Property owners often deal with a lot of mundane tasks, such as:

• Collecting rent
• Balancing income and expenses
• Running numbers to understand each property’s financial performance
• Screening potential new tenants and signing lease agreements

If you rewind the clock to even a decade ago, there were very few tools or software platforms to help you complete these tasks in an efficient way. But today, you can find a wide variety of options for every type of landlord and budget.

These platforms are designed to make your life easier. They reduce the daily grind by streamlining accounting, automating tenant screening and rent collection, and eliminating the busy work.

In this guide, we review 10 top software solutions to help you better manage your rental property investments. We compare them across 4 key features – accounting, leasing and management, rent collection, and banking – breaking down each platform’s offerings into a detailed list to make it easier to determine which tool may best meet your needs. 

 

Landlords who self-manage

Managing tenants, handling property maintenance, and generating and reviewing financial reports on your own can take a big bite out of your busy day. 

The good news is you now have access to more and more software solutions for rental properties that can simplify your business procedures and automate routine tasks. Here are 3 popular tools tailored to DIY landlords who want to manage more efficiently and maximize potential returns.

Stessa

Stessa is your go-to tool for streamlining the management of your rental properties. Rated the #1 app for landlords (based on App Store ratings and the total number of reviews as of December 2024), Stessa offers automated accounting tools that help make financial tracking hassle-free.

With Stessa, you’ll likely find yourself doing a lot less manual data entry. Stessa automatically categorizes your income and expenses so your records are always accurate and up to date. The platform is especially handy during tax season so you can file with confidence and ease.

Tenant management is another key area where Stessa shines. Through integrations with Zillow, RentPrep, and DocuSign, you can market vacancies, accept applications, screen potential tenants, and sign leases entirely online.

Once you find the perfect tenant, Stessa simplifies rent collection with online payment options. Having tenants pay rent online reduces the time you spend chasing down rent payments, increasing your cash flow and minimizing late rent.

Stessa also provides real-time dashboards to give you a comprehensive overview of your property performance. At a glance, you can see how your investments are doing, track key metrics, and make informed decisions to optimize your returns. Stessa’s owner dashboards are easy to use, giving you the insights needed to make smarter decisions in less time.

Whether you’re a DIY landlord, a professional property manager, or an owner of short-term rentals, Stessa gives you the tools to handle property management tasks easily. By automating many of the most time-consuming aspects of financial and property management, Stessa allows you to focus on growing your portfolio in accordance with your preferred investment strategy.

Stessa property management features overview

Accounting

• Automated rental property accounting: Easy single-entry bookkeeping, specifically designed for landlords
• Import transactions from bank and financial accounts: Unlimited automatic bank feeds
• Receipt scanning: Up to 5/month free, unlimited with paid Pro plan
• Financial reporting dashboard: Key and full metrics (based on plan)
• Mobile app: Yes, rated the #1 app for landlords (based on App Store ratings and total number of reviews as of Dec 2024)

Leasing and management

• Advertising syndication: Zillow family of websites (includes Zillow, Trulia, HotPads, and more)
• Collect applications online: Yes
• Leases and signatures online: Yes (varies based on plan)
• Legal forms and templates: 60+ legal forms and templates (via Manage and Pro plans)
• Tenant screening: Multiple options for comprehensive tenant screening through RentPrep integration, including credit score, income verification, and criminal search
• Online maintenance requests: No

Rent collection

• Payment types: ACH or paper checks via the Stessa mobile app 
• Reminders and late fees: Yes
• Recurring ACH deposits: Yes
• Integrated accounting: Yes

Landlord banking

• Included in software: Yes
• APY: Varies based on plan (see pricing table below)
• Debit card: Yes, physical and virtual, linked to individual properties
• Cash back: 1.1%
• Minimum balance requirement: No
• Monthly maintenance fees: None
• Unlimited accounts: Yes

Pricing

Stessa’s tiered pricing structure can accommodate the diverse requirements and budgets of residential rental property owners:

 

TurboTenant

TurboTenant offers a comprehensive platform to manage your rental properties. It includes features like posting listings across multiple sites, online rent collection and tenant screening, maintenance requests, and integrated accounting software for an extra fee.

