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Buyer's guide Cheapest for 25 units

Cheap landlord software: minimums, fees and who pays

Check each tool's monthly floor before its headline price, then who pays rent payment fees and whether it works out management fees for owners.

Landlord Bench ResearchPublished 18 min readEditorial policy
See the comparison tableMarkdown
On this page
  1. The short answer
  2. Pick by what you need
  3. All 8 picks at a glance
  4. What will a 25-unit portfolio pay each month?
  5. Is there a minimum unit count or a monthly floor?
  6. Who pays the fee when a tenant pays rent online?
  7. Does it work out management fees and send owner statements?
  8. Can I require renters insurance from tenants?
  9. Can I start free or sign up without a sales call?
  10. The tools that stand out
  11. Prices compared
  12. How we compared
  13. Questions buyers ask
  14. Sources

The short answer

Landlord Studio is the cheapest way in for a landlord who runs their own rentals. Its paid entry plan costs $15 a month and has no unit floor, though the per-unit charge begins after three units. Rentec Direct suits managers who work for owners: it costs $25 a month and works out the management fee as a flat amount or a percentage of rent.

DoorLoop sets a monthly floor that even a landlord with a handful of units pays in full. AppFolio Property Manager sells only above a fifty-unit minimum.

On 31 October 2026 we listed 52 tools: 22 of them under Cheapest for 25 units and 15 with a free plan.

  • Landlord Studio has the cheapest paid entry plan, at $15 a month, and that price already covers three units before the per-unit charge begins.
  • DoorLoop sets a monthly floor on its entry plan that a landlord with a handful of units pays in full.
  • Buildium sets no minimum unit count, but a single unit still pays the full $65 a month Essential floor, because the first band runs to 20 units.
  • DoorLoop, ManageCasa and Rentec Direct are the 3 of the 8 that work out management fees for you, while AppFolio Property Manager and Buildium do it in part and RentRedi does not.

Pick by what you need

Logos of AppFolio Property Manager, Buildium, DoorLoop, Hemlane, Landlord Studio, ManageCasa, Rentec Direct, RentRedi. 8 tools compared, from $15 a month.

All 8 picks at a glance

Table 1 Price and the questions that separate them, checked 28 October 2026
ProductFromMinimum units or minimum feeManagement feesRenters insurance
AppFolio Property Manager
On quote
Yes
Partly
Yes
Buildium
$65 a month
No
Partly
Partly
DoorLoop
$239 a month
Yes
Yes
Partly
Hemlane
Free, then $36.50 a month
Yes
–
–
Landlord Studio
Free, then $15 a month
No
–
–
ManageCasa
$51.14 a month
Yes
Yes
Partly
Rentec Direct
$25 a month
Partly
Yes
Yes
RentRedi
$29.95 a month
No
No
Yes

What will a 25-unit portfolio pay each month?

Buildium, DoorLoop, Hemlane, Landlord Studio and Rentec Direct publish enough to work out the monthly cost at that size, and AppFolio Property Manager, ManageCasa and RentRedi publish only part of it.

Landlord Studio starts at $15 a month, Rentec Direct at $25 a month and Buildium at $65 a month.

Is there a minimum unit count or a monthly floor?

AppFolio Property Manager, DoorLoop, Hemlane and ManageCasa have a minimum unit count or a monthly floor. Rentec Direct has one in part, and Buildium, Landlord Studio and RentRedi have none.

AppFolio Property Manager sells from fifty units. DoorLoop sets a floor on its entry plan, paid month to month, and ManageCasa’s entry fee buys a whole 1-25 unit band, so a five-unit landlord pays the same as a 25-unit one. Buildium’s $65 Essential floor covers the first band of up to 20 units. Landlord Studio’s $15 Pro plan covers three units before the per-unit charge begins, and RentRedi charges a single subscription fee that one unit pays as well.

Who pays the fee when a tenant pays rent online?

At Rentec Direct, tenants pay nothing for twelve rent payments by bank transfer. AppFolio Property Manager charges a transaction fee on online payments and shows it to the renter before they submit, but does not publish the amounts.

