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Best Apps to Find Apartments Without the Headache

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by

ReciMe Team
in

Let’s be real – apartment hunting can be a total pain. Between endless listings, sketchy photos, and confusing filters, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Luckily, there are some great apps out there that actually make the whole process smoother. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, these apps can help you find a place that fits your budget, lifestyle, and vibe. Let’s break down the top ones to try.

One more tool that can be helpful during your move is ReciMe. It’s not an apartment-hunting app, but it comes in handy once you’ve found your place. We built ReciMe to help you organize all the essentials for your new home, from setting up utilities to getting internet installed, in one place. So while you’re using apartment apps to find your next spot, ReciMe can help you get settled in faster once you sign the lease. Ready to make your move less stressful? Give ReciMe a try and get your new place up and running in no time.

Download for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPad

1. Trulia Rentals

Trulia Rentals is a mobile app designed to help renters find homes, apartments, condos, and townhouses across the U.S. What sets it apart is the focus on giving users a broader understanding of the neighborhood in addition to the property details. It goes beyond just listing basics by offering features that show what it’s like to live in the area, helping renters make more informed decisions.

The app includes Trulia Neighborhoods, a tool that offers local insights through maps, drone footage, and resident reviews. You can explore details like school ratings, nearby shops, commute options, and even how safe locals feel walking alone at night. Trulia also includes 30 different heat maps to display trends like price, amenities, or natural disaster risks in any given area.

Search filters let renters narrow listings by school districts, price, amenities, and property type. The 1-Click Request feature allows direct contact with landlords and property managers, making it easier to set up tours. The app also supports saved searches, real-time alerts, and collection features to help organize listings during the search process.

Key Highlights:

  • Trulia Neighborhoods feature with drone footage and local insights
  • 30+ heat overlay maps for schools, pricing, commute, and more
  • 1-Click Request tool for contacting landlords instantly
  • Real-time alerts when new listings match saved searches

Good Choice For:

  • Renters who want detailed neighborhood info before deciding
  • Families looking to rent near specific schools or districts
  • People searching for different property types in one place (homes, apartments, rooms)

Contact and Social Media Information:

2. Apartments.com

Apartments.com is a powerful rental search platform offering a wide variety of listings across the United States. It’s designed to help renters find their next apartment, house, condo, or townhome by providing the most accurate and detailed information available. Listings are updated daily by a dedicated research team, and the app includes tools that support everything from search to contacting property managers directly.

One of the standout features is the ability to search using custom drawn map areas or with the Plan Your Commute tool, which helps you find homes based on commute time. Listings are CoStar verified, meaning the app checks for accuracy, rental rates, and availability to reduce the chance of misinformation. You can view properties with high-resolution photos, 3D walkthroughs, videos, and floorplans to get a more complete picture before scheduling a tour.

In addition to helping you search smarter, the app includes neighborhood information such as school ratings, public transit options, and local attractions like restaurants and gyms. You can save your favorite properties, receive alerts for new listings, and share options with others. Whether you’re looking for something nearby or in a new city, Apartments.com gives you tools to narrow things down quickly.

Key Highlights:

  • Over 1 million verified listings including homes, apartments, condos, and townhomes
  • Interactive tools like Plan Your Commute and custom map drawing
  • High-resolution images, 3D walkthroughs, and HD videos for listings
  • Real-time availability, rent ranges, and special offers verified by CoStar

Good Choice For:

  • Renters who want a highly detailed, reliable property search
  • People searching in specific areas or by commute times
  • Anyone looking for more than just apartments, including houses and condos

Contact and Social Media Information:

3. Zillow Rentals

Zillow Rentals is a dedicated rental platform that helps people find homes and apartments for rent across the United States. Whether you’re looking for a single-family home, condo, townhouse, or apartment, the app offers a wide range of listings with detailed filters to help narrow down your options. You can search by city, ZIP code, or even draw custom search areas on the map.

The app allows renters to filter listings based on price, number of bedrooms, amenities, and features like in-unit laundry, pet-friendliness, or on-site parking. It also includes a Rent Zestimate® tool, which gives an estimate of what a fair market rent might look like for the property you’re viewing. This can help renters better understand neighborhood pricing and compare different options.

Zillow Rentals also includes a Renter Profile feature that makes it easier to share basic details with property managers. You can save listings, get directions to properties, and access all your searches across devices. Whether you’re planning ahead or need something fast, the app is designed to keep everything organized and accessible.