Property management features overview

Accounting

• Automated rental property accounting: Requires a monthly subscription to REI Hub, with an extra fee starting at $15/month for 1 rental unit
• Import transactions: Yes, with an REI Hub subscription
• Receipt scanning: No
• Financial reporting dashboard: Yes, with an REI Hub subscription
• Mobile app: Yes

Leasing and management

• Advertising syndication: Yes (includes Rent.com, Apartments.com, Realtor.com, and more)
• Collect applications online: Yes
• Leases and signatures online: $59/lease or free with paid plans; e-signatures only available with Premium plan
• Legal forms and templates: $199 for landlord pack with Free plan, included in Pro and Premium plans
• Tenant screening: Applicant pays $45–$55, depending on plan. Credit, criminal, and eviction checks are included with all plans. Custom credit screening questions included in Pro and Premium plans. Income verification is only included in the Premium plan.
• Online maintenance requests: Yes

Rent collection

• Payment types: $2 paid by tenant for ACH fee (waived with Premium plan), 3.49% for debit/credit card fees paid by the tenant
• Reminders and late fees: Yes
• Recurring ACH deposits: Yes
• Integrated accounting: No (requires an REI Hub subscription)

Landlord banking

• Included in software: No
• APY: Not applicable
• Debit card: No
• Cash back: No
• Minimum balance requirement: Not applicable
• Monthly maintenance fees: Not applicable
• Unlimited accounts: Not applicable

Pricing

Every TurboTenant plan provides tools to streamline basic property management tasks, such as lead and scheduling management, online rent collection, tenant screening, and bank account connection. Property listings, state-specific leases, and legal documents cost extra with the Free plan. There are 3 plans available: 

• Free plan
• Pro: $9.92/month billed annually
• Professional: $12.42/month, billed annually

 

RentRedi

RentRedi includes syndicated listings to Zillow and Realtor.com, tenant screening and leasing, and rent collection with a variety of payment options for tenants. Accounting software and premium maintenance services are available through third parties for an additional fee.

Property management features overview

Accounting

• Automated rental property accounting: Requires a monthly subscription to REI Hub, with an extra fee starting at $25/month for up to 3 units
• Import transactions: Yes, but only with an REI Hub subscription
• Receipt scanning: No
• Financial reporting dashboard: Yes, but only with an REI Hub subscription
• Mobile app: Yes

Leasing and management

• Advertising syndication: Yes (on Zillow and Realtor.com)
• Collect applications online: Yes, but requires applicants to download the mobile app
• Leases and signatures online: Yes (through mobile app)
• Legal forms and templates: No
• Tenant screening: $39.99/report paid by applicant, with TransUnion-certified tenant screening (credit, criminal, and eviction report)
• Online maintenance requests: Yes, but requires an additional subscription to Latchel, an extra cost of $15/month per unit for 24/7 emergency services or $25/month per unit for full coordination service

Rent collection

• Payment types: $1/payment for ACH/cash, 3.1% of payment plus $0.30 for credit cards, and landlord option to incur processing fees
• Reminders and late fees: Yes
• Recurring ACH deposits: Yes
• Integrated accounting: No, requires an REI Hub subscription

Landlord banking

• Included in software: No
• APY: Not applicable
• Debit card: No
• Cash back: No
• Minimum balance requirement: Not applicable
• Monthly maintenance fees: Not applicable
• Unlimited accounts: Not applicable

Pricing

All RentRedi plans include rent collection, listing tools, application and screening tools, lease signing and document storage, maintenance request management, unlimited tenants and units, free teammate and maintenance accounts, and customer support:

• Monthly: $29.95
• 6-month: $20/month (billed semi-annually)
• Annual: $12/month (billed once per year)

Add-on services like property accounting software through REI Hub and maintenance services via Latchel are available at additional cost for all plans.

 

Professional property managers

Managing multiple property types and portfolios requires advanced software solution features, such as multi-property management tools, detailed financial reporting to track performance across various units and properties, tenant communication, maintenance requests, and owner reporting. Here are 4 platforms built for these more comprehensive needs. 

