Property Management Software Pricing: What to Expect in 2024

Understanding property management software pricing can be confusing. With so many options, pricing models, and features, it's hard to know what you should actually pay. Here's your complete guide to property management software pricing in 2024.

Understanding Pricing Models

Per-Unit Pricing

How it works: You pay based on the number of units you manage.

Example: $10 per unit per month

• 5 units = $50/month
• 10 units = $100/month
• 20 units = $200/month

Pros:

• Scales with your portfolio
• Pay only for what you use
• Predictable costs
• Fair for small landlords

Cons:

• Can get expensive with many units
• May have minimum unit requirements
• Per-unit fees add up quickly

Best for: Landlords with varying portfolio sizes, small to medium portfolios

Flat-Rate Pricing

How it works: You pay a fixed monthly fee regardless of units.

Example: $99/month for unlimited units

Pros:

• Predictable costs
• Great value for large portfolios
• No per-unit fees
• Simple pricing

Cons:

• May be expensive for small portfolios
• Often includes features you don't need
• Less flexible

Best for: Landlords with 10+ units, large portfolios

Tiered Pricing

How it works: Different pricing tiers based on features or units.

Example:

• Basic: $29/month (up to 5 units)
• Professional: $79/month (up to 20 units)
• Enterprise: $199/month (unlimited units)

Pros:

• Options for different needs
• Can upgrade as you grow
• Feature-based pricing

Cons:

• Can be confusing
• May pay for unused features
• Upgrade costs add up

Best for: Landlords at different growth stages

Free/Freemium Models

How it works: Basic features free, premium features paid.

Example: Free for basic features, $49/month for premium

Pros:

• No cost to start
• Good for testing
• Can use basic features forever

Cons:

• Limited features on free plan
• May need to upgrade eventually
• Often ad-supported

Best for: Very small portfolios, testing software

Average Pricing in 2024

Small Landlords (1-10 units)

Price range: $0-$50/month

• Free options: Available but limited
• Low-cost options: $10-$30/month
• Mid-range options: $30-$50/month

What you get:

• Basic property management
• Online rent collection
• Tenant management
• Simple reporting

Medium Landlords (11-50 units)

Price range: $50-$150/month

• Per-unit pricing: $5-$10 per unit
• Flat-rate options: $79-$149/month
• Tiered plans: Professional tiers

What you get:

• Full feature set
• Advanced reporting
• Maintenance management
• Better support

Large Landlords (51+ units)

Price range: $150-$500+/month

• Per-unit pricing: $3-$8 per unit
• Flat-rate options: $199-$499/month
• Enterprise plans: Custom pricing

What you get:

• Enterprise features
• Priority support
• Custom integrations
• Advanced analytics

What Affects Pricing

Number of Units

More units typically means:

• Higher per-unit costs
• Better flat-rate value
• Volume discounts available
• Enterprise pricing options

Features Included

Basic features (usually included):

• Property management
• Tenant management
• Online rent collection
• Basic reporting

Premium features (may cost extra):

• Advanced reporting
• Accounting integrations
• Marketing tools
• API access
• White-label options

Support Level

Support tiers:

• Basic: Email support, knowledge base
• Standard: Email + chat support
• Premium: Phone + priority support
• Enterprise: Dedicated account manager

Integrations

Additional costs may include:

• Payment processing fees
• Background check fees
• Accounting software integrations
• Third-party service fees

Hidden Costs to Watch For

Setup Fees

Some providers charge:

• One-time setup fees: $100-$500
• Onboarding fees: $200-$1,000
• Training costs: $50-$200/hour

How to avoid: Look for providers with no setup fees

Transaction Fees

Payment processing may include:

• Per-transaction fees: 2.9% + $0.30
• ACH fees: $0.25-$1.00 per transaction
• Late payment fees: Percentage of fee

Tip: Some providers absorb these costs, others pass them to you

Per-Tenant Fees

Some platforms charge:

• Per-tenant monthly fees: $2-$5/tenant
• Per-application fees: $10-$50
• Per-lease fees: $25-$100

Watch out: These can add up quickly

Feature Add-Ons

Additional costs for:

• Advanced reporting: $10-$50/month
• Marketing tools: $20-$100/month
• Accounting integrations: $10-$30/month
• API access: $50-$200/month

Contract Terms

Be aware of:

• Annual contracts: May offer discounts but lock you in
• Early termination fees: $100-$500
• Auto-renewal clauses: May increase prices
• Minimum commitments: Required units or time

How to Choose the Right Pricing Plan

Step 1: Assess Your Needs

Consider:

• How many units do you manage?
• What features do you actually need?
• What's your budget?
• How many tenants do you have?

Step 2: Calculate Total Cost

Don't just look at base price:

• Base monthly fee
• Per-unit costs
• Transaction fees
• Setup fees
• Add-on costs
• Annual vs. monthly pricing

Step 3: Compare Options

Look at:

• Total cost of ownership
• Features included
• Support level
• Scalability
• Contract terms

Step 4: Test Before Committing

Try before you buy:

• Free trials available
• Test with real properties
• Evaluate ease of use
• Check support quality

Getting the Best Value

Look for Free Trials

Most providers offer:

• 14-30 day free trials
• No credit card required
• Full feature access
• Cancel anytime

Benefit: Test before committing

Negotiate Pricing

For larger portfolios:

• Ask for volume discounts
• Request custom pricing
• Negotiate setup fees
• Discuss annual discounts

Consider Annual Plans

Annual plans often offer:

• 10-20% discount
• Locked-in pricing
• Better value long-term

Trade-off: Less flexibility

Start Small, Scale Up

Begin with:

• Basic plan or free tier
• Add features as needed
• Upgrade when you grow
• Don't overpay initially

2024 Pricing Trends

Trend 1: More Free Options

Providers are offering:

• Completely free tiers
• Extended free trials
• No credit card required
• Full feature access free

Trend 2: Transparent Pricing

Companies are:

• Showing all costs upfront
• Eliminating hidden fees
• Simplifying pricing models
• Being more transparent

Trend 3: Value-Based Pricing

Focus on:

• ROI for landlords
• Time savings value
• Feature value
• Support quality

Trend 4: Flexible Options

More providers offering:

• Month-to-month plans
• No long-term contracts
• Easy cancellation
• Upgrade/downgrade flexibility

Red Flags in Pricing

Watch Out For

• Hidden fees: Not disclosed upfront
• Long contracts: Locked in for years
• Price increases: Automatic annual increases
• Minimum commitments: Required units or time
• Complex pricing: Hard to understand costs

Questions to Ask

• What's the total cost?
• Are there setup fees?
• What about transaction fees?
• Can I cancel anytime?
• Will prices increase?

ROI Calculation

Calculate Your Savings

Consider:

• Time saved: Hours per month × your hourly rate
• Improved collection: Better collection rates
• Reduced errors: Fewer costly mistakes
• Better organization: Less stress

Example:

• Software cost: $50/month
• Time saved: 10 hours/month
• Your time value: $50/hour
• Monthly savings: $500 - $50 = $450/month

Factor in Benefits

Additional value:

• Better tenant relationships
• Reduced vacancy time
• Improved cash flow
• Easier tax preparation
• Less stress

The Bottom Line

Property management software pricing in 2024 varies widely, but you can find good options at every price point. The key is:

• Understand your needs: What features do you actually need?
• Calculate total cost: Don't just look at base price
• Test before buying: Use free trials
• Consider ROI: Time savings often justify cost
• Start small: You can always upgrade

Remember, the cheapest option isn't always the best value. Consider features, support, ease of use, and long-term costs when making your decision.

For landlords managing 1-50 units, you can find excellent property management software starting at $0-$50/month with all the features you need. Check our pricing page and explore our complete feature list. Compare options in our property management software reviews. Get started free and see how affordable professional property management can be.