Key Highlights:

  • Custom map search with draw-your-own-boundary feature
  • Rent Zestimate® helps estimate fair market rental value
  • Renter Profile tool makes applying more efficient
  • Search filters for amenities, property type, commute time, and more

Good Choice For:

  • Anyone searching for apartments, homes, or condos for rent
  • People who want detailed search filters and pricing tools
  • Renters looking to organize and save listings across devices

Contact and Social Media Information:

4. HotPads

HotPads is a rental app that offers listings for apartments, condos, houses, and townhomes across the United States. It’s known for covering a wide range of rental options, especially in large metro areas like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. The app is built to support fast and flexible searches with tools that help renters narrow down listings to match their needs.

One of the most useful features is the ability to set up search alerts. These alerts notify you when new listings match your criteria so you don’t have to check the app constantly. You can also apply advanced filters to find specific types of housing like student apartments, senior communities, or low-income restricted homes. Whether you’re looking for a pet-friendly place with a backyard or need Section 8 housing options, the filters make it easier to sort through the noise.

The app allows you to switch between list and map views depending on how you want to explore your options. With added tools like area stats and quick-share functions, HotPads is built to help you stay organized and connected throughout the apartment search process.

Key Highlights:

  • Search alerts notify you when new listings match your preferences
  • Filters for student housing, senior living, and low-income homes
  • Keyword search helps find listings with specific terms like “backyard”
  • Toggle between list and map views for different ways to explore listings

Good Choice For:

  • Renters looking in major cities with competitive markets
  • People who need tailored filters for unique living needs
  • Anyone who wants alerts and updates on new listings without daily checking

Contact and Social Media Information:

5. Apartment List

Apartment List is a rental search app that uses a match-based system to help renters find apartments, condos, and houses that fit their needs. Instead of browsing endlessly, users start by answering a few questions about their ideal place. Based on that input, the app delivers curated listings that align with personal preferences like budget, size, location, and amenities.

The app organizes listings into categories like Perfect Matches and Flex Matches. Perfect Matches are properties that check every box based on your quiz answers. Flex Matches are close alternatives that may miss a few preferences but are still worth considering. This setup helps renters discover options they might have missed using standard search filters. Each listing includes photos, virtual tours, pet policies, move-in fees, and real-time price updates.

Apartment List also includes smart features like price alerts, saved favorites, and in-app communication tools. You can book a tour, reach out to properties directly, and track rent specials right from the app. It’s designed to simplify the search process, especially for renters who want a more personalized experience without manually sorting through hundreds of listings.

Key Highlights:

  • Rental Matchmaker quiz provides personalized apartment matches
  • Listings organized into Perfect Matches and Flex Matches
  • Smart alerts for price changes, new listings, and rent specials
  • Tools to book tours and contact properties directly in-app

Good Choice For:

  • Renters who want a more curated and less overwhelming search process
  • People looking for rentals that match specific lifestyle needs
  • Users who want to discover new listings without endless scrolling

Contact and Social Media Information:

6. Zumper

Zumper is a rental marketplace app that helps people find apartments, houses, condos, or even rooms for rent across the U.S. and Canada. It offers an all-in-one experience, combining search, tour scheduling, application submission, and even rent payment in a single platform. Whether you’re looking for a short-term rental or a long-term lease, Zumper provides tools to filter and manage your search with flexibility.

The app stands out with its real-time updates and customizable filters. You can narrow your options based on price, number of bedrooms, pet policies, amenities, and preferred neighborhoods. Zumper also allows renters to create alerts for new listings that match their preferences, ensuring they stay up to date with the latest available rentals. The platform supports both virtual and in-person tour requests directly through the app, streamlining the communication process.

Verified listings, real-time pricing, and direct contact with property managers are key features that make Zumper a practical tool for renters. It also includes flexible lease options, including furnished units and short-term rentals. Whether you’re planning a move across town or across the country, Zumper provides a wide selection of listings and smart tools to help simplify your search.

Key Highlights:

  • Millions of listings across the U.S. and Canada with verified properties
  • Real-time alerts for new listings, price drops, and availability updates
  • Tour scheduling options for virtual or in-person visits
  • Filters for lease length, pet-friendliness, amenities, and location

Good Choice For:

  • Renters looking for a wide range of options, including rooms and short-term leases
  • People who want to manage the entire rental process in one place
  • Those who prefer updated and verified rental information across multiple cities

Contact and Social Media Information:

7. Rent. Apartments & Homes

Rent. is a rental search app that helps users find apartments, condos, houses, and townhomes available for rent across the United States. It offers a wide selection of updated listings, with new rental options added daily. Whether you’re looking for a cheap apartment, a luxury condo, or a single-family house, Rent. is designed to make the search process more efficient and straightforward.