Buildium

Buildium is a platform for property managers overseeing mixed portfolios, including single-family, multifamily, and commercial properties. The software offers comprehensive accounting features and supports tenant and lease tracking along with tools to manage applications, screenings, and e-signatures online.

Property management features overview

Accounting

• Automated rental property accounting: Yes
• Import transactions: Yes. Bank account set-up fee is $99/account, while Growth and Premium plans include limited free set-ups.
• Receipt scanning: No
• Financial reporting dashboard: Yes
• Mobile app: Yes

Leasing and management

• Advertising syndication: Yes, on platforms including Apartments.com, Zillow, and Zumper
• Collect applications online: Yes
• Leases and signatures online: Yes, eSignatures are $5/signature on the Essentials plan and free on the Growth and Premium plans.
• Legal forms and templates: No
• Tenant screening: $17 per screen (or $32 per screen if cost passed to the applicant) and enhanced tenant screening at $20 per screen; includes a credit check, criminal background check, and eviction history report through TransUnion.
• Online maintenance requests: Yes, through the maintenance call center, with a minimum fee of $140/month plus a one-time $300 set-up fee

Rent collection

• Payment types: ACH, credit/debit card, e-checks, and cash, with fees at $1.99 per incoming EFT transaction and 2.99% per transaction on credit cards (lower fees with Growth and Premium plans) 
• Reminders and late fees: Yes
• Recurring ACH deposits: Yes
• Integrated accounting: Yes

Landlord banking

• Included in software: No
• APY: Not applicable
• Debit card: No
• Cash back: No
• Minimum balance requirement: Not applicable
• Monthly maintenance fees: Not applicable
• Unlimited accounts: Not applicable

Pricing

Buildium’s pricing plans are designed to meet the varying needs of property managers. Every plan includes essential features, such as accounting, maintenance, tasks, violations, resident and board member communications, and online portals:

• Essential: Starts at $58/month
• Growth: Starts at $183/month
• Premium: Starts at $375/month

AppFolio

AppFolio is designed to manage a broad range of real estate assets, including single-family, multifamily, affordable housing, community associations, student housing, and commercial properties. Its centralized platform aims to improve productivity by streamlining operations and integrating automation and AI while you focus on strategic growth.

Property management features overview

Accounting

• Automated rental property accounting: Yes
• Import transactions: Yes, but only through 3rd-party apps available on the AppFolio Stack marketplace
• Receipt scanning: Yes
• Financial reporting dashboard: Yes
• Mobile app: Yes

Leasing and management

• Advertising syndication: Yes, with integration partnerships including Apartments.com, Zillow, and Zumper
• Collect applications online: Yes
• Leases and signatures online: Yes
• Legal forms and templates: Yes
• Tenant screening: Yes
• Online maintenance requests: Yes

Rent collection

• Payment types: ACH, electronic cash, and credit/debit card, with fees paid by tenant
• Reminders and late fees: Yes
• Recurring ACH deposits: Yes
• Integrated accounting: Yes

Landlord banking

• Included in software: No
• APY: Not applicable
• Debit card: No
• Cash back: No
• Minimum balance requirement: Not applicable
• Monthly maintenance fees: Not applicable
• Unlimited accounts: Not applicable

Pricing

AppFolio offers pricing plans tailored to fit different property management needs, with portfolio-specific pricing only available upon request.

Propertyware

Propertyware is a customizable platform for single-family rental properties. It supports large-scale operations with essential tools for tenant screening, maintenance management, and comprehensive accounting.

