Clara vs TurboTenant: Best Screening Tool

For landlords, property managers, and real estate investors, finding the right renter is crucial to the long-term viability of your rental business. This effort goes beyond simply filling a position; it also entails finding a trustworthy guardian for your property. Not only is a thorough renter screening procedure recommended, but it is essential. It acts as your main line of protection against potential debts and monetary losses.

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However, choosing the best platform might be difficult due to the abundance of digital options accessible. Thus, two well-known candidates will be the subject of this analysis: TurboTenant, a complete property management suite, and Rent with Clara, which is well-known for its in-depth application insights.

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In order to determine which platform best suits the unique needs of your rental portfolio, this conversation will carefully go over each platform's features and price structures.

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Overview: Clara and TurboTenant at a Glance

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Before diving into the details, let's understand what each platform offers to independent landlords seeking tenant screening solutions.

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What is Clara?

Clara is a digital rental application and screening platform designed specifically for independent landlords. It offers a streamlined, user-friendly experience with no subscription requirements.

Clara focuses on providing verified tenant information through real-time income verification via Argyle, comprehensive background and credit checks, and fraud protection measures that help landlords find reliable renters without the complexity of full property management suites.

What is TurboTenant?

TurboTenant is a comprehensive property management platform that includes tenant screening as part of its broader suite of tools.

It offers landlords access to rental advertising, online applications, tenant screening reports, lease agreements, rent collection, and maintenance request management.

While it provides a free basic plan, TurboTenant's approach centers on being an all-in-one solution rather than specializing exclusively in tenant screening.

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Clara vs TurboTenant: Feature Comparison

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Application & Workflow Simplicity

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Clara's Approach	TurboTenant's Approach
Clara offers a straightforward three-step process designed specifically for independent landlords who want simplicity without sacrificing thoroughness. The mobile-optimized application allows renters to complete their profiles quickly while ensuring you get comprehensive information. Clara's streamlined workflow eliminates unnecessary steps, making it particularly valuable for landlords who screen tenants occasionally and don't want to navigate complex interfaces.	TurboTenant is a comprehensive property management platform that includes tenant screening as part of its broader suite of tools. It offers landlords access to rental advertising, online applications, tenant screening reports, lease agreements, rent collection, and maintenance request management. While it provides a free basic plan, TurboTenant's approach centers on being an all-in-one solution rather than specializing exclusively in tenant screening.

Clara's Approach

TurboTenant's Approach

Clara offers a straightforward three-step process designed specifically for independent landlords who want simplicity without sacrificing thoroughness.

The mobile-optimized application allows renters to complete their profiles quickly while ensuring you get comprehensive information.

Clara's streamlined workflow eliminates unnecessary steps, making it particularly valuable for landlords who screen tenants occasionally and don't want to navigate complex interfaces.

TurboTenant is a comprehensive property management platform that includes tenant screening as part of its broader suite of tools.

It offers landlords access to rental advertising, online applications, tenant screening reports, lease agreements, rent collection, and maintenance request management.

While it provides a free basic plan, TurboTenant's approach centers on being an all-in-one solution rather than specializing exclusively in tenant screening.

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Identity & Income Verification

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Clara's Verification System	TurboTenant's Verification System
Here's where Clara stands out: it uses multi-layer verification. This means Clara can reliably check an applicant's identity, including their name, birth date, phone number, and ID plus biometric authentication. Clara also excels at income verification. Through its partnership with Argyle, Clara can get direct income details from payroll providers. This gives you actual, verifiable income data, not just an estimate. It also lets you review authenticated documents like pay stubs, W2s, and 1099s, so you don't have to worry about fake documents. Clara helps you see an applicant's true financial picture.	TurboTenant relies more heavily on manual document uploads for verification. While their premium plan includes "Income Insights" for cross-referencing reported income with TransUnion data, it doesn't offer the same level of direct verification as Clara's integration. Landlords often need to review uploaded documents themselves, which takes more time and leaves more room for potential fraud.

Clara's Verification System

TurboTenant's Verification System

Here's where Clara stands out:

it uses multi-layer verification. This means Clara can reliably check an applicant's identity, including their name, birth date, phone number, and ID plus biometric authentication.

Clara also excels at income verification. Through its partnership with Argyle, Clara can get direct income details from payroll providers. This gives you actual, verifiable income data, not just an estimate. It also lets you review authenticated documents like pay stubs, W2s, and 1099s, so you don't have to worry about fake documents. Clara helps you see an applicant's true financial picture.

TurboTenant relies more heavily on manual document uploads for verification. While their premium plan includes "Income Insights" for cross-referencing reported income with TransUnion data, it doesn't offer the same level of direct verification as Clara's integration.

Landlords often need to review uploaded documents themselves, which takes more time and leaves more room for potential fraud.

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Background Checks & Credit Reports

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Clara's Screening Depth	TurboTenant's Screening Depth
Clara’s background checks are thorough. It conducts an eviction search, diligently looking for any past court actions, unlawful detainers, or monetary judgments that might indicate previous rental issues. Furthermore, it performs an extensive criminal history search, sifting through over 200 million records at both national and state levels. This includes searches for felonies, sex offenses, and wants & warrants, giving you a detailed picture of an applicant's past behavior.	TurboTenant offers similar background check capabilities, searching criminal records across all 50 states and providing TransUnion credit reports. However, some landlords report that TurboTenant's free plan limits access to certain screening details that Clara includes in its standard offering.

