Flathive vs Flatmates.com.au
Flatmates.com.au is Australia's best-known share-house site. Flathive is a newer alternative where listing, searching and messaging are free, and boosting a listing doesn't need a paid plan first.
Prices and features checked on 2 November 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
Side by side
| Feature | Flathive | Flatmates.com.au |
|---|---|---|
| Listing a room or profile | Free | Free listing; upgraded plans (Basic, Full, Pro, Guarantee, Bonus) available — check their current prices |
| Searching | Free | Free to browse |
| Messaging | Free in-app chat (message up to 3 listings without a listing of your own; create a free listing to message more) | Check their current plans for messaging rules |
| Boosting a listing | Optional Boost: $10 for 30 days, no plan needed | Boost puts a property at the top of its suburb for 7 days; only for listings on an upgraded plan; max 8 boosted per suburb |
| ID verification | Optional ID check, $5.00 one-off | Check their site |
| Tenancy agreement | Free residential tenancy agreement, filled in online | Not part of the listing plans |
| Team up | Team up with other seekers and search for a whole place together | Team-ups available |
| Property management | Property management tools: $5 per property per month | Not offered |
Listing a room or profile
Flathive: Free
Flatmates.com.au: Free listing; upgraded plans (Basic, Full, Pro, Guarantee, Bonus) available — check their current prices
Searching
Flathive: Free
Flatmates.com.au: Free to browse
Messaging
Flathive: Free in-app chat (message up to 3 listings without a listing of your own; create a free listing to message more)
Flatmates.com.au: Check their current plans for messaging rules
Boosting a listing
Flathive: Optional Boost: $10 for 30 days, no plan needed
Flatmates.com.au: Boost puts a property at the top of its suburb for 7 days; only for listings on an upgraded plan; max 8 boosted per suburb
ID verification
Flathive: Optional ID check, $5.00 one-off
Flatmates.com.au: Check their site
Tenancy agreement
Flathive: Free residential tenancy agreement, filled in online
Flatmates.com.au: Not part of the listing plans
Team up
Flathive: Team up with other seekers and search for a whole place together
Flatmates.com.au: Team-ups available
Property management
Flathive: Property management tools: $5 per property per month
Flatmates.com.au: Not offered
When Flatmates.com.au is a good choice
- The largest pool of share-house listings in Australia
- Rentals from realestate.com.au alongside share houses
When Flathive is a good choice
- Boost any listing for $10 for 30 days — no paid plan first
- A free residential tenancy agreement, filled in online
- Free listing, search and messaging
- Property management tools for landlords with several rooms
Questions people ask
Is Flathive free to use in Australia?
Yes. Listing a room, searching and messaging on Flathive are free. You can message up to 3 listings without a listing of your own, and creating a listing is free. Paid extras are optional: optional boost: $10 for 30 days and an ID check ($5.00).
Can I use Flathive and Flatmates.com.au at the same time?
Yes. Many people list on more than one site. Flathive is free to list on, so adding your room or profile costs nothing.
How does boosting work on Flatmates.com.au vs Flathive?
On Flatmates.com.au, Boost places a property at the top of its suburb's room results for 7 days, only listings on an upgraded plan can buy it, and up to 8 properties per suburb can be boosted at once (checked 2 November 2026). A Flathive Boost is $10 for 30 days and any listing can use it.
More comparisons
Sources
Competitor prices and features change. This page reflects what their own websites said on 2 November 2026; check their site for the latest. Flatmates.com.au is a trademark of its owner; Flathive is not affiliated with it.
How Flathive helps
Flathive is Australia's peer-to-peer flatmate and shared housing platform. Whether you are listing a spare room or searching for your next home, Flathive makes it simple to connect, communicate, and move in safely — with verified profiles, direct messaging, and listings across the country.