Property management features overview

Accounting

• Automated rental property accounting: Yes
• Import transactions: Yes
• Receipt scanning: No
• Financial reporting dashboard: Yes
• Mobile app: Yes

Leasing and management

• Advertising syndication: Yes (must create a listing website on Propertyware first)
• Collect applications online: Yes (fees not disclosed on the website)
• Leases and signatures online: Yes (must upload to DocuSign)
• Legal forms and templates: No
• Tenant screening: Yes (fees not disclosed on the website)
• Online maintenance requests: Yes

Rent collection

• Payment types: ACH, credit/debit cards, and e-check through RealPage RentMoney service (fees not disclosed on the website)
• Reminders and late fees: Not disclosed on website
• Recurring ACH deposits: Not disclosed on website
• Integrated accounting: With QuickBooks

Landlord banking

• Included in software: No
• APY: Not applicable
• Debit card: No
• Cash back: No
• Minimum balance requirement: Not applicable
• Monthly maintenance fees: Not applicable
• Unlimited accounts: Not applicable

Pricing

Propertyware offers flexible pricing plans designed to meet the needs of single-family rental property managers. All plans require paying an implementation fee of twice the monthly subscription price, beginning at $250:

• Basic: $1/unit per month with a $250 monthly minimum charge
• Plus: Starts at $1.50/unit per month with a $350 monthly minimum charge
• Premium: Starts at $2/unit per month with a $450 monthly minimum charge

 

Yardi

Yardi is for property managers who need to handle a wide array of real estate assets, from multifamily and commercial properties to senior living and affordable housing. Its extensive suite of tools offers integrated solutions that aim to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and support informed decision-making.

Property management features overview

Accounting

• Automated rental property accounting: Yes, but requires adding the RentCafe Suite or the Yardi Multifamily Suite to the Yardi Voyager service
• Import transactions: Yes
• Receipt scanning: Not disclosed on website
• Financial reporting dashboard: Yes
• Mobile app: Yes

Leasing and management

• Advertising syndication: Yes, through the RentCafe Suite
• Collect applications online: Yes
• Leases and signatures online: Yes
• Legal forms and templates: Yes
• Tenant screening: Not disclosed on website
• Online maintenance requests: Yes

Rent collection

• Payment types: Yes, but details not disclosed on website
• Reminders and late fees: Yes
• Recurring ACH deposits: Yes
• Integrated accounting: Yes

Landlord banking

• Included in software: No
• APY: Not applicable
• Debit card: No
• Cash back: No
• Minimum balance requirement: Not applicable
• Monthly maintenance fees: Not applicable
• Unlimited accounts: Not applicable

Pricing

Software and service solutions range in price depending on the product, market, and portfolio. Contact Yardi for specific pricing.

 

Short-term rental property owners

Owners of short-term and vacation rentals face unique challenges that require specialized software. They need a seamless booking, scheduling, and communication process due to rapid guest turnover. It’s also important to have dynamic pricing models and integrate with platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo while providing instant guest support to keep occupancy rates high and guests happy. Here are 3 software solutions for short-term property owners. 

Hostfully

Hostfully offers a suite of tools that makes it easy to manage bookings, automate communications, and enhance guest experiences with digital guidebooks. With its channel management and dynamic pricing capabilities, the software helps ensure your properties are marketed across multiple platforms to maximize revenue.

Property management features overview

Accounting

• Automated rental property accounting: No (requires QuickBooks integration)
• Import transactions: With QuickBooks integration
• Receipt scanning: Requires 3rd-party applications
• Financial reporting dashboard: No
• Mobile app: Yes

Leasing and management

• Advertising syndication: Yes
• Collect applications online: Not applicable
• Leases and signatures online: Not applicable
• Legal forms and templates: Not applicable
• Tenant screening: Not applicable
• Online maintenance requests: With 3rd party applications

Rent collection

• Payment types: Varies by channel
• Reminders and late fees: Not applicable
• Recurring ACH deposits: Not applicable
• Integrated accounting: No (requires QuickBooks integration)

Landlord banking

• Included in software: No
• APY: Not applicable
• Debit card: No
• Cash back: No
• Minimum balance requirement: Not applicable
• Monthly maintenance fees: Not applicable
• Unlimited accounts: Not applicable

Pricing

All Hostfully plans offer a discount of 10% for annual billing and require a one-time implementation fee of $400 (may be waived for annual subscriptions):

• Starter: $119/month for up to 4 listings
• Pro: $215/month for up to 11 listings
• Pro Plus: $269/month for up to 19 listings
• Premium: Pricing is customized and supports 250+ listings

 

Guesty

Guesty helps you manage bookings, automate guest communications, and optimize revenue strategies. Key features include channel management and dynamic pricing. The platform adapts to the scale of your operations to help you improve the guest experience and oversee your short-term rental business across multiple platforms.

