Apt. Finder - Find a place you can afford, Fast

Use these trusted sites (and my “cheap apartment” playbook) to land a solid rental without getting scammed.

Matchmaker (“ZipRecruiter-for-rentals”)

Apartment List - Short quiz → personalized matches, then ongoing updates so you’re not scrolling thousands of listings. It’s built around a matching flow; answer a few questions and it curates options that fit.

Big networks / largest reach

Apartments.com - Huge pro-managed inventory and tours, plus distribution across an 11-site network (ForRent, ApartmentFinder, After55, and more). Great for larger communities/leasing offices. Apartments.com

Zillo / HotPads - Enormous coverage with saved searches, custom map areas, and instant alerts; HotPads is Zillow’s map-first brand many renters like for city hunting. Zillow Group - Reimagining Real Estate / HotPads Go ahead. Rent around. Apartments and Houses for Rent

RentCafe - If you like “one app for everything,” many buildings here let you apply, pay rent, and submit maintenance from the same portal/app. RentCafe

Rent.com/ Apartment Guide - Broad listings plus budgeting/moving tools to surface true move-in costs (fees, deposits, etc.) before you tour. Rent.com / The Apartment Guide Blog

Zumper / PadMapper - Strong mobile experience with map search, saved filters, and real-time alerts; PadMapper aggregates from multiple sources to widen your net. zumper.com/blog/best-online-renter-tools / PadMapper

RentHop - City-focused results ranked by HopScore (freshness + manager reputation + listing quality) so better listings rise to the top. RentHop

Affordable / income-restricted & voucher-friendly

Affordablehousing.com (formerly GoSection8) - The largest affordable-housing listing network; used by hundreds of agencies and built for Section 8/HCV and other below-market options (waiting lists, eligibility info, alerts). AffordableHousing.com - Affordable Houses & Apartments For Rent

HUD tools find Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), subsidized properties, and LIHTC apartments nearby. HUD Home | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

USDA Rural Development (MFH Rentals) - Map-based search of rural apartments, including properties with rental assistance (deep subsidies) for eligible tenants. Often overlooked and very affordable just outside big metros.

MFH Rentals (USDA RD) (just enter the first 3 digits of your zip, you’ll get better results.)

MyHousingSearch + state locators - Nonprofit/state portals (e.g., FloridaHousingSearch, TNHousingSearch, OhioHousingLocator) listing affordable/accessible units with local filters and landlord contacts.

Cheap Apartments Near Me-Affordable Rentals | MyHousingSearch (A multitude of languages to search in)

Cheapest room/house-share options

SpareRoom / Roomies - Dedicated room-rental platforms; create a profile, set alerts, and message to tour fast. House-shares are often the quickest path to the lowest monthly cost.