According to recent NARPM statistics, nearly 53% of property managers manage anywhere between 41 to 400 units. When you manage that many units, it’s critical that you have great property management software to help you with your daily tasks. While most property managers rely on AppFolio, there are a number of AppFolio competitors offering similar features and capabilities with different pricing. After all, it’s important to compare your options to ensure you’re using the right software.
Below, we’ve listed the best AppFolio alternatives along with details on their features and pricing to help make your decision easier.
What Is AppFolio?
If you’re new to property management software then you might be wondering what we’re even talking about when we refer to AppFolio.
AppFolio is a cloud-based property management software platform that helps property managers streamline their workflows. The software includes a suite of tools for tasks like accounting, tenant screening, and maintenance management.
Is the software just for the property managers we mentioned above who manage between 41 to 400 units? Not necessarily! AppFolio is used by property managers of all sizes. Ultimately, the decision to use AppFolio depends on which features you’re looking for.
AppFolio Features
AppFolio is a great option for property managers seeking a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to managing their properties. The software’s robust suite of features helps property managers save time and optimize their workflow.
Let’s walk you through some of those features.
Property Marketing Website
The AppFolio marketing website allows you to post all of your property listings in one place. This is where prospective tenants can browse through listings and apply for them directly on the site.
Once they do, they will be listed as a lead. Then, AppFolio will upload them into the platform for you. This helps streamline your rental business while also making it easier for tenants to find your properties.
Additionally, AppFolios’s other marketing integrations include virtual showings, 3D tours, and help managing marketing campaigns.
One-Click Listing Syndication
AppFolio’s one-click listing syndication feature is a huge time saver for property managers. With just a few clicks, you can post your listings to a variety of different websites.
In addition, the syndication feature automatically updates your listings whenever you make changes. This way, you don’t have to worry about keeping track of multiple versions.
Online Tenant Portal
Through the online tenant portal, tenants can pay rent, submit maintenance requests, and view their leases.
More importantly, though, AppFolio allows tenants to log on via their web browser or an easy-to-use app. This helps you make things more convenient for tenants. Ultimately, it also helps them stay on top of their rental responsibilities.
AI Leasing Assistant
Wish you had a 24/7 leasing assistant to help you with all new inquiries? That’s what AppFolio’s AI leasing assistant does for you. Their leasing assistant uses AI to respond to leasing inquiries quickly and accurately.
Some of the things the AI assistant can help you do are:
- Book showings
- Qualify leads
- Cross-sell units
While AI simply sounds cool, it ultimately makes the leasing process more efficient for both property managers and tenants.
Recurring Payment Schedules
AppFolio’s recurring payment schedules feature allows you to automatically bill your tenants on a regular basis.
You can set up the frequency and amount of the payments, and AppFolio will handle the rest. This can save you time and money by avoiding late payments and penalties.
Maintenance Management
AppFolio’s maintenance management feature allows you to keep your property in top condition by:
- Tracking maintenance request
- Tracking maintenance statuses
- Scheduling recurring work orders
- Managing all work orders across units
- Assigning vendors to work orders
The tracking system ensures that you can keep tabs on all of your properties’ repair and maintenance needs in one place.
Additionally, being able to schedule recurring work orders can save you time and hassle by allowing you to set up future appointments with vendors so that they can come out to your property on a regular basis.
24/7 Maintenance Call Center
As mentioned above, the maintenance management feature allows you to pre-approve vendors so that they’re able to visit properties on a regular basis. With the 24/7 maintenance call center, agents can dispatch your pre-approved vendors without you ever having to answer a call.
This makes it easy for you to keep track of maintenance requests and ensure that they’re handled quickly and efficiently.
Customizable Reporting
AppFolio’s customizable reporting feature gives you the ability to create reports that are tailored to your specific needs. With this tool, you can choose which data to include in your report, and you can also decide how the data should be presented.
Ultimately, the feature makes it easier for you to make quick, informed decisions about your properties and helps you to keep track of your progress. In addition, AppFolio’s reporting tool is easy to use and makes it simple to generate and share reports with your team.
AppFolio Pricing vs. Competitors
Okay, for all of the features listed above, what can you expect to pay for AppFolio? To be honest, AppFolio’s pricing is very competitive compared to other similar software on the market.
For residential properties, AppFolio charges a monthly fee of $1.40 per unit for their basic (Core) offering. That fee goes up to $3 per unit each month if you manage more than 1,000 units. For commercial properties, AppFolio charges a monthly fee of $1.50 per unit.
Additionally, AppFolio offers a variety of add-on features for an additional fee, including their AI leasing assistant, debt collection services, and the 24/7 maintenance contact center.
The Best AppFolio Competitors
If you’re looking for a property management solution, you have a lot of options to choose from. To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve compiled a list of the six top AppFolio competitors. We’ve explored them based on overall features, pricing, and usability, so you can make the best decision for your business.
AppFolio vs. Buildium
First, we have Buildium! It’s one of the most well-known software for property management in the industry outside of Yardi Voyager, Yardi Breeze, and AppFolio.
When comparing AppFolio vs. Buildium, AppFolio stands out for its comprehensive suite of tools for managing property rentals, including a listing management system, online applications and payments, and a customer relationship management system.
Buildium, on the other hand, focuses on providing a robust accounting platform with integrated rent collection and online maintenance requests.
