Roomies has been one of New Zealand's go-to flatmate sites for years. Flathive is the newer alternative. Both are free to list on, search and message, so the real question is what you get on top of that, and what it costs to stand out.
This comparison is based on Roomies' own website and pricing pages, checked in 2026. Where a feature wasn't advertised anywhere we could find, it's marked "not shown" rather than assumed absent. Want the bigger picture? See our four-way NZ comparison with Trade Me and Flatshare.
Flathive vs Roomies at a glance
| Feature | Flathive | Roomies |
|---|---|---|
| Listing a room or flatmate profile | Free | Free |
| Searching | Free | Free |
| Messaging | Free in-app chat (message up to 3 listings without a listing of your own; create a free listing to message more) | Free in-app messaging |
| Promoting a listing | $10 for 30 days | $10 for 10 days, or $20 for 30 days |
| ID verification | Optional, $5 one-off, checked against government ID | Optional, $5 one-off |
| Filled rooms | Removed from search once filled | Stay listed, marked as filled |
| Tenancy agreement | Free residential tenancy agreement, filled in online | Not listed on their pricing pages |
| Team up for a whole place | Yes — group chat and one joint application sent to the landlord | Team-ups for finding a whole property as a group |
| Live chat | Real time | Not shown |
| Map search | Radius and map search on every search | Not shown |
| Compare places side by side | Up to 4 rooms, with the real weekly cost and a score for each | Not shown |
| AI scam detection | Built in, on listings and messages | Safety guides; no detection system shown |
| Photo privacy (blur) | Yes — only verified users, or people you're messaging, see clear photos | Not shown |
| 360° photos | Yes | Not shown |
| AI agent search (AI Express) | Yes | No |
| Property management | $5 per property per month | Not offered |
Where Flathive is ahead
Promoting a room costs half as much. A month on Roomies is $20. A Flathive Boost is $10 for 30 days.
Search only shows rooms you can still get. On Flathive a filled room leaves the results. On Roomies filled rooms stay listed, marked as filled, so you scroll past rooms you can't have.
The paperwork is included. When you've found your flatmate, Flathive fills in a free New Zealand residential tenancy agreement online with you.
Safer by design. AI scam detection runs on listings and messages, and you can blur your photos so only verified users, or people you're actually talking to, can see them.
Better tools for deciding. Real-time chat, map search, 360° room photos, and a compare view that puts up to four rooms side by side, with the rent, bills and real cost of living there.
Property management in the same place. Landlords can run the flat on Flathive after the room is filled, for $5 per property per month.
Where Roomies is ahead
To be fair about it: Roomies has many more listings and profiles, built up over many years, and that matters when you need a room this week. It also shows rentals from realestate.co.nz alongside rooms, and has sister sites if you're moving to another country it runs in.
Which should you use?
Use both. Listing on Flathive is free, so adding your room or profile costs nothing, and you'll reach people who aren't on Roomies. If you only promote one listing, Flathive's Boost is the cheaper month.
See the side-by-side table on our Flathive vs Roomies NZ page, or list your room free.
Roomies is referenced here for comparison only and is a trademark of its owner. Features, pricing and availability change — confirm directly with Roomies before deciding.