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Property Management Software Reviews: Top 10 in 2024

May 7, 2024
Property Peace Team

Property Management Software Reviews: Top 10 in 2024

With so many property management software options available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. We've reviewed the top 10 property management software solutions in 2024 to help you make an informed decision.

How We Evaluated

Criteria

We evaluated each software based on:

  • Features: What capabilities does it offer?
  • Ease of use: How intuitive is the interface?
  • Pricing: Is it affordable and transparent?
  • Support: What kind of help is available?
  • Scalability: Does it grow with your portfolio?
  • Value: Overall cost-benefit ratio

Focus Areas

We prioritized:

  • Software for small to medium landlords (1-50 units)
  • Affordable pricing
  • Essential features
  • User-friendly interfaces
  • Good customer support

Top 10 Property Management Software in 2024

1. Property Peace

Best for: Small to medium landlords (1-50 units)

Key Features:

  • Online rent collection
  • Tenant portal
  • Maintenance request management
  • Lease management
  • Financial reporting
  • Real-time updates
  • Mobile-friendly

Pricing: Free to use, affordable unit-based pricing

Pros:

  • Designed specifically for small landlords
  • Completely free option available
  • Real-time updates
  • Comprehensive features
  • Easy to use
  • Good support

Cons:

  • Newer platform (less established)
  • Fewer integrations than enterprise solutions

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Bottom line: Excellent choice for landlords managing 1-50 units who want comprehensive features at an affordable price.

2. Buildium

Best for: Property managers and larger portfolios

Key Features:

  • Comprehensive property management
  • Accounting integration
  • Tenant screening
  • Maintenance management
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Mobile apps

Pricing: $50-$460/month based on units

Pros:

  • Very comprehensive
  • Strong accounting features
  • Good reporting
  • Established platform
  • Mobile apps

Cons:

  • Can be expensive for small portfolios
  • Steeper learning curve
  • More features than some need

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Bottom line: Powerful solution for property managers and larger portfolios, but may be overkill for small landlords.

3. AppFolio

Best for: Property management companies

Key Features:

  • Full property management suite
  • Accounting and financials
  • Marketing tools
  • Tenant screening
  • Maintenance coordination
  • Mobile apps

Pricing: Custom pricing, typically $1.40-$3.00 per unit/month

Pros:

  • Very comprehensive
  • Strong for larger operations
  • Good integrations
  • Professional features

Cons:

  • Expensive for small landlords
  • Complex setup
  • Designed for companies, not individuals

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Bottom line: Enterprise-grade solution best suited for property management companies, not individual landlords.

4. Rent Manager

Best for: Mid-size to large portfolios

Key Features:

  • Comprehensive management
  • Accounting features
  • Tenant portal
  • Maintenance tracking
  • Reporting
  • Mobile access

Pricing: Custom pricing based on units

Pros:

  • Feature-rich
  • Good reporting
  • Established platform
  • Scalable

Cons:

  • Pricing not transparent
  • Can be complex
  • Better for larger portfolios

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Bottom line: Solid option for mid-size to large portfolios, but pricing and complexity may not suit small landlords.

5. TenantCloud

Best for: Small landlords and individual property owners

Key Features:

  • Property and tenant management
  • Online rent collection
  • Maintenance requests
  • Basic reporting
  • Free tier available

Pricing: Free for up to 75 units, paid plans $9-$45/month

Pros:

  • Free tier available
  • Affordable pricing
  • Good for small landlords
  • Easy to use

Cons:

  • Limited features on free tier
  • Basic reporting
  • Fewer advanced features

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Bottom line: Good free option for very small portfolios, but may lack features as you grow.

6. Rentec Direct

Best for: Small to medium landlords

Key Features:

  • Property management
  • Tenant portal
  • Online payments
  • Maintenance tracking
  • Reporting
  • Accounting features

Pricing: $45-$125/month based on units

Pros:

  • Good feature set
  • Affordable for small landlords
  • User-friendly
  • Good support

Cons:

  • Limited integrations
  • Basic mobile app
  • Reporting could be better

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Bottom line: Solid mid-range option with good features at reasonable pricing.

7. Cozy (now Apartments.com)

Best for: Small landlords

Key Features:

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

Pricing: Free for basic features, paid for premium

Pros:

  • Free option
  • Easy to use
  • Good tenant screening
  • Simple interface

Cons:

  • Limited features
  • Basic functionality
  • Less comprehensive than others

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Bottom line: Good free option for very basic needs, but limited for growing portfolios.