You’ll prefer AppFolio if you:
- Manage more than 150 units
- Have a portfolio full of commercial properties
- Need advanced features such as an AI leasing assistant and 24/7 maintenance contact center
You’ll prefer Buildium if you:
- Manage less than 150 units
- Are looking for a more robust property marketing website to be included in the subscription price
- Prefer to contact customer service by phone
There are a few key differences between AppFolio and Buildium’s pricing structures. First, AppFolio has a minimum fee of $280 per month, while Buildium starts at $50 per month. While that might make it seem like Buildium is way cheaper, they add on additional fees for property inspections ($40 per month), eSignatures ($5 per signature), and more.
Ultimately, the best pricing option for you will depend on the number of units you manage and the features you need. Buildium is a more cost-effective solution for property managers who are managing a few properties and don’t need all of the extras that come included with the AppFolio price.
AppFolio vs. Re-Leased
Re-Leased is a commercial property management system that is relatively new to the US market, but is growing rapidly. The software helps property managers keep track of leases, tenants, and repairs.
It also offers a variety of reports that you can use to track trends and identify opportunities. Re-Leased is easy to use and provides a great deal of flexibility, making it a top pick for commercial property management systems. How does it stack up as an AppFolio alternative?
You’ll prefer AppFolio if you:
- Manage a mixed portfolio
- Need built-in accounting tools
- Prefer a tested platform with experience in the US market
You’ll prefer Re-Leased if you:
- Solely manage commercial properties
- Need more robust CAM budgeting
- Prefer an interactive calendar that helps you track key dates and events
Ultimately, there’s no doubt that Re-Leased is a powerful commercial property management solution. The pricing is unique in that it’s priced based on your portfolio. This way, you’re (sort of) only paying for what you need. However, most property managers are paying upwards of $7,000 per year for the software.
AppFolio vs. Yardi Voyager
Yardi Voyager is a financial and property management platform that consolidates information into a central database. Accountants, property managers, and leasing agents can access the software via mobile devices. From there, they can complete tasks including:
- Executing leases
- Providing resident services
- Viewing dashboards
The system is designed to streamline workflows and improve communication between staff and residents. Yardi Voyager also offers a number of features to help users stay compliant with regulations.
For example, the platform includes a lease abstraction tool that automatically generates lease documents based on inputted data. This ensures that all required information is included in the lease agreement, eliminating the need for manual reviews.
As a result, Yardi Voyager can help reduce the risk of errors and save time on lease administration. If this is more of a concern to you than the marketing features in AppFolio then it’s worth checking out Yardi Voyager.
AppFolio vs. Yardi Breeze
Similar to Yardi Voyager, Yardi Breeze is a property management software that helps property managers take control of their marketing, leasing, accounting, and operations. What’s the difference between Yardi Breeze and Yardi Voyager? Breeze is a simple solution.
It offers you all of the basic features you need with the option to add on slightly more advanced marketing and leasing functionalities. Yardi Breeze makes it easy to stay organized and keep track of your properties, tenants, and finances. However, it doesn’t complicate things for you by adding difficult features.
Ultimately, Yardi Breeze saves you time and money while streamlining tasks around marketing, leasing, rent collection, maintenance, financial reporting, and more. However, you will likely need some Yardi Breeze consulting to ensure you’re using the software correctly.
AppFolio vs. Entrata
Entrata is a property management software that helps landlords and renters with a variety of tasks. These tasks include websites, mobile apps, payments, lease signing, accounting, and resident management.
Entrata’s platform is unique because it offers a single login and open access to all of its features. This makes it easy for customers to use multiple features without having to log in again or remember different passwords. In addition, Entrata’s customer service is available 24/7 to help with any issues that may arise.
The biggest difference for smaller property managers, however, is that Entrata doesn’t publish their pricing. They create custom pricing packages. If you’re looking for something more straightforward, AppFolio might be better.
However, if the custom nature of Entrata is appealing to you, we suggest scheduling a demo.
AppFolio vs. Avail
Avail is a free property management system that offers a wide range of features for landlords. This solution is easy to use and includes a variety of tools to help landlords manage their properties.
With Avail, you’ll get access to a tenant portal where tenants can easily access their account information and make payments online. The system also includes a property management module that allows landlords to track renters, maintenance requests, and lease agreements.
In addition, Avail provides a listing service, so landlords can list their properties on the Avail website and reach a wider audience of potential renters. Overall, Avail is an excellent option for landlords looking for a comprehensive property management system.
Ultimately, it offers similar features to AppFolio but for free. While it’s not as comprehensive, it’s great for property managers that are just starting out. It’s also much easier to use than other paid property management software.
AppFolio Alternatives: Which Is the Best Property Management Solution?
So, which is best for you as a property manager? While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, there are a few factors to consider when making your decision. First, consider your specific needs and requirements.
- What type of property do you manage?
- How many units do you have?
- What kind of budget do you have to work with?
Once you have a good understanding of your needs, you can start to narrow down your options.
Next, take a look at the features offered by each AppFolio alternative. Which features are most important to you? Which ones would make your job easier? Make sure to read reviews from other property managers to get an idea of how each software solution performs in real-world settings.
Finally, don’t forget to consider the price. AppFolio alternatives vary widely in terms of cost, so be sure to compare pricing before making your final decision. With all of these factors in mind, you should be able to find the best AppFolio alternative for your needs.
Get AppFolio Consulting
Whether you’re interested in AppFolio or AppFolio competitors, one thing’s for sure: you’re going to need help making the transition to your new property management software. And, that’s what we’re here for! At Balanced Asset Solutions, provide you and your team with Appfolio training and consulting services. Through these services, we can help ensure that you’re harnessing the full power of the platform and getting the most out of its features for your property management business. Contact us for software advice or AppFolio consulting.
