Housing.Cloud vs StarRez — Compare Student Housing Platforms
The Modern Alternative to StarRez
One platform where everything is included. No modules, no junk fees,
no surprises. See why schools are making the switch.
Housing.Cloud
One platform.
Everything included.
StarRez
Modules, add-ons & separate invoices.
Trusted by schools that switched from StarRez, THD, and Mercury
Make the Move. Get it All.
Here's What You Get Once You Make the Move
Whether you're switching from THD, Mercury, or StarRez itself — the implementation lift is the same either way. Same data migration. Same new workflows. Same retraining. So the only real question is: what do you get on the other side?
Housing.Cloud
Every capability below ships with the platform. Day one.
- Resident Portal
- Roommate Matching
- Room Selection
- Help Desk
- Reporting
- No-Code Auto-Assignment
- Access Control
- SMS + Email
- Billing & Finance
- Key Management
- Furniture Tracking
- Testing Sandbox
No add-on fees. No module charges. No surprises.
Sold Separately
Legacy Vendors
- Key Management
- $ add-on module
- SMS / Text Messaging
- $ paid integration
- Furniture Tracking
- $ add-on module
- Testing Sandbox
- $ expensive add-on, limited access
Plus separate charges for cloud hosting, time-based inventory configuration, API access, and more.
Everything Included. Nothing Extra.
Hear from our CEO on what really happens when you switch platforms
With the other vendor we evaluated, we'd be nickel-and-dimed for every application or process we wanted to incorporate into our day-to-day operations.
— Julio Garcia, Associate Director of Residence Life, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Assumption
"Moving from THD/Mercury to StarRez is seamless because they own them."
Reality
It's a full data migration and reimplementation project — not plug-and-play. Schools should expect the same lift as any other migration.
Assumption
"StarRez offers more features."
Reality
Most of those features are buried in modules, add-ons, and extra fees that aren't clear until you're deep in the process. With Housing.Cloud, what you need is already built in.
Assumption
"Switching systems is too disruptive."
Reality
Five steps. Three teams. As fast as 90 days. Housing.Cloud runs the process, your housing team shapes the workflows, and your IT team is guided throughout.
Why Schools Choose Housing.Cloud
Built for the Student Experience Era
Housing isn't just about managing beds anymore. It's about the student experience — and the tools your team actually needs.
Student Experience Is Your Competitive Advantage
Our modern, mobile-first student portal helps schools put their best foot forward. Intuitive out of the box — no heavy institutional lift to make it look good. 38% of students cite roommate matching frustration; only 20% rate their portals 5 stars.System of Support, Not Just a System of Record
We help you proactively support students through RA dashboards, interaction tracking, risk flags, and flexible workflows — not just assign beds. StarRez tracks data; we help you act on it.Admin-Built, Student-Aware
Designed by housing professionals with no-code workflows. Staff can make changes without waiting on IT; students get intuitive, mobile-friendly experiences.True Partnership, Not a Ticketing Queue
Every customer works with a named team, guided onboarding, and transparent success criteria. No more feeling stuck in a vendor inbox.All-In Pricing = No Surprises
What you see is what you get. No surprise charges for adding roommate logic, ESA workflows, or policy changes. We're transparent from day one.Focused, Supportive Implementation
We scope it clearly and drive it with you, not to you. Hands-on, white-glove support at your pace — 3–6 months vs. their 12+. We help you find the right time and guide you step by step.
Feature Comparison
What's Included — and What Costs Extra
Everything your housing operation needs is built into Housing.Cloud from day one. With StarRez, many of these are separate paid modules or add-ons.
| Housing.Cloud | StarRez | |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Self-Service Portal | Included | Included |
| Roommate Finder / AI Matching | Included | Included |
| Visual Room Selection (Floor Plans) | Included | Included |
| Mobile-First Experience (No App Required) | Always Mobile-Friendly | Inconsistent — Depends on Implementation |
| Modern Student UI | Included | Varies by School Configuration |
| Request Management | Included | No Equivalent |
Operational Excellence
| Housing.Cloud | StarRez | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing Help Desk / Task System | Included | No Equivalent |
| Inventory & Occupancy Management | Split — Time-Based Config Is Paid Extra | ? |
| No-Code Reporting & Analytics | Included — No-Code | Included — Limited Functionality |
| No-Code Auto-Assignment (Self-Serve Rules) | Included — No-Code | Requires StarRez Engineers |
All-In-One Platform — The Key Differentiators
| Feature | Housing.Cloud | StarRez |
|---|---|---|
| Billing & Finance (SIS Charge Sync) | Included | Conditional — Not Universal |
| Key / Key Card / Fob Management | Included | Paid Add-On |
| Access Control Integration | Included | Conditional |
| SMS + Email Communications | Included | SMS = Paid Integration |
| Furniture Tracking | Included | Paid Add-On |
| Testing Sandbox (Always Available) | Included — Always On | Expensive Add-On — Limited Access |
Beyond Core Housing
The Platform Grows With You
Every school gets the complete housing operations platform at one price. For departments that manage more than core housing, these integrated products replace expensive standalone tools — all connected to your housing data, all on one platform.
Not hidden add-ons. Purpose-built products for broader res life needs.
Mailroom & Package Management
Track packages from arrival to pickup, notify residents automatically, and manage mailroom operations — without paying for a separate vendor.Visitor Management
Log visitors, manage check-in policies, and keep an auditable record — built into the same platform your front desk already uses.Student Staff Hiring
Post positions, collect applications, and manage the hiring pipeline for RAs and student workers — connected to your staff assignments and scheduling.Wellness
Schedule wellness check-ins, manage on-call rotations with automatic escalation, and give every responder a live shift dashboard.
The value isn't just the product — it's that it lives on the same platform as your core housing operations.
One login. Shared data. No integrations to maintain.
Housing Cloud Retention Engine — keep more students, year over year.
Hear From Schools That Made the Switch
Real feedback from housing teams that moved to Housing.Cloud
Switched from StarRez
We were paying extra for everything — Housing.Cloud's pricing was simpler and clearer.
— Jeff Mackay, Vice President for Student Affairs / Dean of Students, Linfield University
Switched from THD
We switched mid-year and students didn't even complain — it was smoother than StarRez ever was.
— Katie Grooms, Director of Residence Life, Susquehanna University
Customer
It changed how we operate — staff is less burnt out, students are happier, and we're actually using our data.
— Donald R. Bigelow, Director of Residential Life, SUNY Brockport
Making the Switch?
We're offering a transition incentive for schools moving from StarRez, THD, or Mercury. Ask about savings on service fees — we'll make sure the move makes sense for your budget, not just your team.
Claim Your Transition Incentive
See Housing.Cloud in Action
The best way to compare is to see it for yourself. Book a demo and we'll walk you through what your team actually gets.