8. Propertyware

Best for: Property management companies

Key Features:

  • Comprehensive management
  • Accounting integration
  • Maintenance management
  • Reporting
  • Mobile access

Pricing: Custom pricing

Pros:

  • Comprehensive features
  • Good for companies
  • Established platform

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Complex
  • Not ideal for small landlords

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Bottom line: Enterprise solution that's overkill and too expensive for most individual landlords.

9. RentSpree

Best for: Tenant screening and applications

Key Features:

  • Tenant screening
  • Application processing
  • Credit checks
  • Background checks

Pricing: Pay-per-use model

Pros:

  • Excellent screening tools
  • Easy application process
  • Good for tenant selection

Cons:

  • Limited property management
  • Focused on screening only
  • Need other tools for management

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Bottom line: Great for tenant screening, but not a complete property management solution.

10. Stessa

Best for: Financial tracking and reporting

Key Features:

  • Income and expense tracking
  • Financial reporting
  • Tax preparation
  • Property performance

Pricing: Free basic, $20/month for premium

Pros:

  • Excellent financial tracking
  • Great reporting
  • Free option
  • Tax-ready reports

Cons:

  • Limited property management
  • No tenant portal
  • Focused on finances only

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Bottom line: Excellent for financial tracking, but you'll need other tools for full property management.

Comparison Summary

Best Overall Value

Winner: Property Peace

  • Comprehensive features
  • Affordable pricing
  • Free option available
  • Designed for small landlords

Best for Large Portfolios

Winner: Buildium or AppFolio

  • Enterprise features
  • Scalable
  • Comprehensive

Best Free Option

Winner: Property Peace or TenantCloud

  • Free tiers available
  • Good basic features
  • Can upgrade as needed

Best for Beginners

Winner: Property Peace

  • Easy to use
  • Good support
  • Intuitive interface

Most Comprehensive

Winner: Buildium

  • Extensive features
  • Strong accounting
  • Professional tools

Key Considerations

Portfolio Size

1-10 units:

  • Property Peace
  • TenantCloud
  • Rentec Direct

11-50 units:

  • Property Peace
  • Buildium
  • Rentec Direct

50+ units:

  • Buildium
  • AppFolio
  • Propertyware

Budget

Free/Low cost:

  • Property Peace (free option)
  • TenantCloud (free tier)
  • Cozy (free basic)

Mid-range ($50-100/month):

  • Property Peace
  • Rentec Direct
  • Buildium (small plans)

Enterprise ($100+/month):

  • Buildium
  • AppFolio
  • Propertyware

Feature Needs

Basic needs:

  • TenantCloud
  • Cozy
  • Basic plans

Comprehensive needs:

  • Property Peace
  • Buildium
  • Rentec Direct

Enterprise needs:

  • Buildium
  • AppFolio
  • Propertyware

What to Look For

Essential Features

  • Online rent collection: Accept payments online
  • Tenant portal: Self-service for tenants
  • Maintenance management: Track repair requests
  • Lease management: Digital lease storage
  • Financial reporting: Income and expense tracking
  • Mobile access: Manage on the go

Important Features

  • Tenant screening: Background and credit checks
  • Document storage: Cloud storage for files
  • Communication tools: Messaging system
  • Accounting integration: Connect with QuickBooks, etc.
  • Automated reminders: Payment and lease reminders

Nice-to-Have Features

  • Marketing tools: Listing management
  • Advanced analytics: Deep insights
  • API access: Custom integrations
  • White-label options: Branding
  • Multi-user access: Team features

Making Your Decision

Step 1: Assess Your Needs

Consider:

  • How many properties?
  • What features do you need?
  • What's your budget?
  • How tech-savvy are you?

Step 2: Research Options

Compare:

  • Features included
  • Pricing models
  • User reviews
  • Support quality
  • Ease of use

Step 3: Test Before Committing

Try:

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

Step 4: Make Your Choice

Choose based on:

  • Feature fit
  • Price value
  • Ease of use
  • Support quality
  • Scalability

The Bottom Line

The best property management software for you depends on your specific needs, portfolio size, and budget. For most small to medium landlords (1-50 units), Property Peace offers the best combination of features, affordability, and ease of use.

Key takeaways:

  • Start with free trials: Test before committing
  • Consider your scale: Don't overpay for features you don't need
  • Prioritize essentials: Focus on features you'll actually use
  • Think long-term: Choose software that grows with you
  • Read reviews: Learn from other landlords' experiences

Remember, the best software is the one that solves your specific problems and fits your budget. Don't be swayed by flashy features you'll never use—focus on what matters for your rental business.

Compare our solution with others in our property management software reviews. Explore our complete feature list and pricing options. Learn about choosing property management software. Try Property Peace free and see why it's the top choice for landlords managing 1-50 units in 2024.

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