Hey there, apartment hunters! If you‘re like me, you know that finding the perfect rental can be a struggle. Between scrolling through endless listings, scheduling tours, waiting for approval, and coming up with deposits and fees, the whole process is a major time and money suck.
That‘s why I was intrigued when I first heard about Landing, a new kind of renting platform that promises to make leasing an apartment as easy as booking an Airbnb. I‘m always on the lookout for ways to simplify my life (and my moves), so I decided to give Landing a try for my latest cross-country relocation. Now I‘m here to dish all the details in this honest, unfiltered Landing review.
What Is Landing and How Does It Work?
In case you‘re not familiar, Landing is a membership-based network of fully furnished, flexible-lease apartments. With Landing, you pay $199 a year to access exclusive listings in over 375 cities across the U.S.
Landing apartments come move-in ready with stylish furniture, bedding, kitchen supplies, WiFi, and other home essentials. All you have to do is book online, show up with your suitcase, and you‘re good to go. Leases are month-to-month with no long-term commitment.
As someone who has moved 4 times in the past 3 years (thanks, remote work life), Landing immediately stood out as a convenient alternative to traditional renting. Here‘s a quick rundown of how it works:
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Browse apartments online: Filter by city, neighborhood, price, # of bedrooms, pet-friendliness, and amenities. Photos and 3D virtual tours make it easy to scope out listings from your couch.
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Apply in minutes: Once you find "the one," fill out a quick application online. Landing screens all applicants but doesn‘t require a hard credit check. Most people get instantly approved.
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Book and move in: After approval, simply select your move-in date (as soon as the next day), pay the first month‘s rent and membership fee, and show up to your new digs with your belongings. Yep, it‘s that easy.
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Stay flexible: You can stay month-to-month, extend your lease, or transfer to a new Landing in a different city—the choice is yours. Just give 30 days‘ notice before moving out.
From browsing to booking, the whole Landing process is done through the website and app, which is super convenient for us millennials and gen z-ers who live on our phones. No awkward calls with leasing agents or driving around to tour apartments IRL required.
Breaking Down the Numbers: Landing Pricing and Membership Cost
Now for the question that‘s probably top of mind: how much does Landing cost compared to a "normal" apartment? The short answer is that Landing isn‘t the cheapest option out there. But when you add up all the savings and benefits, the numbers start to make sense. Let‘s break it down.
Landing membership fee: $199 per year
This is the upfront cost to join Landing and get access to their apartment network and flexible renting perks. While tacking on another $200 to your moving expenses might make you raise an eyebrow, keep in mind that traditional rentals often come with application fees around $50 per person and security deposits equal to a full month‘s rent or more.
With Landing, the membership fee is all you pay to start booking apartments. No hidden fees, deposits, or last month‘s rent due upfront. Plus, you‘re not locked into one apartment for a year or more like with a typical lease.
Landing apartment pricing: Varies by city and apartment size
Here‘s a quick snapshot of the range of monthly rents you can expect with Landing:
| City | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $1,689 | $1,920 | $2,475 |
| Chicago, IL | $1,830 | $2,655 | $4,670 |
| Denver, CO | $1,729 | $1,930 | $2,655 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $1,461 | $1,625 | $1,820 |
| Nashville, TN | $1,799 | $2,070 | $2,645 |
| New York City, NY | $3,340 | $4,560 | $5,940 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,315 | $1,565 | $1,930 |
| Seattle, WA | $2,250 | $2,725 | $3,675 |
As you can see, prices vary quite a bit depending on the city and apartment size, from around $1,200 for a small studio in a lower cost-of-living area up to nearly $6,000 for a luxury 2-bedroom in NYC.
On average, Landing rents tend to be about 30-40% higher than what you‘d pay for an unfurnished rental in the same location. But the premium price gets you a lot more than just an empty apartment.
With Landing, your monthly rent payment covers:
- A fully furnished apartment with bed, couch, dining table, kitchen essentials, linens, WiFi, and more
- Flexible, short-term lease you can end anytime with 30 days‘ notice
- Access to transfer to other Landing apartments across the U.S.
