Moving to a new city is an exciting experience, even if you don’t know anyone. If you’ve ever tried to find roommates on Facebook or Craigslist, you may have had some trouble. After all, who wants to be stuck with a bad roommate when they’re adjusting to a new city or a job? This is where we come in. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best platform to find roommates, Roomi, and how it compares to Roomlala.

Pricing: Are These Roommate Finder Apps Free or Paid?

Both platforms offer free and paid services to their users. However, when you’re on a budget, the devil is in the details.

Roomlala’s basic subscription only offers limited features such as making reservations through the app or interacting strictly using their chat service. Other premium features such as sharing contact details or scheduling meetings can only be done by purchasing their Connect Pass, starting at a high price point of $45/month.

On the other hand, as a free member on Roomi, you are granted access to 5 swipes or messages a day, as well as the option to post 2 listings! If you want to unlock more advanced features, subscribe to Roomi’s Gold Subscription starting at only $29.99/month!

What’s included in Roomi’s Gold Subscription?

• Unlimited in-app messaging and unlimited swipes on potential roomies when you’re on the mobile app
• Have up to 5 active listings on your profile, to showcase every room in your apartment that’s up for rent.
• Fully verified profile to help you get more matches
• A profile or listing boost so more people see your profile
• A waiver on the booking fee once you’ve found your match on Roomi!

Furthermore, you can choose to pay for Roomi’s services either monthly or weekly! Roomi’s monthly Gold plan amounts to $0.97 per day, which is clearly more cost-effective than Roomlala to find roommates!

Related: Is Roomi Free To Use?

Security: Can These Apps Help Me Find Roommates I Can Trust?

You need to find safe roomies for both, your cybersecurity and physical safety. Since the pandemic shifted our real world into virtual reality, it’s harder to vet safe roomies digitally. So, how can you find roommates safely and securely? Let’s look below at how Roomi’s comprehensive safety measures compare to Roomlala’s safety protocol.

Verifies Roommate Contact Info

Roomlala asks its users to register by simply connecting their Google accounts or registering through an online form. However, Roomi ensures digital safety by using a GlobalID. GlobalID is a digital identity platform that verifies the contact information of users while keeping their data safe.

ID Verification

Roomlala encourages its users to connect their Roomlala accounts to their other social media accounts to increase profile credibility. However, this doesn’t guarantee credible listings. Meanwhile, Roomi and Instagram have one thing in common – the blue tick! Roomi encourages its users to upload photos based on a set of requirements, and then you can find roommates who have the same badge as yours!

Related: How do I verify my identity and complete a background check?

Privacy & Security of Profiles

When you’re on the quest to find roommates, no one wants to fall into the trap of money scams and fraudulent profiles. Roomlala states that it implements all necessary measures to protect clients’ personal data from unauthorized access and disclosure of the data they hold. Nonetheless, this safety measure isn’t quite enough to secure your information in cyberspace. So, how does Roomi fare in this regard?

• First, Roomi never displays your exact address, only an approximate location is shown to users.
• Second, you can ask Roomi’s support team to delete your information from their database under GDPR, by filling out a form.
• Finally, Roomi’s secure in-app messaging ensures that all communication with regard to payments and contracts is held within the platform.

Therefore, not only is Roomi a powerful Roomlala alternative, but the platform is one of the safest spaces online to find roommates!

24/7 Support & Content Moderation

However watertight the safety measures might be, there are bound to be a few slip-ups. So, how does Roomi moderate content? Roomi has a dedicated content moderation team that continuously checks for scam profiles and fraudulent listings. Furthermore, if you come across profiles or listings that do not adhere to Roomi’s community guidelines, this wonderful Roomlala alternative will delete the listing(s) if necessary.

Roomlala monitors user behavior and encourages members to immediately report occurrences to relevant authorities. However, the purview of Roomlala’s safety priority is higher for clients within the European Union.

Criminal Background Check

No one wants to bunk with a criminal, but how can you be sure of your future roommate’s background? Roomi provides the feature of background checks for its users should they request them. You can send in a request and pay a nominal fee for Roomi to carry out a background check for a potential roommate. This feature makes finding roommates safer and hassle-free!

Related: Roommate Finder, Rooms for Rent, Sublet and Roommates | Roomi

User Profiles: Which App Makes It Easier to Find Your Perfect Roommate?

Where’s the fun if you don’t enjoy browsing while finding roommates? Luckily, Roomi’s interface is intuitive and playful, with hard-to-miss navigation buttons and quirky graphics. Roomlala’s interface is simple and easy to use, but we all could use a little dazzle. Roomi’s mission is to find you the perfect roommate while optimizing your search with its advanced roommate matching algorithm. For this reason, you’ll find a comprehensive checklist of all that you want (or don’t want) when choosing roommates on Roomi. Would you prefer a non-smoker? Check! Do you like the comfort of living with a senior roomie? Check! Would you like to live with a non-binary person? Check!

So, Which is the Best Roommate Finder for You?

Finding roommates is difficult, and it’s even more exhausting vetting strangers you meet on the internet. For this reason, the all-in-one navigator platform, Roomi, is the easiest way to find roommates online while keeping your information secure, your wallet happy, and the ease of checking boxes! Goodbye, inconvenience. Hello, new BFF! All thanks to the best roommate finder, Roomi.

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