Hemlane charges no fee on bank-to-bank rent payments on its paid plans and a percentage on debit and credit card payments, but it does not say who pays the card fee. Landlord Studio takes rent by bank transfer or card on every plan and pays it into your own account, in three to five business days by bank transfer. Ask Buildium, DoorLoop, Landlord Studio, ManageCasa, Rentec Direct and RentRedi for each rent payment fee and whether landlord or tenant pays it.

Does it work out management fees and send owner statements?

DoorLoop, ManageCasa and Rentec Direct work out management fees for you. AppFolio Property Manager and Buildium do it in part, and RentRedi does not.

DoorLoop takes the fee you set off each owner payout and gives owners a login with real-time statements. ManageCasa applies management and lease fees from the management terms and gives owners their own portal with statements. Rentec Direct works out a flat or percentage fee, but paying owners their share needs its dearest edition. Buildium calculates what is owed to you, to owners and to contractors and gives owners a branded portal, and AppFolio Property Manager gives owners a portal with statement packets and tax forms. Landlord Studio runs reports owner by owner but describes no separate login for owners, and RentRedi gives owners a view-only login with no statements.

Can I require renters insurance from tenants?

AppFolio Property Manager, Rentec Direct and RentRedi let you track tenants’ renters insurance in full. Buildium, DoorLoop and ManageCasa offer it in part.

Rentec Direct lets you insist on cover and accepts proof of a policy bought elsewhere. RentRedi’s dashboard shows whether each tenant is insured. AppFolio Property Manager records the policy number and expiry date, whether residents upload their own policy or buy cover from AppFolio Insurance Services. DoorLoop sells policies inside the tenant portal in the United States only, and ManageCasa offers cover through its Sure partnership. Neither says you can require cover or track proof.

Can I start free or sign up without a sales call?

Hemlane and Landlord Studio have a free plan. Buildium, Hemlane, Landlord Studio, Rentec Direct and RentRedi let you sign up with no sales call.

Buildium and Landlord Studio let you start without a card. Hemlane takes a sign-up with an email address or a Google, Apple or Facebook account, Rentec Direct says a sales call is never needed, and RentRedi subscribes you online from the web or its mobile app. DoorLoop starts a trial with an email address, but buyers pick a plan in a demo with its sales team. AppFolio Property Manager and ManageCasa route every plan to a quote.

The tools that stand out

Buildium

Best for growing portfolios wanting owner statements: Buildium suits a manager whose portfolio is growing, with built-in calculators that work out what is owed to owners and contractors and pay owners electronically or by check.

Price From $65 a month

Buildium runs rentals, community associations and commercial units on one subscription. On all plans, automatic bank reconciliation downloads cleared transactions a few times a day and matches them to entries in Buildium. Late fees post automatically by your own rules: daily or one-time, flat or a percentage, with a grace period per charge.

The entry plan, Essential, costs $65 a month. Buildium sets no unit minimum, but a single unit still pays the full $65 because the first band runs to 20 units. Buildium charges a setup or onboarding fee, and onboarding is compulsory on the upper plans.

You can start a trial without a card and buy online, though association pricing goes through a phone call. The full set of AI tools sits on Premium. Next to Landlord Studio at $15 a month, Buildium costs more to start and adds 1099 e-filing.

What it does well

  • Automatic bank matching on all plans pairs cleared transactions with your entries.
  • E-files 1099s for contractors from inside the software.
  • Staff log in under roles and permissions you shape, included on every plan.
  • Late fees post automatically as flat or percentage charges, with grace periods and tiered fees.

Where it falls short

  • Charges a setup or onboarding fee, and onboarding is compulsory on the upper plans.
  • A single unit pays the full $65 a month because the first band runs to 20 units.
  • Not every ledger exports, so leaving means working from spreadsheet exports and reports.
  • Who it’s for: A property manager or growing landlord who wants owner statements, automatic bank matching and e-filed 1099s on one subscription.
  • Skip it if: A self-managing landlord on a tight budget should look at Landlord Studio, whose paid plan starts at $15 a month against Buildium’s $65 a month.