- 24/7 concierge for maintenance issues, lease questions, and local recommendations
For comparison, furnishing an apartment on your own can easily cost $3,000 or more for basic pieces—not to mention the hours you‘ll spend browsing IKEA and waiting for deliveries. And most traditional landlords require a 12-month lease minimum, plus 2-3 months‘ rent in deposits and fees due upfront. Breaking a lease often comes with hefty penalties.
So while Landing isn‘t the cheapest way to rent, the convenience and flexibility can be well worth the cost—especially if you‘re someone who moves frequently or needs a turnkey living situation on short notice.
What Real Customers Are Saying About Landing
Landing has served over 50,000 members since launching in 2019. Before booking my own Landing apartment, I scoured landing reviews across the web to see what other customers had to say about their experiences. Here‘s a snapshot:
| Review Site | Star Rating | # of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Apple App Store | 4.6 | 1,100+ |
| Google Play Store | 4.5 | 139 |
| Trustpilot | 4.0 | 1,300+ |
Overall, Landing scores very positive ratings, with the vast majority of reviewers giving the service 4 or more stars. The app appears to be particularly well-liked, with an average rating of 4.6/5 from over 1,100 users on the App Store.
So what exactly are customers raving about? According to my analysis of Landing.com reviews, common themes include:
Ease and speed of booking: Many Landing reviews mention how quick and painless the apartment booking process is compared to traditional renting. One reviewer sums it up like this: "I was able to apply, get approved, and move into my Landing apartment all within about 48 hours, which is just unheard of in NYC. The whole process was done online and I got my keys from a lockbox on move-in day. Didn‘t have to deal with a single broker or leasing office."
Apartment quality and amenities: Landing customers generally report being very satisfied with the apartments themselves. "My Landing apartment is nicer than any place I‘ve lived in before. The furniture and decor are super modern and everything feels fresh and clean," notes one reviewer. Others call out the convenient amenities like in-unit laundry and fully equipped kitchens that make it easy to settle in.
Flexibility for frequent movers: For digital nomads and those who relocate often for work, Landing‘s flexible leasing and multi-city network is a major plus. "In the past year I‘ve lived in Landing apartments in 3 different states for my consulting job," writes one Google reviewer. "It‘s been a game-changer to not have to deal with finding a subletter or paying double rent when I need to move again. I just give notice and Landing takes care of the rest."
Of course, no renting platform is perfect, and Landing has its share of less-than-glowing reviews. A few consistent complaints include:
Limited availability in certain markets: Some Landing customers report having trouble finding available apartments in top cities like San Francisco and New York: "I had my heart set on living in SoHo but Landing didn‘t have any 1-bedrooms open for the month I needed. Had to settle for the East Village which ended up being great, but more options would be nice," says one reviewer.
Higher prices than local rent: While most Landing reviewers say the convenience and flexibility is worth a premium, some point out that Landing rents are significantly higher than the local market average: "My Landing studio in downtown Denver was close to $2,000 a month, which is steep compared to what I could get signing a traditional 12-month lease for an unfurnished place. But I didn‘t want to deal with buying furniture or committing long-term, so it made sense for my situation."
Inconsistent furnishings: A handful of Landing reviews mention that the furnishings and decor can vary quite a bit between apartments: "I stayed in 2 different Landing apartments in the same Austin building and the furniture was night and day. The first one had a nice leather couch and West Elm vibes, the second was more basic IKEA. Seems like it just depends on the unit."
It‘s important to keep in mind that experiences with Landing (like any renting platform) can vary based on your specific wants, needs, and standards. What works great for one renter might be a dealbreaker for another.
But based on the thousands of positive Landing reviews, it‘s clear that the service is making apartment renting easier, faster, and more flexible for a lot of people—myself included.
My First-Hand Experience Using Landing
As a fashion-obsessed millennial who values aesthetics almost as much as convenience, I‘ll admit I was a little nervous to rent an apartment without seeing it in person first. But after browsing Landing‘s listings and falling in love with a sun-drenched 1-bedroom in the heart of Chicago‘s West Loop, I decided to take the plunge.
The booking process was honestly a breeze. I completed the application online in about 10 minutes (no printing or scanning required) and got approved a few hours later. After paying the $199 membership fee and first month‘s rent, I was able to schedule my move for the following week.
