Skip to Content

6 Top Must-Try Apps To Find Roommates for College

Getting ready to start college next year? These apps to find a roommate for college will take the stress out of heading to school!

The years you spend in college are some of the most transformative years you’ll have in your twenties.

You’re at this time in your life where you’re trying to figure out who you are and what makes you passionate in the world. At the same time you’re learning new skills, cramming for exams, meeting new people, learning how to live on your own, and much more. 

One of the things that can make or break a college experience is who your roommate(s) is/are. For some of you, your dorm room is the place you go to sleep and get ready for the day, others may spend a lot more time there, or maybe you’ll be somewhere in-between.

Having roommates you can vibe with will make living on campus a much better experience for everyone involved. Your college roomie doesn’t have to be be your best friend, but making sure you’re a good match will make all the difference in your time at school.

In the “olden” days, you’d find your roommates through either the college admissions room assignment process or after the early 2000s you might be lucky to find a good fit in “incoming students” facebook groups for your schools. Now, thanks to innovation, finding a roommate is at your fingertips—with apps!

Today I’m sharing six roommate apps you can use to find your next college roommate. Before we get to those, here are my roommate stories. 

apps to find roommates for college

My Roommate Experience

Being a first generation college student, I didn’t really know much about the whole campus experience. This meant I went along with whatever admissions suggested and used the methods through the school to find a roommate pair.

I’m fortunate that I didn’t end up having any horror roommate stories, but I didn’t have any great experiences with ny own roommates either 

I think with each year it came down to compatibility of some sort. I basically just lived with my roommates. We barely hung out, or even said much to each other – and I even roomed with a friend one year. 

Why Use An App To Find A Roommate?

  • More Convenient: Having the ability to decide your dorm living arrangement from the palm of your hand is extremely convenient. In today’s fast paced world it’s nice to have an easy solution to finding an ideal roommate to live with.
  • Safety: Being able to choose your own roommate means that you can be more informed about the person you are going to be living with. Safety is always a great place to start from when you’re looking for. theright roommate or even a spare room. Hopefully this will prevent any roommate horror stories and you’ll feel safe and confident with your choice.
  • Easier To Connect: most apps have a chat room/texting feature built in so you can automatically start chatting with potential roommates. This is a great way to see if potential roommate matches will be the best fit.

6 Apps To Find Roommates for College

Use these six apps to get matched up with someone and start chatting about apartment decor, chore lists, hobbies, and find out if you have similar interests.

Roomaters

roommaters

This app uses a personality test developed by a relationship psychologist to match roommates up. In addition to the test you can fill in your preferences as well. This gives you even more of a chance to find a roommate that will match your vibe.

Once you’ve filled out all your roommate profile, you can go to the discover page and start your roommate search. One of the best benefits of Roomaters is that it’s free. You can also message in-app, making it easier to get to know potential roommates.

Froomie

froomie

Froomie is an app founded by college students, for college students. They have been in the roommate-finding business since the fall of 2021. Since then they have grown to five universities, helping over a thousand people find their perfect roommate. 

You can be sure that your safety is a priority when you sign-up with Froomie. Not only do you have to sign up with a .edu email address, your potential home away from home is also vetted. Some other benefits include an in-app chat feature, so you can get to know potential roommates, and this app is free to download.

Roomsurf

roomsurf

Roomsurf describes themself as “a social networking resource that helps high school and college students identify and connect with compatible roommates.” They match potential roommates based on their answers on a roommate matching quiz. 

When you match with someone you’ll be able to message them in the app. The next, and final step is make a roommate request for each other as roommates during your university’s admissions process. Hopefully you’ll start college with a new friend instead of a random roommate.

roomiematch

roomiematch

Roomiematch goes the extra mile for their subscribers. They have a team of real people going through and vetting profiles themselves. This ensures no scams, people with ill-intentions, or outdated profiles come to you. You’ll have high quality matches that are looking for the same thing you are, a good roommate match. 

There are two options you can choose from with roomiematch, a free one and what’s known as the CHEAP Roommate Search.  With the Free Roommate Search you have to wait for people in the CHEAP category to contact/match with you. Then of course if you choose the CHEAP Roommate Search you’ll have the power to contact people first. You can purchase this option for $19.95/year.