Hemlane

Best for staffed repair and leasing help: Hemlane fits landlords who want people behind the software, since the vendor pairs its listing tools with staff who handle messages and repairs.

Price Free, then $36.50 a month

Hemlane is rental management software with optional repair coordination and leasing help. Its software writes listing descriptions, and the vendor pairs that with staff who handle messages and repairs. Bank and credit accounts connect to pull transactions in, which you can then categorize, merge or split.

Hemlane has a free plan. It runs a promotion alongside its regular price and lists a minimum unit count or minimum fee, so ask what your portfolio pays at the regular rate.

Late fees apply automatically once rent is past due, and Hemlane says the fee money goes to the landlord. A phone line is staffed during business hours and email support answers by reply, with the top level of support kept for the top plan. Hemlane offers staffed repair and leasing help.

What it does well

  • Staff handle tenant messages and repairs alongside the software.
  • A free plan to start on.
  • Unlimited staff logins come included in the price.
  • Late fees apply automatically once rent is past due, and the fee money goes to the landlord.

Where it falls short

  • Lists a minimum unit count or minimum fee.
  • Runs a promotion alongside its regular price, so confirm what you pay once it ends.
  • The top level of support is kept for the top plan.
  • Free plan: yes
  • Who it’s for: Landlords and small managers who want staffed repair and leasing help behind the software, with unlimited staff logins included.
  • Skip it if: A landlord who wants no unit minimum should look at Buildium, which sets none, since Hemlane lists a minimum unit count or minimum fee.

Landlord Studio

Best for self-managing landlords on the tightest budget: Landlord Studio fits a self-managing landlord counting every dollar, with the cheapest paid entry plan at $15 a month and a free Go plan for one to three units.

Price Free, then $15 a month

Landlord Studio puts listings, screening, rent collection and landlord bookkeeping in one app. Its AI writes a listing headline and description from your property details, and the paid plans add AI-assisted bookkeeping. Late fees apply automatically on the schedule you set and are collected through the same payment flow on every plan.

The free Go plan covers one to three units. Pro costs $15 a month and covers three units before the per-unit charge begins, so a larger portfolio pays more than the entry price. The vendor describes a flat monthly or annual fee and names no setup, onboarding or data-import fee.

Pro includes three logins and Pro Plus ten for the same plan price. For 1099 filing, a supplier expense report totals what you paid each contractor across the year, but Landlord Studio does not prepare or file the forms. Buildium e-files 1099s for a higher entry price.

What it does well

  • The cheapest paid entry plan, at $15 a month.
  • A free Go plan for one to three units.
  • Pro includes three users and Pro Plus ten, all for the plan price.
  • A supplier expense report totals each contractor’s payments for the year, ready for 1099 filing.

Where it falls short

  • Pro’s $15 covers three units, and a per-unit charge begins after that.
  • Landlord Studio does not prepare or file 1099 forms.
  • Support is by email, chat and a knowledge base, while Hemlane and Rentec Direct staff a phone line.
  • Free plan: yes
  • Who it’s for: Self-managing landlords who want rent, books and tax reports in one app for a flat monthly or annual fee.
  • Skip it if: A landlord who wants to reach support by phone should look at Rentec Direct, where a person answers by phone on every edition.

Rentec Direct

Best for fee-free rent by bank transfer: Rentec Direct fits landlords and small managers who want fee-free rent by bank transfer on an entry plan of $25 a month.

Price From $25 a month

Rentec Direct is property management software for landlords and small managers, with free rent payments by bank transfer. Management fees are worked out automatically as a flat amount or a percentage of rent charged or collected, with floors and ceilings. You can require renters insurance, and tenants either buy a policy through the built-in offer or send proof of cover bought elsewhere.