On move-in day, I simply showed up to the building, entered a code on the lockbox to get my keys, and walked into a fully furnished apartment that looked just like the photos online. The space was spotless, stylishly decorated, and had all the essentials I needed to feel at home right away, from fluffy towels to a coffee maker to a Smart TV.
As much as I loved my Landing pad (and my 360-degree view of the skyline), my favorite perk of Landing ended up being the flexibility. When a job opportunity came up in LA a few months later, I was able to give 30 days‘ notice and transfer my Landing membership to a new apartment on the West Coast—no penalty fees, awkward subletting, or double rent required.
The only downside is that Landing apartments don‘t come cheap (I paid about $2,600 a month for my 1-bedroom in Chicago, which is definitely on the high end for the neighborhood). But for me, the convenience of being able to move on my own terms and not have to deal with furnishing an apartment from scratch was 100% worth the price tag.
How Landing Stacks Up to the Competition
These days, Landing is far from the only flexible renting platform on the block. Companies like Blueground, Sonder, and Zeus offer similar short-term, furnished apartments in major cities across the globe.
So how does Landing compare to the competition? Here‘s my take:
Pricing: Landing‘s membership fee of $199/year is on the lower end compared to competitors like Blueground ($100/month) and Zeus ($250/year). However, Landing rents tend to be slightly higher on average than Sonder and Zeus.
Locations: With apartments in 375+ cities, Landing has the largest U.S. footprint of any flexible rental platform. Blueground and Sonder are available in fewer U.S. markets but have a bigger presence internationally.
Booking process: Landing and Zeus both have a fully online application and booking process, while Sonder and Blueground may require additional info or communication with a sales rep to complete a reservation.
Apartment quality: In my experience, Landing and Sonder apartments are very similar in terms of style, furnishings, and amenities. Blueground is known for more premium, luxury buildings and Zeus has a wider range of options from budget to high-end.
Lease terms: All of these platforms offer short-term, month-to-month leases, though the exact minimum stay and cancellation policies vary. Landing is the most flexible with a 30-day minimum and the option to end your lease anytime with 30 days‘ notice.
At the end of the day, which platform is right for you will depend on your specific needs and priorities. But if you‘re looking for the most flexible lease terms and the widest selection of move-in ready apartments across the U.S., Landing is tough to beat.
The Bottom Line: Is Landing Worth It?
Now for the million-dollar question: is a Landing membership actually worth it? Obviously, the answer will be different for everyone depending on your budget, moving frequency, and renting wishlist. But if you fall into any of the following camps, I think Landing is 100% worth considering:
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Digital nomads and remote workers: If your job allows you to live and work from anywhere, Landing makes it incredibly easy to try out new cities without getting locked into a long-term lease.
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Traveling professionals: For consultants, travel nurses, and others who relocate frequently for work, Landing takes all the hassle out of finding a comfortable, furnished place to stay on short notice.
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New city transplants: Just moved to a new city and need a place ASAP? Landing is clutch for getting settled quickly while you search for a more permanent apartment.
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Renters in between homes: Whether you‘re building a house, waiting for a new lease to start, or going through a breakup, Landing offers a turnkey living solution without the commitment.
On the flip side, if you‘re on a tight budget, have a lot of your own furniture, or plan to stay in the same apartment for 2+ years, you‘ll probably get more bang for your buck renting the old-fashioned way.
But if the idea of being able to rent a stylish apartment online and move in with just a suitcase sounds like a dream come true, Landing is absolutely worth the $199 membership fee in my book. No matter your reason for needing a flexible place to stay, Landing makes the process of finding, booking, and moving into an apartment virtually seamless.
Of course, you don‘t have to take my word for it. With Landing‘s huge network of apartments in hundreds of cities, it‘s easy to browse listings and neighborhoods in your desired location. I recommend checking out the landing.com website and taking advantage of the 3D virtual tours to get a feel for the spaces—it‘s almost as good as touring in person.
At the end of the day, the best way to know if Landing is right for you is to try it out yourself. With flexible lease terms and no commitment beyond 30 days, you‘ve got nothing to lose. Happy apartment hunting!