The app supports advanced filters that allow users to narrow down listings by location, budget, availability date, amenities, and pet policies. Users can browse listings in either list or map view, check floorplans, view HD photos, and even take virtual tours for many properties. Listings are verified, and real resident reviews are available to provide helpful insights about the properties.

Another useful feature is the option to save favorite rentals, receive alerts for new listings, and contact properties directly by phone or email. With its mix of trusted listings, virtual viewing options, and filtering tools, Rent. helps simplify the process of finding a place that matches your lifestyle and budget.

Key Highlights:

  • Verified listings with virtual tours, HD videos, and detailed floorplans
  • Advanced filters for budget, amenities, availability, and pet-friendly homes
  • Real-time alerts when new listings become available or prices change
  • Resident reviews included for extra insight on each property

Good Choice For:

  • Renters who want detailed listing info with virtual tour options
  • People looking to explore a wide range of rental types in one app
  • Anyone who values up-to-date listings and neighborhood insights from residents

Contact and Social Media Information:

8. Apartment Guide

Apartment Guide is a rental search app designed to help you find houses, apartments, condos, and townhomes across the U.S. With an easy-to-use interface and thousands of listings added daily, it streamlines the search process so you can focus on finding the right place. Whether you’re moving for work, school, or just looking for a change, the app makes it easy to narrow down your options based on what matters most to you.

You can search by city, zip code, or draw a custom area on the map to focus on specific neighborhoods. The app offers a solid range of filters to help you find listings that fit your needs, including price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, amenities, and pet policies. You’ll also find HD photos, floorplans, and sometimes even 360-degree virtual tours that give you a better idea of what to expect before setting up a visit.

With built-in tools to save favorites, share listings with others, and contact property managers directly from the app, Apartment Guide helps make the rental process feel more manageable. It’s designed for people who want to be in control of their search while also saving time.

Key Highlights:

  • Detailed filters for bedrooms, bathrooms, price range, amenities, and more
  • Virtual tours, HD photos, and floorplans for better previews
  • Real resident reviews included to help with decision-making
  • Ability to save favorites and contact properties directly through the app

Good Choice For:

  • Renters who want to explore apartments with rich visuals and virtual tours
  • People searching for verified listings in specific neighborhoods
  • Anyone who needs customizable search tools to narrow down options efficiently

Contact and Social Media Information:

9. Realtor.com Real Estate & Rent

Realtor.com is a real estate app that helps people find homes for rent or sale across the U.S. While it’s widely known for home buying, it also includes a solid set of tools for renters. The app is backed by MLS listings, which means you’ll often see real-time updates and a wide range of properties including houses, condos, and apartments.

The app’s search tools are flexible and easy to customize. You can filter results by price, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, pet policies, school district, and commute time. You can also draw custom search areas on the map, check out local amenities like restaurants and shops, and use map layers to view traffic and noise levels. Listings come with HD photos, 3D tours, and videos to give you a better idea of each place before visiting.

Realtor.com also includes budgeting tools like an affordability calculator and mortgage estimator, which are helpful if you’re considering renting with the long-term option of buying. Real-time alerts keep you updated when a new listing matches your saved search or when a rental drops in price. Whether you’re searching solo or with a partner, the app also lets you share listings and comments to help coordinate your move.

Key Highlights:

  • Detailed filters for budget, amenities, schools, and commute time
  • Map features include traffic, noise levels, and local points of interest
  • Listings come with 3D tours, videos, and room-specific photo galleries
  • Tools to calculate affordability and monthly payments

Good Choice For:

  • Renters who want both short-term rental options and long-term planning tools
  • People who want detailed location data like noise and flood risk
  • Anyone who wants to share and collaborate on listings with others

Contact and Social Media Information:

10. PadMapper

PadMapper is a streamlined apartment search app designed to make finding a rental quick and hassle-free. With over a million listings from PadMapper, Zumper, and other sources, it offers a centralized experience for locating apartments, condos, houses, rooms, and sublets across the U.S. and Canada.

The app includes a wide range of filters to customize your search by price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, amenities like pools or doormen, and pet policies. Users can also limit results by property type or choose to only see listings that avoid broker fees. For added flexibility, listings can be saved to a favorites list for review later, and contact with landlords is simplified through in-app messaging or one-tap calling.

In addition to standard rental listings, PadMapper supports roommate searches and sublets, allowing users to list or browse shared accommodations directly in the app. Listings are moderated with spam filters to reduce scams and ensure higher listing quality.