The entry edition costs $25 a month. Rentec Direct has no standing free plan and offers a trial of any edition. The vendor states there is no setup, implementation or training charge, and personal onboarding is included on every edition.

The cheapest edition stops at three user accounts, and paying owners their share needs the dearest edition. Every tenant, property and bank ledger downloads in one click, and reports export as spreadsheet, document or QuickBooks files. Next to Buildium at $65 a month, Rentec Direct costs less to start.

What it does well

  • Free rent payments by bank transfer.
  • Every tenant, property and bank ledger downloads in one click.
  • A person answers by phone, email, chat or video call on every edition.
  • Personal onboarding is included on every edition.

Where it falls short

  • Rentec Direct has no standing free plan, only a trial.
  • The cheapest edition stops at three user accounts.
  • Paying owners their share needs the dearest edition.
  • Who it’s for: A landlord or small manager who wants free rent payments by bank transfer and a person reachable by phone, email, chat or video call on every edition.
  • Skip it if: A landlord who wants a standing free plan should look at Landlord Studio or Hemlane, since Rentec Direct offers a trial instead.

Prices compared

Figure 1 · Entry price, a month Entry prices run from $15 a month to $239 a month; the median is $36.50 a month
  1. Landlord Studio$15$15 a month
  2. Rentec Direct$25$25 a month
  3. Buildium$65$65 a month

Source: Each vendor’s pricing page, read between 27 October 2026 and 28 October 2026.

A small landlord can start at $15 a month with Landlord Studio or $25 a month with Rentec Direct.

“All your tenant, property, and bank account ledgers can be downloaded with a single click of your mouse.”

From Rentec Direct’s own page, read on 26 October 2026

How we compared

We compared 8 tools on price, free plan and 3 questions a buyer asks, reading each vendor’s pricing page and product pages between 26 October 2026 and 28 October 2026. We did not sign up for or run any of them. In all we answered 51 questions about what they do.

The figures are as of 28 October 2026, from 8 listings. See how we check every listing and every price change we track.

Questions buyers ask

How much does landlord software cost a month for 25 units?

Landlord Studio’s paid entry plan costs $15 a month. Buildium, DoorLoop, Hemlane, Landlord Studio and Rentec Direct publish enough to work out the monthly cost at that size. AppFolio Property Manager, ManageCasa and RentRedi publish only part of it.

Do tenants pay the fee for paying rent online?

Rentec Direct lets tenants make a set number of rent payments by bank transfer at no charge to them, so ask what each payment costs after that. Landlord Studio takes rent by bank transfer or card on every plan, and there the application itself carries no fee and only the screening report is charged. Ask Landlord Studio whether landlord or tenant pays the bank and card fees on rent. DoorLoop sets out only part of what tenants can be charged, so ask it which fees fall on the tenant.

Is there free landlord software for a small portfolio?

Yes. Hemlane and Landlord Studio are the 2 of the 8 with a free plan. Landlord Studio’s Go plan is free for one to three units. AppFolio Property Manager, ManageCasa and RentRedi have no free plan.

Can I use AppFolio for a small portfolio?

Not below fifty units, because its cheapest plan has a fifty-unit minimum. AppFolio Property Manager is built for management companies running 50 or more residential units across mixed portfolios. Every plan is bought through a quote request, so you cannot sign up and pay online.

Which landlord apps can I sign up for without a sales call?

Buildium, Hemlane, Landlord Studio, Rentec Direct and RentRedi let you sign up and pay online with no sales call. DoorLoop lets you start a trial with an email address, but buyers pick a plan in a demo with its sales team. AppFolio Property Manager and ManageCasa send every buyer to sales.

Can I take my data with me if I switch?

Yes with AppFolio Property Manager, DoorLoop, ManageCasa, Rentec Direct and RentRedi, which let you take your data with you. Rentec Direct downloads every tenant, property and bank ledger, and AppFolio Property Manager can push your data into your own data warehouse. Buildium exports spreadsheets but not every ledger. Landlord Studio exports reports as spreadsheet files on its paid plans but describes no export of the whole account.

Sources

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