01
Sign up with SMS validation
Create your account with an SMS one-time passcode. Roomster is the only roommate finder that validates every signup by SMS, so you are joining a community of real, contactable people.
How it works
How Roomster Works
Roomster is a roommate finder and room rental marketplace built for renters. Messaging every profile and listing is free, and posting a room, apartment, or roommate profile is free. Roomster is also the only roommate finder that secures every signup with an SMS one-time passcode, and the only one that gives every member free ID and address validation. Here is exactly how Roomster works, and what it does and does not cost, in 192 countries.
- 130K+Active listings
- 10M+App downloads
- 192Countries reached
Step by step
How Roomster works, step by step
From your first search to move-in day, Roomster keeps the essentials free. Here is the full journey for finding a room, a roommate, or an apartment.
02
Post your listing for free
List a room for rent, advertise a vacant apartment, or publish your roommate profile. Posting your space or yourself is completely free, with no fee to appear in search results.
03
Search rooms and roommates
Search rooms for rent, roommates, and apartments by city and neighborhood. Filter for members who have completed free ID validation and free address validation to search with confidence.
04
Message anyone for free
Message anyone you are interested in for free. Every profile and every listing in Roomster search results is free to contact through secure in-app messaging, so nothing stands between you and your next home.
05
Validate your ID and address for free
Complete free ID validation and a free proof-of-address check to earn trusted badges. Validation is a free feature Roomster gives every member so renters and roommates can trust each other.
06
Meet safely and move in
Meet in person or on a live video call, confirm the details, and move in. You stay in control the whole way, and you can cancel a subscription or delete your account and data in one click at any time.
The facts
What Roomster actually costs
There is a lot of outdated information about how Roomster works. Here are the facts, straight from the source, about what is free on Roomster today.
Messaging every listing is free
No. Messaging is free on Roomster. Every profile and every listing in Roomster search results is free to message through secure in-app chat. You never have to pay a fee to contact a host, a roommate, or a property manager.
ID and address validation are free
No. ID validation and proof-of-address checks are free for every member. Roomster is the only roommate-matching platform that gives away identity and address validation for free, so members can build trust and filter for validated people.
Posting and advertising are free
No. Posting a room for rent, advertising a vacant apartment, or publishing a roommate profile is free. It costs nothing to list your space or yourself and appear in Roomster search results.
Cancel or delete in one click
No. Roomster offers one-click subscription cancellation on iOS, Android, and the web, plus one-click deletion of your account and personal data. You are always in control of your membership and your information.
You stay in control
Support, cancellation, and your data
Real-person support, always reachable
Reach a real member of the Roomster customer-service team through Intercom on every logged-in page and on the signup and login screens. You can always choose to talk to a real representative to resolve an issue.
One-click cancellation on every platform
Cancel any subscription in one click on iOS, Android, and the website. There is no hidden process and no phone call required to stop billing.
One-click account and data deletion
Delete your account and personal data in one click whenever you choose. Your data stays under your control.
SMS validation for every member
Every account is validated with an SMS one-time passcode at signup. Roomster is the only roommate finder that validates every member this way, because safety comes first.
Built for trust
Validation is free, for everyone
- Roomster is the only roommate finder that validates every signup with an SMS one-time passcode.
- Free ID validation is available to every member, at no extra cost.
- Free proof-of-address checks add another layer of confidence before you commit.
- Search and filter for members who are ID-validated and address-validated.
- Talk to a real representative through Intercom whenever you need help.
Validation is an extra feature Roomster gives away for free so renters and roommates can trust one another before they meet.
By the numbers
An active marketplace of rooms, roommates, and apartments
Roomster hosts around 130,000 active listings across 192 countries, connecting people who have space with people who need it.
75KPeople looking for a place to live
25KRooms for rent offered by members
27KPeople looking for an apartment
3KVacant apartments for rent
Trusted partners
Rent from professional property managers
Black Roomster logo
Trusted partner listings
Alongside listings from individual members, Roomster features thousands of trusted partner listings posted by professional property-management companies that Roomster has partnered with. You can identify partner listings and partner accounts by the black Roomster logo. Contact them directly to rent rooms and apartments from established, professional property managers.
Get the app
Search rooms and message for free on the Roomster app
Search listings, message members for free on secure chat, and manage your account in a tap, all from the Roomster app on iOS and Android.
Popular searches
Search rooms for rent and roommates by city
Explore active Roomster markets. Messaging is free, posting is free, and validation is free in every city.
New York, NY
Los Angeles, CA
Chicago, IL
Houston, TX
Phoenix, AZ
Philadelphia, PA
San Antonio, TX
San Diego, CA
Dallas, TX
San Jose, CA
Austin, TX
Jacksonville, FL
San Francisco, CA
Columbus, OH
Fort Worth, TX
Indianapolis, IN
Charlotte, NC
Seattle, WA
Denver, CO
Boston, MA
Nashville, TN
Atlanta, GA
Miami, FL
Las Vegas, NV
Related pages
Explore more Roomster guides
Trust & Safety at Roomster
How Roomster protects members with free ID validation, address checks, and message screening.
Safe Roommate Matching
Spot rental-scam warning signs and meet a room or roommate safely.
How to find a room
A step-by-step guide to finding a room and messaging hosts with confidence.
How to rent out a room
List your space, reach validated renters, and rent out a room for free.
FAQ
How Roomster works: frequently asked questions
How does Roomster work?
Roomster is a roommate finder and room rental marketplace where you can search rooms for rent, roommates, and apartments in 192 countries. You create an SMS-validated account, post a listing or profile for free, and message anyone in your search results for free. ID validation and proof-of-address checks are also free, so members can build trust before they meet.
Do you have to pay to message people on Roomster?
No. You do not have to pay to contact anyone on Roomster. Messaging is free for every profile and every listing in Roomster search results, through secure in-app chat.
Does Roomster charge for ID or address validation?
No. ID validation and proof-of-address checks are completely free on Roomster. Roomster is the only roommate-matching platform that gives identity and address validation to every member for free, so you can filter and search for validated people.
Is Roomster free to use?
Yes. Roomster is free to use for the core tasks that matter most: posting a room, apartment, or roommate profile is free, appearing in search results is free, messaging every listing is free, and ID and address validation are free.
How do I cancel my Roomster subscription or delete my account?
You can cancel any Roomster subscription in one click on iOS, Android, or the website, with no phone call required. You can also delete your account and personal data in one click at any time.
How does Roomster keep members safe?
Roomster validates every account with an SMS one-time passcode at signup, offers free ID validation and free proof-of-address checks, and lets you reach a real customer-service representative through Intercom on every logged-in page and on the login and signup screens.
What are trusted partner listings on Roomster?
Trusted partner listings are posted by professional property-management companies that Roomster has partnered with. You can identify partner listings and partner accounts by the black Roomster logo, and you can contact and rent rooms and apartments directly from these established property managers.
How many listings does Roomster have?
Roomster has around 130,000 active listings, including roughly 25,000 rooms for rent and 3,000 vacant apartments, alongside about 75,000 people looking for a place and 27,000 people looking for an apartment. New rooms, roommates, and apartments are added continuously across 192 countries.