The Roomie App

the roomie app

The next app we are discussing is a free app called the Roomie app. There is both a free and a paid version of the app. In both versions you’re able to see other people at your university that are looking for a roommate. 

It operates the same way a dating app works in that if you see a roomie profile you like you just send a like to signal that you want to start a conversation. If you have the premium version you can undo a like if you made a mistake, and you can even dislike a profile to hide it in your discover feed.

Need to find a roommate ASAP? The Roomie app also lets you boost your profile so that you can find a roommate faster,

Roomi

roomi app

Roomi is like a search engine to find roommates or an available room to live in. There isn’t a quiz or personality test like some of the other apps we’ve checked out, but you do have a profile. You can fill out your profile to help others get to know you a little bit better and find potential matches.

The free version of the app allows you up to two active listings and connect with up to five potential roommates each day. You can also purchase a “Safety Bundle” that not only gives you access to more safety features,  but unlimited messaging as well.

10 Tips For Finding a Good Roommate

Finding a good roommate can significantly impact your living situation and overall happiness. Here are ten tips to help you find a compatible and reliable roommate:

  1. Start Early: Begin your roommate search well in advance of your move-in date. This gives you ample time to find the right person and avoid making hasty decisions.
  2. Define Your Priorities: Before you start searching, make a list of your priorities and deal-breakers. Consider factors like cleanliness, lifestyle, habits, and budget.
  3. Use Multiple Platforms: Explore various avenues to find potential roommates, such as social media groups, roommate-finding websites, university bulletin boards, and personal networks.
  4. Conduct Interviews: Once you have potential candidates, set up interviews or meetings to get to know them better. Ask about their lifestyle, schedule, and expectations.
  5. Discuss Finances: Be upfront about the rent and utility costs and discuss how expenses will be divided. Ensure your potential roommate is financially responsible and can comfortably afford their share.
  6. Share Expectations: Clearly communicate your expectations regarding cleanliness, noise levels, overnight guests, and any other house rules. Make sure your potential roommate’s expectations align with yours.
  7. Ask for References: Request references from previous roommates or landlords to learn more about their past living experiences. This can provide valuable insights into their reliability and behavior. You can even use a people lookup tool to learn more about them and stay safe from fraudsters.
  8. Compatibility Check: Assess whether your potential roommate’s lifestyle and habits align with yours. Do they have similar schedules and habits, or can you both compromise and adapt?
  9. Trust Your Gut: Pay attention to your instincts during your interactions with potential roommates. If something doesn’t feel right or you have reservations, it’s okay to keep looking.
  10. Create a Written Agreement: Once you’ve found a suitable roommate, draft a written roommate agreement that outlines the responsibilities, rules, and expectations. This document can help prevent conflicts in the future.

Remember that finding the perfect roommate may take time, so be patient and thorough in your search. It’s essential to find someone who not only meets your practical needs but also creates a harmonious living environment.

Final Thoughts on Apps to Find Roommates for College

Finding the right roommate or roommate group is just the beginning. Now that you’ve started figuring out your roommate selection process, there may be other aspects of college you should learn more about. We’ve got a plethora of resources for new and seasoned college students.

Here are some places you might want to look at next:

Having good roommates in college is a big part of the overall amazing college experience. The memories you make in your residence hall, with your roommates who are also hopefully mutual friends, will last you a lifetime. I hope you get to experience that.

If you use one of these roommate apps let me know in the comments how it went.

About the Author

Kelly Clark

Kelly graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Journalism. Even though it took her a little while to find her career path, she was always meant to be in Communications. She remembers writing poems and songs when she was a little girl and pitching to my parents the reasons why I should have a cell phone when I was a teenager. She currently has a blog (budding-joy.com) where she talks about her weight-loss journey, mental health and personal development. Her hope is to encourage and inspire readers and let them know they are not alone. Reading blog posts like that are what helped her in tough times and she wants to pay it forward. She loves dance fitness, listening to music, and creating layouts in her bullet journal. She's a big fan of planning, especially when cute notebooks and pens are involved. Her dream job has changed so much over the years; right now she'd love to co-own a dance studio.

Website: budding-joy.com