Comparison
A one-profile alternative to Zillow's 30-day application
Zillow's rental application is a one-time fee that covers applications to participating Zillow rentals for 30 days. A CertRent profile (opening at launch; waitlist now) is designed not to expire and can be shared with any landlord. Here's an honest side-by-side.
| CertRent | Zillow Applications | |
|---|---|---|
| How you apply | One profile you share with any landlord (at launch) | One fee covers applications to unlimited participating Zillow rentals |
| Expires? | No — refresh anytime | After 30 days |
| Works with any landlord? | Yes — share a link with anyone (at launch) | Participating Zillow rentals |
| Bank-verified rent history | Yes (at launch) | No |
| Verified income | Bank-verified (at launch) | Applicant uploads documents (pay stubs, W-2s, bank statements) |
| Ownership-checked references | Yes, NYC public records (at launch) | No |
| Is it a credit/background check report? | No — so it does not by itself qualify for the NY §238-a fee waiver | Yes — Experian credit report + CIC background check |
| Hard credit report + background check | No (by design) | Yes (Experian credit report + CIC background check) |
Competitor details checked 2026-09-24 against their own public websites. Features and prices change, so confirm on their site before you sign up. CertRent accounts are waitlist-only for now: verified profiles, bank verification and rent certificates open at launch, and rent reporting is planned. Guides, templates and building lookups are free today.
When Zillow makes sense
We'll be straight with you: if a specific landlord requires a hard credit pull and formal background check through Zillow's system, Zillow's application includes exactly that. A CertRent profile deliberately doesn't run criminal or eviction-court checks — that's a feature for your privacy, but it means it isn't a background check.
When CertRent is the better move
For NYC renters applying to several apartments — especially outside Zillow's network — separate applications and fees add up. Know your rights either way: New York caps background and credit-check fees at $20 (RPL §238-a), and a landlord must waive that fee when you provide a qualifying recent background or credit check report. A CertRent profile is not such a report, so it does not by itself trigger the waiver — it is a portable, bank-verified record you can share alongside your application once accounts open.