A Craigslist roommates alternative

Craigslist is free and has a lot of listings, but anyone can post and there is no matching, so the vetting is entirely up to you. RoomieHunt is smaller, free, and built around profiles, lifestyle matching and optional ID review.

Choose Craigslist if…

You want the widest possible spread of listings in your area.
You are comfortable doing all the screening yourself.

Choose RoomieHunt if…

You want profiles with lifestyle details instead of a bare ad.
You want an optional ID-reviewed badge as one signal among others.
You want in-app messaging instead of handing out your email first.

Side-by-side comparison

	RoomieHunt	Craigslist
Cost	Free to join, browse and message. Optional promotion from $9 / 10 days	Free
Finding a match	Lifestyle compatibility score	None
Verification	Optional ID review (blue badge)	Minimal, so verify people yourself
Messaging	In-app messaging	Email
Best for	Lifestyle matching and team-up profiles	Anyone can post, so be careful

Based on each service's public pages, reviewed October 2026. We are not affiliated with Craigslist.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a safer alternative to Craigslist for finding a roommate?

No site is risk-free, but profile-based services with optional ID review give you more to check than an anonymous ad. RoomieHunt shows lifestyle details and an optional verified badge. Whichever you use: video call first, view the place in person and never send money before you have seen it and signed an agreement.

Is RoomieHunt free like Craigslist?

Yes. Joining, browsing, matching and messaging are free. An optional promotion for your listing starts at $9 for 10 days.

What are the common Craigslist roommate scams?

Typical warning signs are a price far below the area norm, a landlord who is conveniently out of the country, pressure to send a deposit before a viewing, and requests to pay by gift card or wire. Our guide to finding a roommate safely lists more.

Create a free profile · Roommate apps compared · How to find a roommate safely

Rooms and roommates by city

Roommates in New York — shared rent $900 – $2,200/mo
Roommates in Los Angeles — shared rent $1,000 – $1,900/mo
Roommates in San Francisco — shared rent $1,400 – $2,400/mo
Roommates in Chicago — shared rent $700 – $1,400/mo
Roommates in Austin — shared rent $800 – $1,500/mo
Roommates in Seattle — shared rent $900 – $1,600/mo
Roommates in Boston — shared rent $900 – $1,700/mo
Roommates in Washington DC — shared rent $1,000 – $1,800/mo
Roommates in Miami — shared rent $1,000 – $1,800/mo
Roommates in Denver — shared rent $800 – $1,400/mo
Roommates in Houston — shared rent $700 – $1,300/mo
Roommates in Dallas — shared rent $800 – $1,400/mo
Roommates in Atlanta — shared rent $800 – $1,400/mo
Roommates in Philadelphia — shared rent $700 – $1,300/mo
Roommates in Phoenix — shared rent $800 – $1,300/mo
Roommates in San Diego — shared rent $1,000 – $1,800/mo
Roommates in Las Vegas — shared rent $650 – $1,100/mo
Roommates in Charlotte — shared rent $700 – $1,250/mo

Safety and fair housing

ID verification is optional. RoomieHunt members can submit their identity with a government ID for a verified badge. ID review is not a background check and is not a safety guarantee — always meet in public, use video calls first, and never send money before viewing a room. Listings and members must follow our Fair Housing & Community Rules: no discrimination on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, or disability.