Where to find a PG in India: 11 ways, ranked

How we scored them

We scored each channel from 1 to 5 on four things and weighted them by how much they matter when you're moving to a new city:

These are editorial scores, based on how each channel works and on the published figures cited below. Traffic numbers come from Semrush for September 2026.

The ranking

1. Managed chain apps 4.0 / 5

   Stanza Living, Zolo, Colive, Settl, Your-Space, Housr. Rooms are owned or leased by the operator, so what you see is what you get: no brokerage, app-based rent and a single point of contact for fixes. You pay for that with higher rents, a deposit and often a lock-in, and you only see that brand's buildings.

   Best for: First-time movers who want zero surprisesChoice 3Trust 5Cost 3Ease 5

2. NoBroker 3.7 / 5

   Owner-direct marketplace. Built around connecting tenants straight to owners. Browsing is free, and optional paid plans from ₹999 to ₹5,499 add extra help. About 5.2 million monthly visits (Semrush, Sep 2026).

   Best for: Avoiding brokerage in the metrosChoice 4Trust 3Cost 4Ease 4

3. Housing.com 3.5 / 5

   Listings marketplace with a PG / co-living section. A dedicated PG and co-living filter, plus "verified" tags on some listings. Brokers list here too, so check who you're talking to. About 8.4 million monthly visits.

   Best for: Comparing PGs and flats side by sideChoice 4Trust 3Cost 3Ease 4

4. MagicBricks 3.5 / 5

   Listings marketplace with a PG section. Strong PG inventory, much of it double or triple sharing: about 71% of its PG listings were double occupancy or more in FY23. Mixed owner and broker listings. About 8.3 million monthly visits.

   Best for: Sharing options and budget filtersChoice 4Trust 3Cost 3Ease 4

5. 99acres 3.3 / 5

   Listings marketplace. The most-visited property site in India (about 9.6 million monthly visits), so it has the most choice. It also has the most broker-posted listings, which makes it noisier for PG hunting.

   Best for: The widest net in a new cityChoice 5Trust 2Cost 3Ease 3

6. College and alumni networks 3.2 / 5

   Seniors, hostel notice boards, alumni groups. The most trusted source you'll find: people who have actually lived there. Choice is limited to what your network knows, and it's slow.

   Best for: Students joining a new campusChoice 2Trust 4Cost 5Ease 2

7. Google Maps 3.2 / 5

   Map directory with reviews. Search "PG near [your office or college]" and read the one-star reviews first. Free and honest about location, but photos and prices are often out of date. Call before you go.

   Best for: Shortlisting by commute and real reviewsChoice 3Trust 3Cost 4Ease 3

8. Local brokers and walk-ins 2.8 / 5

   Offline. Fast, and they know the lanes. Brokerage is commonly one month's rent, sometimes more in big metros (Housing.com), and not every broker discloses it up front.

   Best for: When you need a room this weekChoice 3Trust 3Cost 1Ease 4

9. Justdial and Sulekha 2.7 / 5

   Local business directories. Justdial has 56 million listings and huge reach (about 193 million unique visitors a quarter), but the PG results are often brokers. Good for phone numbers, weak on verification.

   Best for: Finding PGs that aren't on portalsChoice 3Trust 2Cost 3Ease 3

10. Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp groups 2.6 / 5

    Social. Plenty of genuine posts from residents moving out, and plenty of fake ones. Outlook Money reported a Pune case with eight complaints about fake PG listings in three weeks. Never pay before you visit.

    Best for: Last-minute and flatmate-style roomsChoice 3Trust 1Cost 4Ease 3

11. OLX 2.1 / 5

    Classifieds. Free, but listings are thin, often stale and unverified. Use it as a last resort.

    Best for: Rarely the best optionChoice 2Trust 1Cost 4Ease 2

Scores at a glance

Overall score out of 5

Weighted: choice 30%, trust 30%, cost 20%, ease 20%

Where Indians search for rentals

Monthly website visits, September 2026 (millions)

Before you pay a deposit: an 8-point checklist

If you own a PG: where to list

Residents don't search one place, so you shouldn't list in one place. A practical setup for an independent PG:

• Two portals: one owner-direct (NoBroker) and one big listings site (Housing.com or MagicBricks), with real photos and the actual price.
• A Google Business Profile with your exact location, so you show up for "PG near [office or college]". Ask happy residents for reviews.
• Your own residents. Referrals from people who live with you are the most trusted channel there is. A small referral discount works.
• Answer fast. Most seekers contact several PGs at once, so the first reply often wins.

Once they've moved in, keeping them is about the basics done well. HAUS gives independent PG owners what the chains have: UPI rent links with the exact amount, e-signed agreements, an issue tracker residents can see, and a resident portal. It's free for up to 15 beds.

FAQ

What is the best website to find a PG in India?

For most people, start with a managed chain app if your budget allows, then NoBroker, Housing.com and MagicBricks. Each has a PG filter; NoBroker focuses on owner-direct listings, so you are less likely to pay brokerage.

Do I have to pay brokerage for a PG?

Not if you rent from a managed operator or directly from the owner. Brokers in Indian cities commonly charge about one month's rent, sometimes more in big metros, so ask before you visit.

How do I avoid PG scams?

Visit in person or on a live video call before paying anything, pay only to the owner or company account named on your agreement, get a written receipt, and be wary of rents far below the area average or pressure to pay a "token" to hold the room.

Sources