A roommate app matches people looking for a room with people who have one, or pairs up renters who want to find a place together. Some focus on college housing, some on lifestyle matching and some on listing a spare room. Ten apps follow, in no particular order.
Finding someone to share with is part maths and part chemistry. You need a room in the right place at the right time, but you also need someone whose habits, hours and tidiness won't drive you mad by November.
The apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description comes from the app's own App Store listing, read this week. If you'd rather organise a shared house through a private group, my guide to setting up a Facebook group for roommates covers that route.
Roommate finder apps at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each app's own App Store listing, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the listing names a free app, a free version, a free tier or free content. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the listing I read named neither, even where there's a download button, so check the app's own page before you subscribe.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunky | Roommate matching for new arrivals | Finding someone arriving at the same time | Not stated |
| CoHabby | Long-term roommate matching | Long-term shared living | Not stated |
| iROOMit | Roommate and room finder | Searching rooms and roommates together | Not stated |
| Roomi | Roommate and flatmate finder | Renting out your spare room | Yes |
| Roomie | Roommate and rental app | Listing a room and letting renters come to you | Yes |
| Roommates.com | Roommate search site and app | A long-running roommate search | Not stated |
| RoomMe | Lifestyle roommate matching | Checking fit before you sign a lease | Not stated |
| Roomster | Global room and roommate finder | Searching for rooms in many countries | Not stated |
| RoomSync | College roommate matching | Choosing a roommate in college housing | Not stated |
| SpareRoom | UK flatshare site and app | Flatshares in the UK | Not stated |
Ten roommate finder apps worth a look
Bunky
Best for: Students and new arrivals in a city who want to match with people moving at the same time, so they choose who they live with.
CoHabby
Best for: Renters planning to share for the long haul who want matches based on how they really live day to day.
iROOMit
Best for: People who want to search both rooms for rent and possible roommates in one app.
Roomi
Best for: Hosts with a spare room to fill, with free listings and roommate searches in cities around the world.
Roomie
Best for: Room listers who'd like interested renters to reach out first, free to use with a handful of free chats to start.
Roommates.com
Best for: Room seekers who want a long-running roommate search service built around finding someone compatible to share with.
RoomMe
Best for: Cautious renters who want to check a roommate fits their lifestyle before anyone signs a lease.
Roomster
Best for: Movers and travellers who want to find a room or roommate almost anywhere in the world from one app.
RoomSync
Best for: College students whose housing office uses it, so they can find and request their own roommate rather than leave it to chance.
SpareRoom
Best for: Renters in the UK, where it calls itself the leading flatshare site, plus anyone in the US using its separate American app.
Which app for which renter
- You're moving to a new city: Bunky.
- Your college uses roommate matching: RoomSync.
- You have a spare room to fill: Roomi.
- You're in the UK: SpareRoom.
- You want to share long-term: CoHabby.
If you're the one letting a room in the UK
Plenty of people on these apps are homeowners letting a spare room rather than renters. GOV.UK says that if you let a room in your own home you may be able to earn a set amount of rent tax-free each year under the Rent a Room Scheme, with half that amount if you share the income with someone else.
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GOV.UK also says a lodger doesn't have the right to challenge the agreed rent, and you can give less notice to end the letting than if you rented out the whole property. Check the current allowance on GOV.UK before you set the rent, as the rules are specific to resident landlords.
Looking for funding as well as a flatmate? See scholarship apps.
Safety checks before you meet or pay anything
- Video call before you meet, and meet in a public place first.
- See the room in person, or on a live video walk-round, before you send any deposit.
- Never send money to someone you haven't met for a room you haven't seen.
- Ask for ID and, where it applies, a reference from a previous landlord or housemate.
- Put the house rules, bills and notice period in writing.
For cutting the cost of everything else, try student discount app picks.
Questions that reveal a good match
- What time do you usually get up and go to bed?
- How often do you have friends or partners staying over?
- How do you like to split bills, cleaning and shared food?
- Do you work from home, and if so, which rooms do you use?
Do you make roommate matching, flatshare or rental apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on roommate apps
Use one app that's big in your city and one that's built around matching on lifestyle, and spend more time on the conversation than on the photos. A long video call about routines and bills will tell you more than any profile. Anyone who'd rather rent a place alone can run the same city search through apartment finder apps.
And never hand over a deposit for a room you haven't seen, live or in person. If you're house hunting as a couple instead, my guide to apartment hunting for newlyweds has a checklist that works for any shared move.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to find a roommate?
It depends on your situation: college students may use their housing office's matching tool, while movers may prefer an app that's big in their city.
Are roommate apps free?
Several apps here name free listings, free searches or free chats on their listing, so check the free plan column.
How do I find a roommate safely?
Video call first, meet in public, see the room before paying and get the house rules and bills agreed in writing.
Can I find a roommate before I find a place?
Yes. Some apps match renters who want to find a place together before anyone signs a lease.
Do I pay tax on rent from a lodger in the UK?
GOV.UK says you may be able to earn a set amount tax-free each year under the Rent a Room Scheme, so check the current allowance.
Which roommate apps are used in the UK?
Look for an app with plenty of UK listings in your own city. One app here calls itself the leading UK flatshare site, and others cover cities worldwide.
