler
Last updated
December 12, 2023
5 min read

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Imagine finding your dream rental home with just a few taps on your smartphone. Whether you're a first-time renter, moving across town, or relocating across the country, the right app can transform the way you search for a home.

With the power to effortlessly view and compare a wide range of single-family homes and apartments, your journey to finding a new home can be both efficient and enjoyable.

In this article, we'll guide you through the top app options, as well as tips to use on each app, to streamline your rental-hunting journey. Say goodbye to endless searching and hello to finding your ideal rental home with ease.

What are the best apps to find houses for rent?

Finding the ideal rental home is no small feat, but the right app can make your search feel seamless instead of stressful. If you are among the 40% of renters looking to move to a new metro, having a robust search platform is key. When determining the best rental apps, be on the lookout for easy-to-use interfaces, advanced filters, and detailed rental property information.

Apartment Finder

If ease of use is your top priority, Apartment Finder should be your first click. Their interface lets you filter listings according to your must-haves and browse options at your own pace. A good approach is to start your search broadly and then narrow it down based on photos, amenities, rent prices, and other features.

Apartment Finder pulls in listings from top rental sites, so you get an extensive selection right on their platform. Expect photos and videos in each listing, along with important info like contact information, unit sizes, and availability dates.

If you want an uncomplicated search process with lots to choose from, Apartment Finder makes it happen. You can customize it to your heart's content without hassle.

Apartment List

Apartment List takes a macro view of rental searches by visually charting neighborhood price variations. Interactive maps showcase rental amounts and empower budget-focused renters to pinpoint affordable areas that match their finances.

You can cross-reference by filtering available listings once you find your ideal neighborhoods. With the ability to narrow down to affordable locations first, this app provides a level of price transparency that can save you time. From here, you can search rental listings that match your required amenities and space needs.

Apartment Guide

Renters highly regard Apartment Guide for a good reason — its robust app grants access to quality rental listings spanning various property types. You can find many choices for apartments, condos, houses, or more niche offerings.

Apartment Guide's intuitive app makes browsing rental listings a breeze. You can easily explore an extensive inventory where each listing provides relevant details to make a decision. From amenity descriptions to high-quality photos and tour scheduling points, this app arms you with everything needed to identify your perfect apartment or rental.

Apartments.com

With over a million active listings, Apartments.com should top your list if a large selection matters most to you. Their extensive database provides options across the country and shows you the rent trends in your desired area.

You can browse high-level trends using their real-time rental rate and availability data, then dive into listings. Utilize detailed filters to search by location, price, size, amenities, and more.

Apartments.com offers engaging visual content like photo galleries, videos, and 360-degree virtual tours. It allows remote evaluation of listings while mapping features help compare neighborhoods.

HotPads

If visualizing neighborhoods matters in your rental search, HotPads delivers. With an interactive map-based interface, you can dynamically browse apartment listings across accurately mapped zones. Click into favored pins and virtually scope out interiors through 3D tours and photo galleries portraying layouts and amenities. For renters who want to visually evaluate locations before choosing, HotPads brings neighborhoods to life.

PadMapper

PadMapper aggregates listings from a number of sources, including property management companies, landlords, and other listing sites, so it's great if you want a one-stop shop.

PadMapper enables you to explore different locations and narrow your search using filters like price range, number of bedrooms, and specific amenities like on-site parking. The app displays detailed property information, including descriptions, photos, and contact details, making it easy for first-time renters to evaluate their options.

Realtor.com

Realtor.com is a highly reputable app that is a helpful resource for finding a wide range of properties, including new listings for apartments, houses, and condos.

You can easily search for available properties based on your desired location, price range, and specific criteria. The app provides detailed property information, including key features, amenities, and high-quality photos.

It also offers additional tools like video tours and neighborhood insights, such as nearby schools, to provide all the information so you can decide on your next apartment.

Rent.com

Rent.com makes virtual tours and 3D floor plans available for many listings, so it's ideal if you need to tour remotely. The platform features a vast inventory of houses, condos, townhomes, and apartment listings.

With Rent.com, you can easily search for available properties in your ideal location and customize searches using filters. If specific search criteria like in-unit laundry or walk scores matter, you can filter for these amenities to find the perfect rental.

Trulia

Trulia is a popular rental app that offers a convenient and effective way to find new rentals. This platform hosts many listings, including for-rent apartments, houses, condos, and townhouses. Their popular app simplifies the search process through robust filters and browsing tools.

You can search for available properties in your preferred location and apply filters to find properties that are pet friendly and meet your criteria for specific amenities. The app provides comprehensive information with detailed descriptions, high-resolution photos, and virtual tours.

Zillow

For personalized search features and tools, this app is hard to beat. With the Zillow Rentals app, you can use advanced search tools for available properties in your desired location and draw custom search boundaries.

The app offers detailed property profiles, including descriptions, photos, and virtual tours so that you can decide on your next home. You can also see neighborhood details, such as the walk score, as well as nearby coffee shops, schools, and restaurants.

Zumper

Zumper is a highly renowned rental marketplace website and app that offers an exceptional platform for finding affordable apartments, condos, or rooms for rent. Zumper has gained significant recognition as the largest privately owned rental platform in North America, attracting millions of site visits per year.

It provides a seamless renting experience from start to finish, allowing users to discover and apply for various rental properties. The platform offers many listings, including detailed property descriptions, high-quality photos, and virtual tours.

In addition, Zumper provides insights about potential neighborhoods, helping you understand what living there might be like. From nearby amenities to public transportation options, it offers a comprehensive view of the area around your potential new home.

Zumper also has a mobile app for iOS and Android, so you can search for your next home wherever you are, whenever you want.

Apps for renting houses

Finding your perfect rental is now easier than ever, thanks to the multitude of housing apps on the market today. Whether you seek an apartment, house, condo, or private room, these platforms allow customized filtering to discover options matching your needs and preferences.

With the ability to customize your search with filters and boundaries, you can easily discover a rental home that meets your needs and preferences. Many of these apartment rental apps offer additional features like virtual tours and the ability to connect with landlords/property managers seamlessly.

Best app to find houses for rent FAQs

Are these apps free to use?

Yes, these apps are free to use, but some have premium features or additional services for a fee.

Can I contact landlords or property managers directly through these apps?

Absolutely. These rental platforms provide the contact information for each listing's landlord or property manager.

Written by

Nichole Stohler

Nichole co-founded Gateway Private Equity Group, with a history of investments in single-family and multi-family properties, and now a specialization in hotel real estate investments. She is also the creator of NicsGuide.com, a blog dedicated to real estate investing.

Important Note: This post is for informational and educational purposes only. It should not be taken as legal, accounting, or tax advice, nor should it be used as a substitute for such services. Always consult your own legal, accounting, or tax counsel before taking any action based on this information.

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