AI Shortlist Index · September 2026 · preview edition · Prompt Set v1.0
Best Security Deposit Alternatives According to AI
Products that replace a cash security deposit with a surety bond, an insurance policy, or a monthly fee, so a resident moves in with less cash up front and the owner keeps protection against damage and unpaid rent. Buyers want faster lease- ups and fewer deposit disputes, and they ask who pays claims, how fast, and what the resident is told at signing.
Editorial read
Twenty-five prompts, one run each, captured from the ChatGPT app in early October 2026. Jetty was named in 92% of runs, Rhino in 91% and Obligo in 87%, three near-equal leaders. Rhino's support site was the most-cited domain, with 34 citations. Rhino and Jetty merged in 2025 and now sell as Greenlight. One run per prompt; read it as a first reading.
Ranking
| # | Vendor | Mention rate | Engines | Consistency | Move | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jetty | 92% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 2 | Rhino | 91% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 3 | Obligo | 87% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 4 | TheGuarantors | 67% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 5 | Qira | 52% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 6 | LeaseLock | 48% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 7 | SureDeposit | 24% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 8 | Assurant | 16% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 9 | Leap | 12% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 10 | RealPage Insurance Solutions | 8% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 11 | ePremium Insurance | 8% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 12 | ResidentShield | 4% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| 13 | Findigs | 4% | 1/1 | – | – | – |
| – | Beagle | 0% | 0/1 | – | – | – |
Every vendor in the category database is listed, named or not. A vendor that is absent from every answer is still a row, because absence is the finding. Add or correct a vendor.
Engines
| Engine | Status | Model | Runs | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | ran | gpt-5-6-thinking | 25 |
Source map, top 5
| # | Domain | Type | Citations | Engines | Supports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | support.sayrhino.com | other | 34 | ChatGPT | Jetty, Rhino |
| 2 | obligo.com | vendor site | 19 | ChatGPT | Obligo |
| 3 | qira.com | vendor site | 19 | ChatGPT | Qira |
| 4 | leaselock.com | vendor site | 18 | ChatGPT | LeaseLock |
| 5 | theguarantors.com | vendor site | 17 | ChatGPT | TheGuarantors |
See all twenty domains and URLs in the deposit alternatives source map.
Prompts this edition
Prompt Set v1.0, frozen for the edition. A vendor named in a prompt's own text is not credited for that prompt. The full set across categories: prompt library.
- sda-best-01What's the best security deposit alternative for a multifamily operator with about 2,500 units who wants to lease up faster?
- sda-best-02I manage 250 single-family rentals. Which companies let a resident skip the cash deposit and still keep the owner covered for damage and unpaid rent?
- sda-best-03Which security deposit alternative providers are property management companies actually using right now? Give me a shortlist.
- sda-best-04We run 80 units in a few small apartment buildings on Buildium. Which deposit alternative programs work for a portfolio our size?
- sda-best-05I'm a property manager thinking about replacing cash deposits with a surety bond or deposit insurance. Who are the main providers and how do they differ?
- sda-best-06Which deposit alternative providers do property managers recommend when the owner cares most about how claims get paid at move-out?
- sda-best-07We manage 1,200 units of student housing on Entrata and most applicants can't put down a full deposit. Which security deposit alternatives should we look at?
- sda-alt-01What are the alternatives to Rhino for a security deposit alternative at apartment communities? · seeded: rhino (not credited)
- sda-alt-02We're on LeaseLock and want to compare before we renew. Which other deposit alternative or lease insurance providers should a multifamily operator look at? · seeded: leaselock (not credited)
- sda-alt-03What are the alternatives to Obligo for deposit-free leasing at a property management company with a few hundred doors? · seeded: obligo (not credited)
- sda-alt-04Is there an alternative to Jetty's deposit product for a property manager who wants a surety bond instead of a cash deposit? · seeded: jetty (not credited)
- sda-alt-05We use TheGuarantors for lease guarantees and are wondering whether to use them for deposit replacement too. What else is out there for deposit alternatives? · seeded: theguarantors (not credited)
- sda-seg-01I manage 700 scattered single-family rentals. Which security deposit alternative is built for SFR property managers rather than big apartment communities?
- sda-seg-02We operate 10,000 apartment units and want leasing agents to offer a deposit alternative at application. Which providers do institutional operators use?
- sda-seg-03I self-manage 30 units across a few small buildings. Is a security deposit alternative worth it at my size, and which providers work with small landlords?
- sda-seg-04Which security deposit alternatives work for student housing where most leases have a parent guarantor and every unit turns over in August?
- sda-int-01Which security deposit alternative providers integrate with AppFolio so the option shows up in the application flow?
- sda-int-02Which deposit alternative or deposit insurance programs integrate with Yardi Voyager for a multifamily portfolio?
- sda-int-03Which security deposit alternatives integrate with Rent Manager?
- sda-prob-01Applicants keep walking because they can't come up with first month's rent plus a full deposit. Which companies let property managers lower move-in cash without giving up damage protection?
- sda-prob-02Our owners ask what stops a resident from trashing the unit or skipping the last month when there's no cash deposit at stake. Which deposit alternative programs have a claims process a property manager can stand behind?
- sda-prob-03I worry a deposit insurance company could go under in the middle of a lease. Which deposit alternative providers are backed by a licensed carrier or surety so the property isn't left exposed?
- sda-prob-04Our state just capped security deposits and tightened the refund rules. Which deposit alternative providers help a property manager stay compliant and still protect the owner?
- sda-cmp-01Rhino vs LeaseLock for a 3,000-unit multifamily operator: which security deposit alternative should we go with? · seeded: rhino, leaselock (not credited)
- sda-cmp-02Obligo vs Rhino for a property manager with 300 doors on AppFolio: which deposit alternative is the better fit? · seeded: obligo, rhino (not credited)
Elsewhere in the Index
Part of the AI Shortlist Index. Method changes: Index changelog.
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