Rent Reporting Services: Do They Work?
Nearly 60 points on average in one 2021 study. But there's a major catch most services don't tell you about.
Rent is probably your biggest monthly expense. Shouldn't it count toward your credit?
Rent reporting services promise to add your payment history to your credit file — and a 2021 TransUnion study found average gains of nearly 60 points (VantageScore 3.0). But there's a crucial detail most services don't advertise.
The Big Catch: FICO 8 Doesn't Count Rent
⚠️ Important Limitation
FICO Score 8, the version lenders use most, does not include rent payments. VantageScore and newer FICO versions (9, 10 and 10T) include reported rent, but FICO 8 is still the most widely used.
This means:
- Credit Karma score (VantageScore) — Will show rent boost
- Most auto and credit card applications (FICO 8) — Probably won't see it
- Mortgage applications — Classic FICO ignores rent; VantageScore 4.0 (now allowed) counts it
That said, rent reporting isn't useless:
- VantageScore adoption is growing
- VantageScore 4.0 is now allowed for many mortgages
- FICO 9 and 10 are slowly being adopted
- The tradeline adds to your credit file regardless
Top Rent Reporting Services Compared
| Service | Cost | Bureaus | Past Rent? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boom | From $2/mo + fees | All 3 | 24 months |
| Zillow CreditClimb | $1.67/mo ($20/yr) | All 3 | 24 months |
| Rental Kharma | $75 setup + $8.95/mo | TransUnion + Equifax | Yes |
| Credit Rent Boost | $6.95/mo (+$59 for past rent) | All 3 | 24 months |
| Esusu | Free (landlord pays) | All 3 | Varies |
| Experian Boost | Free | Experian only | 24 months |
Our Top Picks
Best Value: Zillow CreditClimb or Boom
Zillow CreditClimb ($20/year) or Boom (a few dollars a month plus one-time fees). Both report to all three bureaus and can add up to 24 months of past rent (Boom charges extra for it). Hard to beat for the price.
Best Free Option: Experian Boost
If you only care about Experian, Experian Boost is completely free and includes rent (if paid through a platform they can verify). The catch: only Experian sees it.
Best for Apartment Residents: Esusu
If your landlord/property manager partners with Esusu, rent reporting is free to you. Ask your property management if they offer it. Growing number of large apartment complexes use it.
How Rent Reporting Works
- Sign up — Create account with rent reporting service
- Verify your lease — Provide lease agreement, landlord contact
- Connect payment verification — Bank account, rent payment platform, or landlord verification
- Service reports to bureaus — Usually within 30-60 days
- Ongoing reporting — Each month's payment is reported
Many services also offer "lookback" periods, sometimes for a fee — they'll report your past 12-24 months of rent history immediately, giving you an instant boost rather than waiting to build history from scratch.
Who Benefits Most?
✓ Great Candidates
- • "Credit invisible" — No credit history at all
- • Thin files — Only 1-2 accounts
- • Long-term renters — Years of payment history to report
✗ May Not Help
- • Applying for a mortgage soon — Mortgage FICO scores ignore rent, though VantageScore 4.0 (now allowed) counts it
- • Established credit (750+) — Won't move the needle much
- • History of late rent — Late payments can hurt you with some services
The Risk: Late Rent Can Be Reported Too
This is important: with some services, late rent payments can show up on your credit report too, so check the policy first. If you're sometimes late, rent reporting could backfire.
Only sign up if you're confident you'll pay on time every month.
Rent Reporting vs Other Methods
How does rent reporting compare to other credit-building strategies?
Our recommendation: Use rent reporting as a supplement, not your primary strategy. Combine it with methods that work with FICO 8 (authorized user, secured cards, credit builder loans).
The Bottom Line
Rent reporting is real and can boost your score — especially VantageScore. A 2021 TransUnion study found average gains of nearly 60 points (VantageScore 3.0). Your results may be smaller.
But understand the limitation: most lenders still use FICO 8, which ignores rent. Don't rely on rent reporting alone for mortgage or auto loan applications.
If you're building credit and pay rent on time anyway, services like Zillow CreditClimb, Boom or free Experian Boost are worth adding to your strategy. Just don't expect miracles for FICO 8-based applications.