Property management features overview

Accounting

• Automated rental property accounting: Yes
• Import transactions: Not disclosed on website
• Receipt scanning: Not disclosed on website
• Financial reporting dashboard: Yes
• Mobile app: Yes

Leasing and management

• Advertising syndication: Yes
• Collect applications online: Not applicable
• Leases and signatures online: Not applicable
• Legal forms and templates: Not applicable
• Tenant screening: Not applicable
• Online maintenance requests: Yes

Rent collection

• Payment types: Varies by channel
• Reminders and late fees: Not applicable
• Recurring ACH deposits: Not applicable
• Integrated accounting: Yes

Landlord banking

• Included in software: No
• APY: Not applicable
• Debit card: No
• Cash back: No
• Minimum balance requirement: Not applicable
• Monthly maintenance fees: Not applicable
• Unlimited accounts: Not applicable

Pricing

Guesty plan prices vary based on the number of units under management and features, with discounts available for annual billing:

• Lite: Starts at $27/month per listing when billed annually or $39/monthly (for hosts managing 1–3 listings)
• Pro: Pricing available on request (for property managers handling 4–199 listings)
• Enterprise: Customized pricing to fit the unique needs of your business, designed for large-scale operations with 200+ listings seeking tailored solutions

 

Lodgify

Lodgify software includes features for managing reservations, automating tasks, and boosting direct bookings through customizable websites. You can synchronize calendars, rates, and reservations across multiple platforms for seamless management and increased revenue potential.

Property management features overview

Accounting

• Automated rental property accounting: No
• Import transactions: Yes
• Receipt scanning: Not disclosed on website
• Financial reporting dashboard: Yes
• Mobile app: Yes

Leasing and management

• Advertising syndication: Yes
• Collect applications online: Not applicable
• Leases and signatures online: Not applicable
• Legal forms and templates: Not applicable
• Tenant screening: Not applicable
• Online maintenance requests: Yes

Rent collection

• Payment types: Varies by channel
• Reminders and late fees: Not applicable
• Recurring ACH deposits: Not applicable
• Integrated accounting: Yes

Landlord banking

• Included in software: No
• APY: Not applicable
• Debit card: No
• Cash back: No
• Minimum balance requirement: Not applicable
• Monthly maintenance fees: Not applicable
• Unlimited accounts: Not applicable

Pricing

Lodgify offers a 7-day free trial with discounts for annual and 2-year billing. The prices below are based on 1 unit under management and monthly billing:

• Starter: $20/month plus a 1.9% booking fee
• Professional: $50/month
• Ultimate: $73/month

 

*Stessa is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. The Stessa Cash Management Visa® Debit are issued by Thread Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa cards are accepted.

Your deposits qualify for up to $3,000,000 in FDIC insurance coverage when placed at program banks in the Thread Bank deposit sweep program. Your deposits at each program bank become eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000, inclusive of any other deposits you may already hold at the bank in the same ownership capacity. You can access the terms and conditions of the sweep program at https://thread.bank/sweep-disclosure/ and a list of program banks at https://thread.bank/program-banks/. Please contact customerservice@thread.bank with questions regarding the sweep program.

No minimum balance or opening deposit required. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. Account holders can earn 1.10% cash back on debit card purchases. Cash back earned each month will be credited to your account by the next month’s statement cycle. ATM transactions, the purchase of money orders or cash equivalents, loan payments and account funding made with your debit card are not eligible for cash back rewards. Terms and eligibility requirements apply.

Essentials is a free plan and Manage and Pro are premium subscription plans. The terms and conditions for Stessa Plans are subject to change, including pricing.  Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 2.45% on deposit accounts for new Essentials and Manage users signing up, accurate as of December 2024; and 4.23% APY for Pro users is accurate as of December 2024. APY for the account may change at any time, before or after the account is opened.