Rentbird alternative: how Renthaven compares

Rentbird and Renthaven are both rental-alert services. You tell them what you're looking for, they check rental sites for new listings that match, and they notify you so you can reply. Neither one is the landlord. The listing stays on its original site, and that's where you reply.

Rentbird says its search bots scan for new listings that match your criteria and send them to the Rentbird app as push notifications. It also says you contact agents yourself rather than applying inside the app. Renthaven watches platforms such as Pararius, Kamernet, Direct Wonen and Kamer.nl, plus rental agencies' own websites, and sends matches by email and, on Premium, by instant push.

The Rentbird column comes from Rentbird's own how-it-works, pricing and Plus pages and its App Store listing. Their site has the latest details.

• A free plan with email alerts. Start with one search profile and no card, and see what comes in before deciding on Premium.
• Four ways to set your area. Draw the exact streets on a map, pick neighbourhoods, set a radius, or choose a travel time to work or study.
• Templates in your own words. On Premium you save as many reply templates as you like, and each one fills in the listing's address. You write the message once and reuse it.
• Rental agencies' own websites. Alongside the big platforms, Renthaven watches makelaars' own sites, because some agency homes never make it to the big portals.
• Plans that bend with your search. Premium renews every 1, 2 or 3 months, you can cancel anytime, and there's a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Premium also brings instant push notifications, unlimited search profiles, a search buddy who shares your access, and priority email support. Renthaven doesn't charge a success fee or broker homes.

Renthaven fits renters who want to try alerts for free, who want to define a precise area down to the street, and who prefer to reply themselves. You stay in control of every message, and templates take care of the parts you'd otherwise retype.

If you want an agent to reply for you, Rentbird offers a separate Plus service with a start fee and a success fee, which it describes as "no key, no fee". Rentbird says the Plus agent also arranges viewings, checks legal documents and offers off-market homes.

1. 1Sign up for Renthaven for free and create a search profile. Draw your area on the map or pick neighbourhoods.
2. 2Leave your Rentbird searches on so nothing changes in your current routine.
3. 3Write one reply template you're happy with, so you can respond quickly from either alert.
4. 4If you want instant push alerts and more profiles, upgrade to Renthaven Premium. Cancel whatever you no longer use from that service's own account.

If you get the same home from two services, that's normal. Reply once, on the original listing.

Renthaven checks rental platforms and makelaars' own websites, matches new listings to your search profile and alerts you so you can reply early on the original site. It doesn't contact landlords on your behalf and can't guarantee a viewing. What it does is put matching homes in front of you, so you can act.

Renthaven works in the iOS and Android apps and the web app, in English and Dutch. Questions go to support@renthaven.nl.