Key Highlights:

  • Integrated search across PadMapper, Zumper, and partner networks
  • Extensive filters for budget, amenities, pet policies, and more
  • Support for sublets, roommates, and no-fee listings
  • Spam-reduction system for safer browsing

Good Choice For:

  • Renters looking for affordable options or no-fee listings in major cities
  • Users needing to post or search for sublets and roommate opportunities
  • Those seeking a simplified, high-volume search experience without excessive steps

Contact and Social Media Information:

11. StreetEasy – Apartments in NYC

StreetEasy is a popular app for anyone trying to find a place to live in New York City. Whether you’re renting or buying, it gives you access to a huge number of listings across all five boroughs. You can search for apartments, condos, co-ops, and even specific buildings or neighborhoods.

The app makes it easier to narrow down your search by letting you filter for things like price, number of bedrooms, and building features like doormen, elevators, or pet-friendly rules. You can also view full-screen photos, check out floor plans, and even get details on the history of the listing or building. Once you save a search or a listing, it syncs across devices, so you can pick up right where you left off.

StreetEasy is made for NYC renters and buyers, so it focuses on things that matter in that market, like no-fee listings and neighborhood-specific searches. It’s not overloaded with features you don’t need, which makes it easy to use and actually helpful when you’re looking for a place in the city.

Key Highlights:

  • Search listings in all five NYC boroughs with filters for budget, amenities, and location
  • See listing history, building details, and recently sold or rented units
  • Sync saved listings and searches between phone and desktop
  • Contact agents directly through the app with just a tap

Good Choice For:

  • Renters or buyers focused on New York City
  • People who want to avoid broker fees
  • Users who want detailed building and listing info without extra clutter

Contact and Social Media Information:

12. TurboTenant for Renters

TurboTenant for Renters is designed to simplify the rental experience by putting everything you need in one place. It’s not just for finding apartments, but for managing your rental after you move in. From paying rent to submitting maintenance requests, you can handle it all from your phone without needing to juggle emails, checks, or text messages.

The app makes it easy to schedule and make payments securely, with a clear record of all your transactions. If something breaks or needs attention, you can send a maintenance request directly through the app and track its progress. You’ll also get reminders for upcoming rent due dates so you don’t miss a payment.

Another handy feature is the built-in messaging system. Instead of going back and forth through emails or text threads, you can chat with your landlord directly in the app and keep everything in one place. It’s a more organized way to stay on top of your rental responsibilities without the stress.

Key Highlights:

  • Pay rent and view payment history all in one app
  • Submit and track maintenance requests as needed
  • Get reminders so you never miss a rent due date
  • Message your landlord directly through the app

Good Choice For:

  • Renters who want to manage everything digitally
  • People who prefer not to deal with checks or paper forms
  • Tenants who want a simple way to stay in touch with their landlord

Contact and Social Media Information:

13. Apartment Search by RentCafe

RentCafe’s Apartment Search app is built to help you find rental listings across the U.S. with ease. What makes it stand out is that all the listings are posted by verified property managers, which can add a layer of trust when you’re browsing for your next home. Whether you’re looking in your current city or planning a move, the app lets you explore options quickly.

The built-in GPS search helps you find nearby rentals fast, and you can draw a custom area on the map if you want to search within a specific part of town. The filters are helpful too – you can narrow your results by price, number of bedrooms, pet policy, amenities, and more. Listings show photos, floor plans, rent specials, and available units updated daily.

Once you find places you like, you can save them to your favorites to check again later. You can also contact the property managers directly through the app, which cuts out any middle steps. If the property you’re interested in uses RentCafe, there’s a separate app for residents to manage rent payments and maintenance, but this app focuses fully on the search process.

Key Highlights:

  • All listings come from trusted property managers
  • GPS and map drawing features for custom search areas
  • Filters include amenities, pet policy, rent range, and more
  • Daily updated listings with photos and floor plans

Good Choice For:

  • Renters who want verified listings from professional managers
  • People searching in multiple cities across the U.S.
  • Users who like map-based search tools with flexible filters

Contact and Social Media Information:

Final Thoughts

Finding the right apartment doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With so many helpful apps out there, you can search smarter, not harder. Whether you want advanced filters, verified listings, or an easy way to contact landlords, there’s an app built to make your life easier. The key is figuring out what matters most to you – price, location, amenities – and choosing the tools that help you stay focused on what you really want.

Try a few of these apps and see which one feels right. Most are free, so there’s no harm in exploring your options. With the right app in your pocket, your next apartment might be just a few taps away.