StayScoutYes. StayScout is a legitimate paid rental search service. It watches rental portals and Facebook housing groups for you and sends an alert the moment a new listing matches your search, so you can stop scrolling through hundreds of listings and apply among the first. It is not a landlord, an agent or a listing site, and it never handles your rent or deposit.
It makes sense that you're asking. Rental scams are common in tight markets like Amsterdam and New York, and scammers target exactly the renters who are searching hardest. Checking a service before you pay for it is the right instinct. This page covers what StayScout does, how it makes money, how to tell it apart from a scam, what users say and how refunds work.
What StayScout actually does
StayScout is a rental search bot. You set your city, neighbourhoods, budget, room type and move-in date, plus preferences such as furnished, couples allowed, registration possible or long-term only. StayScout then monitors rental portals and Facebook housing groups continuously. When a listing matches, you get an email and/or push notification straight away.
That's the point of it: no more checking dozens of sites and groups by hand, and a better chance of being one of the first people to reply. StayScout also flags listings that look like likely scams or that are already taken, so fewer dead ends reach you. If you want the detail on timing, our explainer on how Amsterdam rental alerts get you notified first walks through it.
What StayScout doesn't do matters just as much. It doesn't rent out homes, act as a landlord or agent, or take a deposit or rent. When you find a place you like, you contact the landlord or agent directly. We will never ask you to pay a landlord through us.
How StayScout makes money
Subscriptions, and nothing else. You pay for a plan to receive alerts. We don't charge landlords or agents, and we don't take a cut of rent, deposits or fees between you and a landlord.
What StayScout can't do
StayScout doesn't create homes that aren't there, and it can't promise you a place. In a market with too few rentals, you're still competing with other renters. What it changes is when you see new listings and how much time you spend looking for them.
Where it works
StayScout works in the Netherlands, Spain and the US. That includes the biggest rental markets, such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Madrid, New York and Los Angeles, as well as many smaller cities in each country.
How to tell StayScout apart from a rental scam
Rental scams tend to follow the same script: a listing that looks too good, a "landlord" you can't meet and a request for money before you've signed anything. Here's how that compares with the way StayScout works.
| What a rental scammer does | What StayScout does |
|---|---|
| Asks for a deposit or first month's rent before a viewing | Never handles deposits or rent. You pay the landlord directly, after you've seen the place and signed |
| Pretends to be the landlord or owner | Isn't a landlord or agent. It alerts you to listings that others have posted publicly |
| Pressures you to pay fast before "someone else does" | Lets you cancel your subscription anytime in Account Settings |
| Asks for payment by wire transfer, gift card or crypto | Charges a subscription with a 14-day money-back guarantee |
| Disappears once you've paid | Has a contact page and public reviews on Google and Trustpilot |
The usual scam checks still apply to any listing you find, including ones StayScout alerts you to. Never pay before a viewing and a signed contract, and check who owns the property. Our guides to amsterdam rental scams and rental scams in New York cover the red flags in detail.
What users say
StayScout is rated 5.0 on Google and has reviews on Trustpilot. Read both rather than taking our word for it. Two recent examples:
I've found a place in the Netherlands within a week once I used Stayscout. It will send you an alert as soon as a suitable place is online so you get to apply first while you don't have to check the website all day long. Genuinely recommend and absolutely worth the money!
Anja K., 5-star review on Trustpilot, October 2026
Honestly the most helpful tool for finding an apartment right now.
Janice F., 5-star review on Google, October 2026
StayScout on Reddit
If you'd like to hear from renters directly, search "StayScout" on Reddit, along with the subreddit for the city you're moving to. The most useful posts are first-hand and specific: which city they searched in, how long they used it and whether alerts led to viewings. Recent posts are worth more than old ones, since services change. Be a little sceptical of very short posts in either direction, glowing or angry, that give no details.
Refunds and cancelling
StayScout plans are paid subscriptions. You can cancel anytime in Account Settings, and there's no contract to get out of. If you're not satisfied within 14 days, you get your money back. The StayScout FAQ covers plans, billing and how to contact us about a refund.
FAQs about StayScout
Q1: Is StayScout a scam? No. StayScout is a paid subscription service that sends you alerts for new rental listings. It never asks for a deposit or rent, never acts as a landlord, and you can cancel anytime with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Q2: Does StayScout charge landlords or renters? StayScout only charges renters a subscription for the alert service. It doesn't charge landlords, and it never takes rent, deposits or fees on behalf of a landlord. Any payment for a home goes directly from you to the landlord or agent.
Q3: Can I get a refund? Yes. If you're not satisfied within 14 days, you can get your money back. You can also cancel anytime in Account Settings so you aren't billed again.
Q4: Is StayScout on Reddit? You can search Reddit for "StayScout" and in city subreddits to read other renters' experiences. Look for detailed, first-hand posts, and compare them with the reviews on Google and Trustpilot.
Q5: Will StayScout find me an apartment? StayScout can't promise you a place, because it doesn't create homes that aren't on the market. It sends you matching listings as soon as they appear, so you spend less time searching and can apply among the first.
Conclusion
StayScout is a legitimate, subscription-based rental alert service. It doesn't rent homes or handle your money with landlords. It watches portals and Facebook groups so you don't have to, and tells you the moment something matches.
If you're searching in Amsterdam, you can set up amsterdam rental alerts with your own criteria and try it with the 14-day money-back guarantee in place.