Clara's Screening Depth

TurboTenant's Screening Depth

Clara’s background checks are thorough. It conducts an eviction search, diligently looking for any past court actions, unlawful detainers, or monetary judgments that might indicate previous rental issues.

Furthermore, it performs an extensive criminal history search, sifting through over 200 million records at both national and state levels. This includes searches for felonies, sex offenses, and wants & warrants, giving you a detailed picture of an applicant's past behavior.

TurboTenant offers similar background check capabilities, searching criminal records across all 50 states and providing TransUnion credit reports.

However, some landlords report that TurboTenant's free plan limits access to certain screening details that Clara includes in its standard offering.

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Pricing Transparency

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Feature	Clara	TurboTenant
Landlord Cost	Free	Free basic plan; $119/year for premium
Applicant Screening Fee	$49 flat fee	$55 standard fee; lower with premium plan
Income Verification	Included via Argyle	Basic in free plan; enhanced in premium
Credit Report	TransUnion summary included	TransUnion summary included
Background Check	Comprehensive national search	Comprehensive national search
Subscription Required	No	For premium features

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Clara maintains a straightforward pricing model with no hidden fees or subscription requirements for landlords.

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The $49 applicant fee covers all screening services, including the income verification that many competitors charge extra for.

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TurboTenant's basic plan is free but requires a $119 annual subscription to access premium features like custom application questions and enhanced income verification.

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Mobile Usability & Support

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Clara's Mobile Experience	TurboTenant's Mobile Experience
Clara was built with a user-friendly approach, recognizing that many independent landlords manage properties on the go. The interface works seamlessly on smartphones and tablets, allowing you to review applications and screening reports anywhere. This design philosophy extends to the renter experience as well, making it easier for applicants to complete their profiles quickly and accurately.	While TurboTenant offers mobile access, its interface was primarily designed for desktop use. The comprehensive nature of the platform means more navigation is required on smaller screens, which can be cumbersome when you need to quickly check applicant information. Some landlords report that the mobile experience feels like an adaptation rather than a purpose-built solution.

Clara's Mobile Experience

TurboTenant's Mobile Experience

Clara was built with a user-friendly approach, recognizing that many independent landlords manage properties on the go.

The interface works seamlessly on smartphones and tablets, allowing you to review applications and screening reports anywhere.

This design philosophy extends to the renter experience as well, making it easier for applicants to complete their profiles quickly and accurately.

While TurboTenant offers mobile access, its interface was primarily designed for desktop use.

The comprehensive nature of the platform means more navigation is required on smaller screens, which can be cumbersome when you need to quickly check applicant information.

Some landlords report that the mobile experience feels like an adaptation rather than a purpose-built solution.

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Pros and Cons Summary

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✓ Clara Advantages

No subscription fees or recurring costs.
Real-time income verification through Argyle integration.
Mobile-first design for on-the-go screening.
Simplified workflow designed specifically for tenant screening.
Lower applicant fee.
Built-in fraud protection and identity verification.

✗ TurboTenant Limitations

Premium features require $119/year subscription.
More complex interface with features you may not need.
Manual document verification instead of automated.
Higher applicant fees may deter potential renters.
Desktop-oriented design is less optimal on mobile.
Learning curve for occasional screening needs.

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In a nutshell:

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Choose Clara if: Your primary concern is the most thorough and verified tenant screening possible, especially for income and identity, and you prefer a zero-cost model for landlords. Clara excels in the depth and reliability of its applicant data.
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Choose TurboTenant if: You need a broader property management platform that combines marketing, applications, screening, rent collection, and maintenance all into one free (or affordable premium) system. It’s a great choice for overall operational streamlining.

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Ultimately, both platforms will significantly improve your tenant screening process compared to manual methods. But if pinpoint accuracy in tenant verification - especially financial verification - is your non-negotiable priority, then Clara's specialized prowess makes it a standout choice for securing your investment with the most trustworthy tenants. It’s about more than just finding a renter; it’s about finding the right renter with unwavering confidence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I use Clara or TurboTenant without listing my property?

Yes, both Clara and TurboTenant allow you to screen tenants without creating a property listing. Clara is particularly streamlined for this purpose, as it focuses specifically on tenant screening rather than full property marketing. You can simply create an account, generate an application and screening link, and share it with potential renters without going through a listing process.

Which platform is better if I only screen tenants once or twice a year?

Clara is generally more suitable for landlords who screen tenants infrequently. Its pay-per-use model means you only pay when you need the service, with no subscription fees or recurring costs. TurboTenant's premium features require an annual subscription, which may not be cost-effective if you're only filling vacancies occasionally. Clara's simpler interface also means less time spent relearning the platform when you return to it after months away.

How quickly will I receive screening results with each platform?

Clara typically delivers comprehensive screening results within minutes after the applicant completes their profile and pays the screening fee. The real-time Argyle verification means income and identity information is verified instantly. TurboTenant's basic screening results are also quick, but manual document verification can extend the process, sometimes requiring 24-48 hours for complete verification if you need to review documents yourself.

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Clara vs TurboTenant: The Best Tenant Screening Tool for Independent Landlords