How much does TransUnion SmartMove cost in 2026?
SmartMove offers three packages: Basic at $25, Plus at $35, and Premium at $40. There are no monthly fees — you only pay per screening. The fee is typically charged to the tenant, not the landlord.
If you've been researching tenant screening tools, chances are you've come across TransUnion SmartMove. It's one of the most recognized names in the space—but does it actually deliver what independent landlords need?
This review covers everything you should know about SmartMove in 2026: how it works, what you get in each pricing package, where it falls short, and how it stacks up against other options.
TransUnion SmartMove (also written as MySmartMove) is an online tenant screening service offered directly by TransUnion, one of the three major US credit bureaus. It's designed for independent landlords and small property managers who want to run credit, criminal, and eviction checks on prospective tenants without a monthly subscription.
Because it's backed by TransUnion, the credit data SmartMove provides is authoritative and widely trusted. Landlords can initiate a screening from their computer, and the tenant receives a link to complete the process on their end.
SmartMove doesn't require a monthly subscription — you sign up and only pay when you request a screening. There's no minimum commitment.
After selecting a package, you enter the tenant's name and email. SmartMove sends them an invitation to complete the application and submit payment.
The tenant logs into SmartMove's portal to authorize the background check and pay the screening fee. The cost is passed to the applicant — landlords pay nothing out of pocket.
Once the tenant submits, the landlord receives instant access to the screening report through their SmartMove dashboard.
SmartMove offers three packages with no monthly fees — you only pay per screening:
*Pricing is subject to change. Verify current rates at mysmartmove.com before use.
SmartMove's biggest advantage is its source. Credit data comes directly from TransUnion, meaning it's accurate, up to date, and FCRA-compliant. This is the same data used by major financial institutions.
Unlike some property management platforms that charge monthly fees regardless of usage, SmartMove is pay-per-report. This makes it cost-effective for landlords who screen tenants infrequently.
The screening fee is paid by the applicant, not the landlord. This is a significant convenience — especially for landlords managing multiple applications simultaneously.
SmartMove uses a soft inquiry, which means running a background check does not affect the tenant's credit score. This is a tenant-friendly feature that reduces friction in the application process.
SmartMove's Premium package includes an Income Insights report that analyzes a tenant's self-reported income against their credit data to flag potential inconsistencies. While it doesn't verify income directly, it gives landlords a useful signal on whether to request additional documentation.
SmartMove does not provide criminal background data for Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Cook County, Illinois. If you own rental property in these areas, SmartMove's criminal report will come back incomplete — a significant blind spot.
SmartMove does not verify a tenant's identity or income as part of the standard screening process. The Income Insights tool analyzes self-reported data against credit history, but it does not pull actual pay stubs, bank statements, or government ID verification. Landlords who require verified income documentation will need to request those separately.
The process requires manual initiation from the landlord's side before the tenant can begin. This back-and-forth can slow down the timeline — particularly when you're managing multiple applicants at once.
SmartMove's application does not collect all the information many landlords need — rental history and references, for example, are not part of the standard form. This means you'll likely need a separate process to gather a complete picture of each applicant.
*Features are subject to change. Always verify current details on each platform's website.
SmartMove is a solid, no-frills tenant screening option — especially if you want credit data sourced directly from TransUnion without paying a monthly fee. It works well for landlords who screen occasionally and primarily need credit and criminal reports.
However, if verified income confirmation, identity checks, or a fully digital application process are priorities for your screening criteria, SmartMove's current offering leaves meaningful gaps that you'll need to fill manually.
For landlords who want a more complete, end-to-end screening process — including income verification through bank data and identity confirmation built into the workflow — it's worth evaluating platforms that bundle these features natively.
TransUnion SmartMove is a legitimate, trustworthy screening tool with a straightforward pricing model and reliable credit data. For independent landlords who screen occasionally and want the credibility of TransUnion behind their reports, it gets the job done.
That said, the gaps in criminal state coverage, lack of verified income tools, and partially manual application process mean it works best as a starting point — not a complete screening solution. If you need a more comprehensive, fully digital workflow that covers identity, income, and credit in one place, it's worth exploring platforms built specifically around that use case.
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